Nursing Glossary
The nursing field has a lot of acronyms and abbreviations that may be a bit overwhelming if you are new to the field. The following list contains some of the most commonly used terms in nursing and other healthcare fields. If you notice an error or if you have any suggestion, please contact us
A
AAACN | American Academy of Ambulatory Care Nursing |
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AACN | American Association of Colleges of Nursing ( American Association of Critical-Care Nurses ) |
AAFP | American Academy of Family Practice |
AAMN | American Assembly for Men in Nursing |
AAN | American Academy of Nursing |
AANP | American Association of Nurse Practitioners |
AAP | American Academy of Pediatrics |
AAS | Associate of Applied Science degree |
ABNS | American Board of Nursing Specialties |
ABSNC | Accreditation Board for Specialty Nursing Certification |
AC | Acute Care |
ACAPN | Association of Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Nurses |
ACLS | Advanced Cardiac Life Support |
ACN | Association of Camp Nurses |
ACNN | Association of Child Neurology Nurses |
ACNP | American College of Nurse Practitioners |
ACNP-BC | Acute Care Nurse Practitioner-Board Certified |
ACNPC | Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Certification |
ACNS-BC | Adult Clinical Nurse Specialist - Board Certified |
ACRN | AIDS Certified Registered Nurse |
ACT | American College Testing |
ADLS | Advanced Disaster Life Support |
ADN | Associate Degree in Nursing |
AE-C | Asthma Educator -Certified |
AFPNP | Association of Faculties of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners |
AFPRN | Association of Family Practice Residency Nurses |
ALNC | Advanced Legal Nurse Consultant |
AMP | Applied Measurement Professionals |
AMSN | Academy of Medical Surgical Nurses |
ANA | American Nurses Association |
ANCC | American Nurses Credentialing Center |
ANN | Academy of Neonatal Nursing |
ANP-BC | Adult Nurse Practitioner-Board Certified |
ANSI | American National Standards Institute |
ANVP | Advanced NeuroVascular Practitioner |
AOCNP | Advanced Oncology Certified Nurse Practitioner |
AOCNS | Advanced Oncology Certified Clinical Nurse Specialist |
AONE | American Organization of Nurse Executives |
APHN-BC | Advanced Public Health Nurse-Board Certified |
APN | Advanced Practice Nurse |
APNA | American Psychiatric Nurses Association |
APON | Association of Pediatric Oncology Nurses |
APRN | Advanced Practice Registered Nurse |
APSNA | American Pediatric Surgical Nurses Association |
ARNP | Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioner |
ASN | Associate of Science in Nursing |
ASTNA | Air & Surface Transport Nurses Association |
B
BCEN | Board of Certification for Emergency Nursing |
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BDLS | Basic Disaster Life Support |
BLS | Basic Life Support |
BM | Bachelor of Midwifery |
BN | Bachelor of Nursing |
BON | Board of Nursing |
BSN | Bachelor of Science in Nursing |
C
C-EFM | Certified in Electronic Fetal Monitoring |
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C-NPT | Certified in Neonatal Pediatric Transport |
C-SPI | Certified Specialist in Poison Information |
CACNS | California Association of Clinical Nurse Specialists |
CANP | Certified Adult Nurse Practitioner |
CAPA | Certified Ambulatory Perianesthesia nurse |
CARN | Certified Addictions Registered Nurse |
CATN-I | Course in Advanced Trauma Nursing-Instructor |
CATN-P | Course in Advanced Trauma Nursing-Provider |
CBN | Certified Bariatric Nurse |
CBT | Computer Based Test |
CCCN | Certified Continence Care Nurse |
CCM | Certified Case Manager |
CCNA | Council on Certification of Nurse Anesthetists |
CCNE | Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education |
CCNS | Critical Care Clinical Nurse Specialist (Other meanings: Acute Care Clinical Nurse Specialist) |
CCRN | Certified Critical Care Nurse ( Critical Care Registered Nurse ) (Certification for Adult, Pediatric and Neonatal Critical Care Nurses ) |
CCTC | Certified Clinical Transplant Coordinator |
CCTN | Certified Clinical Transplant Nurse |
CDC | Centers for Disease Control and Prevention |
CDDN | Certified Developmental Disabilities Nurse |
CDE | Certified Diabetes Educator |
CDMS | Certified Disability Management Specialist |
CDN | Certified Dialysis Nurse |
CDONA\LTC | Certified Director of Nursing Administration \ Long Term Care |
CE | Continuing Education |
CEN | Certified Emergency Nurse |
CETN | Certified Enterostomal Therapy Nurse |
CEU | Continuing Education Units |
CFCN | Certified Foot Care Nurse |
CFN | Certified Forensic Nurse |
CFNP | Certified Family Nurse Practitioner |
CFRN | Certified Flight Registered Nurse |
CGN | Certified Gastroenterology Nurse |
CGRN | Certified Gastroenterology Registered Nurse |
CHES | Certified Health Education Specialist |
CHN | Certified Hemodyalisis Nurse |
CHPN | Certified Hospice and Palliative Nurse |
CHRN | Certified Hyperbaric Registered Nurse |
CIC | Certified in Infection Control |
CLC | Certified Lactation Counselor |
CLNC | Certified Legal Nurse Consultant |
CM | Certified Midwife |
CMA | Certified Medical Assistant |
CMC | Cardiac Medicine Certification |
CMCN | Certified Managed Care Nurse |
CMDSC | Certified MDS Coordinator |
CME | Continuing Medical Education |
CMSRN | Certified Medical-Surgical Registered Nurse |
CNA | Certified Nurse Aide |
CNE | Certified Nurse Educator |
CNL | Clinical Nurse Leader |
CNLCP | Certified Nurse Life Care Planner |
CNM | Certified Nurse Midwife |
CNML | Certified Nurse Manager and Leader |
CNN | Certified in Nephrology Nursing |
CNNP | Certified Neonatal Nurse Practitioner |
CNO | Chief Nursing Officer |
CNOR | Certified Nurse Operating Room |
CNP | Certified Nurse Practitioner |
CNRN | Certified Neuroscience Registered Nurse |
CNS | Clinical Nurse Specialist |
CNSN | Certified Nutrition Support Nurse |
COCN | Certified Ostomy Care Nurse |
COHN | Certified Occupational Health Nurse |
COHN-S | Certified Occupational Health Nurse-Specialist |
COHN-S/CM | Certified Occupational Health Nurse-Specialist/Case Manager |
COHN/CM | Certified Occupational Health Nurse/Case Manager |
CORLN | Certified Otorhinolaryngology Nurse |
CPAN | Certified Post Anesthesia Nurse |
CPDN | Certified Peritoneal Dialysis Nurse |
CPEN | Certified Pediatric Emergency Nurse |
CPHON | Certified Pediatric Hematology Oncology Nurse |
CPHQ | Certified Professional in Healthcare Quality |
CPN | Certified Pediatric Nurse |
CPNA | Certified Pediatric Nurse Associate |
CPNL | Certified Practical Nurse,Long-term care |
CPNP | Certified Pediatric Nurse Practitioner |
CPON | Certified Pediatric Oncology Nurse |
CPSN | Certified Plastic Surgical Nurse |
CRN | Certified Radiologic Nurse |
CRNA | Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist |
CRNFA | Certified Registered Nurse First Assistant |
CRNI | Certified Registered Nurse Intravenous |
CRNL | Certified Registered Nurse,Long-term care |
CRNO | Certified Registered Nurse in Ophthalmology |
CRNP | Certified Registered Nurse Practitioner |
CRRN | Certified Rehabilitation Registered Nurse |
CRRN-A | Certified Rehabilitation Registered Nurse-Advanced |
CS | Clinical Specialist |
CSC | Cardiac Surgery Certification |
CSN | Certified School Nurse (Alternative meaning: Clinical Support Nurse) |
CT | Certified in Thanatology |
CTN | Certified Transcultural Nurse |
CTRN | Certified Transport Registered Nurse ( Certified Critical Care Transportation Nurse ) |
CTRS | Certified Therapeutic Recreational Specialist |
CUA | Certified Urologic Associate |
CUCNS | Certified Urologic Clinical Nurse Specialist |
CUNP | Certified Urologic Nurse Practitioner |
CURN | Certified Urologic Registered Nurse |
CVN | Certified Vascular Nurse |
CWCN | Certified Wound Care Nurse |
CWOCN | Certified Wound, Ostomy, Continence Nurse |
CWS | Certified Wound Specialist |
E
EN | Enrolled Nurse |
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ENA | Emergency Nurses Association |
ENPC | Emergency Nursing Pediatric Course |
ET | Enterostomal Therapist |
F
FAAN | Fellow of the American Academy of Nursing |
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FAANP | Fellow of the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners |
FACHE | Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives |
FCCM | Fellow of the American College of Critical Care Medicine |
FNC | Family Nurse Clinician |
FNE | Forensic Nurse Examiner |
FNP-BC | Family Nurse Practitioner-Board Certified |
FPNP | Family Planning Nurse Practitioner |
G
GNP | Gerontological Nurse Practitioner |
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GPA | Grade Point Average |
GPN | General Pediatric Nurse ( Graduate Practical Nurse ) |
GRE | Graduate Record Examinations |
H
HESI A2 | Health Education Systems Inc. Admissions Assessment Exam |
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HNC | Holistic Nurse Certified |
HOBET | Health Occupations Basic Entrance Test |
I
IAFN | International Association of Forensic Nurses |
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IBCLC | International Board-Certified Lactation Consultant |
IBQH | International Board for Quality in Healthcare |
ICC | Intensive Care Certification |
ICE | Institute for Credentialing Excellence |
INC | Intensive Neonatal Care certification |
IOM | Institute of Medicine |
IPN | Institute of Pediatric Nursing |
L
LCCE | Lamaze Certified Childbirth Educator ( Life Centered Career Education ) |
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LNC | Legal Nurse Consultant |
LNCC | Legal Nurse Consultant Certified |
LNP | Licensed Nurse Practitioner |
LPN | Licensed Practical Nurse |
LSN | Licensed School Nurse |
LTC | Long Term Care |
LVN | Licensed Vocational Nurse |
M
MA | Master of Art |
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MAN | Master of Arts in Nursing |
ME | Menopause Educator |
MEd | Masters in Education |
MHN | Mental Health Nurse |
MICN | Mobile Intensive Care Nurse |
MN | Master of Nursing |
MPH | Master of Public Health |
MS | Master of Science |
MSN | Master of Science in Nursing |
N
NACHRI | National Association of Children's Hospitals and Related Institutions |
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NACNS | National Association of Clinical Nurse Specialists |
NAPNAP | National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners |
NASN | National Association of School Nurses |
NASND | National Association of School Nurses for the Deaf |
NASSNC | National Association of State School Nurse Consultants |
NBCSN | National Board for Certification of School Nurses |
NCBPNP/N | National Certification Board of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners and Nurses |
NCCA | National Council for Certifying Agencies |
NCLEX-PN | National Council Licensure Examination for Practical Nurses |
NCLEX-RN | National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses |
NCQA | National Commission for Quality Assurance |
NCRC | National Credentialing Research Coalition |
NCSBN | National Council of State Boards of Nursing |
NCSN | National Certified School Nurse |
NE-BC | Nurse Executive-Board Certified |
NEA-BC | Nurse Executive Advanced-Board Certified |
NLN | National League for Nursing |
NLN PAX-PN | National League for Nursing Pre-Admission Examination for Practical/Vocational Nursing |
NLN PAX-RN | National League for Nursing Pre-Admission Examination for Registred Nursing |
NLNAC | National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission, Inc. |
NNP-BC | Neonatal Nurse Practitioner - Board Certified |
NONPF | National Organization for Nurse Practitioner Faculties |
NP | Nurse Practitioner |
NPC | Nurse Practitioner, Certified |
NPP | Nurse Practitioner in Psychiatry |
NVRN | NeuroVascular Registered Nurse |
P
PA | Physician's Assistant |
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PALS | Pediatric Advanced Life Support |
PBT | Paper Based Test |
PC | Primary Care |
PCCN | Progressive Care Certified Nurse |
PCNS | Pediatric Clinical Nurse Specialist |
PCNS-BC | Clinical Nurse Specialist in Pediatrics-Board Certified |
PENS | Pediatric Endocrinology Nursing Society |
PharmD | Doctor of Pharmacy |
PhD | Doctor of Philosophy |
PHN | Public Health Nurse |
PHRN | Pre-Hospital Registered Nurse |
PMHCNS-BC | Psychiatric Mental Health Clinical Nurse Specialist - Board Certified |
PMHNP-BC | Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner - Board Certified |
PMHS | Pediatric Primary Care Mental Health Specialist |
PN | Practical Nurse |
PNP-AC | Pediatric Nurse Practitioner-Acute Care |
PNP-BC | Clinical Nurse Specialist in Pediatrics-Board Certified |
PSB | Psychological Services Bureau |
R
RIPRN | Rural and Isolated Practice Registered Nurses |
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RN | Registered Nurse |
RN-BC | Registered Nurse-Board Certified |
RNC | Registered Nurse,Certified |
RNC-LRN | Registered Nurse Certified in Low Risk Neonatal Nursing |
RNC-MNN | Registered Nurse Certified in Maternal Newborn Nursing |
RNC-NIC | Registered Nurse Certified in Neonatal Intensive Care |
RNC-OB | Registered Nurse Certified in Inpatient Obstetrics |
RNCS | Registered Nurse Clinical Specialist (Registered Nurse Certified Specialist) |
RNFA | Registered Nurse First Assistant |
S
SANE-A | Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner-Adult/Adolescent |
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SANE-P | Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner-Pediatric |
SAT | Scholastic Assessment Test |
SHN | Sexual and reproductive Health Nurse |
SN | Student Nurse (RN preparation) |
SNP-BC | School Nurse Practitioner - Board Certified |
SPN | Society of Pediatric Nurses |
SRNA | Student Registered Nurse Anesthetist(CRNA preparation) |
SVN | Student Nurse (LVN preparation) |
T
TEAS | Test of Essential Academic Skills |
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TNCC-I | Trauma Nursing Core Course Instructor |
TNCC-P | Trauma Nursing Core Course Provider |
TNP | Telephone Nursing Practitioner |
TNS | Trauma Nurse Specialist |