AANN Core Curriculum, 7th Edition, Ch. 29 Rehabilitation: Digital Version-Chapter 29

Chapter 29

Pdf Summary

Rehabilitation nursing helps people with acute or chronic illness, injury, or disability achieve the greatest possible function, health, independence, and quality of life. Nurses use a holistic biopsychosocial approach, working with patients, families, and an interprofessional team to set goals, prevent complications, educate, coordinate care, and support community reintegration. Services span acute inpatient rehabilitation, long-term acute care, skilled nursing, assisted living, home health, and outpatient therapy.<br /><br />Functional assessment informs individualized care and discharge planning. It considers medical and social history, housing and accessibility, education and work, leisure and community participation, transportation, culture, assistive devices, and current ability to perform activities of daily living (ADLs) and instrumental ADLs. Outcomes may be measured using the Functional Independence Measure (FIM) and standardized patient assessment data elements (SPADE).<br /><br />Rehabilitation nurses care for people with neurological conditions—including stroke, traumatic brain and spinal cord injuries, peripheral nerve disorders, and neurodegenerative disease—as well as polytrauma and nonneurological conditions such as amputation, arthritis, burns, and orthopedic injuries. Common functional challenges include impaired cognition or behavior, limited mobility, inadequate nutrition, skin problems, communication and sensory deficits, swallowing difficulty, bladder or bowel dysfunction, pain, altered sexuality, and challenges coping with change.<br /><br />Care aims to promote safety and independence while preventing complications such as falls, aspiration, pressure injuries, infections, malnutrition, contractures, and loss of conditioning. Interventions include mobility and range-of-motion programs, adaptive equipment, communication aids, safe swallowing strategies, individualized bladder and bowel programs, skin protection, nutrition support, and patient and caregiver education. Emotional support, attention to depression, and respectful discussion of sexuality are also important.<br /><br />Emerging opportunities include regenerative medicine, disease-modifying biologic therapies, brain–computer interfaces, smartphone-based assistive technology, and telehealth. These developments may expand independence and access to rehabilitation, while requiring attention to safety, privacy, and other practical barriers.

Keywords

rehabilitation nursing

functional assessment

activities of daily living

neurological disorders

mobility impairment

patient education

complication prevention

assistive technology

interprofessional care

telehealth