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
- ADN: Associate degree in nursing
- BSN: Bachelor of science in nursing
- DHA: Doctor of healthcare administration
- DNAP: Doctor of nurse anesthesia practice
- DNP: Doctor of nursing practice
- Ed.D.: Doctor of education
- MSN: Master of science in nursing
- NCLEX-RN: National Council Licensure Examination – Registered Nurse
- NCLEX-PN: National Council Licensure Examination – Practical Nurse
- BLS: Basic life support
- ACLS: Advanced cardiovascular life support
- PALS: Pediatric advanced life support
- NRP: Neonatal resuscitation program
- SANE-A: Sexual assault nurse examiner – adult/adolescent
- SANE-P: Sexual assault nurse examiner – pediatric
- ECC: Emergency cardiovascular care
- ANP-BC: Adult nurse practitioner – board certified
- A-GNP: Adult-gerontology primary care nurse practitioner
- AACRN: Advanced HIV/AIDS certified registered nurse
- ACHPN: Advanced certified hospice and palliative nurse
- ACNP: Acute care nurse practitioner
- ADM: Advanced diabetes management
- AOCN: Advanced oncology certified nurse
- BMTCN: Blood and marrow transplant certified nurse
- CBC: Certified breastfeeding counselor
- CBHC-BS: Correctional behavioral health certification – behavioral specialty
- CCE: Certified childbirth educator
- CCRN: Critical care/acute registered nurse
- CCRP: Certified clinical research professional
- CEN: Certified emergency nurse
- CHPCA: Certified hospice and palliative care administrator
- CLC: Certified lactation counselor
- CLNC: Certified legal nurse consultant
- CMCN: Certification in management care nursing
- CMSRN: Certified medical-surgical registered nurse
- CNE: Certified nurse educator
- CPN: Certified pediatric nurse
- CPSN: Certified plastic surgical nurse
- CRNA: Certified registered nurse anesthetist
- CRRN: Certified rehabilitation registered nurse
- FNP-BC: Family nurse practitioner – board certified
- NCSN: National certified school nurse
- RN-BC: Registered nurse – board certified
- RNC-NIC: Registered nurse certified – neonatal intensive care
- RNC-OB: Registered nurse certified – inpatient obstetric nursing
- SANE-A: Certified sexual assault nurse examiner – adult/adolescent
- SANE-P: Certified sexual assault nurse examiner – pediatric
- TCRN: Trauma certified registered nurse
- ACU: Acute care unit
- CCN: Continuing care nursery
- CCU: Coronary or critical care unit
- CICU: Cardiac intensive care unit
- ED: Emergency department
- ER: Emergency room
- HEM-ONC: Hematology – oncology
- ICCU: Intermediate cardiac care unit
- ICU: Intensive care unit
- L&D: Labor and delivery
- NBN: Newborn nursery
- NICU: Neonatal intensive care unit
- OR: Operating room
- PACU: Postanesthesia care unit
- PCU: Progressive care unit
- PICU: Pediatric intensive care unit
- TCU: Transitional care unit
- TICU: Trauma intensive care unit
- SDU: Special delivery unit
- SICU: Surgical intensive care unit
- VICU: Vascular intermediate care unit
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.
- A&O: Alert and oriented
- ALS or BLS: Advanced or basic life support
- AMA: Against medical advice
- BM: Bowel movement
- C/O: Complaint of
- CC: Chief complaint
- CP: Chest pain
- CV: Cardiovascular
- DC: Discharge or discontinue
- DDx: Differential diagnosis
- DNR: Do not resuscitate
- DOB: Date of birth
- DOE: Dyspnea on exertion
- Dx: Diagnosis
- EBL: Estimated blood loss
- FB: Foreign body
- Fx: Fracture
- GI: Gastrointestinal
- GSW: Gunshot wound
- H&P: History & physical
- H/O: History of
- HPI: History of present illness
- I&O: Intake and output
- IBW: Ideal body weight
- ICU: Intensive care unit
- ID: Infectious disease
- MDM: Medical decision making
- MVA: Motor vehicle accident
- NAD: No acute distress
- NKDA: No known drug allergies
- PCP: Primary care physician
- RF: Risk factors
- ROS: Review of systems
- S/P: Status post
- SOB: Shortness of breath
- STAT: Immediately
- Sx: Symptoms
- Tx: Treatment
- UOP: Urine output
- WNL: Within normal limits
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.
