There are many degrees and certifications available to nurses in the US leading to an alphabet soup of credentials behind their name. The many acronyms confuse everyone from native English speakers who are not from the US to other Americans to other healthcare professionals. Use this handy guide to help you understand who you are talking to when encountering an American nurse! Though not comprehensive, this guide covers the most important acronyms and the most common.
The most important acronyms are the license levels: RN, LPN or LVN, and NP.
Nursing badges probably say something like RN or LPN. RNs, or registered nurses, have at least a 2-year degree. There are also Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs), or Licensed Vocational Nurses (LVNs) as they are called in some states. LPNs are nurses with a narrower scope of practice than RNs, though the role differs by state. They often work in rehabilitation centers, clinics, and nursing homes, but some hospitals do utilize LPNs. Both RNs and LPNs have similar skills and actively participate in patient care.
RNs comprise the largest group of nurses in the hospital. There are many other credentials nurses can receive, so you may see a variety of other letters in front of or behind RN.
Nurse Practitioners: Another type of nursing professional not found in every country is the Nurse Practitioner, though the number of countries where they can practice is growing. Nurse practitioners are registered nurses who have completed additional education, a Master’s or Doctorate, that allows them to take on a provider role. They may prescribe medications and treatments. This role, too, is defined by the state with varying levels of practice independence depending on location. They work in both inpatient and outpatient facilities. While their scope of practice differs by state, they have a narrower range of abilities to provide services than MDs or DOs. Like RN’s, nurse practitioners can have a lot of letters behind their names.
Acronyms for nurse practitioners may include: ARNP (Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioner), DNP (Doctor of Nursing Practice), ACNP (Acute Care Nurse Practitioner), FNP (Family Nurse Practitioner), PNP (Pediatric Nurse Practitioner), MHNP (Mental Health Nurse Practitioner), etc. Notice the trend? NP is what you are looking for to determine if a person is a nurse practitioner. They may have other certifications as well.
One exception to the NP root is CRNA, Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist. CRNAs are also advanced practitioners who specialize in anesthesiology.
Other Achievements
Behind the RN or LPN, you may see other acronyms that proclaim other certifications nurses have achieved. This is not a comprehensive list, but covers some of the most common certifications.
BSN: Bachelor of Science in Nursing (Unlike other acronyms, this one usually goes in front of the RN credential. For example, Jane Doe, BSN, RN.)
MSN: Master of Science in Nursing (This one also goes before the RN.)
CCRN: Certified Critical Care Registered Nurse
CDN: Certified Dialysis Nurse
CEN: Certified Emergency Nurse
CFRN: Certified Flight Registered Nurse
CLC: Certified Lactation Consultant (Non-nurses may also carry this credential)
CMSRN: Certified Medical Surgical Registered Nurse
CNL: Clinical Nurse Leader
CNS: Clinical Nurse Specialist (These are master’s prepared nurses and like NPs, may have other letters in front of the acronym. For example, ACCNS stands for Acute Care Clinical Nurse Specialist. CNS is the root acronym here.)
CPAN: Certified Post-Anesthesia Nurse
CPN: Certified Pediatric Nurse
CRRN: Certified Rehabilitation Registered Nurse
CWOCN: Certified Wound Ostomy Care Nurse
RN-BC: Registered Nurse, Board Certified
SANE: Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner
TCRN: Trauma Certified Registered Nurse
And many, many more!
Nursing Assistants: CNA/Tech/PCT/MA
While not exactly nurses, nursing assistants play a valuable role alongside nurses, and where you find nurses you can usually find nursing assistants. Nursing assistants have different titles depending on the setting and organization. They may be called CNAs (Certified Nursing Assistants) or PCTs (Patient Care Technicians), or “techs” for short. There are other names they may be called as well. Whatever their title, they are valuable resources for many things you need.
MA can stand for either Medication Aide or Medical Assistant depending on the context. Medication Aides are CNAs who have received additional training to administer medications, usually in a long-term care or rehabilitation facility. Medical assistants are usually found in doctor’s offices and help take vital signs, administer injections, and do other assistive tasks to help patients flow smoothly through the clinic.
Anytime you are confused or curious about someone’s credentials, it is okay to ask! It is normal to ask questions in the US healthcare system and most people enjoy talking about their accomplishments. If you are too shy, you can also Google the acronym + nurse to find out.