Glossary

Every nursing acronym, plain English.

NCLEX, BSN, NCSBN, BRN, TEAS, HESI, FAFSA, NHSC, ICU, OR, NICU, MAR, EHR, NPO, PRN, ABG. If you've seen it on this site or in a nursing-school packet, it's defined here.

How to use this

Nursing has its own dialect. You will be expected to know it by the end of week one of nursing school, and most programs don't slow down to explain it. This page exists so you can look up anything you don't recognize.

Sections below are grouped by where the term lives in your nursing life: exams, credentials, regulatory bodies, financial aid, clinical settings, practice and charting, and school and training. Use the jump links to skip to the section you need.

Anchor links: every term has an id you can deep-link to. For example, #nclex jumps straight to the NCLEX entry.

Section

Exams

NCLEXNational Council Licensure Examination: The licensing exam every US nurse takes. NCLEX-RN for ADN/BSN graduates, NCLEX-PN for LPN/LVN graduates. Computer-adaptive, 85-150 questions, pass-fail.
NGNNext Generation NCLEX: The 2023 update to the NCLEX. Adds case studies and new item types (bowtie, matrix, drag-drop) to test clinical judgment, not just recall.
TEASTest of Essential Academic Skills: Nursing-program entrance exam published by ATI. Sections: Reading, Math, Science, English language usage.
HESI A2Health Education Systems Inc. Admission Assessment: Alternative entrance exam to TEAS. Some programs require one, some the other, a few accept either.
ATIAssessment Technologies Institute: Publisher of the TEAS exam and a major nursing-school curriculum and proctored-exam vendor. ATI predictor tests during school predict NCLEX likelihood.
CATComputer-Adaptive Test: Test format where each answer changes the difficulty of the next question, narrowing in on the test-taker's ability level. NCLEX uses CAT.

Section

Credentials & degrees

CNACertified Nursing Assistant: Entry-level patient-care credential. State certification, 4-12 week programs. Works under an RN or LPN.
LPN / LVNLicensed Practical Nurse / Licensed Vocational Nurse: 12-18 month nursing license. Med passes, basic assessments. Scope below RN. LVN is the term used in California and Texas; LPN everywhere else.
RNRegistered Nurse: Licensed nurse with full nursing scope of practice. Earned through ADN or BSN plus passing NCLEX-RN.
ADNAssociate Degree in Nursing: 2-year RN credential, typically from a community college. Same NCLEX-RN as BSN graduates.
BSNBachelor of Science in Nursing: 4-year RN credential. Adds leadership, research, and public-health coursework. Required at most Magnet hospitals.
ABSNAccelerated BSN: 12-18 month BSN program for students who already have a non-nursing bachelor's degree.
MSNMaster of Science in Nursing: Graduate-level nursing degree. Required for most APRN paths historically; many transitioning to DNP requirement.
DNPDoctor of Nursing Practice: Practice-focused nursing doctorate. Required for new CRNA graduates from 2025 forward. Increasingly preferred for other APRN paths.
PhD (Nursing)Doctor of Philosophy in Nursing: Research-focused nursing doctorate. Path to academic and research careers.
APRNAdvanced Practice Registered Nurse: Umbrella term for NPs, CRNAs, CNMs, and CNSs. Graduate-level RNs with expanded scope of practice.
NPNurse Practitioner: APRN who can diagnose, prescribe, and manage patients. Subspecialties include FNP, PMHNP, ACNP, PNP, AGNP.
FNPFamily Nurse Practitioner: NP for primary care across the lifespan: children to elders.
PMHNPPsychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner: NP focused on mental health: diagnosis, medication management, therapy.
ACNP / AGACNPAcute Care Nurse Practitioner: NP for acutely-ill adult or older-adult patients. ICU, step-down, hospital medicine.
CRNACertified Registered Nurse Anesthetist: APRN who administers anesthesia for surgery, OB, pain management. Doctoral-only from 2025.
CNMCertified Nurse Midwife: APRN for pregnancy, birth, postpartum, well-woman care.
CNSClinical Nurse Specialist: APRN with expert-level practice in a specific specialty. Three domains: patient care, nursing practice, systems improvement.

Section

Regulatory bodies & organizations

NCSBNNational Council of State Boards of Nursing: The body that develops and administers the NCLEX, plus publishes the test plan that drives every accredited nursing program's curriculum.
BRNBoard of Registered Nursing: The state-level body that issues RN licenses, regulates RN practice, and reports program-level NCLEX pass rates and attrition. California's BRN, for example. Each state has equivalent.
BONBoard of Nursing: Generic term for the state-level regulatory body for nurses. Some states use 'BRN' (Board of Registered Nursing), others use 'BON.'
NLCNurse Licensure Compact: Multi-state RN license that lets a nurse practice in all participating compact states with one license. 41+ states participate.
AACNAmerican Association of Colleges of Nursing: Professional organization representing nursing-school deans and faculty. Publishes the BSN/MSN/DNP educational standards.
ANAAmerican Nurses Association: Largest US professional organization for nurses. Publishes the nursing Code of Ethics.
ANCCAmerican Nurses Credentialing Center: Subsidiary of ANA. Issues specialty-nursing certifications (RN-BC, AGACNP-BC, etc.).
AORNAssociation of periOperative Registered Nurses: Professional organization for OR nurses. Sets perioperative practice standards.
NSNANational Student Nurses' Association: Student-nurse professional organization. Scholarships, advocacy, conventions.
MagnetMagnet Recognition Program (ANCC): Hospital designation for nursing excellence. Magnet hospitals typically require BSN-prepared RNs and have higher staffing ratios and lower turnover.

Section

Financial aid

FAFSAFree Application for Federal Student Aid: Single form that unlocks federal student loans, grants, and most state and school aid. Free to submit.
PellPell Grant: Federal grant for undergraduates with financial need. Doesn't have to be repaid. Lifetime limit applies.
HRSAHealth Resources and Services Administration: Federal agency running nurse-corps loan repayment and other healthcare-workforce programs.
NHSCNational Health Service Corps: HRSA program that pays large portions of clinician loans in exchange for service in shortage areas.
PSLFPublic Service Loan Forgiveness: Federal program that forgives remaining loan balance after 120 qualifying monthly payments at a government or qualifying non-profit employer.
HPSAHealth Professional Shortage Area: Federally-designated geographic area with insufficient healthcare workforce. Service in HPSAs qualifies for NHSC and other loan-repayment programs.
GI BillPost-9/11 GI Bill / Veterans' education benefits: VA education-benefit program covering tuition, fees, and housing for eligible veterans, service members, and dependents.

Section

Clinical settings

ICUIntensive Care Unit: Hospital unit for critically-ill patients. 1:1 or 1:2 nurse-to-patient ratio. Sub-types: MICU (medical), SICU (surgical), CVICU (cardiac), NeuroICU, TICU (trauma).
MICUMedical Intensive Care Unit: ICU for medical (non-surgical) critically-ill adults: sepsis, respiratory failure, multi-organ failure.
SICUSurgical Intensive Care Unit: ICU for post-surgical critically-ill adults.
CVICUCardiovascular Intensive Care Unit: ICU for post-cardiac-surgery and complex cardiac patients.
NICUNeonatal Intensive Care Unit: Hospital unit for critically-ill newborns. Levels II, III, and IV based on acuity.
PICUPediatric Intensive Care Unit: ICU for critically-ill children.
ER / EDEmergency Room / Emergency Department: Hospital department for triage and emergency care of unscheduled patients.
OROperating Room: Hospital unit where surgery happens. OR nurses are circulators (room management) or scrubs (sterile field).
PACUPost-Anesthesia Care Unit: Recovery room. Where patients wake up from anesthesia after surgery.
L&DLabor and Delivery: Hospital unit for active labor, delivery, and immediate postpartum.
Med-SurgMedical-Surgical Unit: Generalist hospital floor for adults with medical and post-surgical diagnoses. Most-common first job for new grads.
TeleTelemetry / Step-Down: Cardiac-monitored unit between med-surg and ICU acuity.
FQHCFederally Qualified Health Center: Community health center receiving federal funding. Provides care regardless of patient's ability to pay.

Section

Clinical practice & charting

EHR / EMRElectronic Health Record / Electronic Medical Record: The digital chart. Epic, Cerner/Oracle Health, Meditech are the major vendors. You'll learn one in clinicals.
MARMedication Administration Record: The list of medications a patient is supposed to get and when. Nurses sign each med as administered.
NPONothing by mouth (Latin: 'nil per os'): Order to give the patient no food or water. Common before surgery to prevent aspiration.
PRNAs needed (Latin: 'pro re nata'): Medication or order given when the patient needs it, not on a schedule. PRN pain meds, PRN anti-nausea.
PPEPersonal Protective Equipment: Gloves, gown, mask, eye protection. Required for many isolation precautions.
POBy mouth (Latin: 'per os'): Route of medication: swallowed.
IVIntravenous: Into a vein. IV meds, IV fluids, IV access.
IMIntramuscular: Into a muscle. Many vaccines and some medications.
SQ / SubQSubcutaneous: Under the skin. Insulin and heparin are common SubQ injections.
VSVital signs: Blood pressure, heart rate, respiratory rate, temperature, oxygen saturation, sometimes pain. The basics every shift.
BPBlood pressure: Systolic over diastolic in mmHg.
HRHeart rate: Beats per minute.
RRRespiratory rate: Breaths per minute.
SpO2Oxygen saturation by pulse oximetry: Non-invasive measure of arterial oxygen saturation. Normal 95-100% (adjusted for some chronic conditions).
ABGArterial Blood Gas: Blood test from an arterial sample. Measures pH, oxygen, CO2, and bicarbonate. Drives ICU management.
CBCComplete Blood Count: Common lab: white cells, red cells, hemoglobin, hematocrit, platelets.
BMP / CMPBasic / Comprehensive Metabolic Panel: Common blood panels measuring electrolytes, glucose, and kidney function. CMP adds liver enzymes and proteins.
I&OIntake and Output: Tracking of fluid in and out of a patient. Critical for cardiac, renal, and post-op patients.
ADLsActivities of Daily Living: Bathing, dressing, eating, grooming, toileting. Assessment frame for patient function and discharge planning.
CPRCardiopulmonary Resuscitation: Chest compressions and ventilation for cardiac arrest. Required certification for all clinical nurses (BLS).
BLS / ACLS / PALSBasic / Advanced Cardiac / Pediatric Advanced Life Support: Tiered AHA certifications. BLS is required everywhere; ACLS for ICU/ED/step-down; PALS for pediatrics.
NRPNeonatal Resuscitation Program: AAP/AHA certification required for L&D, NICU, and any unit attending newborn deliveries.

Section

School & training

PreceptorPreceptor: An experienced nurse who supervises a nursing student or new-grad orientee on the unit. Often the most-influential person in your clinical year.
ClinicalClinical rotation: Hands-on hospital or community-setting hours during nursing school. Required by every accredited program. Typically organized around specialty rotations (Med-Surg, OB, Peds, Psych, Community).
CapstoneCapstone / Preceptorship: Final semester clinical at most BSN programs. Often 120-180 hours one-on-one with a preceptor. Real-shift mentorship before graduation.
PinningPinning ceremony: Nursing graduation tradition predating commencement. Each new graduate receives the school's nursing pin.
ResidencyNew-grad nurse residency program: Structured 6-12 month onboarding program for new RNs, typically at large hospitals. Combines orientation, classroom, and clinical mentorship. Magnet hospitals run them.
MagnetMagnet Recognition Program: ANCC designation for hospitals with high nursing standards. Usually requires BSN-prepared RNs and stronger nurse-to-patient ratios.