I don't like mnemonics, but I like to spell the word.

[Baloney Amputation]

Am I the only one that doesn't care for mnemonics? I feel it takes me so much longer to create a mnemonic than to remember my key words. I have no problem remembering key words, but for the most part, mnemonics just aren't for me. Call me uncreative, but that's how I roll. Hopefully I'm not setting myself up for extreme failure with that technique.

Merry Christmas, my allnurses peeps (to quote my favorite spreadsheeter)!

Karen

[Jules A, MSN]

Can't stand them, lol. I know people swear by them but for me they are a distraction and for me, with the way my brain processes things they seem to only be a luke warm method of regurging info without any real understanding...which can be very valuable in getting through nursing school so I guess don't discount that if you are struggling. If people in class were practicing them I'd basically have to cover my ears and sing a song so it didn't get in. :)

[bjbabs24]

When I was in college my study partner for one of my geology classes was quite the ham. Anyways he would make up these mneumonics for the class and everything was sexually oriented. I thought he was crazy at first and that is not the way I would study but boy did I remember everything when it came time for the test. I think I could still remember a few if I jogged my memory enough.

I am not saying to come up with perverted mneumonics but make them personal and mean something for yourself instead of just memorizing random words.

BJ

[Baloney Amputation, BSN, LPN, RN]

And yes, I'll admit it drives me nuts when people spell it "pneumonics."

The misspellings/grammar errors in the CPNE study guide drive me nuts, of all places! There are confusions between affect/effect, shear/sheer (they did correct it in one instance between the 14th and 15th edition), and the worst one, "nare," as in nare is singular for nares, which it is not. LOL I'm anal like that.

[Baloney Amputation, BSN, LPN, RN]

Like others have mentioned, You can do them by learning the critical elements but IMO that is so much harder.

Try some of Rob's Mneumonics they were so easy to learn. His relates his to the body area. For example:

"PAIR" for respiratory assessment- Remembered a "pair of lungs"

P-osition upright

A-ssess RAP(rate,respirations,asssory muscles, Pattern)

I-nhale deeply

R-ecord response

Here is another easy one from another student:

PS LAPS- Abdominal Assessment- Think of the abdomen is so big that it sits in your lap.

P-osition,pee,pain,privacy

S-uction on

L-Look

A-asculate

P-alpate

S-suction off

WANT I BE GLAD I PUT ON TWO DRY SOCKS FAST -20 minute check(which includes fluids management)

W-ash hands

I-introduce

B-and check

G-Love

I-inspect IV, tell about I&O's

P-inch tugor

O-ff gloves

T-ubing check

D-rip rate

S-olution

F-luid level

I'm going to pick apart your post not because the content is objectionable (because it's not and you clearly rocked the CPNE!), but just because I am going to show my thought processes.

The respiratory assessment one looks like it needs another mnemonic for the RAP part for assessing and missing an R, and the inhale part seems redundant to me.

In abdominal assessment, if I don't have specific steps that say to pee, turn off suction if present, and position with knees flexed, I will forget them.

In fluid management, I have to have a separate part to cue me to check that IV site. I don't do well when one letter goes for 2 or more things, but that's just me.

I did create some mnemonics, but that's because they came to me very easily. Skin assessment came to me because the Color, Integrity, Moisture part happened to be the initials of my employer when I started studying. Edema and Moisture is "Eats Money."

Thank you for sharing your mnemonics! They will be helpful to many.

[ougreene]

i first used mnemonics while studying the a & p nerves....and it worked.

studying for the cpne critical elements and using mnemonics also worked for me. i customized them for myself..it meant more to me to be creative about the cpne.

mnemonic's help me "cut to the chase", during those stressful minutes during the care planning stage, when it's just you and your blank cpne care planning form in a somewhat noise nursing station...however everybody has there own way to stock pile info. into one's brain.....whatever works...as long as it works...

gail

[NC Girl BSN]

I'm going to pick apart your post not because the content is objectionable (because it's not and you clearly rocked the CPNE!), but just because I am going to show my thought processes.

The respiratory assessment one looks like it needs another mnemonic for the RAP part for assessing and missing an R, and the inhale part seems redundant to me.

In abdominal assessment, if I don't have specific steps that say to pee, turn off suction if present, and position with knees flexed, I will forget them.

In fluid management, I have to have a separate part to cue me to check that IV site. I don't do well when one letter goes for 2 or more things, but that's just me.

I did create some mnemonics, but that's because they came to me very easily. Skin assessment came to me because the Color, Integrity, Moisture part happened to be the initials of my employer when I started studying. Edema and Moisture is "Eats Money."

Thank you for sharing your mnemonics! They will be helpful to many.

I hear ya! I did forget the add the extra "R" in the respiratory assesment(typo).They worked for me because I memorized and constantly picked apart the critcal elements in the study guide. What ever you do, do not FORGET a critical element because you will fail. If you devise a system that will not let you forget the critical elements then stick to it. The CE are not at all forgiving of omiting critcal elements so just be careful because the nerve factor is a killer with this test and its something that you cannot describe to others or even imagine unless you go through it. ((Hugs)) to you and I pray that you find a system that will make the areas of care run smoothly for you.

[Baloney Amputation, BSN, LPN, RN]

I meant Color, Integrity, TEMPERATURE (CIT) were the initials of my former employer, so the Edema and Moisture is my EM. Don't mind me...I'm just correcting myself and talking to myself as well.

[Baloney Amputation, BSN, LPN, RN]

I hear ya! I did forget the add the extra "R" in the respiratory assesment(typo).They worked for me because I memorized and constantly picked apart the critcal elements in the study guide. What ever you do, do not FORGET a critical element because you will fail. If you devise a system that will not let you forget the critical elements then stick to it. The CE are not at all forgiving of omiting critcal elements so just be careful because the nerve factor is a killer with this test and its something that you cannot describe to others or even imagine unless you go through it. ((Hugs)) to you and I pray that you find a system that will make the areas of care run smoothly for you.

Knowing my luck, I'll get wound management, irrigation, drainage and specimen collection, hourly I's & O's, a trach to suction, and a clogged NG tube to put meds and formula in all in PCS #1.

Thanks for the hugs!

[NC Girl BSN]

I meant Color, Integrity, TEMPERATURE (CIT) were the initials of my former employer, so the Edema and Moisture is my EM. Don't mind me...I'm just correcting myself and talking to myself as well.

Now that is a mnemonic. I know someone on the EPN that used CITEM for skin assessment. Your using them and don't even know it.

[NC Girl BSN]

Knowing my luck, I'll get wound management, irrigation, drainage and specimen collection, hourly I's & O's, a trach to suction, and a clogged NG tube to put meds and formula in all in PCS #1.

Thanks for the hugs!

On my first PCS. I had wound management. I had to irrigate the wound and pack a sterile dressing. Talk about stress! So it can happen.

[Baloney Amputation, BSN, LPN, RN]

Now that is a mnemonic. I know someone on the EPN that used CITEM for skin assessment. Your using them and don't even know it.

Oh, I definitely have some mnemonics! I have one for 20-minute checks and partially for mobility and musculoskeletal management. I would totally mess those up if I didn't! It may be just because I consider myself not so creative as to think of mnemonics, but I find it infinitely harder to come up with mnemonics than to just remember the key words.

[Baloney Amputation, BSN, LPN, RN]

On my first PCS. I had wound management. I had to irrigate the wound and pack a sterile dressing. Talk about stress! So it can happen.

Crap! I'm hoping they stock plenty of vinyl sterile gloves in my size....