Our guide to nursing abbreviations lists the common degree, credentials, certifications, and job abbreviations in the nursing profession. The nursing profession is filled with abbreviations. It can be quite confusing. So, we have compiled a list to help you. Below are some of the degrees and other abbreviations used in nursing. This is not a comprehensive list, but it will get you started.
DEGREE AND EDUCATION ABBREVIATIONS
Online degree programs suit not only second-career aspiring nurses (about to enter the industry for the first time but working elsewhere) and new nursing students, but also currently working nurses wanting to upgrade their education. With modern technologies, even a physically-oriented career such as nursing can be taught online or via other remote means, such as live TV or satellite feeds.
Featured Programs
Practicums can often be completed in healthcare environments local to the student. For first-time aspiring nurses not in another career, an associate’s degree or diploma in nursing is the starting point. However, these are not as commonly available online compared to bachelor’s or graduate nursing programs.
NURSING CERTIFICATE PROGRAMS
Nursing students will potentially encounter two categories of certificates: (1) academic certificate programs, where credits may count towards degrees; and (2) professional industry-recognized certification/ licensing/ registration. Preparation for exams of the latter could be available as an academic certificate program. Academic nursing certificate programs are more likely to be at the graduate rather than undergraduate level, and sometimes require at least a master’s in nursing for admission.
- NCLEX-PN = National Council Licensure Examination Practical Nurse
- PND = Practical Nursing Diploma
ASSOCIATE DEGREES IN NURSING
Of the schools covered above, online associate’s degrees in nursing are rather rare, with only a handful of nursing schools offering such programs. So for the present time, it’s likely that a first-time aspiring nurse will have to take a traditional on-campus nursing program at the associate degree or diploma level. However, this can usually be followed up with an RN-to-BSN type of degree-completion program, and in some cases RN-to-MSN.
- AAS = Associate of Applied Science
- AASN = Associate of Applied Science in Nursing
- ADN = Associate Degree in Nursing
- AS = Associate of Science
- ASN = Associate of Science in Nursing
- NCLEX-RN = National Council Licensure Examination Registered Nurse
BACHELOR’S IN NURSING
A bachelor’s degree in nursing is one of the more frequent types of online nursing degree types, especially the “RN to BSN” degree-completion programs. These programs are designed to allow currently licensed RNs who hold a diploma or associate’s degree in nursing to study for a BSN (BS in Nursing) while holding down their nursing job. The net outcome is that they can progress in their career and be able to work and pay for it, simultaneously.
- BS = Bachelor of Science
- BSN = BS in Nursing
- NCLEX-RN = National Council Licensure Examination Registered Nurse
NURSING MASTER’S DEGREE
Master’s degrees in nursing are typically an MSN (Master of Science in Nursing), possibly with a choice of tracks/ specializations. They can also be “transition” degrees, such as an “RN to MSN”, in which current RNs with an associate’s degree or diploma in nursing can obtain both a BSN and an MSN as part of a joint academic program. Having a Master’s in Nursing opens up numerous advanced career opportunities, including educator, executive/ administrator, advanced practice, and more. Additional professional certification may be part of the effort.
- MS = Master of Science
- MSN = Master of Science in Nursing
NURSING DOCTORAL DEGREE
The most common type of nursing doctorate is the DNP (Doctor of Nursing Practice), although there are PhD programs as well. The DNP degree typically offers students with an MSN the opportunity to further their career with one of several Nurse Practitioner specializations.
- DNP = Doctor of Nursing Practice
- PhD = Doctoral Degree in Nursing
Nursing Credentials
- ACNP = Acute Care Nurse Practitioner
- ANP = Adult Nurse Practitioner
- APRN = Advanced Practice Registered Nurse
- CNS = Clinical Nurse Specialist
- FNP = Family Nurse Practitioner
- GNP = Gerontological Nurse Practitioner
- LPN = Licensed Practical Nurse
- LVN = Licensed Vocational Nurse
- NP = Nurse Practitioner
- PNP = Pediatric Nurse Practitioner
- RN = Registered Nurse
- TCRN = Trauma Certified Registered Nurse
ABBREVIATIONS FOR CERTIFICATIONS, ROLES, AND JOBS
- AACRN = Advanced HIV/AIDS Certified Registered Nurse
- ACRN = HIV/AIDS Certified Registered Nurse
- AFN-BC = Advanced Forensic Nurses – Board Certified
- AGN-BC = Advanced Genetic Nurses – Board Certified
- AHN-BC = Advanced Holistic Nurses – Board Certified
- AGAC-NP = Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner
- AGPC-NP = Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner
- ALNC = Advanced Legal Nurse Consultant
- CBCN = Certified Breast Cancer Care Nurse
- CCRP = Certified Clinical Research Professionals
- CDN = Certified Dialysis Nurse
- CEN = Certified Emergency Nurses
- CFCN = Certified Foot Care Nurses
- CFRN = Certified Flight Registered Nurses
- CGRN = Certified Gastroenterology Registered Nurses
- CHRN = Certified Hyperbaric Registered Nurses
- CHPCA = Certified Hospice and Palliative Care Administrator
- CNA = Certified Nursing Assistant
- CNE = Certified Nurse Educator
- CNL = Clinical Nurse Leader
- CNM = Certified Nurse-Midwife
- CNML = Certified Nurse Manager and Leaders
- CNO = Chief Nursing Officer
- CPSN = Certified Plastic Surgical Nurses
- CRN = Certified Radiologic Nurses
- CRNA = Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist
- DNP = Doctor of nursing practice
- HWNC-BC = Board Certified Health and Wellness Nurse Coaches
- ICU = Intensive Care Unit Nurse
- NA = Nursing aid or nursing assistant
- NC-BC = Nurse Coach Board Certified
- NE-BC = Nurse Executive Board Certified
- NEA-BC = Nurse Executive Advanced Board Certified
- NI = Nursing Informatics
- NIC = Neonatal Intensive Care Nurses
- NNP = Neonatal Nurse Practitioners
- OCN = Oncology Certified Nurse
- ONC = Certified Orthopaedic Nurses
- ONP = Oncology Nurse Practitioners
- PACU = Post-Anesthesia Care Unit Nurse
- PHNA = Advanced Public Health Nurses
- PHNA-BC = Advanced Public Health Nurses – Board Certified
- PMHNP = Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
- PMHS = Pediatric Primary Care Mental Health Specialists
- PRN = Pro re nata (per diem nurse)
- PNP = Pediatric Nurse Practitioner
- PNP-AC = Acute Care Pediatric Nurse Practitioners
- SANE-A = Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners – Adult/Adolescent
- SANE-P = Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners – Pediatric
- SCRN = Stroke Certified Registered Nurses
- WHNP = Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner
Other Nursing Roles and Jobs
In addition to the above-profiled occupations, there are numerous nursing roles. We’ve compiled a unique list and their nursing abbreviations. This list is not comprehensive but gives you some of the scope available to you for a career in nursing.
- Advanced Population Health
- Cardiac Care Nursing
- Case Manager
- Charge Nurse
- Clinical Nurse Specialist
- Community/Public/Home Health Nursing
- Critical Care Nursing
- Emergency Nursing
- Family Nurse Practitioner
- Family Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurse
- Flight/Trauma/Transport Nursing
- Forensic Nursing
- Genetics Nursing
- Gerontological Nursing
- Gynecology/Obstetric Nursing
- Health Care Policymaker
- Health Systems Leadership and Informatics
- Highest level of patient care
- Home Health Nursing
- Hyperbaric Nursing
- Immunology and Allergy Nursing
- Infection Control Nursing
- Infectious Disease Nursing
- Infusion Nursing/Intravenous Therapy Nursing
- Intensive Care Unit (ICU) Nurse
- Medical Case Management
- Medical-Surgical Nursing
- Medical and Uniformed Services Nursing
- Neonatal Intensive Care Nursing
- Neonatal Nurse Practitioner
- Neurosurgical Nursing
- Nurse Administrator
- Nurse Attorney
- Nurse Case Manager
- Nurse Coaches
- Nurse Educator
- Nurse Executive
- Nurse-Midwifery
- Nurse Supervisor
- Obstetric and Gynecological Nursing
- Occupational Health Nursing
- Oncology Nursing
- Operating Room Nursing
- Organ Procurement and Transplant
- Orthopedic Nursing
- Pediatric Nursing
- Perioperative Nursing
- Pharmaceutical Nursing
- Post-Anesthesia Care Nurse
- Psychiatric Nursing
- Private Duty Nursing
- Public Health Nurse
- Pulmonary Nursing
- Radiology Nursing
- Registered Dental Nursing
- Registered Nurse (RN)
- Renal Nursing
- School Nurse
- Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners
- Space Nursing
- Staff Nurse
- Sub-Acute Nursing
- Substance Abuse Nursing
- Surgery/Post Anesthesia/ Recovery
- Trauma Nursing
- Travel Nursing
- Women’s Health Nurse
NURSING ASSOCIATIONS
The following list includes nursing associations and credentialing bodies with their nursing abbreviations. It is by no means a comprehensive directory of nursing associations, but rather a few that you may either be interested in or run across more commonly than other associations.
- Accreditation Board for Specialty Nursing Certification (ABSNC)
- American Academy of Emergency Nurse Practitioners (AAENP)
- American Academy of Ambulatory Care Nursing
- American Academy of Nurse Practitioners (AANP)
- American Assembly of Men in Nursing (AAMN)
- American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN)
- American Association of Heart Failure Nurses
- American Association of Occupational Health Nurses
- American Board of Certification for Gastroenterology Nurses
- American Board of Neuroscience Nursing
- American College of Nurse-Midwives
- American Holistic Nurses Association (AHNA)
- American Nurses Association (ANA)
- American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC)
- American Organization of Nurse Executives
- Board of Certification for Emergency Nursing
- Certification Board of Infectious Control and Epidemiology
- Certification Board for Urologic Nurses and Associates
- Commission on Nurse Certification (CNC)
- Dermatology Nursing Certification Board
- Emergency Nursing Association (ENA)
- Hospice and Palliative Credentialing Center (HPCC)
- International Association of Forensic Nurses
- National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners (NAPNP)
- National Association of School Nurses (NASN)
- National Board of Certification and Recertification for Nurse Anesthetists (NBCRNA)
- National Board of Diving and Hyperbaric Medical Technology
- National Certification Corporation
- National Student Nurses Association (NSNA)
- Nephrology Nursing Certification Commission
- Oncology Nursing Certification Corporation (ONCC)
- Pediatric Nursing Certification Board (PCNB)
- Plastic Surgical Nursing Certification Board
- Radiologic Nursing Certification Board
- Rehabilitation Nursing Certification Board
- Wound, Ostomy, and Continence Nursing Certification Board
YOUR CAREER IN NURSING
Well over a million new jobs in nursing and nursing-related occupations are expected to be available between 2020 and 2030, according to the BLS’s Occupational Outlook Handbook (OOH) Web pages. BLS’ OOH Web pages profile the following nursing-relation occupations — most of which require a diploma in nursing or higher, and professional certification:
- Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) or Licensed Vocational Nurses (LVN)
- Medical or Health Services Managers
- Nurse Anesthetist, Nurse Midwives, or Nurse Practitioners
- Nursing Assistants and Orderlies:
- Orderly or (Certified) Nursing Assistants
- Personal Care Aides
- Physician Assistants
- Registered Nurses
Learn more about each occupation and related careers by clicking the links above, which will take you to job profile pages on the BLS OOH Web site.
Related:
