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
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
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B

BCEN Board of Certification for Emergency Nursing
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
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C

C-EFM Certified in Electronic Fetal Monitoring
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
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D

DN Doctor of Nursing
DNP Doctor of Nursing Practice
DNS Doctor of Nursing Science
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E

EN Enrolled Nurse
ENA Emergency Nurses Association
ENPC Emergency Nursing Pediatric Course
ET Enterostomal Therapist
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F

FAAN Fellow of the American Academy of Nursing
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
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G

GNP Gerontological Nurse Practitioner
GPA Grade Point Average
GPN General Pediatric Nurse ( Graduate Practical Nurse )
GRE Graduate Record Examinations
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H

HESI A2 Health Education Systems Inc. Admissions Assessment Exam
HNC Holistic Nurse Certified
HOBET Health Occupations Basic Entrance Test
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I

IAFN International Association of Forensic Nurses
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
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J

JCAHO Joint Commission on the Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations
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L

LCCE Lamaze Certified Childbirth Educator ( Life Centered Career Education )
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
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M

MA Master of Art
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
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N

NACHRI National Association of Children's Hospitals and Related Institutions
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
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O

OCN Oncology Certified Nurse
ONC Orthopaedic Nurse Certified
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P

PA Physician's Assistant
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
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R

RIPRN Rural and Isolated Practice Registered Nurses
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
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S

SANE-A Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner-Adult/Adolescent
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)
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T

TEAS Test of Essential Academic Skills
TNCC-I Trauma Nursing Core Course Instructor
TNCC-P Trauma Nursing Core Course Provider
TNP Telephone Nursing Practitioner
TNS Trauma Nurse Specialist
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W

WCC Wound Care Certified
WHNP-BC Women's Health Nurse Practitioner-Board Certified
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