On a scale of 1-10: Rehab Nursing

[RNBeachGirl]

Hello!

I was wondering how well you like rehab nursing on a scale of 1-10? I am leaving my full time position in Home Health to pursue rehab nursing. I am little nervous though. My orientation is only 2-4 weeks.... I have never worked a floor before. Started in the OR. I'm really excited. Hope to hear from you all!!

:redpinkhe

[TheCommuter, BSN, RN]

It depends on the setting in which you work. I have worked rehab in nursing homes, as well as at a freestanding rehabilitation hospital.

Nursing home rehab: 4 out of ten due to the stress level, number of residents, and the higher acuity. You might have 20+ residents who are total knee/hip replacements, s/p pneumonia, CVAs, s/p MI, laminectomies, kyphoplasties, thrombectomies, cancer, etc. Nursing home rehab patients tend to be sicker than the typical long term care patient.

Rehab in a rehabilitation hospital: 8 out of 10 due to the same acuity level described above, but with far less patients.

[RNBeachGirl]

Thank you for your reply Commuter! So on a scale of 1-10, 1 being absolutly horrible and 10 being superb, you would give a rehab hosp an 8? I'm going to a rehab hosp. Thank you!!

[R.NICU]

I also work at a rehab hospital and would give it an 8/10. Reasonable patient load, docs are nice most of the time, wonderful co-workers....yeah, 8/10. What knocks it down two points is that fact that we don't always have the necessary resources that are needed, and we have been getting alot of obese patients lately that are impossible to transfer w/no less than 4 people. This can be time consuming and taxing on your body. ((we don't use Hoyer lifts at our facility))

[RNBeachGirl]

Thank you! I appreciate the insight!

[wishinguponastarLPN]

Hey I know I am a little late on this reply, but I currently am a CNA at a Rehab Hospital, and I have to say I really like it. We have knee replacement pts, hip replacement patients, back surgery patients, CVA's, ect. They come in and usually stay on average anywhere from 2 weeks to a month and receive Speech therapy, occupational therapy, and physical therapy on average 3-5 hours a day. The great thing is you see get to see them leave doing so much better than when they came in. I am starting my nurse extern there and plan to work as a nurse there once I receive my license. The doctors and NP's are very nice and the nurses all seem to be in pretty good moods most of the time.

As far as nursing the only thing I ever hear the nurses complain about is my facility is on computer charting, but we still use paper MAR's and sometimes the nurse has to tract the patient down in the gym to do an accucheck or pass meds. But our facility isn't huge or anything so its not to bad. And we could use some more resources as well, but we do have a hoyer lifts and everything we need for transfers.

[RNBeachGirl]

Thank you! I appreciate your response.