The Many Roles of a Rehabilitation Nurse
Rehabilitation nursing is a rewarding specialty for nurses who want to apply their full range of clinical skills, make a meaningful impact on patients’ lives, and collaborate within a dedicated healthcare team. This specialized practice spans various settings and focuses on helping individuals with physical and/or cognitive disabilities regain independence and achieve their highest potential.
Rehabilitation nurses care for patients of all ages—alongside their families and caregivers—starting soon after a disabling injury or the onset of a chronic illness. Their work is life-changing, helping patients regain freedom and autonomy.
In this dynamic role, rehab nurses serve as collaborators, educators, care coordinators, advocates, and change agents. They partner with a diverse team of healthcare professionals—including physiatrists, occupational and physical therapists, neuropsychiatrists, speech therapists, and other specialists—to develop personalized care plans that align with patient goals and optimize recovery.
Roles of the Rehab Nurse:
- Administrator
- Clinical nurse leader
- Clinical nurse specialist
- Consultant
- Nurse practitioner
ARN Special Interest Groups (SIGs) have developed Role Descriptions for each of the following roles:
- Advanced Practice Rehabilitation Nurse
- Gerontological Rehab Nurse
- Home Care Rehab Nurse
- LPN/LVN on the Rehabilitation Team
- Pediatric Rehab Nurse
- Rehab Admissions Liaison Nurse
- Rehabilitation Nurse Case Manager
- Rehabilitation Nurse Educator
- Rehab Nurse in Pain Management
- Rehab Nurse Manager
- Rehabilitation Nurse Researcher
- Rehabilitation Staff Nurse
Rehab Nurses Treat:
- ALS
- Amputation
- Brain injury
- Burns
- Cancer
- Cardiovascular
- Cerebral palsey
- Guillain-Barre syndrome
- Parkinson's disease
- Major joint replacements
- Multiple sclerosis
- Organ transplant
- Pulmonary disease
- Spinal cord injury
- Stroke
Rehab Nurses Practice Across the Post-Acute Care Continuum:
- Community hospitals
- Freestanding rehabilitation facilities
- Home health agencies
- Hospitals (inpatient & outpatient rehab units)
- Insurance and HMOs
- Long-term acute care
- Private practice
- Skilled nursing with rehab
- Subacute facilities
- Universities and teaching hospitals
- Department of VA and Government
“Saving the life is the first priority, then the rehab nurse moves in and restores the living!” — ARN Member Leslie McConnell, RN CRRN
