Neurology Nursing Beyond the Bedside: Jeffrey Hernandez, DNP, APRN, and Bonnie Blain, RN

This is the second part of an interview with Jeffrey Hernandez, DNP, APRN, and Bonnie Blain, RN. For the first part, click here.

WATCH TIME: 10 minutes | Captions are auto-generated and may contain errors.

“There's a lot of things that nurses do on the back end that might not be front and center for everyone to see, but this is why we say oftentimes that it's the glue that holds the team together…”

Following up on National Nurses Week, held from May 6 to May 12, 2026, NeurologyLive^® got in touch with Jeffrey Hernandez, DNP, APRN, a nurse practitioner in the Division of Multiple Sclerosis at the University of Miami, and Bonnie Blain, RN, the president of the International Organization of Multiple Sclerosis Nurses (IOMSN), to learn more about the key role nurses play in neurology care. In this second part of the discussion, Hernandez and Blain, both of whom specialize in multiple sclerosis (MS) care, spoke about the evolving role of nursing in neurology, covering emerging opportunities, advice for young nurses and trainees, and persistent misconceptions about their roles.

Both nurses identified significant opportunities for neurology nurses to expand their impact, not only through the integration of digital tools and remote monitoring technologies, but also through more active involvement in clinical research. Hernandez highlighted the role nurses play in identifying trial-eligible patients, counseling them on treatment options ahead of provider visits, and supporting the shared decision-making model that is central to MS care given the breadth of available disease-modifying therapies. Blain added that scholarship and publication represent an underutilized avenue through which nurses can contribute to the field, encouraging colleagues to share clinical knowledge and engage with available mentorship resources.

For nurses entering the specialty, both Hernandez and Blain encouraged patience and a commitment to lifelong learning. Hernandez emphasized that the complexity of MS therapeutics, including the nuances of treatment selection, infusion management, and triage decision-making, cannot be absorbed quickly, and that new nurses should feel empowered to ask questions, seek clarification, and approach their learning proactively rather than passively.

On the topic of misconceptions, both nurses pushed back against the perception that neurology nursing is primarily task-oriented. They described a role that extends well beyond assessments and medication administration to encompass insurance navigation, treatment adherence support, symptom counseling, and the kind of sustained, trust-based relationships with patients that define longitudinal chronic disease care. Hernandez and Blain closed by calling on colleagues and physician partners alike to recognize and acknowledge the often-invisible work neurology nurses perform, which they characterized as essential to the functioning of any high-quality neurological care team.