Nurse Designations

Education Levels and Certifications

LVN - Licensed Vocational Nurse or LPN - Licensed Practical Nurse

LVN & LPN are both describing a nurse who has completed one (1) year of nursing education and passed the NCLEX-PN examination. Note: NCLEX is National Council Licensure Examination and is the official Licensing exam.

RN - Registered Nurse

A registered nurse has completed at least an Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) and has passed the NCLEX-RN examination.

BSN - Bachelor of Science - Nursing

Registered Nurse (RN) with a Bachelor of Science - Nursing (BSN) has a 4-year degree in Nursing plus passed the NCLEX-RN examination.

MSN - Masters of Science - Nursing

A Registered Nurse (RN) with a Masters of Science - Nursing (MSN) has a 6-year degree in Nursing plus passed the NCLEX-RN examination. May have certified for specialties. Specialty (Certifying authority):

Ambulatory Care Nursing (American Nurses Credentialing Center)
Cardiac Vascular Nursing (American Nurses Credentialing Center)
Case Management Nursing (American Nurses Credentialing Center)
College Health Nursing (American Nurses Credentialing Center)
Community Health Nursing (American Nurses Credentialing Center)
General Nursing Practice (American Nurses Credentialing Center)
Gerontological Nursing (American Nurses Credentialing Center)
High-Risk Perinatal Nursing (American Nurses Credentialing Center)
Home Health Nursing (American Nurses Credentialing Center)
Informatics Nursing (American Nurses Credentialing Center)
Maternal-Child Nursing (American Nurses Credentialing Center)
Medical-Surgical Nursing (American Nurses Credentialing Center)
Nurse Executive (American Nurses Credentialing Center)
Nursing Professional Development (American Nurses Credentialing Center)
Pain Management (American Nurses Credentialing Center)
Pediatric Nursing (American Nurses Credentialing Center)
Perinatal Nursing (American Nurses Credentialing Center)
Psychiatric & Mental Health Nursing (American Nurses Credentialing Center)
School Nursing (American Nurses Credentialing Center)

DNP - Doctorate of Nurse Practice or DSN - Doctorate of Nursing Science

A Registered Nurse (RN) with a Doctorate of Science - Nursing (DSN) has advanced practice nursing training beyond that of of a MSN plus passed the NCLEX-RN examination.

APRN - Advanced Practice Registered Nurse

A Registered Nurse (RN) with at least a Masters of Science - Nursing (MSN) who has met advanced educational and clinical requirements and provides some level of direct care to patients. Other specific designations may apply like Nurse Practioner, Certified Nurse Midwife, Clinical Nurse Specialist, and Certified Registered Nurse Ansthetist.

NP - Nurse Practitioner

Nurse Practitioners have completed even more training and are qualified to provide many primary and preventive health care services, prescribe medication, and diagnose and treat minor illnesses and injuries. Must have at least a MSN degree and passed the NCLEX-RN examination. Specialty designations (Certifying authority):

ACNP - Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (American Nurses Credentialing Center)
ANP - Adult Nurse Practitioner (American Nurses Credentialing Center)
AOCNP - Advanced Oncology Certified Nurse Practitioner (Oncology Nursing Certification Corporation)
APHMNP - Adult Psychiatric & Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (American Nurses Credentialing Center)
DMNP - Advanced Diabetes Management Nurse Practitioner (American Nurses Credentialing Center)
FNP - Family Nurse Practitioner (American Nurses Credentialing Center)
FPMHNP - Family Psychiatric & Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (American Nurses Credentialing Center)
GNP - Geriatric Nurse Practitioner (American Nurses Credentialing Center)
PNP - Pediatric Nurse Practitioner (American Nurses Credentialing Center)
SNP - School Nurse Practitioner (American Nurses Credentialing Center)

CNM - Certified Nurse-Midwife

Provide gynecological and low-risk obstetrical care. To become a Certified Nurse-Midwife (CNM), candidates must be a Licensed Registered Nurse, complete a program in nurse-midwifery from an accredited institute, and receive certified by ACNM Certification Council (ACC).

CRNA - Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist

A Registered Nurse who has at least a Masters of Science - Nursing (MSN) who has completed additional education and has passed certification to all them to Administer anesthetics given to patients. Certifying authority: Council on Certification of Nurse Anesthetists.

CNS - Clinical Nurse Specialist

A Registered Nurse (RN) with at least a Masters of Science - Nursing (MSN) who has met advanced educational and clinical requirements and provides some level of direct care to patients. The area of specialization is certified after completing additional education and clinical work. Specialties (Certifying authority):

AH CNS - Adult Health CNS (American Nurses Credentialing Center)
AOCNS - Advanced Oncology Certified Clinical Nurse Specialist (Oncology Nursing Certification Corporation)
APMH CNS - Adult Psychiatric & Mental Health CNS (American Nurses Credentialing Center)
C/APMH CNS - Child/Adolescent Psych & Mental Health CNS (American Nurses Credentialing Center)
SM CNS - Advanced Diabetes Management CNS (American Nurses Credentialing Center)
GCNS - Gerontological CNS (American Nurses Credentialing Center)
CCNS - Pediatric CNS (American Nurses Credentialing Center)
P/CH CNS - Public/Community Health CNS (American Nurses Credentialing Center)

Other Specialty Certifications (Certifying authority)

CHPN - Certified Hospice and Palliative Nurse (National Board of Certification for Hospice and Palliative Nurses)
ACHPN - Advanced Certified Hospice and Palliative Nurse (National Board of Certification for Hospice and Palliative Nurses)
CEN - Certified Emergency Nurse (Board of Certification for Emergency Nursing)
CFRN - Certified Flight Registered Nurse (Board of Certification for Emergency Nursing)
CPEN - Certified Pediatric Emergency Nurse (Board of Certification for Emergency Nursing)
CRNFA - Certified Registered Nurse First Assistant (Competency & Credentialing Institute)
CMSRN - Certified Medical-Surgical Registered Nurse (Medical Surgical Nursing Certification Board)
CRNI - Certified Registered Nurse Intravenous (Infusion Nurses Certification Corporation)
CTRN - Certified Transport Registered Nurse (Board of Certification for Emergency Nursing)
CNOR - Certified Nurse - Operating Room (Competency & Credentialing Institute)
CNRN - Certified Neurology Registered Nurse (American Board of Neuroscience Nursing)
CGRN - Certified Gastroenterology Registered Nurse (American Board for Certification of Gastroenterology Nurses)
CPAN - Certified Perianesthesia Registered Nurse (American Board of Perianesthesia Nursing Certification, Inc.)
NCSN - National Certified School Nurse (National Board of Certification of School Nurses)
OCN - Oncology Certified Nurse (Oncology Nursing Certification Corporation)
CPON - Certified Pediatric Oncology Nurse (Oncology Nursing Certification Corporation)
CBCN - Certified Breast Care Nurse (Oncology Nursing Certification Corporation)
AOCNS - Advanced Oncology Certified Clinical Nurse Specialist (Oncology Nursing Certification Corporation)