Neuroscience Nurse

Neuroscience Nurse Career

Neuroscience nurses are nursing professionals who care for patients with neurological problems, including patients with head and spinal trauma or conditions such as Parkinson's disease, meningitis, encephalitis, epilepsy and multiple sclerosis. As defined by a publication by the American Nurses Association (ANA) and the American Association of Neuroscience Nurses (AANN), neuroscience nurses address the needs and care of patients with biological, psychological, social, and spiritual alterations as a result of a nervous system dysfunction.

Conditions that neuroscience nurses may expect to encounter and treat include strokes, traumatic brain injuries, intracranial bleeding, paraplegia, quadriplegia, Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, and dementia. Specific job duties may include administering tests and medicine, monitoring neurological activity, post-operative recovery, keeping accurate patient records and communicating and informing other medical staff of the patient’s condition.

Neuroscience Nurse Education

To become a certified neuroscience registered nurse, you must at least have earned a RN license. To become an RN, it is required to pursue and complete an approved nursing degree program. RN licensure requirements vary by state; New York, for example, accepts license-qualifying associate, bachelor's, master's, or diploma nursing programs for initial RN licensure, though its BSN-in-10 law requires many RNs who aren't otherwise exempt to earn a bachelor's or higher nursing degree within 10 years of initial licensure in order to continue their registration.

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Certified Neuroscience Registered Nurse Certification

There are two certifications offered by the American Board of Neuroscience Nursing (ABNN) in relation to neuroscience nursing:

ABNN – Certified Neuroscience Registered Nurse (CNRN)

Eligibility Requirements: Candidates must have a valid registered nurse license from the U.S. Canada, or a U.S. territory that grants licensure utilizing the U.S. State Board Test Pool Examination or the NCLEX. In addition, RNs must have one year of full-time experience, or 2,080 hours, in direct or indirect neuroscience practice within the last three years.
Certification Process: RNs should apply to take the examination, a passing score and matched eligibility requirements lead to attainment of the certification.
Fees: Examination application fees for non-members are $400 and $300 for AANN members. Fees are increased by $25 if paying by check for each.
Renewal: The certification is valid for five years. Applicants can renew their certification by re-examination or through one of these two continuing education options:

  • Two years of full-time (4,160 hours) practice in neuroscience nursing, plus 75 continuing education hours or;
  • Two years part-time (2,500 hours) practice in neuroscience nursing, plus 100 continuing education hours.

ABNN – Stroke Certified Registered Nurse (SCRN)

Eligibility Requirements: Candidates must have a valid registered nurse license from the U.S. Canada, or a U.S. territory that grants licensure utilizing the U.S. State Board Test Pool Examination or the NCLEX. In addition, RNs must have one year of full-time experience, or 2,080 hours, in direct or indirect stroke nursing practice within the last three years.
Certification Process: RNs should apply to take the examination, a passing score and matched eligibility requirements lead to attainment of the certification.
Fees: Examination application fees for non-members are $400 and $300 for AANN members. Fees are increased by $25 if paying by check for each.
Renewal: The certification is valid for five years. Applicants can renew their certification by re-examination or through one of these two continuing education options:

  • Two years of full-time (4,160 hours) practice in caring for stroke patients in the last five years, plus 50 continuing education hours or;
  • Two years part-time (2,500 hours) practice in caring for stroke patients in the last five years, plus 75 continuing education hours.

Information for the ABNN certifications was last verified in October 2026 directly against ABNN's own certification site. For the most up-to-date information, refer to the ABNN website.

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Information last updated: October 2026