APN
Abbreviation with 2 meanings
| Stands for | Advanced practice nurse |
|---|---|
| Meanings | 2 |
| Categories | Medical, Technology & Computing |
APN has two meanings. It stands for Advanced practice nurse (healthcare credential) or Access Point Name (telecom).
Meanings of APN at a glance
| # | APN stands for | Context |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Advanced practice nurse | Medical › Healthcare Credential |
| 2 | Access Point Name | Technology & Computing › Telecom |
1. Advanced practice nurse
Medical · Healthcare Credential Abbreviations
Older umbrella term for nurses with graduate-level advanced clinical preparation, such as nurse practitioners, nurse-midwives, nurse anesthetists and clinical nurse specialists. It is still used in some states, journals and countries.
Example: Department policy applies to physicians, PAs and APNs with prescriptive authority.
The APRN Consensus Model recommends "APRN" as the legal title, but some laws and job descriptions retain APN. Internationally, the International Council of Nurses uses "advanced practice nursing" in broader ways. APC and APP are related terms for advanced practice clinicians or providers.
2. Access Point Name
Technology & Computing · Telecom Abbreviations
Setting on a phone or modem that identifies the gateway between the mobile network and the internet or a private network, determining how data and MMS connect. Wrong APN settings cause mobile data or picture messages to fail.
Example: Mobile data didn't work on the new SIM until I entered the carrier's APN.
Most phones configure the APN automatically from the SIM card, but MVNO users and travelers sometimes enter it manually. Businesses use private APNs to connect devices such as payment terminals or sensors directly to their internal networks. The APN also determines which features, such as tethering, a carrier allows.
Related abbreviations
More healthcare credential abbreviations
- ADN – Associate Degree in Nursing
- AEMT – Advanced emergency medical technician
- AGACNP – Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner
- AGPCNP – Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner
- APRN – Advanced practice registered nurse
- ARNP – Advanced registered nurse practitioner
- ATC – Certified athletic trainer
- AuD – Doctor of Audiology
See all 122 healthcare credential abbreviations →
More telecom abbreviations
- A2P – Application-to-person
- ADSL – Asymmetric digital subscriber line
- AM – Amplitude modulation
- AMPS – Advanced Mobile Phone System
- ARPU – Average revenue per user
- BT – British Telecom (BT Group)
- BTS – Base transceiver station
- CBRS – Citizens Broadband Radio Service
See all 114 telecom abbreviations →
This entry is for general education and is not medical advice. Abbreviation use varies between institutions; always confirm in context.