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Mia
Student
Rochester, Minnesota
1
Question
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What does a typical day look like for a neurology nurse?
I'm interested in being a neurology nurse, but I don't know too much about the work-life as much. What does a typical day look like from start to finish? I wanna know how I can balance my life with this job in the future.
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2 answers
Michelle M.
Actress
3284
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Michelle’s Answer
Hello, Mia !
Many high school students want to know about their own personal experience they'll have several years into the future, but it's just not possible. Becoming a Nurse is a process and the deciding factors that you may consider will be discovered by learning more about the work so you can decide if that's what you really want to be dedicated to. You also need to decide if the academic/training part of this career is something you would want to make priority in your life as there is a lot to learn and the work takes time and focus. Just like in most careers, there is no typical day in nursing as it varies greatly day to day. A lot of the day is spontaneous with expected and unexpected needs happening. You would be expected to give individualized care based on the patients you are assigned to.
You would first go to Nursing School and obtain a Bachelors Degree due to your wanting to specialize in Neurology. After you obtain your Bachelors Degree in Nursing, you take the NCLEX-RN exam to become a licensed Registered Nurse and apply for licensure through the Minnesota Board of Nursing. As an R.N., you then work in neurological, intensive care or trauma units. It's not mandatory, but you then go for the Certified Neuroscience Registered Nurse credential. You should go for this because it will put you in the forefront to be hired in the specialty you want. If this academic path sounds good to you, you can then explore what the work is all about.
As this type of nurse, you will have patients that have neurological conditions affecting the brain, spinal cord, and nervous system. Your duties would be involved in assessing, diagnosing, and implementing interventions for patients with a wide range of neurological disorders, including stroke, traumatic brain injury, spinal cord injury, epilepsy, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease, and encephalitis. You can learn more about these illnesses through reading single subject books that you can obtain from your Library or online website information.
You would work with the patients before and after surgeries. You would assist with diagnostic procedures such as electroencephalograms (EEGs), lumbar punctures, and neuroimaging, and you would be trained on how to interpret results and monitor vital signs like intracranial pressure and cerebrospinal fluid levels. In emergency situations, you would respond to life threatening changes in neurological status, such as status epilepticus or rapid deterioration due to brain injury.
As a Neurology Nurse, you would also support patients and their families through rehabilitation and long term management of chronic conditions. They assist patients in regaining activities of daily living, manage symptoms like pain and spasticity, and provide education on disease management and home care. The other professionals that you would be working with are neurologists, physicians, and other healthcare professionals, collaborating to develop and implement individualized treatment plans for the patients. The places you would be doing your work at would be in hospitals, stroke units, rehabilitation centers, outpatient clinics, research institutions, and home health care.
Although there is no "typical" day, knowing the work can help you think about it and decide if it's a good fit for you. It will be up to you to manage your work and personal life 6 - 5 years from now based upon your circumstances at that time.
I hope this helps and I wish you all the best !
Many high school students want to know about their own personal experience they'll have several years into the future, but it's just not possible. Becoming a Nurse is a process and the deciding factors that you may consider will be discovered by learning more about the work so you can decide if that's what you really want to be dedicated to. You also need to decide if the academic/training part of this career is something you would want to make priority in your life as there is a lot to learn and the work takes time and focus. Just like in most careers, there is no typical day in nursing as it varies greatly day to day. A lot of the day is spontaneous with expected and unexpected needs happening. You would be expected to give individualized care based on the patients you are assigned to.
You would first go to Nursing School and obtain a Bachelors Degree due to your wanting to specialize in Neurology. After you obtain your Bachelors Degree in Nursing, you take the NCLEX-RN exam to become a licensed Registered Nurse and apply for licensure through the Minnesota Board of Nursing. As an R.N., you then work in neurological, intensive care or trauma units. It's not mandatory, but you then go for the Certified Neuroscience Registered Nurse credential. You should go for this because it will put you in the forefront to be hired in the specialty you want. If this academic path sounds good to you, you can then explore what the work is all about.
As this type of nurse, you will have patients that have neurological conditions affecting the brain, spinal cord, and nervous system. Your duties would be involved in assessing, diagnosing, and implementing interventions for patients with a wide range of neurological disorders, including stroke, traumatic brain injury, spinal cord injury, epilepsy, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease, and encephalitis. You can learn more about these illnesses through reading single subject books that you can obtain from your Library or online website information.
You would work with the patients before and after surgeries. You would assist with diagnostic procedures such as electroencephalograms (EEGs), lumbar punctures, and neuroimaging, and you would be trained on how to interpret results and monitor vital signs like intracranial pressure and cerebrospinal fluid levels. In emergency situations, you would respond to life threatening changes in neurological status, such as status epilepticus or rapid deterioration due to brain injury.
As a Neurology Nurse, you would also support patients and their families through rehabilitation and long term management of chronic conditions. They assist patients in regaining activities of daily living, manage symptoms like pain and spasticity, and provide education on disease management and home care. The other professionals that you would be working with are neurologists, physicians, and other healthcare professionals, collaborating to develop and implement individualized treatment plans for the patients. The places you would be doing your work at would be in hospitals, stroke units, rehabilitation centers, outpatient clinics, research institutions, and home health care.
Although there is no "typical" day, knowing the work can help you think about it and decide if it's a good fit for you. It will be up to you to manage your work and personal life 6 - 5 years from now based upon your circumstances at that time.
I hope this helps and I wish you all the best !
Jacqueline Wood, MSN, MBA, RN, FACHE
Executive Coach/RN
1
Answer
Louisville, Kentucky
Updated
Jacqueline’s Answer
A typical day for a neurology nurse starts by reviewing patient charts and test results to see if anything has changed overnight. The nurse checks how patients are thinking, speaking, moving, and feeling, because even small changes in the brain or nerves can be important. They give medications for conditions like seizures, Parkinson’s disease, or migraines, watch for side effects, and help prepare patients for tests such as MRIs or EEGs. Neurology nurses also work closely with doctors and therapists and must act quickly if a patient has a seizure, signs of a stroke, or sudden confusion.
During the day, neurology nurses spend a lot of time helping patients and families understand what is happening. Many patients have long-term conditions like multiple sclerosis, epilepsy, or memory problems, which can be scary and stressful. Nurses explain treatments, answer questions, and teach patients how to manage their symptoms at home. They carefully write notes about patient care and make sure the next nurse knows what to watch for, because clear communication and careful attention help keep patients safe.
In regards to balancing work with life - most neurology units offer 12 hour shifts - more like 13 but depending on whether you are full time or part time you either work 3-12 hour shifts for full time or anything less than that for part time. It is doable and you can balance daily life being a nurse.
During the day, neurology nurses spend a lot of time helping patients and families understand what is happening. Many patients have long-term conditions like multiple sclerosis, epilepsy, or memory problems, which can be scary and stressful. Nurses explain treatments, answer questions, and teach patients how to manage their symptoms at home. They carefully write notes about patient care and make sure the next nurse knows what to watch for, because clear communication and careful attention help keep patients safe.
In regards to balancing work with life - most neurology units offer 12 hour shifts - more like 13 but depending on whether you are full time or part time you either work 3-12 hour shifts for full time or anything less than that for part time. It is doable and you can balance daily life being a nurse.