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Member Spotlight, August 2003

 

Renita Alexander, BSN, RN, CRRN

 

Nurse Administrator of the Year, 2001

Congratulations to Renita as the new 2003-2004 Treasurer of Southeast Texas Chapter ARN!

Current Employment:  The Institute for Rehabilitation and Research (TIRR)

Position:  Assistant Nurse Manager, Brain Injury

ARN Involvement:             SETX Chapter member since 1992

                                               SETX Chapter Treasurer 2003-2004

                                               Membership Committee

                                               Newsletter Committee

Renita enjoys the educational opportunities as well as the team interaction with peers from other facilities offered by her active involvement with the SETX chapter.

Exceptional Accomplishment:  Renita coordinated the plans for all of TIRR during the first 8 hours or more of the Tropical Storm Allison flood in 2001.  Under her direction, all the needs of the patients were met. 

Past Work Experience:  Renita’s past experience in oncology nursing brought her to rehabilitation.  She especially enjoyed working with the family as team members in oncology, as well as helping individuals learn to care for themselves. 

What Rehabilitation Nursing Means to Me: Two Views 

Renita writes:  In my role as Assistant Nurse Manager, I have two views of rehabilitation nursing.  These two aspects are directed towards the patient/family member and the nursing staff team.

For patient/family members, I see the Rehabilitation Nurse as a participant in building or re-establishing the patient/family member independence into their everyday life.  The Rehabilitation Nurse would be available to assist, direct and/or guide the patient/family member in returning to his/her own individual level of normalcy, in which he/she can function, as close as possible, to his/her pre-injury status.  This would incorporate the Rehabilitation Nurse’s expertise in providing education and teaching regarding some of the rehabilitation nursing components of nutrition, skin integrity, bowel and bladder elimination, cognition and behavior, and rest and sleep habits. 

In addition, the Rehabilitation Nurse would be there to allow and encourage the patient/family to be his/her/their own instructor for meeting their care needs.  The patient/family member’s ability to ask for help and plan for assistance in preparation for their need(s) shows the level of growth in independence reached.  Also, this is reflective of the relationship of interdependence between the Rehabilitation Nurse and the patient/family member.  Together, as a team they will practice to achieve the highest degree of interdependence, in order to provide the most optimistic quality of life for the patient/family member.

For the nursing staff team, I view my role in rehabilitation nursing as providing support and trust.  The amount of support I give to the Nursing staff is shown in my ability to provide and maintain the proper equipment needed for them to provide patient care.  The equipment varies from technical and complex machinery to simple basic nursing tools.  Without the availability of a needed item, it could make meeting that patient’s need more difficult and stressful to the nursing staff team.  Another area of support given to the nursing staff is in recruiting, hiring and maintaining competent nursing staff.  This can be challenging when there seems to be no resources in sight, then rewarding when positions are filled and the nursing staff is operating as an effective team. 

Regarding the factor of trust, the nursing staff should see me as being an individual that allows them to express their concerns and needs without fear of repercussion.  I also strive to allow them to grow in areas that meet the needs of the patient as well as their own personal needs. 

In conclusion, my role and view of “What Rehabilitation Nursing Means to Me” has many angles and faces. All shape into meeting the individual needs of the patient/family, as the client who is currently in need of my care, compassion and expertise in order to return to his/her life.

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