Focus on rehabilitation in the acute care setting: the role of the neuro clinical nurse specialist.

Establishment of an early rehabilitation program for patients with neurological/neurosurgical illness or injury is the focus of this article. The Neuroscience Clinical Nurse Specialist (NCNS) is identified as having a major responsibility in initiating early rehabilitation in the acute care setting. Development of the rehabilitation program is discussed through the NCNS's roles as educator, clinician, consultant, and researcher. Implementation of the rehabilitation program emphasizes the use of the nursing process, the role of the staff nurse, active patient and family participation, and use of the interdisciplinary team approach. General concepts rather than specific practices are used in order to present an overview of the role.