NIH Stroke Certification: Overview and FAQ

Imagine a patient speaks to you, and you notice one side of their mouth drooping when it wasn’t earlier in your shift. Do you know what to do? With an NIH stroke certification, you would. The National Institute of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) was created to help clinicians evaluate patients experiencing cerebrovascular accidents (CVAs). And no matter what clinical area you work in, it’s a helpful certification to earn and maintain.

Someone in the U.S. has a stroke every 40 seconds. In addition, research finds that one in six deaths from cardiovascular disease can be attributed to a stroke event, and many patients who survive them are left with long-term disabilities. Recognizing the symptoms of a stroke and responding quickly is the best way to mitigate the effects.

While acute strokes are most often seen in the emergency department, they can happen anywhere. Whether you work in med-surg, critical care, psych nursing, or another area, knowing how to respond if a patient has a stroke could save lives.

This credential isn’t just for nurses — physicians, APPs, researchers, and medical students could use it too. The NIHSS certification is one of the easiest to add to your nursing resume, so let’s dig into what you should know about it.

What Is an NIHSS Certification?

The National Institute of Health Stroke Scale Certification validates a clinician’s ability to assess stroke severity in patients. The stroke scale is a standardized tool with 11 assessment categories to gather data on deficits from stroke. These individual categories are each rated on a continuum, and the assessor must evaluate them in the correct order. At the end of the assessment, results from each category are added together for a total score.

The NIH stroke scale categories include:

1. Level of consciousness assesses the patient’s orientation, how arousable they are, and whether they are responsive to commands.
2. Best gaze evaluates ocular problems.
3. Visual fields assess a patient’s ability to see in different quadrants.
4. Facial palsy assesses asymmetry or weakness in facial muscles by asking the patient to smile, show teeth, and raise eyebrows.
5. Arm motor abilities evaluate upper body strength by having the patient lift and hold both arms parallel to the floor.
6. Leg motor abilities test lower body strength by having the patient lift and hold a leg at 30 degrees.
7. Limb ataxia evaluates coordination and fine motor skills by asking the patient to do specific tasks with their arms and legs.
8. Sensory uses a light touch and pinprick stimuli to check for sensory deficits.
9. Best language asks the patient to name objects, repeat phrases, and follow verbal commands.
10. Dysarthria tests speech clarity by asking the patient to repeat words and phrases.
11. Extinction and inattention check whether the patient can detect sensory stimuli on both sides of the body.

How to Get the NIH Stroke Certification: 4 Steps

If you’re looking for a fast credential to add to your skill set, consider an NIH stroke certification. For nurses, this credential may also count towards your continuing education credits for licensure renewal.

There are several online educational groups that offer the course for free, but many employers require the American Heart Association (AHA) NIH stroke certification. This course is unique, because it includes follow-up learning every several months so you can keep your skills fresh. To complete this course, follow these steps:

Step 1: Register

You’ll need to create an account with the American Heart Association and pay the NIHSS registration fee. If you’re an AHA member, the course is free, but if not, it’s $10. Those who are obtaining the NIHSS for the first time will enroll in Group A. This is the first group of test scenarios, and when you return for continuing practice, you’ll move on to B, C, etc. The course is set up so that each time you retest the NIHSS, you’ll evaluate a different group of test patients.

Step 2: Take the Course

The course is made up of several videos. These include instruction, demonstrations with virtual patients, and scenarios. As long as you don’t need to repeat the exam, the course takes about two hours to complete.

Step 3: Take the Exam

Complete the test at the end of the course materials. You’ll need to rate a test group of three patients using the NIHSS. If you rate more than six items incorrectly, you won’t pass, but you can retake the assessment again. Once you’ve passed the exam, you’ll also need to give feedback to the AHA before accessing your virtual credential and two continuing education credits.

Step 4: Maintain Your Skills

Six months after completing Group A, you can return to the AHA site and complete the Group B assessment. The same passing rules apply, and you can retake the assessment if you don’t pass any group the first time. After Group B, you’ll wait a year before taking Group C, and another year between each next group (up to Group F).

NIHSS FAQs

How long does the NIH stroke certification last?

It depends on which certifying body you go through. The AHA’s certification lasts for up to one year, and their retesting strategy helps you maintain your certification and your skills over time.

Can you get the NIHSS certification online?

Yes, there are several organizations that offer courses and exams online. Be sure that the course you choose is an accredited continuing education provider, and that your employer will accept the credential.

Is there a free NIH stroke scale certification?

Yes, you can find NIHSS certification for free online. Some employers require employees to go through specific instructors, so be sure the course you choose fits these requirements.

Find Nursing Opportunities, Fast

An NIH stroke certification can boost your confidence when it comes to assessing strokes. If you’re looking for other ways to advance your skills, a new nursing job could be the next step. IntelyCare’s personalized job notifications help nurses build their careers around their lives.