Hospital Administrators—Support CNRN and SCRN Certification for Nurses

Make Your High Standards Known

Supporting certification shows your dedication to the highest standards of neuroscience and stroke nursing care. It promotes your commitment to neuroscience nursing excellence, thereby making your facility more attractive to prospective employees. Self-study and review classes benefit nurses, patients, and the hospital. Everyone wins when there are certified nurses on your team.

Certification Programs

Certified Neuroscience Registered Nurse (CNRN)

220 focused and in-depth questions representing specialized experience and knowledge in the care of patients within the specific neurological domain areas below:

• Trauma
• Cerebrovascular
• Tumors
• Immune/Infection
• Seizures
• Pediatric and Developmental
• Chronic Neurological

Stroke Certified Registered Nurse (SCRN)

170 focused and in-depth questions representing specialized experience and knowledge in the care of patients within the specific stroke domain areas below:

• Anatomy, Physiology, and Etiology of Stroke
• Hyperacute Care
• Acute Care
• Postacute Care
• Primary and Secondary Preventative Care

View the full content outlines for the CNRN and SCRN examinations. If you would like CNRN or SCRN brochures to distribute to your nurses, e-mail This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

ABNN’s Hospital Registration Program

Support Your Nurses in Getting Certified

ABNN’s Hospital Registration Program is an employer program designed to help nurses earn certification for the neuroscience and stroke specialty. Having CNRN- and SCRN-certified nurses on your staff is an excellent way to demonstrate to patients and their families that your hospital provides expert care. And don’t forget, the CNRN and SCRN certifications aren’t only for the nurses at the bedside. Consultants, educators, researchers, chief nursing officers (CNOs), and other roles who hold a current, unrestricted RN licensure also are eligible to take the exams.  View a list of current hospitals participating in the Hospital Registration Program!

Here are key details about the program:

• There is no minimum number of nurses required to test per year.
• There is no cost for employers to join.
• Nurses can test with no out-of-pocket fee.
• Enrolled employers pay monthly exam invoices after the nurse takes the exam. The employer receives a $100 discount for nurses who are unsuccessful in passing the examination.
• Nurses and employers receive free, ongoing program guidance to help promote the certifications.
• Enrolled employers also can receive group discounts on AANN’s online Review Courses.

Sign up for ABNN’s Hospital Registration Program today! Download the Hospital Registration Program brochure. Contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to learn more and get started.

Certified nurses make a difference for their patients, staff, and hospital.

Supporting your nurses in earning certification can help you:

• differentiate your facility
• ensure your nurses provide the highest quality care
• achieve or maintain Magnet status as awarded by the American Nurses Credentialing Center.

“Employees and patients benefit from nursing certification because of the translation of advanced knowledge to positive patient outcomes. Nurses with board certification demonstrate that they have in‐depth pathophysiological, clinical, and psychosocial knowledge necessary to be able to provide the highest care and outcomes to patients and families.”
– Jason Johnson, BSN RN SCRN, Clinical Nurse

“Having certification and the process of obtaining my certification helped me to advance my knowledge beyond my typical scope. I work with a narrow population, but having the information for a broad base of neurological disorders is beneficial to my understanding. That information aids in my ability to provide ongoing education and support for my families.”
– Erin Fecske, RN MSN CPNP CNRN, Epilepsy Nurse Practitioner

"Despite working in neurosurgery for 4 years, I had not carved out time previously to learn more about my chosen specialty. Once I began exam preparation, I felt immediately energized learning both new information and the many forgotten details of neurology/neurosurgery from my past. It was exhilarating to master so much information! The ultimate prize for me in my CNRN journey was having given myself the gift of knowledge. I learned SO much and this has refueled my efforts to continue learning."
– Mary Ann Bell, PhD GNP-C CNRN, Neuroscience Nurse Practitioner