Nursing, Nursing RN, Exam Prep
The Ins and Outs of Being an SCRN®
Jan 31, 2019
With excerpts from Stroke Certification Study Guide for Nurses, by Kathy Morrison MSN, RN, CNRN, SCRN
Thinking about the next step in your career? The nursing profession is a robust field, with certifications running the gamut of clinical, managerial, and educational specialties. But which is the best choice for you? Here, we’ll take a deep dive into what it means to be a Stroke Certified RN.
Stroke Certified Registered Nurse: What Does It Mean?
A Stroke Certified Registered Nurse, or SCRN®, is a registered nurse who has an additional one to three years of direct or indirect stroke nursing practice and who has passed the SCRN® exam. These individuals possess the skills, knowledge, and experience to competently provide stroke care across the lifespan and in a variety of settings. They help with the assessment, treatment, and post-stroke care of stroke patients as well as providing primary and secondary preventative care.
What Does an SCRN® Do?
Stroke affects the lives of patients and their families in various ways. The role of an SCRN® is to facilitate stroke patients with appropriate care by understanding pathophysiology, treatment options, potential complications, and rehabilitation needs.
SCRNs® can accurately and effectively discuss trends in stroke prevention and management. They play a critical role in the initial treatment of ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke care in acute care settings and have a keen knowledge of principles and strategies for rehabilitation including mobility, self-care, cognitive, sensory, and perceptual deficits, dysphasia, communication challenges, impairments, sexual dysfunction, and psychosocial issues.
What Type of Person Is an SCRN®?
As both patient and family generally experience a broad range of feelings, it is critical for SCRNs® to have an exceptionally high emotional IQ and the ability to explain what is happening, the therapy pathway, and next steps in the care process. Following the initial stage of treatment, the main goal is restoring patients to their greatest potential and maximum independence. The ability to empower others is critical to the success of an SCRN®.
How Do I Become an SCRN®?
To become an SCRN®, Nurses must—at minimum—have a current, unrestricted RN license in the United States. As an RN, you’ll then need one year of direct or indirect stroke nursing experience within three years of your exam application date. Learn more in our article on How to Certify.
Are You Preparing for the Exam?
For more study options, choose from our book or flashcards to help you make the grade!
Resources
About the SCRN® Credential | ABNN Certification. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://abnncertification.org/scrn/about
Morrison, K. (2017). Stroke Certification Study Guide for Nurses (1st ed.). New York, NY: Springer Publishing.