Tricks to remember things

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I thought it would be neat to help out students and others with things we each do to remember things. Like this:

H E P A R I N (7 letters) + 3 (PTT) = 10 fingers

C O U M A D I N (8 letters) + 2 (PT) = 10 fingers

or maybe

"C"at or "K"at- "C"oumadin antidote is Vit "K"

or things to remember the cranial nerves or what meds do what.

Lopressor- Lower pressure

Aurothioglucose(gold-50)- "Golden oldies" - Antiarthritic

Antabuse- I "abuse" alcohol- Alcohol deterrant

Ear Drops- Ad"u"lt is "U"p and back so infant is opposite Down and back

I have lots more but just have to find them. These and others helped out alot in nursing school and since I've started work. So please add yours! I know that some might only make sense to you. but please post them anyways. You never know, they might make sense to someone else!:roll

Specializes in ob/gyn med /surg.

these are so good... wow thank you and keep them coming.. you guys are great

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This one is crude, but it helped me in school. For the order of the valves through the heart:

Toilet Paper My A$$

also for reading a 12 lead

I see all leads

inferior, septal, anterior, lateral

for symptoms of an organophosphate poisoning:

SLUDGE

salivation, lacrimation, urination, defication, gastric motility, emesis

:idea:

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Years ago, after a nurse mistakenly drew up dopamine instead of preservative-free saline for the anesthesiologist to shoot down an ET tube (same size vials, same color caps and labels, side by side in the crash cart)... my supervisor taught me NAVEL.

Narcan, atropine, valium, epi, lidocaine.

Obsolete now, I guess...

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Specializes in Telemetry, Nursery, Post-Partum.
I've learned from somebody:

left to right and down:

SALT (white) PEPPER (black)

KETCHUP (RED)

then it's easier to place the two colors left: brown and green.

Someone maybe already posted this one, since I haven't read the whole thread, but this is how I remember how to place leads:

"White on the right, smoke over fire" and then you are just left with green and brown, easy to remember where to put the last 2...

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Specializes in Psychiatric.

I could never remember the PTT/PT thing until a student whose husband is also in the military with mine told me this:

Coumadin=Warfarin

Our guys do PT (physical training) to get ready for WAR...that's how I keep them straight...I suppose that would work only if you know how PT relates to the military though! LOL

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Normal labs/therapeutic levels = 10 - 20 for:

ammonia

ALT

AST

BUN

dilantin

tegretol

theophylline

tylenol

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Specializes in SICU.

Well, mine doesn't really pertain to labs or EKG leads but it does help me remember!

When I have a patient on an insulin drip and have q1h accuchecks, I set my volume to be infused (VTBI) the same as the amount in ml's of insulin that will be adminiistered that hour.

For example, if my insulin drip is set at 12 ml/h, then I set my VTBI at 12ml also (right after doing my accucheck). Because it thinks it's empty, the pump will beep an hour later, when it's time to do the accucheck again. Change the rate? Then change the VTBI also.

Of course this also works for q2h, just double the infusion rate.

It's a nice way to get a little reminder, when things are crazy and the accucheck slips your mind.

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Specializes in ortho/neuro/general surgery.
For example, if my insulin drip is set at 12 ml/h, then I set my VTBI at 12ml also (right after doing my accucheck). Because it thinks it's empty, the pump will beep an hour later, when it's time to do the accucheck again. Change the rate? Then change the VTBI also.

When I have to give meds to a pt with an NG tube and clamp it for an hour, I set the VTBI to match the rate so it will beep in an hour and remind me to reconnect the NG to suction.

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lab values - remember "4" a common number in these values

hemoglobin 14

hematocrit 40

wbc 4 - 10

platelets 150,000 - 450,000

pt 14

ptt 40

potassium 4

sodium 140

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Cranial Nerves:

Oh Olfactory Some Sensory

Oh Optic Say Sensory

Oh, Oculomotor Marry Motor

To Trochlear Money Motor

Touch Trigeminal But Both

And Abducens My Motor

Feel Facial Brother Both

Very Vestibulocochlear Says Sensory

Green Glossopharyngeal Big Both

Vegetables Vagus Breasts Both

SHhhh Spinal Accessory, Hypoglossal Matter More Motor, Motor

NOTE: Read from Top Down, formatting didn't work. :)

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Specializes in ob/gyn med /surg.

keep em comin i take boards on 7/17

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thanks...thats awesome and it actually helped too :)

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