Alphabet Soup

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I'm in nursing school now, but I want to be an ANP someday (leaning towards NNP or CRNA right now), but I have a question about all the letters after someone's name. I know what they stand for, my question is, why do you use so many? (I don't mean YOU :-)

All my instructors have RN, MSN at least. One has RN, MSN, CNM, ARNP. I mean, doesn't CNM imply that you are an RN, an ARNP and have an MSN? Doctors use MD (and possibly FACS or some other such) and PAs use PA-C. Is there some rationale that I'm missing?

What do most of you use? I can see if you had different titles (ie. CNM, FNP or NNP, PNP). What is the accepted standard? How do you sing your orders/scripts?

Bryan

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Specializes in Education, FP, LNC, Forensics, ED, OB.

ARNP is generic.

CNM is specific.

Therefore, the rationale for utilizing both titles.

And, each state has outlined in the NPA how the advance practice nurse will be titled. Some use CRNP. Others, APN, APRN, RNP, NP, CNS, etc. Then, add which specialty area as advance practice nurse. Such as, FNP, CNM, ACNP, OB-GYN NP, WHNP, CRNA, etc.

MSN would be the degree. Yes, the advance practice nurse must now have an MSN in order to practice as such and maybe soon, DNP. But, MSN is only for educative level, not to designate advanced practice. Several RNs are MSN without advanced practice.

Then, you still have NPs who do not have an MSN but are recognized in their respective states as RNP or simply, NP. They have been grandfathered in from years before.

I utilize CRNP in my practice as NP. I could use: RN, MSN, OB-GYN NP, FNP, CRNP. But, that is way too many letters for me.

Now that I practice as a legal nurse consultant, I utilize CRNP, CLNC.

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Specializes in Acute Care - Cardiology.

i thought cnm was certified nurse midwife?

i got this list from:

http://petersons.com/common/article.asp?id=497&path=ug.fas.advice&sponsor=1

adn: associate degree in nursing

acnp: acute care nurse practitioner

anp: adult nurse practitioner

apn: advanced practice nurse

bsn: bachelor of science in nursing

cnp: clinical nurse practitioner

cns: clinical nursing specialist

dnsc: doctor of nursing science

lpn: licensed practical nurse

msn: master of science in nursing

nd: doctor of nursing - i do not think this is correct. since the inception of the doctorate of nurse practice degree, the abbreviation would be dnp.

nclex-rn: national council licensure examination for registered nurses

ph.d. in nursing: doctor of philosophy degree in nursing

rn to bsn: a program in which registered nurses study to obtain their bsn

rn: registered nurse

rna: registered nurse anesthetist

here is another resource where you can type in your particular abbreviation:

http://www.abbreviations.com/acronyms/degrees

and i completely understand... its very difficult to understand what they all mean. :bugeyes:

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Specializes in Nephrology, Cardiology, ER, ICU.

Much depends on the state too...for instance, in IL (where I practice), I must use APN in my signature line. So...I sign scripts traumarus, CNS,APN and then if needed my DEA number.

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Specializes in Education, FP, LNC, Forensics, ED, OB.

Yes, CNM is certified nurse midwife, a specialty which is a specific. The RN is an advance practce nurse (APN), but his/her specialty is midwifery. I was giving just an example to reference what the OP had asked. There are four specialty areas of APN:

  1. NP
  2. CNS
  3. CNM
  4. CRNA

ND is correct. It is a Doctor of Nursing (begun in 1978). The DNP is the new "clinical" doctorate, or Doctorate of Nursing Practice, that may be mandatory in the near future. At one time, there was speculation it would be known as the DrNP. And, there is the DNS/DNSc/DSN, Doctorate of Nursing Science. Programs are changing the ND and DNS/DNSc/DSN to the DNP.

Yes, a whole can of alphabet soup...........;)

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