Certified Rehabilitation Registered Nurse (CRRN)

The Certified Rehabilitation Registered Nurse (CRRN) is a great asset to professional rehabilitation nurses that want to advance in their careers; and for patients to feel confident in their rehabilitation nurse’s level of expertise. Rehabilitation nurses deal with patients who have long-term or chronic injuries or illnesses that require care for an extended period of time.

To take the CRRN examination, applicants must meet the following eligibility requirements at the time that they submit their application:

• All applicants must hold a current and unrestricted Registered Nurse (RN) license.
  and
• Within five years prior to taking the CRRN examination, applicants must have completed two years of practice as a registered professional nurse in rehabilitation nursing,
  or
  Within five years prior to taking the examination, applicants must have completed one year of practice as a registered professional nurse in rehabilitation nursing, and one year of advanced study (beyond a bachelor's degree) in nursing.

The CRRN examination is only available as a computer-based test. The examination consists of 175 multiple-choice questions with three hours allotted for completion. The examination's content falls into four major domains and candidates are expected to be familiar with the concepts and be able to perform the duties within these four domains:

1. Rehabilitation nursing models and theories: 11 percent

Identify nursing models and theories; use standards of care in order to plan, implement, and evaluate nursing practices.

2. Functional health patterns, including theories, physiology, assessment, standards of care, and interventions: 33 percent

Assess, plan, implement, and evaluate the outcome of health and disease management strategies; use standards of care for the restoration, maintenance, and promotion of a patient’s optimal health.

Assess and monitor the nutritional and metabolic needs of a patient through the interpretation of assessment data. Plan and implement an intervention strategy for reaching a patient’s optimal nutritional status, fluid volume, and skin integrity; then evaluate the outcome.

Determine a patient’s elimination needs using assessment data. Plan, implement, and evaluate the outcome of an individualized, regular, and predictable bowel and bladder management program.

Identify a patient's tolerance to activities and to an exercise routine. Assess the patient’s functional abilities and lifestyle to plan and implement an optimal self-care program. Evaluate the outcome of the patient’s mobility, respiratory, and cardiovascular functions.

Assess and plan activities for a patient who suffers from sleep-rest disturbances. Implement and evaluate the outcome of the strategies used to promote adequate rejuvenation.

Assess the cognitive perception issues of a patient by using the tools and standards of care available. Plan, implement, and then evaluate the strategies used to help the patient reach achievable independence.

Identify a patient’s self-image using interview and observation skills. Plan, implement, and then evaluate the outcome of the interventions used to promote optimal self-worth.

Recognize the forced changes in a patient’s role in personal relationships due to injury or illness. Plan, implement, and then evaluate the outcome of the strategies used to improve his altered lifestyle.

Identify and assess the sexuality and reproductive cycles of a patient. Plan, implement, and then evaluate the outcome of the appropriate strategies used to improve his developmental and functional abilities.

Assess the coping and stress management strategies used by a patient and his family while implementing an at-home plan-of-care. Plan, implement, and then evaluate the outcome of intervention strategies used to promote optimal interactions.

Assess a patient’s values and belief system. Plan, implement, and then evaluate the outcome of intervention strategies used to achieve holistic wellness.

Assess a patient’s spirituality. Plan, implement, and then evaluate the outcome of intervention strategies used to attain holistic health, peace, and spiritual well-being.

Assess a patient’s communication abilities and deficits. Use established techniques, and standard protocols and tools to plan, implement, and then evaluate the outcome of improvement strategies used to promote a patient’s communication of needs.

3. The function of the rehabilitation team and community re-entry: 35 percent

Interact with the interdisciplinary team members using effective communication skills and goal-setting in order to ensure a patient attains and maintains the highest level of independence and optimal health.

Identify and teach life skills to a patient. Use a variety of strategies to effectively return the patient to, and ensure he remains in, a community setting.

Use available resources to identify and coordinate a discharge strategy for a patient and his at-home caregiver. Ensure the patient receives the prescribed level of service and care.

4. Legislative, economic, ethical, and legal issues: 21 percent

Identify legislative and regulatory issues that can affect a patient with an altered functional ability. Use practice standards to promote a patient’s independence and to ensure his access to care.

Use appropriate and available resources to identify and implement cost-effective strategies to promote a patient’s optimal health.

Integrate knowledge of ethical and legal considerations, and use practice standards to advocate for a patient’s chronic illness and disability.