Association Of Rehabilitation Nurses (ARN)

The Association of Rehabilitation Nurses (ARN) was formed by Susan Novak in 1974 with support from Lutheran General Hospital in Park Ridge, Illinois, when rehabilitation nursing became recognized as a nursing specialty. By 1976, ARN was formally recognized as a specialty nursing organization by the American Nurses Association (ANA). As the needs of these specialty nurses grew, ARN developed the Certified Rehabilitation Registered Nurse (CRRN®) certification in 1984 and has turned over administration of the certification to the Rehabilitation Nursing Certification Board (RNCB), an autonomous component of ARN. The CRRN program is accredited by the American Board of Nursing Specialties. ARN’s mission is to promote and advance professional rehabilitation nursing practice through professional development, advocacy, collaboration, and research to enhance the quality of life for those affected by disability and chronic illness. We believe rehabilitation nursing is a philosophy of care and regardless of setting or role, if you are working toward the restoration, maintenance, and promotion of optimal health with patients who have physical disability or chronic illness—that is considered rehabilitation nursing.