ABNN Purposes

• Encourage the study of neuroscience nursing
• Promote and advance the practice of neuroscience nursing through specialty certification
• Determine minimum requirements for individuals who seek certification in neuroscience nursing
• Conduct an examination for certification of qualified candidates
• Provide a mechanism for recertification in neuroscience nursing

The American Board of Neuroscience Nursing (ABNN) is the independent, not-for-profit corporation established to design, implement, and evaluate a certification program for professional nurses involved in the specialty practice of neuroscience nursing. ABNN is solely responsible for the development, administration, and evaluation of the certification program.

Neuroscience nursing is the diagnosis and treatment of actual or potential patient and family responses to nervous system function and dysfunction across the healthcare continuum. ABNN promotes the practice and contributions made by neuroscience nursing to the health of the nation through the certification of registered nurses.

Certification in neuroscience nursing is the formal recognition of the attainment and demonstration of a unique body of knowledge necessary for the practice of neuroscience nursing. In awarding the Certified Neuroscience Registered Nurse (CNRN^©) credential, ABNN recognizes nurses who demonstrate the attainment of this knowledge through successful completion of the certification examination or renewal recertification through the accumulation of continuing education credits consistent with established policies.

The CNRN certification program was developed through the auspices of the American Association of Neurosurgical Nurses (now known as the American Association of Neuroscience Nurses [AANN]) in 1978 to formally recognize professional achievement and to promote excellence in neuroscience nursing.