Neuroscience Nurse Career Overview
What Is a Neuroscience Nurse?
According to the American Association of Neuroscience Nurses (AANN), a neuroscience nurse is a nursing professional who “helps patients suffering from neurological problems,” which may be the result of either injuries or illnesses.
Injuries may include trauma to the head or spinal cord due to an accident or illnesses, “such as Parkinson’s disease, meningitis, encephalitis, epilepsy, and multiple sclerosis.”
How Long to Become?
2-4 Years
Job Outlook
6% increase from 2022 to 2032
Average Salary
$94,480
What Does a Neuroscience Nurse Do?
Neuroscience nurses can be registered nurses (RNs) or nurse practitioners (NPs)—who may also be referred to as advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs).
The neuroscience nurse’s credentials and state practice laws determine the scope of practice permitted. The setting in which care is provided also influences a neuroscience nurse’s duties.
The basic duties of a neuroscience nurse working in a clinical setting may include:
- Assessing and monitoring the patient’s status
- Documenting the patient’s medical history and symptoms in the patient record
- Creating and updating the patient’s plan of care
- Administering medications and treatments
- Performing various procedures
- Operating and monitoring medical equipment
- Providing patient and family support and education
How Much Does a Neuroscience Nurse Make Per Year?
According to salary data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the median annual wage for registered nurses is $86,070, with half of nurses earning more than that amount and half earning less. Wages of nurses in the lowest 10 percent average $63,720. Wages of nurses in the highest 10 percent average $132,680.
The BLS does not provide a pay breakdown according to specialty but does provide salary data for registered nurses according to general categories of work location. Since most neuroscience nurses care for patients in hospitals and rehabilitation facilities, the following annual mean wages may apply:
- General Medical and Surgical Hospitals: $96,830
- Specialty (except Psychiatric and Substance Abuse) Hospitals: $98,220
The salary of a neuroscience nurse is also influenced by factors such as education, experience, and geographical region of the country.
Annual Mean Wage of Registered Nurses, by State
- $69,030 - $80,760
- $81,390 - $86,210
- $87,220 - $94,670
- $94,830 - $137,690
Blank areas indicate data not available
Where Do Neuroscience Nurses Work?
The AANN says that neuroscience nurses work “in clinical, research, administrative, and educational settings, covering diverse areas of neuroscience patient care” that may include:
- multispecialty and neuroscience intensive care units
- general neuroscience units
- combination units (neuro/ortho, neuromuscular/rehabilitation, neuropsychiatry, neurogerontology)
- rehabilitation units
- medical-surgical units
- pediatric units
- emergency and trauma departments
- surgery
How Do I Become a Neuroscience Nurse?
The path to becoming a neuroscience nurse depends upon the credentials involved. Neuroscience nurses are registered nurses and must attend an accredited nursing program that leads to a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) or an Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN).
RNs must also be licensed in the state in which they work. Licensure can be obtained by passing the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX-RN) and meeting any additional requirements of the state’s board of nursing. The National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) offers a resource to determine state-based nursing licensure requirements.
Neuroscience nurses who are advanced practice nurses, such as nurse practitioners, are licensed registered nurses who obtain at least a master’s degree in their specialty role, pass a national certification exam, and hold an APRN license in their state.
Neuroscience nurses can also obtain various types of specialty certifications through credentialing organizations, such as the Association of Neurovascular Clinicians (ANVC) and the American Board of Neuroscience Nursing (ABNN).
Association of Neurovascular Clinicians
According to the ANVC, “Professional Certification in Acute Neurovascular Care Certification programs enable recognition of clinician attainment of knowledge and skills that promote excellence in patients care and safety. ANVC’s magnet recognized certification programs provide basic nursing and advanced practice clinicians with the opportunity to showcase their expertise in acute neurovascular practice.”
Available certifications for nurses include:
- NVRN-BC: “The Neurovascular Registered Nurse board certification examination is the only certification for registered nurses that focuses exclusively on acute neurovascular care.”
- ANVP-BC: “The Advanced Neurovascular Practitioner board certified examination is the premier certification in acute neurovascular clinical practice for non-physician, advanced practice clinicians.”
- ASC-BC: “The Advanced Stroke Coordinator board certification examination is the only certification for stroke coordinators that recognizes the unique and essential contributions of a stroke coordinator.”
American Board of Neuroscience Nursing
The ABNN says it is “the independent, not-for-profit corporation established to design, implement, and evaluate a certification program for professional nurses involved in the specialty practice of neuroscience nursing and its subspecialties. …The mission of ABNN is to promote and advance the practice of neuroscience nursing through specialty certification. ABNN’s vision is that every person with neurological health needs receives care from ABNN certified registered nurses.”
Available certifications for nurses include:
- Certified Neuroscience Registered Nurse (CNRN®): “The CNRN is the only credential that represents an all-encompassing knowledge of and experience with fundamental neuroscience nursing concepts. If you treat patients with neurological trauma, chronic illnesses, tumors, infections, seizures, and other conditions in your daily practice, then the CNRN credential may be ideal for your career growth.”
- Stroke Nursing Certification: “Expand your expertise in stroke nursing with the SCRN® certification, designed to promote excellence and professionalism in stroke patient care. As a stroke nurse, you can offer stroke patients hyperacute, acute, and post-acute care, as well as secondary and preventative care. With an SCRN certification, you can advance your career while providing better outcomes for your patients.”
The ABNN also notes that “the CNRN certification program was developed through the auspices of the American Association of Neurosurgical Nurses (now known as the American Association of Neuroscience Nurses [AANN]) in 1978. The SCRN certification program was developed by ABNN in 2013.”
The ABNN and AANN also offer certificate programs for neuroscience nurses. The ABNN describes the difference between a certification program and a certification.
“A certificate program is different from a certification in that it is usually an educational offering that confers a document at the program’s conclusion,” the ABNN says. “A certification refers to an earned credential that demonstrates the holder’s specialized knowledge, skills, and experience. The programs are perfect for nurses, specialists, and healthcare professionals that practice in the seizure and epilepsy specialty or those looking to work on an epilepsy specialty unit.”
The two certificate programs available include:
- Certificate Program for the Seizure and Epilepsy Healthcare Professional (6 Modules)
- Certificate Program for the Seizure and Epilepsy Healthcare Professional in a Comprehensive Epilepsy Center (8 Modules)
What Are the Benefits of Being a Neuroscience Nurse?
Although being a neuroscience nurse can be challenging, it can be very rewarding, too. Neuroscience nurses care for patients who may have serious, life-altering conditions. These patients require compassionate care that demonstrates an understanding of their limitations and also motivates them to stay engaged in the healing process.
As one neuroscience nurse said in an interview for Minority Nurse®, “Being able to facilitate and witness a patient’s recovery from initial treatment and rehab to having a more fruitful quality of life with their families is extremely rewarding.”
She also noted that she enjoys the variety of care she provides every day: “To this day, [the diverse work] is one of the primary aspects of neuroscience nursing that I truly enjoy and find completely gratifying. …The ability to learn something new amidst changing and challenging situations keeps me engaged, interested, and motivated in my work every single day.”
Additional Resources About Becoming a Neuroscience Nurse
To learn more about becoming a Neuroscience nurse, these additional resources may help:
