History of Rehabilitation Nursing
The Association of Rehabilitation Nurses (ARN) was formed by Susan Novak in 1974 with support from Lutheran General Hospital, in Park Ridge, Illinois, at a time when rehabilitation nursing became recognized as a nursing specialty. By 1976, ARN was formally recognized as a specialty nursing organization by the American Nurses Association (ANA). As the needs for these specialty nurses grew, ARN developed the Certified Rehabilitation Registered Nurse (CRRN) certification in 1984, and has turned over administration of the certification to the Rehabilitation Nursing Certification Board (RNCB), an autonomous component of ARN. The CRRN program is accredited by the American Board of Nursing Specialties.
Evolution of the Specialty
An interdisciplinary healthcare specialty, rehabilitation evolved as many 20th Century wartime soldiers, young men for the most part, survived injury but faced serious disability. As a result, military hospitals established rehabilitation units that focused extensive efforts on returning these young men to society. Soon, rehabilitation units and hospitals sprang up around the country and the interdisciplinary specialty of rehabilitation gained importance.
ARN Throughout the Decades
1970s
- 1974: Association of Rehabilitation Nurses (ARN) formed by Susan Novak
- 1975: ARN’s first specialty journal launched
- 1976: Recognized as a specialty organization by the American Nurses Association (ANA)
- 1976: First research board, Rehabilitation Nursing Institute founded
1980s
- 1980: Journal renamed Rehabilitation Nursing Journal (RNJ)
- 1981: First edition of the Core Curriculum published
- 1984: Rehabilitation Nursing Certification Board formed; the first CRRN® exam administered
- 1986: Rehabilitation Nursing Institute renamed Rehabilitation Nursing Foundation (RNF)
1990s
- 1992: Rehabilitation Nursing Research journal launched
- 1995: First Research Agenda was developed by RNF
- 1995: Change to an at-large Board of Directors
2000s
- 2007: Advocacy and legislative work began in Washington D.C.
- 2013: Care Transitions white paper published
- 2014: Competency Model for Professional Rehabilitation Nursing established
- 2015: RESTARTrecovery.org launched
- 2017: Continence Care Task Force released management tools
- 2019: Health Policy Digest created
- 2019: Participation in World Health Organization’s (WHO) Rehabilitation Competency Framework
- 2019: ARN Fellowship designation (FARN) established
- 2019: Eighth edition of the Core Curriculum published
2020s
- 2020: ARN Competency Model revised
- 2021: ARN Learning Center launched
- 2021: Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion statement published
- 2022: First hybrid conference held
- 2022: Inclusive Board of Directors voting slate introduced
- 2023: Leadership pathway for volunteers created
- 2023: CRRN® Success Suite launched
- 2023: Digitization of the Core Curriculum, the ARN Rehabilitation Nursing Knowledge Base, launched
- 2023: Health Policy Toolkit developed
- 2024: Caregiver Resource Development Grant established
