Letters after name? FNP, APRN, etc

[BostonRN13]

The designation ending in C means the NP has taken their boards with and is credentialed by the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners (AANP).

The designation ending in BC means the NP is certified by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) and passed the ANCC boards.

Both are national certifying bodies and the NP can choose which exam he or she wishes to be certified by.

This is copied off of the Fitzgerald website:

The credentials for the American Certification Credentialing Center (ANCC) certified NPs is NP-BC preceded by a letter indicating the particular specialty,

- Family nurse practitioner: FNP-BC

- Adult nurse practitioner: ANP-BC

- Adult-gerontologic primary care NP: AGPCNP-BC

- Acute care nurse practitioner: ACNP-BC

- Adult-gerontologic acute care NP: AGACNP-BC

- Pediatric nurse practitioner (primary care): PNP-BC

- Gerontological nurse practitioner: GNP-BC

- Psychiatric and mental health nurse practitioner: PMHNP-BC

Here is an example of an ANCC-certified family nurse practitioner:

- Hugo Moreno, MS, FNP-BC

Family, adult-gerontologic, adult, and gerontologic nurse practitioners certified by the American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP) are granted the designation of NP-C, or nurse practitioner-certified. Here is an example:

- Melissa Hammond, DNP, NP-C

The NP-C can be modified, if desired, to include a first letter consistent with area of certification such as a family NP using the designation FNP-C.

[zenman]

In Kansas it's APRN. When I was in NM it was CNP.

[BostonFNP, APRN]

Depends on which board exam you take. The ANCC grants the -BC titles. The AANP the generic NP-C. For example an FNP that board certifies via ANCC will be " Jon Doe FNP-BC" or via AANP would be "Jon Doe NP-C".

Most states require a specific official labeling such as APN, APRN, RN/NP, etc on official documents.

[mzaur]

So you have the choice of ANCC or AANP? This is rather confusing, lol. I don't get why there two certifying bodies. Is one viewed more favorably than the other?

Hmm,are you guys talking about FNP only? I'm looking at PMHNP certification and only see ANCC

[BostonFNP, APRN]

\ said:

So you have the choice of ANCC or AANP? This is rather confusing LOL. I don't get why there two certifying bodies. Is one viewed more favorably than the other? Hmm,are you guys talking about FNP only? I'm looking at PMHNP certification and only see ANCC

Depending on what type of NP you are you have a choice. There are actually more than two national certifying bodies!

For those that overlap there is really no difference other than individual preference.

[Corey Narry, MSN, RN, NP]

In the clinical setting, the easiest way to avoid confusion is to use the state designated NP title. As Zenman already pointed out, each state has an official title for NP's from the simple letters NP to CNP to CRNP to ARNP. NP's should know what their official state title is. That title is what gives you the privilege to practice within scope as an NP in your state.

All other letters (such as national certification, degrees, specialty certification) may be used in other venues such as official memos and emails, when conducting a speaking engagement such as a CEU lecture, when authoring an article or research, etc.

There are many different national certification letters. There are 5 officially recognized national NP boards: AANP, ANCC, AACN, PNCB, and NCC. Each 5 have their own letters even for the same type of NP specialty (i.e. AGACNPC vs AGACNP-BC).

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[traumaRUs, MSN, APRN]

With the adoption of the ANCC Consensus Model by multiple states, APRN will soon be the dominant title for NPs, CNSs, CNMs, CRNAs.

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[Corey Narry, MSN, RN, NP]

Actually the APRN Consensus Model goes further to state that one must legally represent oneself as APRN + the specific role (i.e., APRN, CNP or APRN, CRNA). The "C" is added to NP so all the roles start with a "C" (CNS, CRNA, CNM, CNP). This is #5 on the FAQ's below.

I personally haven't seen a change towards adopting this lingo in my state though implementation per the national organizations should begin 2015. Scope of practice including titling is an act of state legislation not easily changed by a national consensus.

http://www.nursingworld.org/DocumentVault/APRN-Resource-Section/APRN-Consensus-Model-FAQ.pdf

[Dr.Naija_Glam]

As previously mentioned, every state has an official title for NPs. ARNP, CNP, etc. After I passed my FNP exam, the ANCC sent me a pamphlet on how to list degrees, certifications, credentials and what not.

[mom2cka]

My state (MN) tells me to use RN, CNP so I do... my ANCC is FNP-BC - it's a mouthful when I use the whole thing on anything professional

[phillycpnp-pc, MSN, RN, NP]

I just got certified a few weeks ago and planned to sign my name with the PNCB designation CPNP-PC. However, when signing paperwork for my new job they told me to only use the state's designation, which is CRNP.

Very confusing lol

[Corey Narry, MSN, RN, NP]

Michigan has no official designation.

Michigan does not have a defined Nurse Practitioner Scope of Practice but the Board of Nursing grants specialty certification to Nurse Practitioners. When I lived and worked there, the certificate states: Nurse Practitioner Specialty Certification. That is interpreted as being the official title of NP or CNP and that's what we used in the clinical setting there (i.e, Juan De La Cruz, NP). They have pending legislation (SB2) that is in line with the Consensus Model language for APRN's and will clarify role and potentially make NP's independent.

Michigan Nurses Association - Nursing Practice - Practice Resources - Advanced Practice

Michigan Council of Nurse Practitioners