ANP, FNP-C, CNS-C, ABC123 What the heck do all those letters mean???

[Pharmasuetical]

OK yeah its a stupid question and I know y'all are probably thinking "jeez this chick has no business in here!" but seriously, I'm so confused with all the different titles.

I'm working on my career paper for Nursing 1000, (which is due in like 4 hours, LOL), and I really did start early on it thinking that surely after all the research I'm doing I should figure out what the title is for what I want to be, right?

pssh I'm more lost now than I was a week ago. so I was hoping someone could help me out on this:

I want to be a Nurse Practitioner whose specialty is Psychiatric/Mental Health.

can someone please tell me which letters represent this???

I thought I could look at my own NP's title but I didn't even recognize hers which is: FNP-C, CNS-C

please help! oh and ASAP because I gotta turn this in, in just a little while!

thanks!

-Sue

[sailornurse]

In the same general vein I have a question about which initials to use and in what order. I am an RN now and will have my BSN in a little less than a year. After that I plan on going for my FNP. So, would I be: My Name, RN, BSN, MSN, FNP? I have seen some FNP's just use the FNP and leave out the rest. What is the consensus?

Thanks,

Ann

Yes, it's pretty confusing even to us. I was taught that you list your highest degree, then your title. (Mary Smith BSN, RN not RN, BSN which is vedry commonly done or MSN, C-FNP but you drop the BSN, RN at this point as you have to be an RN to become a NP;or EdD, MA, RN- this is for a doctorate or masters in a field other then nursing) etc But I have seen people list everything in no particular order. As Far as FNP that is certified it may depends, I have seen CFNP & FNP-c. For clinical nurse specialists I have seen both CNS & CS, The the ANCC came out with APRN-BC (advance practice registered nurse-board certified to lump everyone (midwives, nurse anesthetists, nurse practictioners, clinical specialists) in one giant box.

[sailornurse]

Yes, it's pretty confusing even to us. I was taught that you list your highest degree, then your title. (Mary Smith BSN, RN not RN, BSN which is very commonly done or MSN, C-FNP but you drop the BSN, RN at this point as you have to be an RN to become a NP;or EdD, MA, RN- this is for a doctorate or masters in a field other then nursing) etc But I have seen people list everything in no particular order. As Far as FNP that is certified it may depends, I have seen CFNP & FNP-c. For clinical nurse specialists I have seen both CNS & CS, The the ANCC came out with APRN-BC (advance practice registered nurse-board certified to lump everyone (midwives, nurse anesthetists, nurse practictioners, clinical specialists) in one giant box.