President's Message: My Unexpected Path to Rehabilitation

Mary Ellen Hatch, MSN RN CRRN FARN, the President of the Association of Rehabilitation Nurses (ARN) for the 2023-2024 term, extends a heartfelt message to ARN members and the wider public, reflecting on her unexpected path to nursing and leadership. 

I never planned to be where I am today. 

I never envisioned that I would find myself in this position today. And by "this position," I don't just mean serving as the current President of ARN. In fact, I never aspired to become a nurse. My initial plan was to attend medical school and follow in the footsteps of Quincy, M.E. – the titular character from that beloved, somewhat cheesy television series, portrayed by Jack Klugman in the late 1970s to early 1980s. Quincy was a medical examiner for Los Angeles County, who regularly dove into police investigations. He utilized his forensic skills to solve crimes, right injustices, and contribute to a better world. Quincy always had the answers or was determined to uncover them. He connected with grieving families during their darkest hours, guiding them through their hardships. He was a true advocate for others, going wherever the case led him!

Hey, that sounds familiar.  

Let's pause for a moment. Minus the fact that Quincy's clients were deceased, doesn't his role sound remarkably similar to that of a rehabilitation nurse? On my Quincy pathway, I eventually found my way into nursing school, specialized in critical care, and, ultimately, embarked on a career in rehabilitation, where the seeds of advocacy began to grow. It's hard to believe that I've now been a rehabilitation nurse for nearly three decades! During this time, I've served in various roles, including supervisor, quality director, educator, manager, regional director, and now as Vice President of Nursing at Encompass Health.

Only in rehab.

Nowhere else in the realm of nursing will you find a group of professionals as dedicated as rehabilitation nurses to helping each patient and their families regain their lives, regardless of the challenges they face or the paths they once walked.

This Year at ARN.

As President, my goal is to infuse a touch of Quincy's advocacy into my role and inspire each of you to do the same. Are you familiar with our strategic plan? Our pillars of focus center on Engagement, Visibility, and Knowledge and Practice.

Engagement

Engaging our members entails advocating for the resources necessary for rehabilitation nurses. Over the past few years, you've seen numerous surveys and focus groups. These are avenues for two-way communication that we're committed to building. We want to hear from you about your needs. Remember, the ARN Board of Directors is always eager to engage in conversations with you! We encourage each one of you to reach out with your questions, concerns, and ideas for the advancement of our organization and profession.

Visibility

ARN stands as the primary source for evidence-based rehabilitation nursing, education, and practice. If you haven't already, we strongly recommend exploring ARN's new CRRN Success Suite, a treasure trove of materials designed to prepare and educate individuals for the CRRN exam. In addition to the CRRN prep course materials, ARN is proud to announce the digitizing of the Core Curriculum into a wiki known as the Rehabilitation Nursing Knowledge Base. Everything previously stored in ARN's Core Curriculum in now in an easily accessible and searchable digital format. 

Knowledge

Knowledge and Practice are instrumental in championing the science of rehabilitation nursing. I fondly recall my initial "light bulb moments" as a rehabilitation nurse, witnessing the efficacy of bladder management programs tailored to specific neurological problems. In my previous role as a critical care nurse, we never had the privilege of reaching such a level of functionality; it was often a matter of life or death, breathing or not. I'm genuinely passionate about what we do!

One way to continue our mission of advancing our practice is to donate to the Rehabilitation Nursing Foundation (RNF), which is dedicated to advancing rehabilitation nursing practice by promoting, developing, and/or engaging in educational activities and scientific research to improve the quality of health care to individuals with a disability or chronic illness. Annually, the RNF offers scholarships and grants to fund the advancement of science. 

In many episodes of my cherished Quincy series, he frequently found himself in front of regulatory bodies or gatherings of leaders, endeavoring to change their minds on issues vital to the health and safety of his county's residents. Little did they know that he could have just as well been a rehabilitation nurse!

About Mary Ellen Hatch 

Mary Ellen Hatch, Vice President, Nursing Operations, Encompass Health Corporation. With over 38 years of nursing experience, she has been involved in rehabilitation practice for 29 years serving in nursing and quality roles, regionally and corporately. She holds a Master of Science Degree in Nursing Leadership and Administration and is certified as a rehabilitation nurse. An active member of the Association of Rehabilitation Nurses, Hatch serves on the ARN Board of Directors and was elected President Elect in 2023. Serving as a subject matter expert in post-acute care, Hatch serves on the Continuum of Care Committee for the American Organization for Nursing Leadership. During the pandemic Hatch has spoken several times regarding COVID- 19's impact on rehabilitation nursing and has recently published an article on the topic in Nursing Administration Quarterly. In 2021, Hatch was named a Fellow in the Association of Rehabilitation Nurses.