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Virginia Prendergast, PhD, NP-C, FAAN

Virginia Prendergast, PhD, NP-C, FAAN

Director, Advance Practice Nursing

Virginia Prendergast, PhD, NP-C, FAAN, is internationally recognized for her work and leadership in neuroscience nursing education, research, and the care of neurosurgical patients. Her clinical activities have focused on bedside assessment and care, and have included the development of a preoperative skin and hair protocol, a comprehensive oral care protocol to promote oral hygiene and patient comfort, and the development of educational programs that span the continuum of expertise from novice to expert neuroscience nursing.

Beginning as a staff nurse in the neurosurgical intensive care unit, Dr. Prendergast’s tenure at Barrow has covered more than 30 years. Her passion for excellence in neuroscience nursing motivated her professional growth into leadership roles, and she serves at the Director of Barrow Advanced Practice Nursing and Evidence-based Research. In 2004, she developed a formal educational program at Barrow to support nurses preparing for the Certified Neuroscience Registered Nurse (CNRN) examination. This program remains in place today. As a result of her leadership in this arena, Barrow holds the distinction of employing the most CNRN nurses of any hospital in the country.

Dr. Prendergast’s teaching achievements and dedication to patient care have also commanded national and international recognition and awards. She has been invited as a guest lecturer to conferences and nursing schools throughout North America, China, Japan, and Europe. She has served as a mentor to graduate nurses in cities as far-flung as Sydney, Singapore, London, Copenhagen, Berlin, and Tokyo, as well as for nurses throughout North America. She has received the Nursing Spectrum national award for Excellence in Teaching and was honored for her dedication to patient care by the Phoenix Business Journal. The neurosurgical resident staff has twice honored her with the “BNI Nurse of the Year” award.

Dr. Prendergast served as president of the American Association of Neuroscience Nurses in 1998 and is the President of the World Federation of Neuroscience Nurses. She was one of the founders of the Neuroscience Nursing foundation, a 501(c)3 organization dedicated to nursing education and research.

Location
Robert F. Spetzler Neuroscience Tower: Emergency Department, Inpatient Neurology + Neurosurgery
Robert F. Spetzler Neuroscience Tower, Phoenix, AZ 85013
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Virginia Prendergast, PhD, NP-C, FAAN

Virginia Prendergast, PhD, NP-C, FAAN

Director, Advance Practice Nursing

Virginia Prendergast, PhD, NP-C, FAAN, is internationally recognized for her work and leadership in neuroscience nursing education, research, and the care of neurosurgical patients. Her clinical activities have focused on bedside assessment and care, and have included the development of a preoperative skin and hair protocol, a comprehensive oral care protocol to promote oral hygiene and patient comfort, and the development of educational programs that span the continuum of expertise from novice to expert neuroscience nursing.

Beginning as a staff nurse in the neurosurgical intensive care unit, Dr. Prendergast’s tenure at Barrow has covered more than 30 years. Her passion for excellence in neuroscience nursing motivated her professional growth into leadership roles, and she serves at the Director of Barrow Advanced Practice Nursing and Evidence-based Research. In 2004, she developed a formal educational program at Barrow to support nurses preparing for the Certified Neuroscience Registered Nurse (CNRN) examination. This program remains in place today. As a result of her leadership in this arena, Barrow holds the distinction of employing the most CNRN nurses of any hospital in the country.

Dr. Prendergast’s teaching achievements and dedication to patient care have also commanded national and international recognition and awards. She has been invited as a guest lecturer to conferences and nursing schools throughout North America, China, Japan, and Europe. She has served as a mentor to graduate nurses in cities as far-flung as Sydney, Singapore, London, Copenhagen, Berlin, and Tokyo, as well as for nurses throughout North America. She has received the Nursing Spectrum national award for Excellence in Teaching and was honored for her dedication to patient care by the Phoenix Business Journal. The neurosurgical resident staff has twice honored her with the “BNI Nurse of the Year” award.

Dr. Prendergast served as president of the American Association of Neuroscience Nurses in 1998 and is the President of the World Federation of Neuroscience Nurses. She was one of the founders of the Neuroscience Nursing foundation, a 501(c)3 organization dedicated to nursing education and research.

Location
Robert F. Spetzler Neuroscience Tower: Emergency Department, Inpatient Neurology + Neurosurgery
Robert F. Spetzler Neuroscience Tower, Phoenix, AZ 85013
Get Directions