List of nursing credentials

Postnominal Nursing Credential Usage

A nurse's postnominal (listed after the name) credentials usually follow his or her name in this order:
* Highest earned academic degree in or related to nursing (e.g. "MSN")
* Nursing licensure (e.g. "RN")
* Nursing certification (e.g. "CCRN")

Generally credentials are listed from most to least permanent. A degree, once earned, cannot be taken away. State licensure is only revoked for serious professional misconduct. Certifications generally must be periodically renewed by examination or the completion of a prescribed number of continuing education units (CEUs).

Nurses may also hold non-nursing credentials including academic degrees. These are usually omitted unless they are related to the nurse's job. For instance, a staff nurse would likely not list an MBA, but a nurse manager might choose to do so.

Nursing credentials are separated from the person's name (and from each other) with commas. There are usually no periods within the credentials. (e.g. "BSN" not "B.S.N.")

Alphabetical Listing of Nursing and Related Credentials

A

* AAS - Associate of Applied Science
* AAN - Associate of Arts in Nursing
* ACLS - Advanced Cardiac Life Support (not intended for postnominal use)
* ACNP - Acute Care Nurse Practitioner
* ACRN - AIDS Certified Registered Nurse
* ADN - Associate Degree in Nursing
* ALNC - Advanced Legal Nurse Cosultant
* ANP - Adult Nurse Practitioner
* AOCN - Advanced Oncology Certified Nurse
* AOCNP - Advanced Oncology Certified Nurse Practitioner
* AOCNS - Advanced Oncology Certified Clinical Nurse Specialist
* APN - Advanced Practice Nurse
* APRN - Advanced Practice Registered Nurse
* ARNP - Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioner
* ASN - Associate of Science in Nursing

B

* BCLS - Basic Cardiac Life Support (not intended for postnominal use)
* BM - Bachelor of Midwifery
* BN - Bachelor of Nursing
* BHSc Nsg - Bachelor Health Science - Nursing Nursing Qualification for RNs in Australia
* BSN - Bachelor of Science in Nursing

C

* CANP - Certified Adult Nurse Practitioner
* CATN -P Course in Advanced Trauma Nursing -Provider
* CATN -I Course in Advanced Trauma Nursing -Instructor
* CAPA - Certified Ambulatory Perianesthesia nurse
* CARN - Certified Addictions Registered Nurse
* CCCN - Certified Continence Care Nurse
* CCM - Certified Case Manager
* CCNS - Certified Clinical Nurse Specialist
* CCRN - certified in critical care nursing
* CCTC - Certified Clinical Transplant Coordinator
* CCTN - Certified Clinical Transplant Nurse
* CCTRN - Certified Critical Care Transportation Nurse
* 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
* CEN - Certified Emergency Nurse
* CETN - Certified Enterostomal Therapy Nurse
* 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
* CHN - Certified Hemodyalisis Nurse
* CHPN - Certified Hospice and Palliative Nurse
* CHRN - Certified Hyperbaric Registered Nurse
* CIC - Certified in Infection Control
* CLNC - Certified Legal Nurse Consultant
* CMA- Certified Medical Assistant
* CM - Certified Midwife
* CMCN - Certified Managed Care Nurse
* CMDSC - Certified MDS Coordinator
* CMSRN - Certified Medical—Surgical Registered Nurse
* CNA - Certified in Nursing Administration
* CNA - Certified Nursing Assistant
* CNAA - Certified in Nursing Administration, Advanced
* CNA-A - Certified Nursing Assistant, Advanced
* CNE - Certified Nurse Educator
* CNI - Clinical Nursing Intern
* CNLCP - Certified Nurse Life Care Planner
* CNM - Certified Nurse Midwife
* CNN - Certified in Nephrology Nursing
* CNNP - Certified Neonatal Nurse Practitioner
* CNOR - Certified Nurse, Operating Room
* CNO - Chief Nursing Officer
* 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/CM - Certified Occupational Health Nurse/Case Manager
* COHN-S - Certified Occupational Health Nurse—Specialist
* COHN-S/CM - Certified Occupational Health Nurse—Specialst/Case Manager
* CORLN - Certified Otorhinolaryngology Nurse
* CPAN - Certified Post Anesthesia Nurse
* CPDN - Certified Peritoneal Dialysis 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
* C-SPI - Certified Specialist in Poison Information
* CTN - Certified Transcultural Nurse
* CTRN - Certified Transport Registered Nurse
* 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

D

* DN - Doctor of Nursing
* DNP - Doctor of Nursing Practice
* DrNP - Doctor of Nursing Practice
* DNS - Doctor of Nursing Science

E

* EdD - Doctor of Education
* EN - Enrolled Nurse
* ENPC - Emergency Nursing Pediatric Course (not intended for postnominal use)
* ET - Enterostomal Therapist

F

* FAAN - Fellow, American Academy of Nursing
* FAAPM - Fellow, American Academy of Pain Management
* FAEN - Fellow, Academy of Emergency Nursing
* FNC - Family Nurse Clinician
* FNP - Family Nurse Practitioner
* FPNP - Family Planning Nurse Practitioner
* FRCN - Fellow, Royal College of Nursing
* FRCNA - Fellow, Royal College of Nursing, Australia

G

* GN - Graduate Nurse (awaiting RN licensure)
* GNP - Gerontological Nurse Practitioner
* GPN - General Pediatric Nurse
* GPN - Graduate Practical Nurse
* GRN - Graduate Registered Nurse

H

* HHA - Home Health Aide
* HNC - Holistic Nurse, Certified

I

* IBCLC - International Board-Certified Lactation Consultant
* INC - Intensive Neonatal Care certification
* INPT - Inpatient obstetric nursing certification
* IPN - Immunisation Program Nurse - Queensland Australia specialist qualification / endorsement

L

* LCCE - Lamaze Certified Childbirth Educator
* LNC - Legal Nurse Consultant
* LNCC - Legal Nurse Consultant, Certified
* LPN - Licensed Practical Nurse
* LRN - Low Risk Neonatal nursing certification
* LSN - Licensed School Nurse
* LVN - Licensed Vocational Nurse

M

* MA - Master of Arts
* ME - Menopause Educator
* MEmerg Nsg - Masters Degree in Emergency Nursing Australia
* MHN - Mental Health Nurse - Registered Nurse Endorsed to practice Advanced nursing in Mental Health [http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Queensland_(Australia)&redirect=no]
* MICN - Mobile Intensive Care Nurse
* MN - Master of Nursing
* MN - Maternal Newborn nursing certification
* MS - Master of Science
* MSN - Master of Science in Nursing

N

* NCSN - National Certified School Nurse
* NIC - Neonatal Intensive Care nurse
* NNP - Neonatal Nurse Practitioner
* NPC - Nurse Practitioner, Certified
* NPP - Nurse Practitioner, Psychiatric

O

* OCN - Oncology Certified Nurse
* OGNP - Obestetrics & Gynecology Nurse Practitioner
* ONC - Orthopaedic Nurse Certified

P

* PALS - Pediatric Advanced Life Support (not intended for postnominal use)
* PCCN - Progressive Care Certified Nurse
* PhD - Doctor of Philosophy
* PHN - Public Health Nurse
* PHRN - Pre-Hospital Registered Nurse
* PMHCNS - Psychiatric Mental Health Clinical Nurse Specialist
* PMHNP - Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
* PNP - Pediatric Nurse Practitioner

R

* RN - Registered nurse
* RIN - Rural and Isolated Practice Nurse also abbreviated RIPRN (Queensland, Australia)
* RN-BC - Registered Nurse, Board Certified
* RN,C - Registered Nurse, Certified: American Academy Certified Nurse
* RNC - Registered Nurse, Certified: National Certification Corporation
* RNCS - Registered Nurse Clinical Specialist
* RNCS - Registered Nurse Certified Specialist
* RNFA - Registered Nurse First Assistant
* RPN - Registered practical nurse

* SANE - Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner
* SEN - State Enrolled Nurse
* SHN - Sexual and Reproductive Health endorsed RN - Queensland Australia
* SN - Student Nurse (RN preparation)
* SPN - Student Nurse (LPN preparation)
* SVN - Student Nurse (LVN preparation)

T

* TNCC-I - Trauma Nursing Core Course Instructor (not intended for postnominal use)
* TNCC-P - Trauma Nursing Core Course Provider (not intended for postnominal use)
* TNP - Telephone Nursing Practitioner
* TNS - Trauma Nurse Specialist

W

* WHNP - Women's Health Nurse Practitioner
* WOCN - Wound, Ostomy, Continence Nurse
* WCC - Wound Care Certified

ee also

*Nursing board certification
*