Contact Us:

Member Spotlight

 Shirley Bristow,  MSN, RN, CRRN

Clinical Rehabilitation Nurse of the Year, 2001

Congratulations to Shirley on her achievement of the Master of Science in Nursing from the University of Texas-Houston in May, 2003.  She has earned her degree in the Nursing Education program.  We are proud of Shirley’s accomplishment, and wish her further success in her career. 

Current Employment:  Memorial-Hermann Hospital,  Medical Center

Position:  Clinical Nurse Educator   

ARN Involvement:    SETX Chapter member since 1998

                                      Two-Year Board Member 2002-2004

                                      Chairperson: Rehabilitation Nursing Review Workshop

                                      June EXPO and Scholarship Fundraiser Committee

 

What Rehabilitation Nursing Means To Me: Coming Home

Shirley states that she was slow to realize her destiny as a rehabilitation nurse, despite the fact that every nursing position she held contained a rehabilitation focus.  In fact, even her activities as a youth included working with individuals with disabilities.   

Shirley’s volunteer activities as a youth included working with a child with cerebral palsy as well as summer camp with the trainable mentally retarded.  She later joined the US Army as a medic and physical therapy technician where she worked with soldiers with amputations and neurological impairments. Throughout positions as a nursing assistant, as a graduate ADN nurse in a nursing home, and as a BSN student at The Institute for Rehabilitation and Research (TIRR) Shirley worked with individuals with chronic illness and disability.   As a graduate student, she frequently brought up the rehabilitation component in the life of the elderly client.  Maximizing their potential enhances their quality of life.   

Shirley concludes, “ So, for me, rehabilitation nursing defines my practice, sustains my belief that everyone can improve their quality of life and is as comfortable and natural as coming home.  Rehabilitation nursing is where I live”.

[Top]