Kirstin C. Del Pizzo, BSN, RN, SCRN
By Erin Flynn Jay
Kirstin Del Pizzo chose to become a Stroke Certified Registered Nurse (SCRN®) to better serve her patients. Earning the certification demonstrated that she had the knowledge and competency needed to provide safe, informed care.
“There are certain numbers you need to know—blood pressure, intracranial pressure, and more,” she explained. “Just the other day, a family asked me why their loved one was presenting in a certain way. Having the certification helped me confidently answer their questions.”
A Second Career in Nursing
Nursing is actually Del Pizzo’s second career. She had previously worked as a pharmacy technician, and the leap into direct patient care was a daunting one. After completing nursing school, she began working in the neuro ICU at Jefferson Hospital for Neuroscience in Philadelphia, where she went on to achieve her SCRN® certification in July 2018.
“Working in the neuro ICU can be stressful at times, but there are moments you never forget,” she shared. One patient in particular—a hemorrhagic stroke patient—left a lasting impact. “I cared for this patient four days in a row. At first, they weren’t following commands, but by my last day they finally responded to voice and began following commands. The family, who had been by the patient’s side the entire time, hugged me with tears in their eyes and thanked me for all I had done. Moments like those make my job rewarding.”
For Del Pizzo, becoming certified was also about reassuring patients and families. “It shows them that I have the competency to care for them appropriately.”
Preparing for the Exam
Del Pizzo began her certification journey with a study guide, app, and practice questions. The most challenging part was finding the time to study while balancing two jobs—her neuro ICU role and her position as a hospice nurse.
Because of her work in the neuro unit, much of the exam material came easily to her. However, the rehabilitation section was more difficult since she primarily sees patients only in the hospital setting.
Her most effective study strategies were using notecards and the app to review in short bursts whenever she had a few minutes of downtime. She also emphasized the importance of practice questions. Del Pizzo gave herself two months to prepare, which she found to be sufficient.
Life as a Neuro ICU Nurse
Del Pizzo works 12-hour shifts that rotate between days and nights, caring for two patients at a time. “There’s never a typical day in the ICU because patient acuity can change so quickly,” she explained.
One of the most important roles she plays is patient advocacy. “We have a lot of say in treatment. We’re the first line to notice when something changes—and with stroke patients, even the smallest change can mean a lot.”
Looking Ahead
Del Pizzo plans to pursue additional certifications, with her sights set on the Critical Care Registered Nurse (CCRN®) exam. “Just like the SCRN®, obtaining my CCRN is important not only for my patients but also for myself,” she said. “It demonstrates that I have the knowledge to safely care for critically ill patients, and it gives me a strong sense of professional accomplishment.”
👉 Stroke Certified RN Certification Overview
