Guide to Nursing and Healthcare Acronyms and Abbreviations
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Don’t know the difference between an Fx and a Dx? Even seasoned nurses on the ward do not know all the nursing abbreviations and acronyms that describe healthcare exams, certifications, degrees, types of nurses, hospital units, and medical charts and records.
Nurses do, however, need to know where to look up these medical abbreviations. This guide covers common — although not all — nursing abbreviations and healthcare acronyms.
- APRN: Advanced practice registered nurse
- AACRN: Advanced HIV/AIDS certified registered nurse
- ACHPN: Palliative care nurse practitioner
- ACNP: Acute care nurse practitioner
- ACONP: Oncology nurse practitioner
- AFN-BC: Advanced forensic nurses
- AGN-BC: Advanced genetic nurses
- AGACNP: Adult-gerontology acute care nurse practitioner
- AGPCNP: Adult-gerontology primary care nurse practitioner
- AGCNS: Adult-gerontology clinical nurse specialist
- AHN: Advanced holistic nurse
- AHN-BC: Advanced practice holistic nurse – board certified
- ANVP: Advanced neurovascular practitioner
- AOCNS: Advanced oncology certified clinical nurse specialist
- CDN: Certified dialysis nurse
- CMA: Certified medical assistant
- CNA: Certified nursing assistant
- CNE: Certified nurse educator
- CNL: Clinical nurse leader
- CNM: Certified nurse midwife
- CNO: Chief nursing officer
- CNS: Clinical nurse specialist
- CPNP: Certified pediatric nurse practitioner
- CRNA: Certified registered nurse anesthetist
- CUNP: Certified urologic nurse practitioner
- DCNP: Dermatology certified nurse practitioner
- DCNS: Diabetic clinical nurse specialist
- DNP: Doctor of nursing practice
- ENP: Emergency nurse practitioner
- FNP: Family nurse practitioner
- HHCNS: Home health clinical nurse specialist
- LPN: Licensed practical nurse
- LVN: Licensed vocational nurse
- NA: Nursing assistant or nursing aide
- NE: Nurse executive
- NCM: Nurse case manager
- ND: Nurse director
- NP: Nurse practitioner
- NCNS: Neonatal clinical nurse specialist
- NNP: Neonatal nurse practitioner
- OCNS-C: Orthopaedic clinical nurse specialist – certified
- ONP-C: Orthopedics nurse practitioner – certified
- PCNS: Pediatric clinical nurse specialist
- PMHCNS: Psychiatric and mental health clinical nurse specialist
- PMHNP: Psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner
- UCNS: Urologic clinical nurse specialist
- RN: Registered nurse
- SNP: School nurse practitioner
- WHNP: Women’s health and gender-related nurse practitioner
Medical Chart/Record Abbreviations and Acronyms
The following is a list of commonly used terms. Please note that most hospitals will have their own list of approved abbreviations that are allowed to be used in charting and medical recording. Please follow your hospital’s list of approved abbreviations and acronyms.
Reviewed by:
Elizabeth M. Clarke, FNP, MSN, RN, MSSW
Elizabeth Clarke (Poon) is a board-certified family nurse practitioner who provides primary and urgent care to pediatric populations. She earned a BSN and MSN from the University of Miami.
Clarke is a paid member of our Healthcare Review Partner Network. Learn more about our review partners.
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