SCRN - Stroke Certified Registered Nurse
About SCRN Certification
The Stroke Certified Registered Nurse (SCRN) certification, offered by the American Board of Neuroscience Nursing (ABNN), is a distinguished credential that showcases a nurse's expertise in stroke nursing. This certification highlights professional achievement by verifying a nurse's comprehensive knowledge in managing stroke patients across various care settings. The SCRN certification serves as a testament to a nurse's dedication to excellence and advanced skill in stroke nursing.
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
Exam Description | A comprehensive certification exam for nurses specializing in stroke care, validating expertise across various care settings. |
Credentials Earned | Stroke Certified Registered Nurse (SCRN). |
Eligibility Requirements | Candidates must have a current, unrestricted RN license in the U.S., Canada, or U.S. territories, or meet equivalent international licensure requirements verified by CGFNS, WES, or ERES. Licensure verification and an audit are required. Additionally, candidates must have at least one year (2,080 hours) of full-time stroke nursing experience within the past three years, either in direct patient care or indirect roles such as research, consultation, education, or administration. |
Completion Time | 3 hours to complete the exam. |
Subjects Covered in the Exam | Includes anatomy, physiology and pathology of stroke, hyperacute care, acute care, post-acute care, and primary and secondary preventative care. |
Number of Questions | 170 multiple-choice questions, with 150 scored and 20 unscored pretest questions. |
Exam Format | Multiple-choice, computer-based test. |
Exam Proctoring | Administered at testing centers or through Live Remote Proctoring (LRP). |
Recertification Details | Required every 5 years; Can be achieved through one of three options: Nurses can either complete 4,160 practice hours (2 years full-time) in five years and pass the SCRN exam or fulfill the same practice hours with 50 CE hours to stay updated through education and professional development. Those working part-time can recertify with 2,500 practice hours (2 years part-time) and 100 CE hours to supplement clinical experience. |
Pass/Fail Rates | Pass rates vary annually and range from 66% to 72%. |
Difficulty Level | Hard. |
Study Material | BoardCerts Question Bank provides practice questions that follow the exam blueprint. |
BoardCerts SCRN Question Bank
BoardCerts offers a comprehensive question bank designed to help you excel on the Stroke Certified Registered Nurse (SCRN) exam. Featuring practice questions and four predictor exams, the content is fully aligned with the SCRN exam blueprint. Each question is meticulously reviewed by clinical experts and SCRN-certified professionals to ensure accuracy and relevance. The question bank reflects the rigor of the exam and includes detailed rationales and explanations to enhance understanding and preparation.
SCRN Exam Content Outline
The Stroke Certified Registered Nurse (SCRN) certification exam evaluates a candidate's expertise across key content areas, ensuring comprehensive knowledge in stroke care. These primary content areas are:
- Anatomy, Physiology, and Pathophysiology of Stroke (18.7%): This area covers brain anatomy, types of stroke, and related disorders.
- Hyperacute Care (28%): This section ocuses on triage, diagnostics, and treatment decisions.
- Acute Care (28%): This section ddresses acute phase care, intervention, and early rehabilitation.
- Post-acute Care (12.7%): This segment valuates medication management, and community resources to support recovery.
- Primary and Secondary Preventative Care (12.7%): This area highlights education on risk factors and preventative strategies.
For more detailed blueprint outline, please review the SCRN exam blueprint, which can be found here: Preparation and Resources
Exam Categories: Percentage Distribution
SCRN Exam Eligibility Requirements
To be eligible for the SCRN certification exam, candidates must hold a current, unrestricted RN license in the U.S., Canada, or U.S. territories, or an equivalent international license verified by organizations such as the Commission on Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools (CGFNS), World Education Services (WES), or Educational Records Evaluation Service (ERES). Licensure verification and an audit are required. Additionally, candidates must have at least one year (2,080 hours) of full-time stroke nursing experience within the past three years in either direct patient care or indirect roles such as research, consultation, education, or administration.
SCRN Application Process
Online Application:
Application Submission:
Scheduling the Exam:
Preparation:
SCRN Exam Dates and Costs
The Stroke Certified Registered Nurse (SCRN) exam is administered during testing windows in February, May, and September each year.
For the most current information on SCRN exam dates, application deadlines, and fees, please visit the ABNN website.
SCRN Exam Format
- Number of Questions: The Stroke Certified Registered Nurse (SCRN) certification exam consists of 170 multiple-choice questions. Of these, 150 are scored, while 20 are unscored pretest questions used for future exam development.
- Exam Response Options: Multiple-choice with four response options (A, B, C, D) with one correct answer choice.
- Testing Options: The exam is available at designated test centers and can also be taken via Live Remote Proctoring (LRP), providing flexibility for candidates.
- Time Allotted: Candidates have 3 hours to complete the exam.
Passing Score for SCRN
- Difficulty Level: The SCRN certification exam is considered challenging, with annual pass rates varying between 69% and 72% in recent years.
- Passing Score: The passing score for the SCRN exam is determined by neuroscience nursing experts and test specialists, based on the expected performance of a minimally competent candidate. The ABNN Board of Trustees makes the final decision. A scaled score ensures fairness across different test versions by adjusting raw scores to a consistent scale. The passing raw score is set at 200, and other scores are adjusted accordingly to account for variations in exam difficulty, ensuring all candidates are evaluated fairly.
- Exam Statistics: Detailed statistics, including annual pass rates and the number of candidates tested, are available on the ABNN's Exam Statistics webpage.
- Score Reporting: Candidates are notified of their pass/fail status along with their scaled score at the testing center immediately after the exam or via email if taken through live remote proctoring. Certificates for those who pass will be mailed within 4-6 weeks of the exam date.
SCRN Exam Proctoring
The Stroke Certified Registered Nurse (SCRN) exam is administered by the American Board of Neuroscience Nursing (ABNN) in partnership with PSI Services. Candidates have the flexibility to choose between two proctoring options:
- Live Remote Proctoring: This option allows candidates to take the SCRN exam from a secure location of their choice, such as their home or office, using their own computer. During the exam, a remote proctor monitors the candidate in real time through the computer’s webcam and microphone, ensuring the integrity of the testing environment.
- In-Person Testing Centers: Alternatively, you can opt to take the exam at one of PSI's designated testing centers, which are available across various locations. This traditional method involves attending a physical location to complete the exam under supervised conditions.
Both options are designed to maintain the exam's security and integrity while providing flexibility to accommodate your preferences and circumstances.
SCRN Preparation and Resources
BoardCerts closely follows the SCRN exam blueprint to ensure practice questions are relevant and aligned with the test content. Questions are developed based on this blueprint and validated against the same references used for the official exam. This approach ensures a question bank grounded in authoritative resources, providing a thorough and effective preparation experience.
Topics on Exam: Detailed topics on the SCRN exam blueprint can be found here: Preparation and Resources.
Review Course: Take a review course, such as the SCRN Review Course offered by ABNN, to build a strong foundation in exam content.
Question Bank: A comprehensive resource like the BoardCerts SCRN Question Bank is highly recommended, as it aligns with the exam blueprint and is reviewed by SCRN-certified nurses, providing extensive question practice essential for success. In addition, it includes four predictor exams to help gauge your exam readiness.
SCRN Certification Renewal
The Stroke Certified Registered Nurse (SCRN) certification is valid for five years. To renew certification, candidates must meet practice hour requirements through one of three pathways, ensuring ongoing expertise in stroke nursing:
- Option 1: Complete a minimum of 4,160 hours in stroke nursing practice within the last five years (equivalent to two years of full-time work) and pass the SCRN certification exam again to demonstrate up-to-date knowledge.
- Option 2: Accumulate 4,160 hours of stroke nursing practice within the last five years and complete 50 stroke-related CE hours.
- Option 3: For part-time practitioners, complete 2,500 practice hours over the past five years and 100 CE hours.
For the most current information on SCRN recertification and options, review the SCRN recertification webpage.
SCRN Practice Questions
- Practicing sample questions is a crucial part of SCRN exam preparation, helping you become familiar with the exam format, question style, and key content areas. The BoardCerts SCRN Question Bank provides high-quality, exam-focused practice questions that align with the SCRN exam blueprint, helping you prepare effectively and build confidence for test day.
- Access Sample Questions: Find sample questions from the BoardCerts question bank here. These questions are crafted to reflect the level of application and difficulty found on the SCRN exam.
Frequently Asked Questions
