Rehabilitation and long-term management of the spinal cord injured adult.

Rehabilitation and long-term care of the spinal cord injured adult must be oriented toward prevention, be patient and family centered, and transcend all geographic settings. The nurse is a key coordinator and provider of care, as well as a facilitator of patient adaptation. The nurse involved in the care of the spinal cord injured adult must be knowledgeable in the rehabilitation and long-term care considerations essential to the reintegration and well-being of this population.