2025 Guide to Nursing Medical Abbreviations and Acronyms
In the fast-paced world of healthcare, nursing abbreviations like SBAR (Situation, Background, Assessment, Recommendation) and PRN (as needed) ensure accurate, streamlined communication. Whether during shift changes or in emergency care, using standardized acronyms reduces miscommunication and improves patient outcomes.
This guide categorizes the most commonly used nursing abbreviations, including those related to licensure, education, certifications, and workplace terminology.
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When and When Not to Use Abbreviations
In a clinical setting, it is important to use well-known and approved acronyms and abbreviations to ensure clarity and accuracy for medical documentation. Likewise, it’s important to know when NOT to use abbreviations. Here are some examples to consider:
- Avoid unclear, unapproved abbreviations that can lead to misunderstandings around types of drugs or recommended care.
- Avoid using symbols that may be misunderstood when documentation is scanned, such as using the < symbol instead of writing “less than”
- Avoid writing decimal amounts without leading zeros, which can lead to situations such as where “.X mg” is misread as “X mg”
For more best practices on properly using medical abbreviations in clinical documentation, check out our Examples of Nursing Documentation Errors and Do Not Use Medical Abbreviations: Do This Instead articles.
Common Nursing Licensure Abbreviations
Nursing licensure abbreviations signify the legal authority granted to practice in the nursing profession. Here are some commonly used abbreviations:
- A-GNP: Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner
- APRN: Advanced Practice Registered Nurse
- CNS: Clinical Nurse Specialist
- CRNA: Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist
- FNP: Family Nurse Practitioner
- LPN: Licensed Practical Nurse
- LVN: Licensed Vocational Nurse
- NP: Nurse Practitioner
- PMHNP: Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
- RN: Registered Nurse
- WHNP: Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner
Nursing Credential Abbreviations
Nursing credentials highlight specialized expertise and advanced knowledge. Here are some widely recognized credentials:
- AACRN: Advanced HIV/AIDS certified registered nurse
- ACCNS-AG: Acute care clinical nurse specialist — adult-gerontology
- ACCNS-N: Acute care clinical nurse specialist — neonatal
- ACCNS-P: Acute care clinical nurse specialist — pediatrics
- ACHPN: Advanced certified hospice and palliative nurse
- ACNP-BC: Acute care nurse practitioner — board certified
- ACNPC-AG: Acute care nurse practitioner — adult-gerontology
- ACNS-BC: Adult health clinical nurse specialist — board certified
- AGACNP-BC: Adult-gerontology acute care nurse practitioner — board certified
- AGCN-BC: Adult-gerontology clinical nurse — board certified
- AGPCNP-BC: Adult-gerontology primary care nurse practitioner — board certified
- AMB-BC: Ambulatory care nursing — board certified
- ANP-BC: Adult nurse practitioner — board certified
- AOCN: Advanced oncology certified nurse
- CCRA: Certified clinical research associate
- CCRN (Adult): Critical care registered nurse, pertains to direct care for acutely ill or injured adult patients
- CCRN (Neonatal): Critical care registered nurse, pertains to direct care for acutely ill or injured neonatal patients
- CCRN (Pediatric): Critical care registered nurse, pertains to direct care for acutely ill or injured pediatric patients
- CCRN-E (Adult): Critical care registered nurse, pertains to direct care for acutely ill or injured adult patients in a centralized or remote-based teleICU setting
- CCRN-K (Adult): Critical care registered nurse knowledge professional, pertains to nonprimary and nonexclusive care for acutely ill or injured adult patients
- CCRN-K (Neonatal): Critical care registered nurse knowledge professional, pertains to nonprimary and nonexclusive care for acutely ill or injured neonatal patients
- CCRN-K (Pediatric): Critical care registered nurse knowledge professional, pertains to nonprimary and nonexclusive care for acutely ill or injured pediatric patients
- CEN: Certified emergency nurse
- CHPN: Certified hospice and palliative nurse
- CMC (Adult): Cardiac medicine certification, pertains to direct care for acutely ill or injured adult cardiac patients
- CMGT-BC: Case management — board certified
- CNE: Certification for nurse educators
- CNL: Clinical nurse leader
- CNML: Certified nurse manager and leader
- CPN: Certified pediatric nurse
- CRN: Certified radiology nurse
- CRNA: Certified registered nurse anesthetist
- CV-BC: Cardiac vascular — board certified
- FNP-BC: Family nurse practitioner — board certified
- GERO-BC: Gerontology nursing — board certified
- MEDSURG-BC: Medical-surgical nursing — board certified
- NE-BC: Nurse executive — board certified
- NEA-BC: Nurse executive advanced — board certified
- NHDP-BC: National healthcare disaster professional — board certified
- NPD-BC: Nursing professional development — board certified
- OCN: Oncology certified nurse
- PCCN (Adult): Progressive care certified nurse, pertains to direct care for acutely ill or injured adult patients regardless of physical location
- PCCN-K (Adult): Progressive care certified nurse knowledge professional, pertains to nonprimary and nonexclusive care for acutely ill or injured adult patients
- PED-BC: Pediatric nurse — board certified
- PMGT-BC: Pain management nursing — board certified
- PMH-BC: Psychiatric-mental health nursing — board certified
- PMHNP: Psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioner
- PMHNP-BC: Psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioner — board certified
- RN-BC: Informatics nursing — board certified
Educational Nursing Abbreviations
The educational journey in nursing involves various degrees, each denoted by specific abbreviations. These abbreviations signify academic achievements and career potential:
- ADN: Associate Degree in Nursing
- ASN: Associate of Science in Nursing
- AAS: Associate of Applied Science in Nursing
- BSN: Bachelor of Science in Nursing
- MSN: Master of Science in Nursing
- DNP: Doctor of Nursing Practice
Hospital and Workplace Acronyms
Hospital and workplace abbreviations are essential for clear communication within healthcare units and operations. Here are some commonly used examples:
- ACU: Acute Care Unit
- CCN: Continuing Care Nursery
- CCU: Coronary Cardiac 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: Post-Anesthesia 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
Commonly Used Medical Abbreviations in Nursing
Medical abbreviations are integral to nursing practice, referring to conditions, treatments, and medications. Here’s a categorized list of some of the most common abbreviations and acronyms used by nurses:
Medical Conditions and Diagnoses
- AAA: Abdominal aortic aneurysm
- ABG: Arterial blood gas
- ABI: Ankle-brachial index
- ADHD: Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder
- AF: Atrial fibrillation
- AFR: Acute renal failure
- AGC: Atypical glandular cells
- AHF: Antihemophilic factor
- AIDS: Acquired immune deficiency syndrome
- AIH: Autoimmune hepatitis
- AIHA: Autoimmune hemolytic anemia
- AIN: Acute interstitial nephritis
- AKI: Acute kidney injury
- ALL: Acute lymphoblastic leukemia
- ALP: Alkaline phosphatase
- ALT: Alanine aminotransferase
- ALTE: Apparent life-threatening episode
- AMI: Acute myocardial infarction
- AML: Acute myelogenous leukemia
- AN: Anorexia nervosa
- ANA: Antinuclear antibody
- ANCA: Antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody
- AR: Aortic regurgitation
- ARB: Angiotensin receptor blocker
- ARDS: Acute respiratory distress syndrome
- ARF: Acute renal failure
- ASD: Atrial septal defect
- AST: Aspartate aminotransferase
- ATP: Adenosine triphosphatase
- AUS: Abdominal ultrasound
- AV: Atrioventricular
- AVB: Atrioventricular block
- AVCD: Atrioventricular canal defect
- AVN: Avascular necrosis
- AVP: Arginine vasopressin
- B-ALL: B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia
- BPD: Borderline personality disorder
- BPD: Bronchopulmonary dysplasia
- BPH: Benign prostatic hypertrophy
- BrS: Brugada syndrome
- CAD: Coronary artery disease
- CHD: Congenital heart disease or congenital heart defect
- CHF: Congestive heart failure
- CMV: Cytomegalovirus
- COA: Coarctation of the aorta
- COPD: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
- CVA: Cerebrovascular accident
- DJD: Degenerative joint disease
- DM2: Diabetes mellitus type 2
- DVT: Deep vein thrombosis
- ESRD: End stage renal disease
- FAS: Fetal alcohol syndrome
- FBD: Functional bowel disease
- FESS: Functional endoscopic sinus surgery
- Fx: Fracture
- GB: Gallbladder
- GBS: Group B streptococcus
- GCE: Glycine encephalopathy
- GERD: Gastroesophageal reflux
- Hep B: Hepatitis B
- HIV: Human immunodeficiency virus
- HTN: Hypertension
- IBS: Irritable bowel syndrome
- IIH: Indirect inguinal hernia
- IPF: Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis
- IUFD: Intrauterine fetal demise
- IVH: Intraventricular hemorrhage
- MAS: Meconium aspiration syndrome
- MI: Myocardial infarction
- MMR: Measles, mumps, rubella
- MRSA: Methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus
- N/V: Nausea or vomiting
- PAC: Premature atrial contraction
- PAF: Paroxysmal atrial fibrillation
- PDA: Patent ductus arteriosus
- PE: Pulmonary embolism
- PIE: Pulmonary interstitial emphysema
- PIH: Pregnancy induced hypertension
- PIP: Peak inspiratory pressure
- PKU: Phenylketonuria
- PMS: Premenstrual syndrome
- PPHN: Persistent pulmonary hypertension
- PPS: Peripheral pulmonic stenosis
- PROM: Premature rupture of membrane
- PVC: Premature ventricular contraction
- PVD: Peripheral vascular disease
- PVL: Periventricular leukomalacia
- RDS: Respiratory distress syndrome
- RLS: Restless leg syndrome
- SCI: Spinal cord injury
- SIDS: Sudden infant death syndrome
- SQTS: Short QT syndrome
- SSS: Sick sinus syndrome
- ST: Sinus tachycardia
- STD: Sexually transmitted disease
- SVT: Supraventricular tachycardia
- TAPVR: Total anomalous pulmonary venous return
- TB: Tuberculosis
- TBI: Traumatic brain injury
- TIA: Transient ischemic attack
- UTI: Urinary tract infection
- VSD: Ventricular septal defect
- VT: Ventricular tachycardia
List of Common Medications
- Abx: Antibiotics
- ARS: Anti-rabies serum
- ASA: Aspirin
- B1: Thiamin
- B2: Riboflavin
- Barbs: Barbiturates
- BC: Birth control
- Bicarb: Bicarbonate
- ECP: Emergency contraceptive pills
- EOH: Ethyl alcohol
- Fe: Iron
- ff: Force fluids
- I: Iodine
- imm: Immunization
- inhib: Inhibitor
- inj: Injection
- K: Potassium
- KCL: Potassium chloride
- KOH: Potassium hydroxide
- Mg: Magnesium
- MVI: Multivitamin
- NaHCO3: Sodium bicarbonate
- NSAIA: Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory analgesic
- NSAID: Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug
- OCP: Oral contraceptive pills
- Oint: Ointment
- PCN: Penicillin
- Rx: Prescription
- SAID: Steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs
Using TextExpander with Nursing Notes and Abbreviations
TextExpander simplifies nursing documentation by creating shortcuts for frequently used abbreviations, phrases, and templates, helping to save time and ensure consistency.
Set up templates for quick note-taking and standardize team communication by setting up snippets like the examples below:
1. Abbreviation Shortcuts
Create snippets for common nursing terms, such as:
- Shortcut: .icu → Expands to: “intensive care unit”
- Shortcut: .aaa → Expands to: “abdominal aortic aneurysm”
Copy these snippets below to add them to your TextExpander account.
2. Nursing Note Templates
Set up templates for quick note-taking:
3. Home Health Documentation Templates
You can also create complete templates for detailed patient documentation.
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