A Model for Professional Rehabilitation Nursing Practice

Abstract

As partners in health care, clinical and administrative nurses must share in the work, risks, and rewards inherent in nursing practice while promoting high-quality results in a cost-conscious and cost-effective environment. One way to achieve these results is by developing a nontraditional rehabilitation structure and nursing practice model. This article discusses practical strategies for constructing and implementing such a model; it also identifies tangible outcomes of using the model. The healthcare environment in the 1990s demands a high level of involvement on the part of staff; the rehabilitation nursing model presented in this article meets this challenge.

Rehabilitation, chronic illness and disability: the missing elements in nurse education

“…Although some argue that the rehabilitation role is unique (Leidy et al 1990, Burggraf & Barry 1995, others see it as integral to nursing care in general (Henderson et al 1995, Stryker 1996. Moreover, even though a specialist role is recognized in the USA, there is evidence that: such a role is not valued by other groups of nurses (Purk 1993); the role lacks clarity (Gibbons et al 1995); there is inadequate educational preparation for rehabilitation nursing (Hermann & Bays 1994); with many practitioners having limited experience and training (Gonthier & Habel 1994). Therefore, while some claim that rehabilitation nursing is recognized in the UK (Gale & Gaylard 1996), it is still a`relative newcomer' (Johnson 1995) and faces a number of challenges if it is to establish its credibility.…”