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Guide to Nursing Acronyms and Abbreviations

Date
August 30, 2023
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A group of nurses talking in a hospital hallway.
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The health care industry uses an abundance of acronyms and abbreviations. Nurses must learn a wide array of terminology to keep up with internal conversations with their peers, understand patient charts, and comprehend the terms that are used when referring to conditions, treatments, and medications.

Although learning this terminology can be daunting — often taking several years to master — it’s an important part of becoming a nurse. Those who aspire to join the nursing profession are encouraged to learn the acronyms and abbreviations of the field.

Acronyms and abbreviations may seem like alphabet soup at first, but they benefit users by speeding along conversations, keeping medical documentation short and concise, and streamlining communications. The following are some of the top nursing acronyms and nursing abbreviations used in health care.

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Education and Training

This section covers the various nursing acronyms and abbreviations relative to education and training.

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Types of Nurses

In the medical field, although the term "nurse" is often used by patients, it isn’t as common among health care workers. That’s because the term is overly broad, and doesn’t appropriately specify a nurse’s role. The following are some of the top nursing acronyms for specific nursing job titles.

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APRN: Advanced Practice Registered Nurse

An APRN is a nurse who has at least a master’s-level education. They are generally trained to serve a specific population of patients or perform a specific role, such as administering anesthesia.

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CNA: Certified Nursing Assistant

A CNA holds an entry-level health care position and helps registered nurses, nurse practitioners, and physicians with patient-centered tasks.

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CNL: Clinical Nurse Leader

A CNL is a nurse with a master’s degree who can deliver a continuum of care in any health care setting. In addition to delivering patient care, CNLs focus on care coordination, outcome measurements, transitions of care, risk assessment, and implementing best practices.

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CNM: Certified Nurse Midwife

A CNM is an APRN who specializes in perinatal care, family planning, and the gynecological needs of women of all ages.

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CNS: Clinical Nurse Specialist

A CNS is an APRN trained to provide advanced care for specific patients categorized in one of the following ways:

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CRNA: Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist

A CRNA is an APRN specially trained to administer anesthesia to patients who are undergoing surgery or other procedures.

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LPN: Licensed Practical Nurse

An LPN doesn’t have the same qualifications, training, or education as a registered nurse. They can take on limited responsibilities such as recording patient vitals, changing wound dressings, administering medications, feeding and bathing patients, and other tasks delegated by a registered nurse.

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LVN: Licensed Vocational Nurse

An LVN provides basic patient care under the direct supervision of a physician, nurse practitioner, or registered nurse. They perform duties such as taking vitals, assisting patients with bathing and dressing, and communicating with families about the patient’s status.

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NP: Nurse Practitioner

An NP is an APRN who has a more advanced education and skill set than a registered nurse. In states where NPs have full practice authority, they can diagnose and treat patients without supervision, even prescribing medications. NPs also have the option to focus on any of a number of specialties. Some top NP specialties include:

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RN: Registered Nurse

An RN is a front-line medical worker, often the first point of contact with patients. They deliver a wide variety of patient care such as assessing patients, recording medical histories and symptoms, administering medications, and helping perform diagnostic tests.

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Nursing Degrees

With the multitude of educational options, there are now several ways to become an RN, NP, or other high-level nurse. The following are some of the most used nursing acronyms in education.

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ADN: Associate Degree in Nursing

An ADN is an undergraduate degree program that teaches students the core knowledge and skills needed to join the field of nursing as an entry-level nurse. It typically takes two years to complete.

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ASN: Associate of Science in Nursing

An ASN is an undergraduate degree program similar to the ADN degree program. The main difference is that the ASN program focuses more on clinical skills, which means students can expect more lab exercises. It typically takes two years to complete and is ideal for those interested in gaining a role as an entry-level nurse.

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AAS: Associate of Applied Science in Nursing

An AAS is another two-year degree program that focuses on teaching nursing students the foundational knowledge of a chosen nursing specialty along with basic nursing skills. This is yet another ideal degree for entry-level nurses.

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BSN: Bachelor of Science in Nursing

A BSN is a four-year degree program that is more advanced and comprehensive than an associate degree. Nurses in a BSN program learn advanced clinical skills and knowledge that prepare them for higher-level roles in the health care field.

Current and aspiring nurses have a few different types of BSN programs to consider:

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MSN: Master of Science in Nursing

An MSN is a graduate degree program that trains nurses to take on advanced roles in nursing, such as nurse practitioner. Generally, MSN programs take about three years to complete and include coursework that covers advanced health assessment, nursing research, and advanced pharmacology.

MSN programs have a variety of degree paths. The following are the most common MSN program types:

Additionally, MSN degrees usually focus on a specialty. Some top MSN degree specialties include:

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DNP: Doctor of Nursing Practice

A DNP is a terminal degree, meaning that it is the highest degree available. It teaches the most advanced concepts and skills in the nursing field. It is intended for those who aspire to take on leadership roles in nursing.

DNP programs have a number of degree paths. The following are the most common DNP program types:

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Certifications and Exams

Many roles require nurses to take an exam or earn a certification to qualify for licensure, to certify their skills, or for another pertinent reason. The following are some of the most common nursing acronyms and nursing abbreviations pertaining to certifications and exams.

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Nursing Certifications

The following are some of the top nursing acronyms as they pertain to certifications.

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Nursing Exams

The following are some of the most common nursing acronyms and nursing abbreviations pertaining to exams.

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Workplace

Nurses will encounter a number of acronyms and abbreviations in the workplace.

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Common Medical Abbreviations and Acronyms

The following are some of the most common abbreviations and acronyms used by nurses in the health care field.

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Medical Conditions and Diagnoses

The following is a list of common medical abbreviations used by nurses to refer to conditions, diagnoses, and other medically related topics.

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List of Common Medications

The following are some of the most common acronyms and abbreviations for medications used by nurses.

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List of Common Treatments

The following are some of the most common acronyms and abbreviations used by nurses when referring to treatments.

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Hospital Units

The following are the acronyms used for the various health care settings and hospital units most commonly occupied by nurses and other health care workers.

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Advance Your Career in Nursing

The health care field is booming, with an ever-growing need for registered nurses to work on the front lines in hospitals and health care facilities. The number of jobs for registered nurses is projected to grow by 9% — 276,800 new positions — between 2020 and 2030.

The best way to become a nurse is by investing in a nursing education, such as by earning a Master of Science in Nursing degree. Along with teaching students the nursing acronyms and nursing abbreviations that are so prevalent in the field, an advanced degree program lays the foundation for a successful career as a registered nurse or nurse practitioner.

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