Healing Beyond Medicine

November 1, 2023

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Story by Ann E. Butenas

Explore the multifaceted, essential roles of rehab nurses who navigate the intersection of medical expertise and empathetic care at MidAmerica Rehabilitation Hospital.

In the labyrinthine journey toward recovery, rehab nurses stand as beacons of hope and healing, intertwining medical proficiency with profound compassion. Christine DeNiro, BSN, RN, CRRN, and President-Elect of the Association of Rehabilitation Nurses (ARN) Kansas City Chapter, sheds light on the multifaceted and pivotal role rehabilitation nurses play in this sacred expedition of healing and well-being. For the rehab nurses at MidAmerica Rehabilitation Hospital, this is truly a calling.

Fostering Growth with the Association of Rehabilitation Nurses

The ARN transcends being merely an organization; it’s a collective, a community where rehabilitation nursing practice is nurtured through robust pillars of education, advocacy, collaboration, and research. Particularly, the Kansas City Chapter blossoms as a focal point where members interlace expertise and experiences, magnifying their impact on patient outcomes and professional development. ARN catalyzes the proliferation of best practices and continuing education while availing platforms, such as their annual conference, to knit the expertise of Certified Rehabilitation Registered Nurses (CRRNs) nationwide.

“I joined ARN to network with rehab nursing experts and to learn how other rehab hospitals in Kansas City practice the specialty art of rehabilitation nursing,” emphasized DeNiro. “ARN provides a lot of continuing education, as well as tools that offer best practices.”

A Kaleidoscope of Daily Endeavors: No Typical Day in Rehab Nursing

“There is no such thing as a typical day for a rehabilitation nurse,” DeNiro revealed, underlining a fundamental truth about the profession. In fact, according to DeNiro, every day unfurls in its own way, centering most crucially on patient care, family support, and nursing collaboration.

“The most important priority is caring for the patient and supporting their family and also supporting fellow nurses,” noted DeNiro. “Each relationship with a patient and their family is unique and special in its own way.”

At MidAmerica Rehabilitation Hospital, patients are offered high-quality, individualized care. Each rehab nurse moves beyond physical frontiers, navigating the complex medical conditions of patients and establishing optimized care plans. They become agents of continual learning and professional growth, ensuring each patient is steered towards optimal functionality and wellness.

A Confluence of Expertise: Collaborative Healthcare

Rehab nurses transform into various essential roles, acting as collaborators, educators, care coordinators, advocates, and change agents. Their collaboration with diverse healthcare professionals—including physiatrists, occupational therapists, physical therapists, and speech therapists—enriches comprehensive care plans. Rehabilitation nursing isn’t merely a work setting; it’s a philosophy of care, a boundless continuum involving varied treatments and settings.

CRRN: A Seal of Specialized Expertise

Holding a CRRN designation is a testament to a heightened tier of knowledge and specialty in the field. Beyond understanding the specific pathophysiology related to injuries or impairments, CRRNs delve into realms of ethics, advocacy, and policies that impact individuals with disabilities, thereby enhancing quality of life and levels of independence.

Technology: The Unseen Hand in Rehab Nursing

The advent and advancement of technology have imbued rehabilitation nursing with newfound precision and efficacy. By engaging with advanced medical equipment and data management systems that optimize patient care coordination, rehab nurses are

empowered to intensify the accuracy and impact of rehabilitative care. They do this while also preserving the irreplaceable human element that defines their work.

Holistic Healing: Beyond the Physical

The holistic approach of rehab nurses at MidAmerica Rehabilitation Hospital becomes a sanctuary for patients dealing with catastrophic injuries.

“We take tough, life altering situations with catastrophic injuries and find the good in them,” expressed DeNiro. “Rehab nurses build confidence on their journey to leading a meaningful life. I have personally seen so many remarkable recoveries at MidAmerica Rehabilitation Hospital. It’s like watching miracles right before your own eyes. The compassion and empathy of a rehabilitation nurse is incomparable,” continued DeNiro.

It is clearly obvious the rehab nurses at MidAmerica Rehabilitation Hospital continually engage in a relentless pursuit of holistic healing supported by a symphony of hope, recovery, and renewed life.