Rozina Aziz Neuroscience nursing is an advanced specialty in the medical industry. Read our comprehensive guide to learn more about how to become a neuroscience nurse? and what it entails.
What Is a Neuroscience Nurse?
A neurology nurse, sometimes known as a neuroscience nurse, is a registered nurse specializing in caring for patients with neurological disorders. They might collaborate with other medical professionals like physiatrists, psychologists, neurologists, and surgeons.
Neuroscience nurses provide treatment for a wide variety of conditions affecting the brain and spinal cord.
- Strokes
- Traumatic brain injuries (TBI)
- Parkinson’s
- Epilepsy
- Disruptions to the spinal cord
- Multiple sclerosis (MS)
- Disease due to Alzheimer’s
What other specialties are related to neuroscience nursing?
There are numerous opportunities for professional development in the field of neurology. A few examples of similar disciplines are:
- Clinical psychologist
- Researchers in the medical field
- Physical and occupational therapy
- Pharmacology
- Rehabilitative exercise
- Speech therapy
Any of these fields can benefit from the skills and expertise you’ve gained as a neurosurgical nurse.
What does a neuroscience nurse do?
Neuroscience nurses help their patients reach their therapeutic goals by enforcing treatment programs, tending to their patients’ physical requirements, and talking compassionately with them to boost their mental health.
Neuroscience nurses may evaluate their patient’s health and mental status in this capacity. Patients may benefit from their help with activities of daily living, such as mobility. Physical rehabilitation therapy, medication management, procedure preparation, and wound care are some clinical responsibilities that neuro nurses may share with doctors.
What are the skills of a neuroscience nurse?
Nurses who specialize in neuroscience often have a diverse set of abilities, including both hard and soft talents. Skills such as these are essential for the professional development of neuroscience nurses.
Understanding of neurological diseases:
Neuroscience nurses are experts in nursing; therefore, they know all about the brain and nervous system. They know the signs and symptoms of various diseases and can help their patients improve. Neuroscience nurses usually learn about these disorders and how to treat them in specialized training programs.
Reasoning critically:
Nurses rely on their critical thinking skills to deal with the various situations they may face. Neuroscience nurses must think critically to choose the appropriate treatment for each patient. Creative problem-solving, sound inference, conclusion drawing, and sound decision-making are all components of critical thinking.
Communication:
To be successful in nursing, you need to have excellent communication skills. Nurses frequently collaborate with other medical professionals. To provide optimal care for their patients, it is helpful if they can collaborate with other members of the healthcare team.
Effective communication skills are also essential for nurses. They may work with patients to provide education on treatments, drug administration instructions, and rehabilitation facility. A nurse’s ability to express herself clearly in writing is also useful for documenting patient care and submitting reports.
Empathy:
Neurology nurse may treat their patients with kindness and care. Nursing staff with high levels of empathy and tolerance could better assist patients with neurological disorders, whose symptoms can be complex and profoundly impact their behavior. Empathy is characterized by attentive listening, considering the other person’s point of view, asking probing questions, and providing encouragement and affirmation.
What qualifications do you need to become a neuroscience nurse?
The following is a list of the typical educational credentials held by neurology nurses who are employed in healthcare facilities:
Bachelor’s Degree:
A four-year degree is required to enter the nursing profession. Neuroscience nurses can get their license with either an Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) or a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN). It is essential to enroll in a recognized program; therefore, prospective students should do their homework before enrolling. Also, looking into your location’s educational and license prerequisites is a good idea.
Certifications:
Certifications in specific areas of neuroscience may be necessary to secure employment at some companies. Some of the most popular credentials held by neuro-nurses are as follows:
Professionally Recognized Neuroscience Nurse (CNRN):
Candidates can take the CNRN examination to earn certification as neurology nurses. To sit for the exam, you must have worked as an RN for at least a year or logged 2,080 hours in neurology practice. One example is direct patient contact in a neurology ward; indirect patient contact can be research, advice, or supervision. Certified Nurse Midwives can recertify every five years.
Registered Nurse with Certification in Stroke (SCRN):
The Stroke Certification Registered Nurse (SCRN) is a credential for registered nurses who wish to focus on stroke care or work in a specialized stroke unit. Candidates must take and pass the SCRN examination and complete other prerequisites to receive the SCRN credential.
To become a Stroke Certified Registered Nurse (SCRN), an applicant must have completed 12 months of work as an RN or accrued 2,080 hours of experience with stroke patients. The certification should be renewed every five years.
How to become a neuroscience nurse?
To become a neurological nurse, one must have the necessary education and experience prerequisites. Earning additional credentials may be useful for certain specializations in neurology.
Earn a nursing degree:
Obtaining a nursing degree is the initial need for entering the field of neuroscience nursing. Although some states and businesses do not demand a bachelor’s degree for entry-level nursing positions, others do. A bachelor’s degree in nursing may be necessary to advance into a leadership role or to teach other nurses.
If you want to pursue a career in nursing, select a program that matches your aspirations, interests and meets your desired lifestyle by understanding the educational requirements of your location!
Get Your Nurse’s License:
Your success on the National Council Licensure Test for Registered Nurses depends on completing an accredited nursing program (NCLEX-RN). This test’s results will determine whether you are qualified to work as a nurse in various settings, including hospitals and clinics. This test is open to all nurses who wish to become RNs and practice in the medical area.
Get Clinical Nursing Experience:
You can apply for nursing employment and even volunteer at neurology clinics after passing the NCLEX-RN Exam. As a volunteer, you could work with patients in a hospital or clinic that specializes in neurology. Helping out at a hospital or clinic that treats neurological disorders is a great way to network with other professionals and gain practical experience with this group.
Those seeking a position as a neurology nurse may benefit from prior experience with such patients, which could help to distinguish them from other applicants. Additionally, work in this field could provide the necessary experience for certification as a neurology nurse.
Get Qualified in Your Field:
Neuroscience nurses are needed in some neurology units, and these facilities often prefer candidates with advanced degrees in the field. It is recommended that all nurses interested in specializing in neurology pursue certification to demonstrate their knowledge, expertise, and dedication to the field, regardless of whether or not it is required for their prospective employer. Gaining one of these credentials might help enhance your familiarity with the difficulties some neurology patients may encounter.
Advance Your Profession:
Nurses working in neuroscience can improve their employment prospects by furthering their education, keeping their certifications current, and participating in professional associations. One option is to earn a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN), which can lead to careers as a nurse practitioners or clinical nurse educator.
Neuroscience Nurses have the opportunity to join amazing professional organizations such as the American Association of Neuroscience Nurses, the Cognitive Neuroscience Society, and the American Association of Spinal Cord Injury Nurses– something worth exploring!
How can you become a good neurosurgical nurse?
It’s not always possible to foresee how a patient with a neurological disorder would act. Working in this sector requires a combination of empathy, compassion, patience, and strength. Patient’s behavior may vary and their responses may become verbally aggressive.
Patients with spinal cord injuries often require physical assessments of daily life activities because they lack the strength and coordination to perform these chores independently.
What are other Licensure and Certification of Neuroscience Nurses?
After earning your nursing license, you must keep it current through CNE. While state-by-state regulations can be confusing, you’ll need to get a set amount of your required training hours from licensed providers or at events that relevant agencies have approved. Such activities include formal seminars, online lectures, and assessments and quizzes.
Although a specialized certification in neurology nursing is rare for entry-level roles, it may be worthwhile to pursue after some time in the field. To become a neuroscience nurse, one must have 1 year of experience in neuroscience or stroke nursing in the last 3 years, a valid RN license and successful completion of their certification course.
Where does a Neuroscience Nurse often work?
After learning the steps to becoming a neuroscience nurse, you may be curious about what it entails. Your work could involve specialization in areas such as stroke treatment and rehabilitation, or be of a general nature in a neurology department or practice that handles all kinds of disorders.
You will require great non-verbal communication skills, inventiveness, and patience to work with persons who have suffered brain impairment due to injury or illness. Skills in gerontology nursing will be useful because neurological disorders can affect patients of any age.
What qualifications do neuroscience nurses need?
Knowing the most up-to-date standards of care in your field as a nurse is always a good idea. Neuroscience conferences and continuing education courses are great ways to maintain your knowledge and expertise.
How Much Does A Neuroscience Nurse Make?
A neuro nurse’s average salary is $53,450 per year. This costs $4,450 per month or $25.70 per hour. Earning potential rises as one acquires experience in the field of neuroscience nursing. Looking to up your career earnings? Neuroscience nurses with 1-4 years of experience can make $29.65 an hour, which means that their monthly salary could jump from $4,880 to $5,140 and an annual potential of $61,680!
With five to nine years of experience, a neurology nurse can earn a median pay of $75,390 annually. With this salary, you can earn $36.25 per hour, or $6,280 each month. Neuroscience nurses with 10–19 years of experience can earn an average of $45.03 per hour or $7.810 monthly. In real terms, this equates to a salary of $93,660 a year.
Which states have the highest salaries for neurology nurses?
Neuroscience nurses in California had the highest median salary in the country. The average yearly income for this company is $120,650. Pay in Hawaii is just a little behind the national average. With this position, you can earn a median annual salary of $104,910.
The annual salary range for Massachusetts, Oregon, Alaska, Washington, New York, and Nevada is between $80,000 and $95,000. Residents of New Jersey and Connecticut can expect salaries in the low to midrange of the $80,000s.
What is the job outlook for a neuroscience nurse?
According to the BLS (Bureau of Labor Statistics), registered nurses can expect a 6% job growth in the next decade. As the population ages, more registered nurses may be needed at hospitals and other medical facilities. Several of the disorders in which neuro nurses specialize are also experienced by elderly patients, which could lead to a rise in the demand for neuro nurses.
FAQ’s
Can a nurse be a neuroscientist?
Due to the growing demand for nurses, there are many openings in various fields of nursing, including cancer, emergency medicine, and even neurology.
Do neuroscience nurses have job opportunities?
There is a growing need for neurology nurses as a result of improvements in medical technology. Several neurological problems are now treatable thanks to these professionals because of the rapid development of medical knowledge.
What is the duration of training to become a neuro nurse?
It may take a registered nurse 4-6 years to specialize in neuroscience. Earning an associate degree in nursing (ADN) takes at least two years, while a bachelor’s degree in nursing (BSN) takes at least four. You can apply for the RN licensing exam once you graduate.
What kind of work does neuroscience comprise?
Jobs in neuroscience are those in the scientific discipline that focuses on the brain and nervous system. Neuroscientists seek to learn how a person’s brain and nervous system interact to influence their actions, ideas, and feelings.
