T2R
Transition to Residency & Beyond
An easy-to-use reference guide explaining common medical words, phrases, and abbreviations used in U.S. clinical settings, designed to help international medical graduates (IMGs) communicate with confidence.
| Abbreviation | Definition |
|---|---|
| A line / art line | arterial line—a catheter placed in an artery for continuous BP monitoring and repeated ABG access |
| A&O ×3 / A&O x 4 | alert and oriented; A&O×3 = to person, place, and time; ×4 adds event |
| A. fib | atrial fibrillation |
| AAA / triple A | abdominal aortic aneurysm |
| ACGME | Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education, which accredits and sets standards for U.S. graduate medical education programs |
| ACGME milestones | specific skills and behaviors in the six core competencies that residents are expected to demonstrate as they progress through training |
| ACS | acute coronary syndrome—STEMI, NSTEMI or UA |
| advanced directive | legal document stating a patient's wishes if they become unable to decide |
| AKI | acute kidney injury |
| alb | albumin |
| ALPO | alkaline phosphatase |
| ALT / AST | alanine aminotransferase / aspartate aminotransferase |
| AMA | against medical advice; when a patient leaves the hospital against the advice of their physician |
| AMS | altered mental status |
| ANA / ANCA / RF / anti-CCP | antinuclear antibody / anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody / rheumatoid factor / anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide antibody |
| appy / lap appy | appendectomy / laparoscopic appendectomy |
| arterial blood gas | includes pH, pCO₂, pO₂, HCO₃⁻, BE (base excess), SaO₂ |
| attending / fellow / resident/intern | senior physician / subspecialty trainee / resident physician/first‑year resident |
| A‑a Gradient | alveolar‑arterial oxygen gradient (oxygenation assessment) |
| bag | use a hand-operated device called an ambu-bag to artificially breathe for a patient |
| BAL | blood alcohol level OR bronchoalveolar lavage |
| banana bag | intravenous infusion bag containing multivitamins (appears yellow) |
| BG / FSBG / FBS / FBG | blood glucose / fingerstick blood glucose / fasting blood sugar / fasting blood glucose |
| bili / t bili / d bili / i bili | bilirubin / total bilirubin / direct bilirubin / indirect bilirubin |
| BiPAP | bilevel positive airway pressure; alternates between two pressure levels |
| bladder scan | a bedside ultrasound to measure the amount of urine |
| block schedule | schedule that divides a resident’s year into set rotations, each focused on a specific clinical area or setting |
| blow an IV | to destroy a vein while trying to insert an IV |
| BMP / chem-7 | basic metabolic panel, also known as a "chem-7" (electrolytes and renal function): Na, K, Cl, CO₂ (HCO₃⁻), BUN, Cr, Glu |
| BNP / B-type NP / NT‑proBNP | B-type natriuretic peptide (heart failure marker) |
| boarders | patients from other services occupying beds on the team’s ward or floor, or admitted patients occupying beds in the ED while they await a bed assignment in the hospital |
| boo-boo / owee | what children may call an injury |
| bounce back | patient returns to service from which they had recently been discharged or transferred |
| BP | blood pressure |
| brady / brady down | slowing heart rate |
| bronch | pronounced "bronk", short for bronchoscopy, can also mean to perform a bronchoscopy |
| bugs | germs; infecting organisms (bacteria, viruses, etc.) |
| bump | an increase, such as a bump in creatinine, or bump up the dose of a medication |
| BUN | blood urea nitrogren |
| C diff | Clostridium difficile |
| C-section | cesarean section |
| C-spine / T-spine / L-spine | cervical, thoracic, or lumbar spine |
| Ca | calcium OR cancer |
| CABG | coronary artery bypass graft, pronouced "cabbage" |
| CAD | coronary artery disease |
| call | 1) night or weekend duty at the hospital; also, "call night," "call schedule," etc. OR 2) short for judgment call; decision in which there is no single right answer |
| call a code | to initiate or announce the start of a patient resuscitation effort |
| categorical resident | a resident who is enrolled in a multi-year residency program that will provide complete training in a specific specialty |
| cath | catheterization |
| CBC | complete blood count |
| central line / CVC / triple lumen | catheter placed in a large central vein; CVC = central venous catheter; triple lumen = a CVC with three ports |
| Certification | official recognition by a specialty board that a physician that has completed residency has the knowledge and skills to deliver high-quality care in that specialty |
| CHF / HFrEF / HFpEF | congestive heart failure / heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (systolic heart failure) / heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (diastolic heart failure) |
| chole or choly / lap chole | cholecystectomy / laparoscopic cholecystectomy |
| CK | creatine kinase |
| CKD | chronic kidney disease |
| clinical competency committee (CCC) | a group of at least three active teaching faculty that advises the program director and evaluates the progress of all residents in the training program |
| clinically significant | term used to describe a finding, result, or change that is important enough to affect a patient's health or treatment decisions |
| CME | continuing medical education—required by most states and specialty boards to maintain licensure or certification |
| CMO | comfort measures only; a code status indicating that all care focuses on comfort rather than treating the underlying illness; used for patients at the end of life |
| CMP | comprehensive metabolic panel—results from the BMP / chem-7, plus Ca, AST, ALT, ALP, T bili, alb, TP |
| code | to use full emergency measures to resuscitate a patient who has suffered a heart or breathing stoppage; also, a noun referring to the process |
| code status | physician orders that guide life-saving treatments if a patient's heart stops or they stop breathing |
| consent (patient) | discuss an intervention with a patient in order to obtain their understanding and signed permission |
| COPD | chronic obstructive pulmonary disease |
| core competencies | the six ACGME domains: patient care and procedural skills; medical knowledge; practice-based learning and improvement; interpersonal and communication skills; professionalism; and systems-based practice |
| CP | chest pain OR cerebral palsy |
| CPAP | continuous positive airway pressure; provides constant pressure |
| CPR | cardiopulmonary resuscitation, including chest compressions, defibrillation, and intubation |
| CPS | Child Protective Services, also called Department of Children and Families (DCF) in some states—the agency that investigates suspected child abuse or neglect |
| crash | sudden, rapid, and often unanticipated deterioration of a patient |
| crash cart | a cart on wheels that contains all drugs, equipment, and devices for managing cardiac arrest and other emergencies that is brought to the patient’s bedside |
| credentialing | cerification of a clinician's training, licenses, and competence; includes primary-source verification, references, and background checks |
| crit | hematocrit |
| cross cover | when a resident is responsible for the care of patients outside their usual team, including at night or when covering for another physician |
| CRP | C‑reactive protein (inflammation marker) |
| CT / CTA / CTP | computed tomography (also called a cat scan) / CT angiography / CT perfusion |
| curbside | curbside consult—a brief, informal question posed to a specialist without a formal consultation or documented note |
| Cx/ BCx / UCx / MIC | culture / blood culture / urine culture / minimum inhibitory concentration (antibiotic susceptibility) |
| CXR | chest x-ray |
| D&C | dilatation and curettage |
| D-dimer | marker for blood clot formation and breakdown |
| D/C | to discontinue, as in to stop a medication or treatment, OR to discharge, as in to discharge a patient |
| DAT / Coombs | direct antiglobulin test (hemolysis workup) |
| decision-making capacity | clinical assessment of a patient’s ability to make specific medical decisions; different than competence, which is decided by a court and refers to a person’s overall ability to make decisions |
| DIO | designated institutional official |
| dispo | disposition |
| DKA / HHS | diabetic ketoacidosis / hyperosmolar hyperglycemic state |
| DM | diabetes mellitus |
| DM1 / T1DM | Type 1 diabetes mellitus |
| DM2 / T2DM | Type 2 diabetes mellitus |
| DNR | do not resuscitate; a code status indicating that the patient does not want life-saving treatments in case of an emergency, including chest compressions, defibrillation, and intubation; the patient can still receive other treatments such as antibiotics, surgery, and intravenous medications |
| DOA | dead on arrival |
| doc | short for doctor—common term of address or referral for physicians by patients and medical staff |
| DOE | dyspnea on exertion |
| DVT | deep venous thrombosis |
| EBV / CMV | Epstein‑Barr virus / cytomegalovirus |
| Echo / TTE / TEE | echocardiogram / transthoracic echocardiogram / transesophageal echocardiogram echo |
| ED / ER | emergency department or emergency room |
| EF / LVEF | ejection fraction / left ventricular ejection fraction |
| EHR / EMR | Electronic Health Record / Electronic Medical Record (e.g., Epic, Cerner) |
| EKG / ECG | electrocardiogram |
| EMS | emergency medical services (the ambulance and rescue system); see fire rescue |
| EMT | emergency medical technician |
| EOM | extraocular movement |
| escalation | the process a resident follows to determine when and whom to call for when a patient’s condition becomes more serious or complex |
| ESR | erythrocyte sedimentation rate (inflammation marker) |
| ESRD | end stage renal disease |
| eyeball | a rapid visual assessment of a patient or clinical situation |
| fellow | a physician in a subspecialty fellowship program who has completed a residency and is receiving advanced training and education in that field |
| ferritin / TIBC / T sat | ferritin / total iron‑binding capacity / transferrin saturation—iron studies |
| fire rescue | medical emergency response service; see EMS |
| FOBT / OB+ / stool guaiac | fecal occult blood test / occult blood positive / stool guaiac—tests that detect blood in stool |
| Foley / Foley catheter | catheter inserted through the urethra to drain the bladder |
| formative evaluation | feedback that is given to help improve a resident’s knowledge and performance |
| frequent flyer | patient who has frequent admissions to the hospital or to the emergency department |
| full code | code status indicating that the patient wants all life-saving treatments in case of an emergency, including chest compressions, defibrillation, and intubation |
| GCS | Glasgow Coma Scale |
| GDM | gestational diabetes mellitus |
| GFR eGFR | glomerular filtration rate / estimated glomerular filtration rate |
| GGT | gamma-glutamyl transferase |
| GGT | gamma-glutamyl transferase |
| GI bleed / UGIB / LGIB | gastrointestinal bleed / upper GI bleed / lower GI bleed |
| GI Cocktail | a combination of medications to treat gastric distress, variable by institution |
| GME | graduate medical education—refers to the training after medical school, including residency and fellowship, in which physicians gain supervised clinical experience and specialty-specific education |
| GME office | graduate medical education office, the institutional body overseeing training programs |
| GSW | gunshot wound |
| H&H | hemoglobin and hematocrit |
| H&P / ROS / PE / Dx / Tx / Rx | history & physical / review of systems / physical exam / diagnosis / treatment / prescription |
| handover / handoff / sign-out | structured transfer of care from one team or team member to another, commonly uses I-PASS framework |
| HbA1c / A1c | hemoglobin A1c, a 2–3 month average blood glucose |
| HBsAg / anti‑HBs / anti‑HBc | hepatitis B surface antigen / antibody agains the hepatitis B surface antigen / antibody against the hepatitis core antigen |
| hCG | human chorionic gonadotropin |
| HCV Ab / HCV RNA | hepatitis C antibody / hepatitis C viral load |
| healthcare proxy / durable power of attorney for healthcare | legal document that names who should make medical decisions if the patient loses capacity |
| HFNC | high-flow nasal cannula |
| Hgb / Hct | hemoglobin / hematocrit |
| high | when used to describe a patient, means that they are under the influence of narcotics or other mood / mind altering drugs |
| HIV 1/2 Ag/Ab | HIV 1 and 2 antigen and antibody tests, screening for HIV |
| HLD | hyperlipidemia |
| hospice | optional care for people expected to live six months or less, focusing on comfort and quality of life, provided at home or in inpatient facilities |
| hospitalist | attending physician who specializes in the medical care of hospitalized patients |
| HTN | hypertension |
| I&D | incision and drainage |
| I&O | ins and outs—measurement of fluid intake and output |
| IGRA | interferon‑gamma release assay (TB screening) |
| intensive care unit | a hospital unit that provides continuous, high-level monitoring and life-support care for critically ill patients |
| IVF / NS / LR / D5W | intravenous fluids / normal saline / lactated Ringer's / 5% dextrose in water |
| Jeopardy | a backup call system in which a designated resident covers for an absent colleague |
| JVD / JVP | jugular venous distension / jugular venous pressure |
| keep an eye on | watchful waiting, continued observation |
| KUB | kidney, ureter, and bladder x-ray |
| lactic acid | lactate—tissue hypoperfusion marker |
| LDH | lactate dehydrogenase |
| LE / Nit | Leukocyte esterase / nitrite - bacteriuria indicators |
| LFTs | liver function tests—AST, ALT, ALP, GGT, t bili, d bili, alb |
| licensure / state licensure | official authorization granted by a state medical board that allows a physician to practice medicine, after confirming that they have met educational, training and competency standards |
| line | intravenous access, often short for central line |
| lipids | total cholesterol (TC, chol), LDL‑C (low density lipoprotein cholesterol), HDL‑C (high density lipiprotein), TG (triglycerides), non‑HDL‑C (non-high density lipoprotein cholesterol) |
| living will | describes what treatment the patient wants or does not want under specific circumstances, such as terminal illness |
| LOC | loss of consciousness |
| LP | lumbar puncture, sometimes called a "spinal tap" |
| LWBS | left without being seen |
| lytes | electrolytes |
| M&M | morbidity and mortality |
| mag / phos | magnesuim / phosphate |
| MAP | mean arterial pressure |
| MCV / MCH / MCHC / RDW | mean corpuscular volume / mean corpuscular hemoglobin / mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration / red cell distribution width—red blood cell indicies |
| med rec | medication reconciliation—the process of reviewing a patient’s complete home medication list and deciding what should be continued, held, or stopped when they are admitted to the hospital |
| med surg / GMF | medical-surgical unit / general medical floor—hospital unit that provides care for patients who don’t require intensive or specialized monitoring |
| mets | metastases |
| migraine cocktail | a combination of medications used to treat migraine headaches, variable by institution |
| moonlighting | clinical work done by a resident outside of program duties, typically for pay |
| MRSA / VRE | methicillin‑resistant Staphylococcus aureus / vancomycin‑resistant Enterococci |
| MVA | motor vehicle accident |
| N / V / D | nausea / vomiting / diarrhea |
| NC | nasal cannula |
| neb | nebulizer treatment |
| neut / lymph / mono / eos / baso | neut / lymph / mono / eos / baso, neutrophils / lymphocytes / monocytes / eosinophils / basophils (white blood cell differential) |
| NGT / NG tube | nasogastric tube |
| night float | a period of overnight shifts during which residents admit new patients, and care for existing patients until morning |
| NOAC / DOAC | novel oral anticoagulant / direct oral anticoagulant; newer blood thinners such as apixaban or rivaroxaban |
| nocturnist | hospitalist who works overnight shift |
| NPO | nil per os—nothing by mouth |
| NRB | non-rebreather mask |
| NSTEMI / STEMI | non-ST elevation myocardial infarction / ST elevation myocardial infarction |
| observation (obs) vs. admission | observation status vs. inpatient hospital admission (impacts billing / coverage) |
| orientation / boot camp | training that occurs just before the start of residency to prepare new interns with essential skills and information, commonly including things like EHR, institutional policies, simulation, and communication norms |
| orthopods, pods | orthopedic doctors |
| OSA | obstructive sleep apnea |
| out (e.g. the patient was out) | unresponsive |
| out of it (e.g. the patient was out of it) | confused |
| pace | to use a pacemaker or temporary electrical stimulation to maintain a patient’s heartbeat at a safe rate |
| paracentesis / para | needle drainage of fluid from the abdomen |
| PCP / PMD | primary care provider / primary medical doctor |
| PCR / NAAT | polymerase chain reaction / nucleic acid amplification testing |
| PE | pulmonary embolism OR physical exam |
| PEG / PEG tube | percutaneous gastrostomy tube used for enteral feeding |
| PET scan | positron emission tomography |
| PGY-1, 2, 3, etc. | postgraduate year 1, 2, 3, etc., referring to successive years of residency training. PGY-1s are also called interns. |
| PICC line | peripherally inserted central venous catheter |
| PL, LH, FSH | prolactin, luteinizing hormone, follicle stimulating hormone—pituitary / gonadal hormones along with estradiol / estrogen and testosterone |
| PNA / CAP / HAP / VAP | pneumonia / community-acquired pneumonia / hospital-acquired pneumonia / ventilator-associated pneumonia |
| PND | paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea |
| PO / IV / IM / SQ / SL / PR | per os (by mouth) / intravenous / intramuscular / subcutaneous / sublingual / per rectum |
| POCUS | point-of-care ultrasound; bedside ultrasound performed and interpreted by the treating clinician |
| POLST | physician orders for life sustaining treatment—a medical order that includes code status and other treatment choices for serious illness |
| PPD / TST | purified protein derivative / tuberculin skin test |
| pRBCs / FFP / cryo / platelets | packed red blood cells / fresh frozen plasma / cryoprecipitate / platelets—blood products used in transfusion |
| preemie | a prematurely born baby |
| preliminary resident / prelim | a resident enrolled in a program that offers one year of general training, usually to gain broad clinical experience before starting a specialty |
| prepped | prepared for a procedure |
| pressors | vasopressors—IV medications used to raise blood pressure in shock states |
| privileging | granting specific clinical activities in a hospital (e.g., admit, procedures) |
| PRN / QHS / BID / TID / QID | as needed / at bedtime / twice / three times / four times daily |
| procal | procalcitonin—sepsis marker |
| PT / INR / aPTT | prothrombin time / international normalized ratio / activated partial thromboplastin time |
| PTH | parathyroid hormone |
| pulse ox | pulse oximetry |
| PVR | post-void residual, a bedside ultrasound to measure the amount of urine remaining in the bladder after urination |
| RA | room air—breathing without supplemental oxygen |
| RBC / WBC / Plt | red blood cells / white blood cells / platelets |
| rectic | reticulocyte count |
| remediation | a structured program to address identified gaps in a resident's clinical or professional performance |
| renal panel | often BUN, Cr, eGFR, Na, K, HCO₃⁻, Phos, Ca. |
| rotation | a period of time, usually 2-4 weeks, during which a doctor trains in a specific department or specialty |
| round on patients | briefly evaluate each patient on a service by physically visiting the patient at the bedside, reviewing their progress, and planning further management |
| RPR / VDRL / TP‑PA | rapid plasma reagin / venereal disease research laboratory / treponema pallidum particle agglutination (syphilis screening/confirmatory tests) |
| RRT | rapid response team |
| rule out (r/o) | condition is being considered/actively excluded |
| run the list | discuss with other team members new diagnostic results, clinical course, and treatment plans for all patients on a service, on a patient-by-patient basis |
| scholarly activity | research / quality improvement outputs required by ACGME for residents / fellows |
| SG | specific gravity |
| sharps | items that can cut or puncture the skin, such as needles, scalpels, and IV catheters, which must be disposed of in a designated sharps container |
| shock a patient | defibrillate or cardiovert a patient by applying paddles to the patient’s chest to deliver a charge |
| shot | injection |
| SIRS | systemic inflammatory response syndrome |
| SOB | shortness of breath |
| SOFA / qSOFA | sequential organ failure assessment / quick sequential organ failure assessment—bedside scoring tools used to identify and quantify sepsis severity |
| soft admission | an admission for a patient whose condition is stable and about which there may be disagreement on whether or not the patient met admission criteria |
| SPEP / UPEP | serum protein electrophoresis / urine protein electrophoresis |
| SpO₂ | pulse oximetry oxygen saturation |
| SSI / CDI | sliding scale insulin / correction dose insulin |
| STAT | immediately, as opposed to routine |
| STD / STI | sexually transmitted disease / sexually transmitted infection |
| step down | hospital unit for patients who need more monitoring than a regular or telemetry unit but less intensive care than an ICU |
| summative evaluation | feedback that summarizes a resident’s overall knowledge and performance, often used to support high-stakes decisions such as promotion, advancement, or board certification eligibility |
| sundowning | increased confusion, agitation, or restlessness in older patients, typically occurring in the late afternoon or evening |
| SVT | supraventricular tachycardia |
| T&S / T&C | type & screen / type & crossmatch |
| telemetry unit | hospital unit where patients’ heart rhythms and vital signs are continuously monitored |
| thoracentesis / thora | needle drainage of fluid from the chest cavity |
| through and through | gunshot wound that has both an entrance and an exit wound |
| thyroid studies | thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), unbound or "free" thyroxine (fT4), ± unbound or "free" triiodothyronine (fT3), thyroid peroxidase antibody (TPO Ab) |
| titers | quantitative antibody levels confirming immunity (e.g., MMR, varicella) |
| TM | tympanic membrane or “ear drum” |
| tox screen | test for the presence of drugs in the bloodstream |
| TP | total protein |
| TPN / PPN | total parenteral nutrition / peripheral parenteral nutrition—intravenous nutrition for patients unable to eat TPN PPN |
| trach (pronounced trake) | to perform a tracheostomy, or can refer to the presence of a tracheostomy |
| tracks | needle marks on the skin, usually from IV drug abuse |
| transaminases | ALT and AST |
| triage | the process of quickly assessing patients’ conditions to prioritize care based on the severity and urgency of their medical needs |
| trop / hs-trop | troponin / high-sensitivity troponin |
| tube | intubate |
| turf | transfer the patient to another service, often because the patient's needs have changed and are more appropriate for a different specialty |
| U prot / Alb:Cr | urinary protein / albumin‑to‑creatinine ratio (proteinuria) |
| UA | urinalysis OR unstable angina |
| UDS | urine drug screen |
| urine casts | RBC, WBC or granular casts, urine |
| UTI | urinary tract infection |
| V. fib | ventricular fibrillation |
| VBG | uvenous blood gas, includes pH, pCO₂, HCO₃⁻, BE (base excess) |
| vent | a mechanical ventilator |
| vit D (25‑OH) | 25‑hydroxyvitamin D |
| VTE | venous thromboembolism (includes DVT and PE) |
| ward | section of a hospital where patients are admitted and cared for, often organized by medical specialty or type of treatment |
| WBAT | weight bearing as tolerated |
| within normal limits (WNL) / unremarkable | indicates normal findings |
| work hours | all of a resident's scheduled clinical and academic activities, including patient care, administrative tasks, handoffs, in-house call, and conferences, doesn't include time for studying or research; formerly called “duty hours” |
| zonked, zonked out | heavily sedated, asleep |
Educate. Empower. Advance.
[Last update: May 8, 2026]