Rehabilitation nurses help individuals affected by chronic illness or physical disability to adapt to their disabilities, achieve their greatest potential, and work toward productive, independent lives.
If so, what’s holding you back?
Did you know, INTEGRIS Health provides:
Along with offering:
You have two months out of the year to test: June and December
Deadline for application to test April 15th & October 15th.
For additional information, please visit www.rehabnurse.org.
For more information please contact Trista Walter, RN, CRRN at 405-949-3646 or via email at [email protected].
The field of physical rehabilitation, an interdisciplinary healthcare specialty, gained momentum following the two world wars in the 20th century. Many soldiers survived these war-related injuries, but faced severe and long-term disability. As a result, military hospitals established rehabilitation units that focused extensive efforts on returning these young veterans to a productive and meaningful life within society. Soon to follow, rehabilitation units and hospitals emerged around the country in both academic and community-based settings around the U.S.
By 1974, the Association of Rehabilitation Nurses (ARN) was formed and nursing, which had always been involved in rehabilitation, formally became recognized as a rehabilitation specialty. ARN was formally recognized as a specialty nursing organization by the American Nurses Association in 1976. The Certified Rehabilitation Nurse (CRRN®) exam was first administered in 1984. The CRRN certification program is accredited by the American Board of Nursing Specialties and is now administered by the Rehabilitation Nursing Certification Board (RNCB), an autonomous component of ARN.
Rehabilitation nurses help individuals affected by chronic illness or physical disability to adapt to their disabilities, achieve their greatest potential, and work toward productive, independent lives. They take a holistic approach to meeting patients’ medical, vocational, educational, environmental, and spiritual needs. INTEGRIS Health Jim Thorpe Rehabilitation Hospital encourages all RN staff to become a CRRN. When registered nurses become CRRN, it documents their level of knowledge in the specialized area of rehabilitation. Being certified shows a commitment to continued learning in the field of rehabilitation. Eligible staff must be registered nurses with a current unrestricted license and have rehabilitation experience from one to two years depending on other qualifications.
INTEGRIS Health Jim Thorpe Rehabilitation has 21 CRRNs, Jill Campbell, Laurie Cloughly, Lynda Copeland, Julia Kirk, Janet Lang, Paula Means, Pam Montgomery, Beverly Parkers, Karen Powell, Karla Schultz, Arlene Stevens, Randall Stewart, Moncy Thomas, and Melanie Thorne. Two of our clinical directors, Albert Kotey and Charlene Thorne, are also CRRNs. We are proud to announce that five of our 21 CRRNs recently passed the exam in December 2011. Congratulations to our recent graduates Lori Factor, Debbie Foyil, Linda Keith, Jollie Mani, and Sandra Mosshammer.
“I was inspired to look into taking the Certified Rehabilitation test after seeing the notices posted about the review classes. I wasn’t able to attend all the review classes but received study help. I have learned so much about my profession in the studying process. I gained insight into some aspects of rehabilitation that I formally hadn’t known before.
Since passing the exam I have had at least 4-5 nurses come to me, asking about the test and my experience in taking it. I hope those that have inquired will be moved to also take the test to become certified nurses.
It is great that INTEGRIS Health helps to encourage staff to become certified by paying for the test, having review classes and paying a bonus for passing. I also wanted to sincerely thank my boss, Vanessa Tucker-Davis, for re-arranging my schedule to allow me time off for study classes or studying." Jolli Mani CRRN
“I had been a nurse in rehabilitation for more than 10 years when I took the CRRN exam. We only had a set of audio tapes and the Rehabilitation Nursing Core Curriculum for studying. I took the test on December 4, 1993. It was a very cold windy day with snow. To take the test we had to go to the OU Health Sciences Center Library. At the last minute they decided the room was not big enough so they moved us across the street to another building into a classroom. We walked. There was no heat in the room. I had my coat on the whole time so did the monitor. The test was paper and pencil. With all the distractions I just knew there was no way I had passed the test. We had to wait 6-8 weeks to get the results. Amazingly I passed. I am still glad to this day I took the test.” Pam Montgomery BSBN RN CRRN
“I passed my CRRN test in December 2001. I had only worked in the Jim Thorpe Rehabilitation Hospital since January 1999. I remember studying like I was retaking my RN board exams. Having only worked in rehabilitation three years there was plenty still to learn, especially new diagnoses for me and case management issues. I personally learned so much from the course that Jim Thorpe sent me to in New Orleans and home studying from the ARN core curriculum.
Since passing the test I enjoy the publications that I had received via the mail that the Association of Rehabilitation Nurses mails out (since last year those come electronically). I have also enjoyed the email updates on what is happening around the US in other rehabilitation hospitals.
I appreciate all INTEGRIS Health does to encourage and reward their staff on becoming certified.” Melanie Thorne RN, BSN, CRRN
“The value of the CRRN certification cannot be overstated. Certification and the continuing education required to maintain it, helps the RN to experience personal growth and self-confidence in the performance of his/her work. Certification also validates knowledge, experience and clinical judgment which customers are more likely to look for when selecting a rehabilitation hospital.” Albert Kotey, RN, CRRN
“As a clinical director, it makes me proud in knowing that we have the type of nurses that want to grow and improve their rehabilitation knowledge base by receiving their rehab certification. Secondly, it's a feeling of confidence knowing that our CRRNs are highly skilled, clinically, in our rehabilitation specialty hospital to provide the best care for our patients. Every year, I try to encourage at least one more nurse to take the exam. I have a feeling that this challenge is "catching" and our nurses are being inspired by their colleagues." Vanessa Tucker-Davis, RN, Clinical Director, INTEGRIS Health Jim Thorpe Rehabilitation Hospital
