ARN Volunteer & Engagement Opportunities

ARN Experience & Qualification Requirements

• ARN member in good standing.
• Previously served on the committee in some capacity, for at least 2 years (preferably 2 years as the Co-chair).
• Committed to furthering the ARN’s mission.

Other Professional Experience & Qualification Requirements

• Knowledgeable in the area of rehabilitation nursing.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Advanced leadership skills.
• A registered nurse with an active license with no practice restrictions.
• Have a minimum of a graduate degree.
• Either a baccalaureate or graduate degree in nursing.
• Have education and/or experience in adult education.
• Must be knowledgeable about the functions and expectations of an Accredited Provider Unit and the Accredited Provider Program Director role.

Commitment Length

• The CEPU Chair and Co-chair are appointed by the ARN Board president with approval of the ARN Board for a combined 5-year term on the CEPU.
• This term is made up of the following terms: 2 years as Co-chair of CEPU; 2 years as Chair & APPD of CEPU; and 1 year as Post-Chair of the CEPU. The Chair serves a total of 2 years in their Chair role (nonrenewable).

Commitment Time

• 5 -10 hours per month

Volunteer/ Engagement Responsibilities

• Attends committee meetings.
• Has a working knowledge of ARN’s current strategic plan.
• With ARN staff/Co-chair/ARN Board liaison, develops a work plan that will allow the committee to achieve the committee goals and objectives approved by the ARN Board for the year within the established ARN Strategic Plan.
• Continually evaluates committee efforts and communicates accomplishments to the committee, ARN leadership, and the membership.
• Identifies and communicates barriers to success; works with ARN Board liaison and staff to resolve them.
• With ARN staff/Co-chair/ARN Board liaison, develops agendas and conducts committee meetings.
• With ARN staff schedules conference calls to conduct committee business and other calls as needed.
• Puts the best interest of ARN as an organization before self-interest (when necessary).
• Moves members toward active participation, decision-making, and achieving consensus.
• Works with staff to ensure that the work of the committee is conducted between meetings.
• Exercises leadership within and outside of the committee.
• Works with ARN Board liaison/Co-chair to evaluate committee members and also encourage leadership development of the committee members.
  • Assists in providing recommendations to the NLD and ARN Board for committee members who should serve additional terms.
• Participates in selection and training of subsequent Chair/ Accredited Provider Program Director.
  • The selection of the subsequent Chair/ Accredited Provider Program Director should occur early in the final year of the current Chair/ Accredited Provider Program Director’s term, if possible.
  • The training of the subsequent Chair/ Accredited Provider Program Director should occur throughout the final year of the current Chair/ Accredited Provider Program Director’s term, if possible.
• Oversees each of the CEPU Subcommittees: Conference Planning Subcommittee, Existing Product Maintenance Subcommittee, New Product Development Subcommittee, and Advancing Science & Practice Subcommittee; and attends meetings of these subcommittees as necessary.
• The Chair of the CEPU also serves as ARN’s Accredited Provider Program Director (APPD).
• Has a working knowledge of foundational documents such as manuals, forms, and tools provided by the NCPD Accreditation Program; NCPD Accreditation Program criteria; updated materials on the NCPD Accreditation Program website; State Board of Nursing rules; and the Nursing Professional Development Scope and Standards of Practice (ANDP, 2016).
• Must comply with the role description for this position as defined and further detailed in ANCC’s “Overview Role of the APPD in an Accredited Provider Unit.” This document details how the APPD serves as the: Leader, Advocate, Educator, Mentor, Evaluator, Collaborator, and Learner of the Provider Unit.
• As defined in the ANCC APPD Role Description, the APPD is responsible for working with ARN Staff and volunteers to complete the following:
  • Maintaining Active Licensure,
  • Keeping Current with Criteria,
  • Keeping Current with State Board of Nursing Rules,
  • Administering the Provider Unit,
  • Assessing Structural Capacity,
  • Goal Setting: Determining Quality Outcomes,
  • Orienting Provider Unit Personnel,
  • Monitoring and Evaluating Provider Unit Personnel,
  • Obtaining and Using Resources,
  • Guiding the Educational Design Process,
  • Evaluating Outcomes of the Provider Unit,
  • Reporting, and
  • Maintaining Accreditation.

ARN Experience & Qualification Requirements

• ARN member in good standing.
• Should have previously served on the Editorial Board in some capacity, for at least 2 years.
• Committed to furthering the ARN’s mission.

Other Professional Experience & Qualification Requirements

• Knowledgeable in the area of rehabilitation nursing.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Advanced leadership skills.
• Registered professional nurse.
• Doctoral degree required (in nursing is preferred).
• Master’s in nursing is required.
• Demonstrates experience in editorial functions.
• Demonstrates excellent writing ability as evidenced by publication.
• Demonstrates management experience.
• Professional activities pose no apparent conflict of interest with ARN goals and activities.
• Knowledgeable about current issues and trends in rehabilitation nursing.

Commitment Length

• The editor’s term of contract is two years and is renewable for up to two terms (up to 4 years).

Commitment Time

• 5 - 10 hours per month

Volunteer/ Engagement Responsibilities

• All responsibilities outlined in the “Rehabilitation Nursing Editorial Board Member” role under "Volunteer/ Engagement Responsibilities", also apply to this role.  
• Serves as APPD for RNJ related activities (CE handled by Publisher).
• Has a working knowledge of ARN’s current strategic plan.
• With ARN staff/Co-chair/ARN Board liaison, develops a work plan that will allow the RNJ Editorial Board to achieve the RNJ Editorial Board goals and objectives approved by the ARN Board for the year within the established ARN Strategic Plan.
• Continually evaluates RNJ Editorial Board efforts and communicates accomplishments to the RNJ Editorial Board, ARN leadership, and the membership.
• Identifies and communicates barriers to success; works with ARN Board liaison and staff to resolve them.
• With ARN staff/Co-chair/ARN Board liaison, develops agendas, and conducts RNJ Editorial Board meetings.
• With ARN staff schedules conference calls to conduct RNJ Editorial Board business and other calls as needed.
• Puts the best interest of ARN as an organization before self-interest (when necessary).
• Moves members toward active participation, decision-making, and achieving consensus.
  • Works with staff to ensure that the work of the RNJ Editorial Board is conducted between meetings.
• Exercises leadership within and outside of the RNJ Editorial Board.
• Works with ARN Board liaison/Co-chair to evaluate RNJ Editorial Board members and also encourage leadership development of the RNJ Editorial Board members.
  • Assists in providing recommendations to the NLD and ARN Board for Chair succession planning and RNJ Editorial Board members who should serve additional terms.
• Develops a vision for Rehabilitation Nursing consistent with the goals and philosophy of ARN and implements plans to achieve the vision.
• Is responsible for manuscript solicitation. Develops plans and procedures for soliciting manuscripts consistent with established objectives.
• Communicates with and encourages current and potential authors.
• Reviews all manuscripts and makes decisions regarding their disposition based on peer review, Rehabilitation Nursing Journal Editorial Board (RNJ EB) members’ reviews and own review.
• Is responsible for establishing and maintaining an effective and rapid peer review process.
• In the final year of the final term, works with and supervises Associate Editor, assigning specific manuscripts for review. Seeks input from Associate Editor on manuscript reviewers and manuscript review and decisions.
• Drafts letters to authors with specific feedback regarding manuscript revisions within the manuscript platform tool.
• Designates manuscripts for publication in a specific issue and their order.
• Selects resource reviews for publication in a specific issue.
• Reviews all typeset articles and the entire journal layout prior to printing.
• Reviews guidelines for authors and manuscript evaluation forms; works with journal staff to revise these guidelines and forms as needed.
• Maintains regular communication with the publisher and other journal staff as appropriate; the Rehabilitation Nursing Journal Editorial Board (RNJ EB); and the ARN Board and executive director.
• Uses a designated online peer-review system to export edited and approved manuscripts to publisher.
• Contacts all paper and poster presenters from annual conference to encourage manuscript submissions.
• Attends the ARN Annual Educational Conference. Registration will be covered by ARN as outlined in the budget.
• Attends International Academy of Nursing Editors (INANE) when taking place domestically. Registration and travel will be covered by ARN as outlined in the budget.