Nursing Acronyms and Their Meanings

The first time you read a chart note like, “Pt s/p CABG, c/o SOB, O₂ via NC, PRN neb tx ordered,” it can feel less like English and more like a secret code. Nursing acronyms work as a fast, efficient way to communicate critical information in busy clinical settings where every second counts. Understanding them isn’t just a matter of convenience — it’s also essential for safe practice, clear communication, and avoiding medical errors.

So what are the most common acronyms in nursing? This guide breaks down the most widely used (and most confusing) acronyms so you can read, chart, and respond with confidence.

What Are Nursing Acronyms?

An acronym is a type of abbreviation that is formed from the parts (often initial letters) of a longer phrase — and are sometimes pronounced as a word. In the world of healthcare, these acronyms appear constantly: from medical tests (e.g., ELISA for enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay) to medical diagnosis (e.g., AIDS for acquired immune deficiency syndrome) to medication names (e.g., GABA meaning gamma-aminobutyric acid).

Acronyms in nursing can be classified according to the context in which they are applied. Here are some common categories you can encounter in your practice:

• Nursing degrees
• Levels of nurses
• Nursing roles and job titles
• Nursing specialties and units
• Certifications
• Charting acronyms
• Medical diagnosis
• Medication and supplements
• Medical devices
• Procedures and treatments
• Patient status and vital signs
• Hospital processes
• Communication tools
• Lab tests and imaging

Interesting fact: Although the terms “nursing abbreviation” and “acronym” are often used interchangeably in clinical settings, they are not technically the same. Abbreviations are any shortened version of a word or phrase, such as “mg” for milligram — while it’s written in short form, it is still pronounced as “milligram.” An acronym, on the other hand, is a specific type of abbreviation formed from the first letters of a phrase and pronounced as a word, such as NICU, which stands for neonatal intensive care unit but is commonly spoken as “nick-you.”

List of Common Nursing Acronyms

The following list organizes the most common acronyms nursing professionals encounter into clear categories so you can quickly recognize what each stands for and how it fits into clinical practice.

1. Nursing Degrees

Ever wonder what all those letters after a nurse’s name mean? Understanding the acronyms for nursing related to education can feel like cracking a code — here’s a simple guide to what each one means:

• AAS – Associate of Applied Science in Nursing
• ADN – Associate Degree in Nursing
• BSN – Bachelor of Science in Nursing
• MSN – Master of Science in Nursing
• DNP – Doctor of Nursing Practice
• DNS – Doctor of Nursing Science
• DNAP – Doctor of Nurse Anesthesia Practice
• PhD – Doctor of Philosophy (in Nursing)

2. Levels of Nurses

Nursing is a diverse profession, and understanding the different levels of nurses is key to knowing who does what in clinical settings. These are the most common types of nursing professionals and what their acronyms mean:

• APRN – Advanced practice nurse
• RN – Registered nurse
• LPN/LVN – Licensed professional or vocational nurse
• CNA – Certified nursing assistant

3. Nursing Roles and Job Titles

When it comes to APRNs, these professionals have specialized training that allows them to provide higher-level care, including diagnosing conditions, developing treatment plans, and in many cases, prescribing medications. The most common types of APRNs include:

• CNM – Certified nurse midwife
• NP – Nurse practitioner
• CNS – Clinical nurse specialist
• CRNA – Certified registered nurse anesthetist

Other job titles in medicine you’ll encounter as a nurse:

• CM – Case manager
• MD – Medical doctor
• DO – Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine
• OT – Occupational therapist
• PA – Physician assistant
• PT – Physical therapist
• RT – Respiratory therapist
• PharmD – Pharmacist
• RD – Registered dietitian
• SLP – Speech-language pathologist
• LCSW – Licensed clinical social worker

4. Nursing Specialties and Units

From critical care to caring for newborns, nurses work across diverse specialties and units. Knowing the acronyms for each one helps you navigate clinical settings and understand each nurse’s area of expertise.

• ICU – Intensive care unit
• NICU – Neonatal intensive care unit
• ER/ED – Emergency room/emergency department
• OR – Operating room
• PACU – Post-anesthesia care unit
• MICU – Medical intensive care unit
• STICU – Step-down intensive care unit
• CVICU – Cardiovascular intensive care unit
• PICU – Pediatric intensive care unit
• CCU – Cardiac care unit
• L&D – Labor and delivery unit

In addition to unit-based specialties, many nurses take on specialized roles that focus on particular patient populations or types of care. These roles often require advanced training and certification:

• SANE – Sexual assault nurse examiner
• AGNP – Adult gerontological nurse practitioner
• FNP – Family nurse practitioner
• ACNP – Acute care nurse practitioner
• PMHNP – Psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner

5. Certifications

Certifications help nurses demonstrate expertise in specialized areas of practice and advance their careers. Here’s a list of the most common certifications for APRNs:

• ACNS-BC – Adult Clinical Nurse Specialist – Board Certified
• AGACNP-BC – Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner – Board Certified
• AGCNS-BC – Adult-Gerontology Clinical Nurse Specialist – Board Certified
• AGPCNP-BC – Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner – Board Certified
• CPNP-AC – Pediatric Nurse Practitioner – Acute Care
• CPNP-PC – Pediatric Nurse Practitioner – Primary Care
• FNP-C – Family Nurse Practitioner – Certified
• FNP-BC – Family Nurse Practitioner – Board Certified
• PMHCNS-BC – Psychiatric-Mental Health Clinical Nurse Specialist – Board Certified
• WHNP-BC – Women’s Health Care Nurse Practitioner – Board Certified

Here are some of the most common RN certifications:

• AMB-BC – Ambulatory Care Nursing Certification
• CCRN – Critical Care Registered Nurse
• CNOR – Certified Nurse Operating Room
• CEN – Certified Emergency Nurse
• CPN – Certified Pediatric Nurse
• CPHON – Certified Pediatric Hematology Oncology Nurse
• OCN – Oncology Certified Nurse
• CHPN – Certified Hospice and Palliative Nurse
• CMSRN – Certified Medical-Surgical Registered Nurse
• CWOCN – Certified Wound and Ostomy Care Nurse
• NPD – Nursing Professional Development Certification
• NEA-BC – Nurse Executive Advanced – Board Certified
• TCRN – Trauma Certified Registered Nurse

6. Charting Acronyms

Keeping patient charts organized and readable is crucial—and nursing acronyms for charting make the process more efficient. Here’s a handy list of acronyms nurses use to document patient care, treatments, and observations:

• SOAP – Subjective, objective, assessment, plan
• ADPIE – Assessment, diagnosis, planning, implementation, evaluation
• SBAR – Situation, background, assessment, recommendation
• NPO – From Latin nil per os (nothing by mouth)
• PRN – From Latin pro re nata (as needed)
• BID – Twice a day (from Latin bis in die)
• TID – Three times a day (from Latin ter in die)
• QID – Four times a day (from Latin quater in die)
• QHS – Every night at bedtime (from Latin quaque hora somni)
• STAT – Immediately / Urgent (from Latin statim)
• Ht/Wt – Height / Weight
• Hx – History
• Fx – Fracture
• Dx – Diagnosis
• Rx – Prescription or Treatment
• Tx – Treatment or Therapy
• Px – Prognosis or Physical Examination

7. Medical Diagnosis

Understanding a patient’s condition often starts with a few letters. Medical diagnosis acronyms give nurses a fast, reliable way to record and communicate diagnoses across the care team.

• HTN – Hypertension
• DM – Diabetes mellitus
• COPD – Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
• CHF – Congestive heart failure
• MI – Myocardial Infarction
• CVA – Cerebrovascular accident
• DVT – Deep vein thrombosis
• PE – Pulmonary embolism
• CKD – Chronic kidney disease
• AKI – Acute kidney injury
• ARDS – Acute respiratory distress syndrome
• UTI – Urinary tract infection
• GI – Gastrointestinal
• GERD – Gastroesophageal reflux disease
• PNA – Pneumonia
• TB – Tuberculosis
• HIV – Human immunodeficiency virus
• AIDS – Acquired immune deficiency syndrome
• SIRS – Systemic inflammatory response syndrome
• RA – Rheumatoid arthritis
• OA – Osteoarthritis

8. Medications

Medications are a huge part of patient care, and knowing the right abbreviations is essential for safety and efficiency. Here are some nursing acronyms related to administering medications:

• IV – Intravenous
• IM – Intramuscular
• SQ/SubQ – Subcutaneous
• PO – By mouth
• GTT – Drops
• MAR – Medication administration record
• PCA – Patient-controlled analgesia

Here are some key acronyms for medications and supplements you may encounter in your practice:

• NSAID – Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug
• TPN – Total parenteral nutrition
• GABA – Gamma-aminobutyric acid
• ALA – Alpha-lipoic acid
• 5-HTP – 5-Hydroxytryptophan
• NAC – N-acetylcysteine

9. Medical Devices and Procedures

Nurses use a wide range of medical devices and perform numerous procedures every day. Here’s a list of common acronyms you’re likely to encounter in clinical practice:

• EKG /ECG – Electrocardiogram
• EEG – Electroencephalogram
• NG Tube – Nasogastric tube
• PEG – Percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy
• ETT – Endotracheal tube
• CPAP – Continuous positive airway pressure
• BiPAP – Bilevel positive airway pressure
• IV Pump – Intravenous infusion pump
• CVC – Central venous catheter
• PICC – Peripherally inserted central catheter
• CABG – Coronary artery bypass graft
• ORIF – Open reduction and internal fixation
• LP – Lumbar puncture

10. Patient Status and Vital Signs

Monitoring a patient’s condition is a core part of nursing care, and understanding the acronyms used to describe patient status is essential. Here are the most frequently used ones:

• BP – Blood pressure
• HR – Heart rate
• RR – Respiratory rate
• SpO₂ – Oxygen saturation
• O₂ – Oxygen
• A&O – Alert and oriented
• LOC – Level of consciousness
• I&O – Intake and output
• GCS – Glasgow Coma Scale
• WNL – Within normal limits
• DOE – Dyspnea on exertion
• SOB – Shortness of breath
• N/V – Nausea and vomiting
• CP – Chest pain

11. Lab and Diagnostic Workflow

From blood work to imaging, nurses rely on lab and diagnostic acronyms to keep patient care accurate and efficient. Familiarity with these acronyms can save time and reduce errors:

• CBC – Complete blood count
• BMP – Basic metabolic panel
• CMP – Comprehensive metabolic panel
• ABG – Arterial blood gas
• PT – Prothrombin time
• INR – International normalized ratio
• UA – Urinalysis
• A1C – Hemoglobin A1C
• CXR – Chest X-ray
• CT – Computed tomography
• MRI – Magnetic resonance imaging
• US – Ultrasound

12. Infection Control and Safety Acronyms

Patient and staff safety depends on strict infection control. Familiarity with these nursing acronyms ensures nurses follow procedures correctly and reduce the risk of spreading infections

• PPE – Personal protective equipment
• ISO – Isolation
• MRSA – Methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus
• VRE – Vancomycin-Resistant Enterococcus
• C. diff – Clostridioides difficile
• HAI – Healthcare-associated infection
• N95 – High-filtration respirator mask
• HEPA – High-efficiency particulate air
• CLABSI – Central line-associated bloodstream infection
• CAUTI – Catheter-associated urinary tract infection
• SSI – Surgical site infection

13. Hospital Processes Acronyms

From admissions to discharge, hospital processes involve many steps and departments. Familiarity with the acronyms used in these workflows allows nurses to avoid miscommunication.

• HIPAA – Health insurance portability and accountability act
• DNR – Do not resuscitate
• DNI – Do not intubate
• ADT – Admission, discharge, transfer
• H&P – History and physical
• DC /D/C – Discontinue or discharge
• AMA – Against medical advice
• RRT – Rapid response team
• TJC – The Joint Commission
• CMS – Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
• LOS – Length of stay
• QAPI – Quality assurance and performance improvement
• RCA – Root cause analysis

Forbidden Nursing Acronyms

To prevent mistakes linked to confusing or look-alike abbreviations, healthcare organizations like TJC and the Institute for Safe Medication Practices (ISMP) have established standardized “Do Not Use” lists that all healthcare providers are expected to follow. Familiarity with these prohibited nursing acronyms and meanings helps nurses follow best practices and ensure safe, accurate patient care.

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Understanding nursing acronyms and their meanings is just the beginning. IntelyCare helps nurses find meaningful work that fits their ambition and lifestyle. Explore opportunities tailored to your needs and wants today.