Hello, Boyertown:
'Don't know of any offical list of these abbreviations but they are generally found in nursing textbooks. I am a Nursing Instructor and we teach these in the first semester... or rather, we review them since most of our students are familiar with them.
If this is of any help, here are some Canadian and American titles and abbreviations....

MD = doctor
GP = General Physician (your family doctor)... also known as an MD
RN = Registered Nurse ( 3 or 4 year training )
RPN = Registered Psychiatric Nurse (3 or 4 year training)
LPN = Licenced Practical Nurse (1 year training)
RCA = Residential Care Aide or Residential Care Attendant ( 6 - 8 months training)
CSW = Community Support Worker ( 6 - 8 mos. training)
MHW = Mental Health Worker/aide ( 6 - 8 mos. training)
LTCA = Long Term Care Aide (8 - 10 months training)
GN = graduate nurse... awaiting licensing exams
OT = Occupational Therapist
SW = Social Worker
BSW = Social Worker with a Bachelors' Degree
MSW = you guessed it... Social worker with a Masters' Degree
Psych = Psychologist
EENT or ENT = Eye, ear and throat specialist (doctor)
Gyne = Gynecologist (pronounced guy-knee)
OB/GYN - Obstetrician who is also a Gynecologist (pronounced by reading out the letters)
PIC = Person in Charge ... usually a nurse. Most often used in private care homes
DOC = Director of Care ... usually a nurse.
TL = Team Leader ... a nurse who directs and coordinates a team of nurses each shift
NUM = Nursing Unit Manager ... not always a nurse (tsk!)
UC = Unit Clerk ... secretarial functions on a hospital unit
MOA = Medical Office Assitant ... more than just a receptionist at the clinic
BScN = Bachelor of Science in Nursing
BPN = Bachelor of Psychiatric Nursing
BHSc = Bachelor of Health Sciences
Physio = physiotherapist

Okay... I hope this helps.

Melodie on the wet and rainy West Coast of Canada

Could you please send any information regarding "DO". I recently visited a general medical doctor that had this after his name.

Thanks for your help,
Rebecca

Rebecca:

Here is some information.

A doctor of osteopathic medicine (D.O.) is a physician licensed to perform surgery and prescribe medication. Like an M.D., an osteopath completes 4 years of medical school and can choose to practice in any specialty of medicine. However, osteopaths receive an additional 300 to 500 hours in the study of hands-on manual medicine and the body's musculoskeletal system.

Osteopathic medicine is dedicated to treating and healing the entire patient as a whole, rather than focusing on one system or body part. An osteopath will often use a treatment method called manipulation -- a hands-on approach to assure that the body is moving freely. This free motion ensures that all of your body's natural healing systems are free to work unhindered.

Osteopaths hold to the principle that a patient's history of illness and physical trauma are written into the body's structure. The osteopath's highly developed sense of touch allows the physician to palpate (feel) the patient's "living anatomy" (the flow of fluids, motion and texture of tissues, and structural make-up).

The osteopath's job is to "set" the body to heal itself. To do so, the Osteopath gently applies a precise amount of force to promote healthy movement of tissues, eliminate abnormal movements, and release compressed bones and joints. In addition, the areas being treated require proper positioning to assist the body's ability to regain normal tissue function. This process is called osteopathic manual medicine (OMM) or osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT).

Over the years, the gap between "conventional" medicine and osteopathic medicine has narrowed, as M.D.s have embraced many of the premises of osteopathic medicine (such as recognizing the impact of stress on the immune system or posture on various body systems). In addition, D.O.s have incorporated the diagnostic and treatment techniques common to conventional medicine.

Doctors of osteopathic medicine may be found in nearly any health care setting, from community clinics and private practices to academic medical centers.

Like M.D.s, osteopaths are licensed at the state level. Osteopaths who wish to specialize may become "board certified" (in much the same manner as M.D.s) by completing a 2- to 6-year residency within the specialty area and passing the board certification exams.