Department of Neuroscience Nursing
Our Mission
The Neuroscience Nursing Department at Barrow Neurological Institute comprises experienced, world-class nurses who possess specialized knowledge of diseases and disorders of the nervous system.
Our reputation as a leader not only in the clinical realm but also in research and innovation has positioned us at the forefront of neuroscience nursing. Barrow officially launched its neuroscience nursing program on the day that the first neurosurgical units opened in 1962 with just 28 neuroscience nurses. Since then, we have expanded our team to include over 400 neuroscience nurses.
We have come a long way since the first neuroscience nurses started at Barrow, and our institution has pioneered the specialization of neuroscience nursing. This includes the introduction of hospital-based neuroscience nurse practitioners. These nurses perform focused and expanded patient examinations, order appropriate diagnostic testing, educate patients, prescribe medications, and execute discharges in conjunction with the attending staff, among other responsibilities.
Additionally, clinical nurse specialists provide consultation services and implement process improvement initiatives involving the patient, staff and environment. Our nurse educators foster a collaborative learning environment where both new orientees and experienced staff can enhance their skills, share insights, and ultimately elevate patient care together.
Neuroscience Nursing by the Numbers
The American Board of Neuroscience Nursing is the only national accrediting board for nurses who wish to pursue national certification as a certified neuroscience registered nurse (CNRN). The nursing team at Barrow includes 151 nurses who have received the CNRN certification—more than any other hospital in the world.
Neuroscience nurses at Barrow attend local, national, and international meetings each year. This ongoing education has been a critical investment in Barrow neuroscience nurses, and the education they receive and the lessons they learn at these meetings are brought back to Barrow and disseminated among members of our Department of Neuroscience Nursing.
We also contribute to the body of neuroscience nursing knowledge by way of our annual Barrow Nursing Symposium, a large 2-day congregation of neuroscience nurses from all over the world who come together to learn from expert physicians, nurses, and members of the community affected by neurological diseases. Today, Barrow has developed into a model of nursing management, as evidenced by the numerous outside institutions that request formal site visits to learn from our success.
The neuroscience nursing team at Barrow is one that prides itself on treating each patient with dignity and respect. Advances in surgical techniques, pharmacology, or imaging techniques help improve patient care, but there is no substitute for human touch, compassion, and care that nurses offer.
Advanced Practice Neuroscience Nursing
An APRN is a licensed nurse who meets advanced educational and clinical practice requirements. APRN must be able to care for a particular population or serve in a specific clinical role. They can assess, diagnose, and manage patient problems, order tests, and prescribe medications.
At Barrow, we employ two types of APRN:
- Certified nurse practitioners (NP-C)
- Clinical nurse specialists (CNS)
Where do APRN work at Barrow?
Our advanced practice registered nurses work in the following areas:
- intensive care units
- acute care floors
- neuroradiology
- clinical offices
What are the steps to becoming an APRN?
There are three steps to becoming an APRN:
- Earn a minimum of an MSN degree (many programs are becoming doctoral degrees).
- Get certified by the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners (AANP) or the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC).
- Get licensed by your state or territorial board of nursing.
What is the difference between a certified nurse practitioner (NP-C) and certified nurse specialist (CNS)?
Certified Nurse Practitioners
Certified nurse practitioners (NP-C) provide services like:
- health history interviews
- physical examinations
- diagnosis and treatment of illnesses
- reading laboratory results and imaging
- management of prescriptions and therapies
- lifestyle teaching and counseling
- referrals
At Barrow, certified nurse practitioners augment physicians and serve as the primary contact person on your care team. Our goal is to educate you and promote overall wellness.
Compared to clinical nurse specialists, nurse practitioners spend more time interacting with patients and managing their care.
Clinical Nurse Specialists
Clinical nurse specialists (CNS):
- monitor quality and safety
- hold leadership and administrative roles
- develop criteria for patient care
- monitor patient outcomes
- develop performance improvement initiatives
At Barrow, clinical nurse specialists educate other nurses, advise patients, and act as patient liaisons.
Compared to certified nurse practitioners, clinical nurse specialists are more focused on the administrative aspects of patient care.
What is unique about advanced practice registered nursing at Barrow?
Barrow Neurological Institute is one of the busiest neurological hospitals in the world. Our nurses and doctors treat some of the rarest neurological disorders known, and our APRN staff boasts several internationally known neuroscience nursing experts.
APRN at Barrow Neurological Institute are encouraged to conduct and publish research, participate in IRB initiatives, and present at conferences and symposia.
Do you train advanced practice registered nurses at Barrow?
There are several opportunities for APRN training and continuing education at Barrow. We participate in an expert exchange program and host an annual neuroscience nursing symposium.
We also host graduate students and international observers.
How can I learn more about advanced practice neuroscience nursing?
For clinical observer opportunities, please contact:
- Jasmin Stefani, MSN, FNP-C
Phone: (602) 406-5785
Email: Jasmin.Stefani@CommonSpirit.org - Madona Plueger, ACNS-BC
Phone: (602) 406-5138
Email: Madona.Plueger@CommonSpirit.org
Newsome Neuroscience Nursing Scholarship
The Newsome Neuroscience Nursing Scholarship was conceived of by the proponents of the Barrow Neuroscience Nursing Program in the United Kingdom by way of the Barrow Neurological Foundation U.K.
It is designed to replicate the Newsome Neurosurgery Fellowship, in which recipients of the United Kingdom’s most prestigious neurosurgery prize visit Barrow Neurological Institute for up to six weeks to observe our surgeons in action.
Though patients are touched profoundly by our neurosurgeons at Barrow, the patient’s primary experience of undergoing surgery and recovery at Barrow most heavily involves our neuroscience nurses. As such, benefactors of the Barrow U.K. Foundation felt that nurses would also benefit greatly by traveling to Barrow to observe and learn from our world-renowned nursing faculty. In turn, these nurses bring this knowledge back to share with their colleagues in the U.K., and by extension raise the standard of care in their home country.
The scholarship is funded by the U.K. branch of the Barrow Neurological Foundation and administered by the British Association of Neuroscience Nurses (BANN). Nurses competing for the scholarship submit a paper and propose a research thesis to pursue while at Barrow.
While at Barrow, nurses on the Newsome Scholarship observe care firsthand in the following areas:
- Neurological Intensive Care Unit
- Neurotrauma and Neuroscience Emergency Room
- Long-term acute care
- Neurosurgical Operating Rooms
- GammaKnife Radiosurgery
- Support Groups
- Neurological Rehabilitation
- Scholarship recipients also learn about the research activities conducting by the Barrow Neuroscience Nursing faculty
The first two nurses to receive the scholarship finished their rotation at Barrow in 2012 and have since presented their findings to the BANN.
Neuroscience Nursing Symposium
This course will focus on the entire continuum of care, exploring strategies for supporting patients from the pre-hospital stage to their return to the community. Experts will share insights on best practices, advancements, and challenges in delivering care for individuals with neurological conditions across various settings. Attendees will gain valuable knowledge on enhancing patient outcomes through a collaborative, multi-disciplinary approach to care throughout the patient’s journey.
