Neuroscience Nursing: Scope and Standards of Practice

Neuroscience nursing is the practice specialty that addresses the needs and care of those with biological, psychological, social, and spiritual alterations as a result of nervous system dysfunction. No other specialty specifically addresses this population. The neuroscience registered nurse provides care and preventive services, across the lifespan, from birth through death, to individuals at risk for or with problems due to neurologic dysfunction, their families, and the communities in which they live. This publication is a guide to the essentials of that specialty, providing neuroscience nurses with a framework for practice. The American Association of Neuroscience Nurses (AANN) and ANA have collaborated to produce a foundational resource for contemporary neuroscience nursing practice. Neuroscience Nursing:: Scope and Standards of Practice is a comprehensive, up-to-date delineation of the competent level of nursing practice and professional performance common to and expected from neuroscience registered nurses whatever their practice levels or setting. It reflects the most current thinking in the specialty and offers a blueprint for neuroscience nursing philosophy, principles, and practices. The publication’s scope of practice addresses what is expected of all neuroscience registered nurses, specifying the who, what, where, when, why, and how of neuroscience nursing practice. The detailed discussion of that scope of practice provides the context needed to understand and use the standards. The 17 standards are those by which all RNs in neuroscience nursing are held accountable for their practice. Each standard is measurable by a set of specific competencies that serve as evidence of minimal compliance with that standard. This foundational volume reflects the diverse activities of neuroscience nursing and serves neuroscience nurses in their personal lives, clinical practice, education, research, and community service. Although primarily for neuroscience nursing practitioners, educators, students, and others directly involved in nursing care, research, advocacy, and certification, this book can also inform other healthcare providers, researchers and scholars as well as employers, insurers, lawyers, regulators, policy makers, and stakeholders.