Professional Rehabilitation Nursing Competency Model

The rehabilitation nursing specialty is practiced in multiple settings across the post-acute care continuum. The Competency Model for Professional Rehabilitation Nursing, created to help guide your practice, embodies domains that reflect all competencies necessary to promote rehabilitation nursing in the current healthcare environment.

click image below to enlarge

How the Competency Model Evolved

An ARN task force comprised of experts representing clinical and academic settings developed an evidence-based framework to guide professional rehabilitation nursing practice. Charged by the ARN Board of Directors to accomplish this strategic objective, the panel discussed, debated, and reviewed all facets of modern rehabilitation nursing. The resulting model was validated by member review and comment, and approved by the Board of Directors. It identifies 14 essential role competencies across 4 distinct domains.

The Competency Model for Professional Rehabilitation Nursing is depicted by a circle with the professional Rehabilitation Nurse role at the center surrounded by the four domains and various competencies. The broken lines illustrate the crossover of knowledge and skills that are represented in each domain, representing a holistic practice that rehabilitation nurses embrace.

Resources to Implement and Adopt the Model

ARN is pleased to make the following resources available to help facilitate the adoption and integration of the competency model and rehabilitation nursing concepts into school nursing programs in institutes of higher education such as accredited universities and colleges.

• ARN Competency Model (PDF). Developed by the Competency Model Task Force, this is the official document fully defining and describing the domains and competencies.
• Competency Model Overview Presentation (PPT). An overview of the Competency Model, as presented by Task Force Chair Dr. Stephanie Vaughn, PhD RN CRRN FAHA.
• Care Transitions – Levels of Care (PDF). Rehabilitation nursing and the competencies defined in the model are applicable across all care settings. This PDF resource concisely and clearly illustrates the various levels of facility-based and home-based care and the characteristics of each.
• Rehabilitation Nursing Journal Article (PDF). A peer-reviewed in-depth article that details the process by which the model was developed, describes the domains and competencies in detail, and presents the evidence for and impact of the competencies in practice.
• Competency-Specific Behavioral Scenarios (PPT). Designed to illustrate the competencies “in action,” each behavioral scenario explores the impact of new nurses exhibiting – and not exhibiting – beginner level proficiency in a competency.
  • Behavioral Scenario for 1.1 - Use Supportive Technology for Improving Quality of Life for Persons with Disability (PPT).
  • Behavioral Scenario for 1.2 - Implement Nursing and Interprofessional Interventions Based on Best Evidence to Manage the Client’s Disability and/or Chronic Illness (PPT).
  • Behavioral Scenario for 1.3 - Provide Client and Caregiver Education in Relation to Disability, Chronic Illness, and Health Management (DCIHM) (PPT).
  • Behavioral Scenario for 1.4 - Deliver Client- and Family-Centered Care (PPT).
  • Behavioral Scenario for 2.1 - Promote Health & Present Disability (PPT).
  • Behavioral Scenario for 2.2 - Foster Self-Management (PPT).
  • Behavioral Scenario for 2.3 - Promote and Facilitate Safe and Effective Care Transitions (PPT).
  • Behavioral Scenario for 3.1 - Promote Accountabilty for Care (PPT).
  • Behavioral Scenario for 3.2 - Disseminate Rehabilitation Nursing Knowledge (PPT).
  • Behavioral Scenario for 3.3 - Impact Health Policy for Persons with Disability and/or Chronic Illness (PPT).
  • Behavioral Scenario for 3.4 - Empower Clients to Self-Advocate (PPT).
  • Behavioral Scenario for 4.1 - Developing Interprofessional Relationships (PPT).
  • Behavioral Scenario for 4.2 - Implement an Interprofessional Holistic Plan of Care (PPT).
  • Behavioral Scenario for 4.3 - Foster Effective Interprofessional Collaboration (PPT).