As a nurse at Mountain Valley Regional Rehabilitation Hospital (MVRRH), I recall many long nights studying as a nursing student at Northland Pioneer College in Show Low.
When I selected nursing as my major, I knew the classwork would be intense, but it didn’t intimidate me. I was entering a field where people’s lives literally depended on me, and that’s a sobering responsibility. I knew it was my job to learn as much as I could to help my future patients. The more I could learn, the better nurse I’d be.
After nine years in the profession, I still feel the same way. Like many of my colleagues, I value the importance of staying abreast of the latest medical developments, techniques and treatments in my field through professional continuing education. I have to keep up with the latest medical treatments and techniques so I can provide the best care possible to my patients. I’m committed to lifelong learning in my field – both what is mandatory, and what I can add to it voluntarily.
In addition to the continuing education necessary to maintain my state nursing license, I also have voluntarily earned and maintained the national Certified Rehabilitation Registered Nurse (CRRN) credential. Nurses who achieve this credential demonstrate knowledge, experience and commitment to excellence in providing comprehensive care to people with physical disabilities or chronic illnesses.
To earn the CRRN designation, I met clinical practice requirements in rehabilitation nursing and passed an exam that confirmed extensive knowledge in the field. The exam covered the scope of rehabilitation nursing practice including models and theories; functional health patterns such as theories, physiology, assessment, standards of care and interventions in individuals with injury, chronic illness and disability across the lifespan; function of the rehabilitation team; community re-entry; and legislative, economic, ethical and legal issues.
Deciding to pursue this certification was an easy decision. I’m committed to providing the best care I can for my patients who may have disabilities or chronic illnesses. I want to provide them with optimal opportunities so they can function to the best of their abilities. I think I do this by continually expanding my knowledge in rehabilitative care.
Along with CRRNs, some of the staff at MVRRH also are Neuro-IFRAH certified. This means that they have specialized knowledge to treat and manage adults who have suffered brain injuries or strokes. Others are certified hand therapists who focus on the rehabilitation treatment of the hand and upper limbs, which can include tendon, peripheral nerve, crush or repetitive motion injuries.
“Continuing education among our healthcare team – through specialized classes or certifications – is highly encouraged and supported at the hospital because it’s essential in providing high quality care to our patients,” said Dr. Alan Berman, medical director of Mountain Valley Regional Rehabilitation Hospital. “As a physician, therapist, nurse or other healthcare professional, we all need to stay abreast of latest medical developments for our patients’ sakes. We’re responsible and accountable for their recoveries and healing, and we take that responsibility extremely seriously. By continuing to grow and specialize in our knowledge, we can provide the latest care with confidence so our patients get the best results.” QCBN
Monica Durocher, RN, CRRN is director of case management at Mountain Valley Regional Rehabilitation Hospital.
Mountain Valley Regional Rehabilitation Hospital is a 40-bed, free-standing rehabilitation hospital that provides intensive physical rehabilitation services to patients recovering from strokes, brain, spinal cord, and orthopedic injuries, and other impairments as a result of injury or illness. For more information, visit MVRRH.ernesthealth.com.
3700 N. Windsong • Prescott Valley, AZ 86314 • (P) 928-759-8800• (F) 928-775-7781 • MVRRH.ernesthealth.com
Leave a Reply