Mnemonics and Memory Aids

[VickyRN]

The HYPERKALEMIA "Machine" - Causes of Increased Serum K+

 M  Medications - ACE inhibitors, NSAIDS

 A  Acidosis - Metabolic and respiratory

 C  Cellular destruction - Burns, traumatic injury

 H  Hypoaldosteronism, hemolysis

 I  Intake - Excessive

 N  Nephrons, renal failure

 E  Excretion - Impaired

[nursekrystin]

I was taught to remember the 5 heart sounds usings this mnemonic:

Apple

Pie

Especially

Tastes

Mmmm

Also, I noticed that some are still doing Homan's sign, however, the latest research shows that Homan's sign is not an accurate way of assessing for a DVT, instead the nurse should assess for pain, redness, and warmth in the back of the calf. Just think about it, would you really want to dorsiflex a patient's foot if they did have a DVT in their calf, you could end up with more problems than you bargain for.

[yoginurse2b]

emeraldjay said:

I remember one that got drilled in during our post-op lecture. The 5 P's of circulation loss in a limb.

Pain, Pallor, Pulselessness, Parasthesia, Poikilothermia

One more P is Paralysis.

[beth66335, BSN, RN]

jgwe4e said:

Re ekg lead placement:

White on the right, smoke (black) over fire (red)

We always did clouds over grass, white on the right, and smoke over fire.

[CASailorGal]

AD - right ear

AS - left ear

AU - both ears

OD - right eye

OS - left eye

OU - both eyes

Remember that here in the USA you D drive on the right side of the road.

O= optical

A= auditory

[grdmdb]

any mnemonic devices for hypo and hyperglycemia? txs gina

[qaqueen]

foxyhill21 said:

diabetes

hot and dry : sugar high

cold and clammy need some candy

did you see this?

[hoopskirthippie]

Mneumonic device for remembering questions to ask emergency room admits:

Car? (circumstances of event)

Please (precipitating events)

Listen (location of event)

To This: (Time of event)

Watch (when symptoms appeared)

Underage (unconsciousness after injury?)

Alcoholics (arrival time in ER)

Heading (hospital admits previously?)

Home (previous history/health status)

And (allergies)

Maybe (medications)

Flattening (fears for safety)

My (meal, time of last)

Poodle (period, time of last menstrual)

Dog (primary doctor, name and location of)

Tonight (tetorifice, date of last immunization)

Everyone knows to make the ABCD (airway breathing circulation and neurologic disability) assessment first. Then as soon as possible, further assessment/intervention is done, which includes:

His (health history)

Head (head to toe assessment)

Is (insert monitoring devices -- caths, ECG, arterial lines)

So (splints for fractures)

Wide (wound care)

Olivia (other interventions)

No, there's nothing else to do in Natchez, Miss., than make up silly crap!

[Beachgirl1212]

If anyone has any Pharm Mnemonics.....I would love to have them. : )

[gaajr1, RN]

Thank you everyone for this mnemonic thread. It is really very useful.

Like BrandAidMaid, I would love to know something in Pharm. For instance someone mentioned about Cholinergic drugs and beta adrenergics, that was so good.

[Annie09]

Assess for treatable causes of changes in cognition and behavior. The mnemonic DEMENTIA can be used to remember potential causes:

• ? Drugs and alcohol—including over-the-counter drugs
• E: Eyes and ears—disorientation due to visual/auditory distortion
• M: Medical disorders—e.g., diabetes, hypothyroidism
• E: Emotional and psychological disturbances—e.g., mood or paranoid disorders
• N: Neurological disorders—e.g., multiinfarct dementia
• T: Tumors and trauma
• I: Infections—e.g., urinary tract or upper respiratory tract
• A: Arteriosclerosis—leading to heart failure, insufficient blood supply to heart and brain, and confusion

[hoopskirthippie]

https://www.scribd.com/doc/19829/Medical-Mnemonics?query2=kidney+mnemonic

has med-surg mneumonics to die for (poor choice of words there!) at the link above, including pharm ones. Good stuff!

~Nita Mc.

[jackie102]

any endocrine help??