A restorative nurse assists patients in regaining their health and self-sufficiency after a serious accident or illness. Nurses who work in this field can work in a variety of settings, including hospitals, nursing homes, and rehabilitation centers. They may also work with patients in their homes and are in charge of overseeing and monitoring a patient’s recovery regimen. He or she may also take on supervisory responsibilities in some cases, overseeing a team of health care professionals who help patients recover. Restorative nurses’ licensing and training varies jurisdiction and may include additional education and professional certification.
When a person suffers a major health crisis, she often requires both time and specialized care to recover and return to normalcy. These people may never fully recover, but they will have to learn to adapt to their new limitations. In other cases, a person may be able to return to full health after a lengthy and frustrating rehabilitation process. A restorative nurse can help the patient and his caregivers adjust to their current health situation and work toward their health and rehabilitation goals during this time.
A restorative nurse may be responsible for coordinating the patient’s care, depending on the circumstances in which he works with the patient. The nurse, for example, may collaborate with the patient’s doctors to ensure that his recommendations are followed the patient’s daily caregivers. The nurse might collaborate with physical and occupational therapists to ensure that the patient receives the necessary rehabilitative and adaptive training. He may also collaborate with a social worker in situations where the patient’s home environment is in question, or where the patient is at risk of abuse or exploitation. A restorative nurse who is also a registered nurse (RN) may be called upon to supervise licensed practical nurses (LPNs) and certified nursing assistants (CNAs), who are in charge of much of a patient’s hands-on care.
The education and training required to work as a restorative care nurse vary, and some states require that nurses in charge of these facilities be certified through an approved training program. Restorative care nurses may also receive on-the-job training or additional continuing education course work focusing on restorative care and rehabilitation in some cases. Some organizations sponsor restorative health care training for LPNs and CNAs in addition to RN training programs.