High-Yield Medical Abbreviations
Written by Rand Hashim
If you are reading this blog post, chances are you have just finished your pre-clinical years and are looking for some advice on how to best prepare for the clinical years. Firstly, congratulations! Although you are likely a little bit nervous, this transition into the clinical world is extremely exciting! Just remember that everyone has been in your shoes and before you know it, you will be impressed with how much you have learned and grown throughout your clinical clerkships.
This blog post includes medical abbreviations that are high yield to know before starting your clerkships. These are abbreviations I encountered throughout all my rotations and it’s helpful to have an idea of what they stand for before diving into reading and writing notes. If there is an abbreviation you are not familiar with during your rotation, always ask!
· Abx: Antibiotics
· BID/TID= twice per day/ three times per day
· BM: Bowel Movement
· BMP: Basic Metabolic Panel (includes sodium, potassium, chloride, CO2, BUN, Creatinine, Glucose & Calcium)
· CBC: complete blood count
· CC: Chief Complaint
· CMP: Comprehensive metabolic panel (includes BMP PLUS ALT/AST, bilirubin, alkaline phosphatase, total protein, albumin)
· C/O: Complains of
· CP: Chest Pain
· CTX: chemotherapy
· CXR: Chest X-ray
· DNR/DNI: Do Not Resuscitate/Intubate
· DTR: Deep tendon reflexes
· D/t: due to
· D/W: discussed with
· Dx: Diagnosis
· EBL: Estimated blood loss
· EOM: Extraocular movements
· GSW: Gun Shot Wound
· H/O: History Of
· HRT: Hormone replacement therapy
· LMP: Last menstrual period
· LP: Lumbar Puncture
· MVA/MVC: Motor Vehicle Accident/Crash
· NIDDM: Non-Insulin Dependent Diabetes Mellitus
· NKA/NKDA: No known allergies/drug allergies
· NPO: nil per os= nothing per mouth
· N/V/D: Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea
· PERRLA: Pupils equal, round and reactive to light and accommodation
· PMH/PMHx: Past medical History
· PRN: pro re nata= as needed
· R/O: Rule Out
· S/P: Status post
· VSS: Vital Signs Stable
· 2/2: secondary to
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Obviously, this is not an all-inclusive list of all the abbreviations you might encounter during your rotations—but I hope that it serves as a basic building block for your knowledge as you continue your journey through medical school. Try to only use common abbreviations in your note writing so that it is clear enough for someone else to read your notes. Good luck!
