Acronyms that signify licensure, certification and education also tell a lot about a person's professional specialty and background. How many are you familiar with?

AALNC: Legal nurse consultant, American Association of Legal Nurse Consultants

AAS: Associate's degree, applied science

ACLS: Advanced cardiac life support

ACNP: Acute care nurse practitioner

ACRN: AIDS-certified registered nurse

AND: Associate's degree in Nursing

ANP: Adult nurse practitioner

AOCN: Advanced oncology certified nurse

APN: Advance practice nurse

ARNP: Advanced registered nurse practitioner

ASN: Associate's of Science in Nursing

BCLS, BLS: Basic cardiac life support

BSN: Bachelor's of science in nursing

CANP: Certified adult nurse practitioner

CAPA: Certified ambulatory perianesthesia nurse

CARN: Certified addictions registered nurse

CARN-AP: Certified addictions registered nurse-advanced practice

CCCN: Certified continence care nurse

CCM: Certified case manager

CCNS: Certified clinical nurse specialist

CCRN: Certified in critical care nursing

CDDN: Certified developmental disabilities nurse

CDE: Certified diabetes educator

CDMS: Certified disability management specialist

CDONA/LTC: Certified director of nursing administration in long-term care

CEN: Certified emergency nurse

CETN: Certified enterostomal therapy nurse

CFRN: Certified flight registered nurse

CGN: Certified gastroenterology nurse

CGRN: Certified gastroenterology registered nurse

CHN: Certified hemodialysis nurse

CHPN: Certified hospice and palliative nurse

CHRN: Certified hyberbaric registered nurse

CIC: Certified infection control

CLNC: Certified legal nurse consultant

CM: Certified midwife

CMCN: Certified managed care nurse

CMDSC: Certified MDS coordinator

CNA: Certified in nursing administration or certified nurse assistant

CNAA: Certified in nursing administration, advanced

CNA-A: Certified nursing assistant-advanced

CNLCP: Certified nurse life care planner

CNM: Certified nurse-midwife

CNN: Certified in nephrology nursing

CNNP: Certified neonatal nurse practitioner

CNOR: Certified nurse, operating room

CNRN: Certified neuroscience registered nurse

CNS: Clinical nurse specialist

CNSN: Certified nutrition support nurse

COCN: Certified ostomy care nurse

COHN: Certified occupational health nurse

COHN/CM: Certified occupational health nurse/case manager

COHN-S: Certified occupational health nurse-specialist

COHN-S/CM: Certified occupational health nurse-specialist case manager

CORLN: Certified otorhinolaryngology and head/neck nurse

CPAN: Certified postanesthesia nurse

CPDN: Certified peritoneal dialysis nurse

CPHQ: Certified professional in healthcare quality

CPN: Certified pediatric nurse

CPNA: Certified pediatric nurse associate

CPNL: Certified practical nurse-long term care

CPNP: Certified pediatric nurse practitioner

CPON: Certified pediatric oncology nurse

CPSN: Certified Plastic Surgery Nurse

CRN: Certified radiologic nurse

CRNA: Certified registered nurse anesthetist

CRNFA: Certified registered nurse-first assistant

CRNI: Certified registered nurse intravenous

CRNL: Certified registered nurse-long-term care

CRNO: Certified registered nurse in opththalmology

CRNP: Certified registered nurse practitioner

CRRN: Certified rehabilitation registered nurse

CRRN-A: Certified rehabilitation registered nurse-advanced

CS: Clinical Specialist

C-SPI: Certified specialist in poison information

CTN: Certified transcultural nurse

CUA: Certified urologic associate

CUCNS: Certified urologic clinical nurse specialist

CUNP: Certified urologic nurse practitioner

CURN: Certified urologic registered nurse

CVN: Certified vascular nurse

CWCN: Certified wound care nurse

CWOCN: Certified wound, ostomy, and continence nurse

DNC: Dermatology nurse, certified

DNS: Doctorate of Nursing Science

EdD: Doctorate of Education

FAAN: Fellow, American Academy of Nursing

FAAPM: Fellow, American Academy of Pain Management

FCCM: Fellow, American Collage of Critical Care Medicine

FNC: Family nurse clinician

FNP: Family nurse practitioner

FPNP: Family planning nurse practitioner

GNP: Gerontological nurse practitioner

GPN: General pediatric nurse

HNC: Holistic nurse, certified

IBCLC: International board-certified lactation consultant

LCCE: Lamaze-certified childbirth educator

LNC: Legal nurse consultant

LNCC: Legal nurse consultant-certified

LPN: Licensed practical nurse

LVN: Licensed vocational nurse

MICN: Mobile intensive care nurse

MN: Master's degree in Nursing

MSN: Master's of Science in Nursing

NCSN: National certified school nurse

NNP: Neonatal nurse practitioner

NP: Nurse practitioner

NP-C: Nurse practitioner, certified

NPP: Nurse practitioner, psychiatric

OCN: Oncology certified nurse

OGNP: Obstetric-gynecology nurse practitioner

ONC: Orthopedic nurse, certified

PhD: Doctor of Philosophy

PHN: Public health nurse

PHRN: Pre-hospital registered nurse

PMHNP: Psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner

PNP: Pediatric nurse practitioner

RN: Registered nurse

RN, BC: Registered nurse, board certified (many clinical specialties)

RN, C: Registered nurse, certified (many clinical specialties)

RN, CS: Registered nurse, certified (clinical) specialist

TNCC: Trauma nursing course certified

TNS: Trauma nurse specialist

WHNP: Women's healthcare nurse practitioner

WOCN: Wound, ostomy, and continence nurse