Nursing is a profession with many acronyms and abbreviations for specific degrees. They reveal a person’s education and certification, but sometimes they can be confusing. The University of Colorado College of Nursing at Anschutz Medical Campus created this guide to help you understand some acronyms related to the degrees we offer.
RN: Registered Nurse
A registered nurse is someone who graduates from a nursing program and passes the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX), administered by the Colorado State Board of Nursing. Both students who complete a Baccalaureate Degree in Nursing or an associate’s degree in nursing may qualify to sit for the NCLEX.
CU Nursing offers several different pathways to earn a BS in Nursing, allowing students to pick the right pathway for them. In fact, we have a helpful quiz to find out which program is right for you.
Types of careers: hospital nurse (working in the ER, surgery, pediatrics, etc.), school nurse, travel nurse, public health nurse, working in a primary care clinic
APRN: Advanced Practice Registered Nurse
APRN is a general term for all advanced practice registered nurses. Nurses need an advanced degree (such as a master’s in nursing) and need to pass a national certification exam specific to their practice area to become an APRN. APRNs can assess, diagnose, and treat patients.
NP: Nurse Practitioner
A nurse practitioner is a nurse who is considered an APRN. Nurses can become NPs after earning a BS in Nursing, graduating from a master’s or doctoral degree program, and passing certification exams. NPs can diagnose and treat illnesses, prescribe medication, and perform physical exams. NPs provide a full range of primary, acute, and specialty health care.
CU Nursing’s master’s program offers these specialties to become an NP:
- Acute Care Pediatric NP (AC-PNP)
- Adult-Gerontology Acute Care NP (AG-ACNP)
- Adult-Gerontology Primary Care NP (AG-PCNP)
- Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP)
- Primary Care Pediatric NP (PNP-PC)
- Psychiatric Mental Health NP (PMHNP)
- Women’s Health NP (WHNP)
Note: CU Nursing also offers a Certified Nurse-Midwife master’s degree. A Nurse-Midwife is an APRN, but not a nurse practitioner.
If you already have an NP degree, you can earn a post-graduate certificate in an APRN focal area, allowing you to explore a new area of practice.
Types of careers: hospital NP (working in pediatrics, the ICU, urgent care, etc.), school NP, community nurse, private practice NP.
DNP: Doctor of Nursing Practice
A nurse with a DNP specializes in leadership, advanced clinical practice, and healthcare policy roles. They focus on evidence-based practice, quality improvement, and healthcare systems management. DNP nurses apply their skills in a clinical setting.
CU Nursing’s DNP specialties include:
- DNP/MPH Dual Degree in Nursing and Public Health
- APRN
- Health Systems Leadership
- Public Health Nursing
- Veteran and Military Health Care Leadership
CU Nursing also offers a BS to DNP program, allowing students to earn a master’s in one of our specialties and a DNP in five years. The college is launching an integrated BS to DNP program in Fall 2026, which will allow a student to finish in three years.
Types of careers: chief nursing officer, nurse educator, healthcare policy analyst, researcher, clinical program director, university faculty member
PhD: Doctor of Philosophy in Nursing
A PhD in nursing is a research-focused doctoral degree to prepare nurses for careers in scientific research, teaching, or leadership. Nurses with a PhD often work in universities (including CU Nursing), healthcare organizations, or research institutions.
CU Nursing’s PhD tracks include:
Types of careers: researcher, university faculty member, clinical research coordinator, nursing scientist, nursing consultant
Additional sources: APRN v. NP: What's the Difference
