Critical care elements in a rehabilitation nursing course

This article describes a specialized rehabilitation education program, based on adult learning theory, that was developed to promote retention of rehabilitation nurses at MetroHealth Center for Rehabilitation in Cleveland. The curriculum encompasses the skills required to care for rehabilitation patients needing both advanced rehabilitation nursing and critical care nursing. Critical care and rehabilitation nurses collaborated in the presentation of topics and were guided by the course coordinators. Learners were chosen based on experience in rehabilitation, with priority given to those certified in rehabilitation nursing. A variety of evaluation methods elicited positive responses. A 6-month postcourse survey also was completed to assess the long-term effects of the course.