Research Priorities for Neuroscience Nursing: 2026 Update.

BACKGROUND

The American Association of Neuroscience Nurses established a 6-member Research Agenda Task Force in 2025 to update and define neuroscience nursing research priorities to lead the field for the next 5 years. The last research priority setting was completed in 2021.

METHODS

A 6-member Research Agenda Task Force selected potential research priorities based on a literature search and review of neuroscience nursing research. Using a 2-round, Delphi methodology, electronic surveys were distributed to neuroscience nursing experts to gain consensus on the research priorities for neuroscience nursing. Survey data included demographics, agreement with selected gaps in neuroscience nursing research, and the impact of selected neuroscience nursing research topics on the field.

RESULTS

Thirty-three of 58 experts (57% response rate) participated in round 1, and 32 of 58 experts (55% response rate) participated in round 2. In round 1, 26 topics achieved ≥70% agreement, and 2 new topics were identified by the expert panel: "Technology: Artificial Intelligence in Neuroscience Nursing" and "Nursing Care Outcomes: Value of Neuroscience Nursing." In round 2, 14 topics were ranked ≥70% impactful and identified as the top neuroscience nursing research priorities.

CONCLUSIONS

These priorities span 6 categories: assessment, biomarkers, nursing care outcomes, professional development, quality of life, and technology. The priorities reflect not only the foundation of neuroscience nursing but also raise questions concerning both the nature and volume of scientific evidence being generated by nursing scientists in the field.