Nursing Mnemonics: Everything Made EASY Part 1 Mnemonic device is any learning technique that aids memory.

To improve long term memory, mnemonic systems are used to make memorization easier. They do so by increasing the efficiency of the process of consolidation. 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 - Excesssive N - Nephrons, renal failure E - Excretion Impaired MURDER Signs and Symptoms of Increased Serum K+ M - Muscle weakness U - Urine, oliguria, anuria R- Respiratory distress D - Decreased cardiac contractility E - ECG changes R - Reflexes, hyperreflexia, or areflexia (flaccid) HYPONATREMIA "You Are Fried" F - Fever (low grade), flushed skin R - Restless (irritable) I - Increased fluid retention and increased BP E - Edema (peripheral and pitting) D - Decreased urinary output, dry mouth Can also use this one: SALT S = Skin flushed A = Agitation L = Low-grade fever T = Thirst "CATS" of "HYPOCALCEMIA" C - Convulsions A- Arrhythmias T - Tetany S - Spasms and stridor To remember which blood types are compatible, visualize the letter O as an orb representing the universe, because type O bl ood is the universal donor blood. Patients with any blood type can receive it. But O also means odd man out: Patients with type O blood can receive only type O blood. Think BEEP to remember the signs of minor bleeding:

B: Bleeding gums E: Ecchymoses (bruises) E: Epistaxis (nosebleed) P: Petechiae (tiny purplish spots) Hypo/Hyperplasia Having difficulty distinguishing hypoplasia from hyperplasia? When you see plasia in any word, think of "plastic." Plastic, in turn, means forming or developing. As for hypo and hyper, thats the easy part. Hypo means under, or below normal. Hyper means excessive, or above normal. Thus, hypoplasia means underdevelopment, and hyperplasia means overdevelopment. A stand-up comedian who gets no laughs might say his audience has humoral immunity. But humor is the Latin word for liquid, and humoral immunity comes from elements in the blood specifically, antibodies. Contrast this with cellular immunity, which comes about through the actions of T cells. "FARM" for serum sickness: each letter stands for a key sign or symptom of serum sickness. F: Fever A: Arthralgias R: Rash M: Malaise To remember the four causes of cell injury, think of how the injury tipped (or TIPD) the scale of homeostasis: T: Toxin or other lethal (cytotoxic) substance I: Infection P: Physical insult or injury D: Deficit, or lack of water, oxygen, or nutrients. When asking assessment questions, remember the American Cancer Societys mnemonic device CAUTION: C: Change in bowel or bladder habits A: A sore that doesnt heal U: Unusual bleeding or discharge T: Thickening or lump I: Indigestion or difficulty swallowing O: Obvious changes in a wart or mole N: Nagging cough or hoarseness. Use the ABCD rule to assess a moles malignant potential : A: Asymmetry--Is the mole irregular in shape? B: Border--Is the border irregular, notched, or poorly defined? C: Color--Does the color vary (for example, between shades of brown, red, white, blue, or black)? D: Diameter--Is the diameter more than 6 mm? Listening Heart Sound APE TO MAN Atrial, Pulmonic, Erb's point, Tricuspid, Mitral Side effects of steroids. The 5 S's. Sick- easier to get sick Sad-causes depression

Sex-increases libido Salt-retains more and causes weight gain Sugar-raises blood sugar 5F's... Cholecystectomy female fair fat forty fertile R Respiratory O Opposite ph > PCO2 < Alkalosis ph < PCO2 > Acidosis M Metabolic E Equal ph> HCO3 > Alkalosis ph< HC03 < Acidosis Immediate tx of MI, think MONA: M Morphine sulfate O Oxygen N Nitroglycerin A ASA Treatment of CHF, think UNLOAD FAST: U sit Upright N Nitro L Lasix O Oxygen A Aminophylline D Digoxin F Fluids- decrease A Afterload - decrease S Sodium - decrease T Tests: dig level, ABG, K+ Assistive devices -- Canes: C Cane O Opposite A Affected L Leg

Signs of a Cholinergic Crisis, think SLUD: S Salivation L Lacrimation U Urination D Defication Memory Trick:Need to remember which kind of beta blocker has which action? B1 Blocks the heart (you have only one heart) B2 Blocks the lungs (you have two lungs) CRAINIAL NERVES. im pretty sure most of you heard of these. Nerves Functions I Olfactory -Oh -Sensory -Some II Optic- Oh -Sensory -Say III Occulomotor -Oh -Motor -Mary IV Trochlear -To -Motor -Money V Trigeminal -Touch -Both -But VI Abducens -And -Motor -My VII Facial -Feel -Both -Brother VIII Acoustic (vestoblochlear) -A -Sensory -Says IX Glosopharyngeal -Green -Both -Bad X Vagus -Veggie -Both -Business XI Spinal Accessory- Soon At -Motor -Mary XII Hypoglosal -Harvest- Motor -Money Oh oh oh to touch and feel a green veggie soon at harvest You might also like: Nursing Mnemonics: Everything Made EASY Part 2 Mnemonic device, is any learning technique that aids memory. To improve long term memory, mnemonic systems are used to make memorization easier. They do so by increasing the efficiency of the process of consolidation.

EYES Another way to remember the eyes is: You look OUt with Both eyes. Take the Right dose so you won't OD [overdose]. The only one that is Left is OS. Both eyes=OU, Right eye=OD, Left eye=OS. It is about fetal accelerations and decelerations!!! Just remember VEAL CHOP Variable Cord compression Early Head compression

Accelerations OK Late Placental insufficiency Heart sounds: S3= Heart fail-ure (3 syllables) S4=Hy-per-ten-sion (4 syllables) And the effects of anticholinergics: Can't see Can't pee Can't spit Can't --defecate Nine-point Postpartum Assessment... BUBBLEHER B- Breasts U- Uterus B- Bladder B- Bowel function L- Lochia E- Episiotomy H- Homan's sign E- Emotional Status R- Respiratory System LDL ("bad" cholesterol) L=Lowdown D=Dirty L=lipoprotein This one really helped me in the cardiac system when you need to know when you hear a murmur like on Mitral regurgitation you hear it on systole. (H)ARD ASS MRS. MSD ARD = Atrial regurgitation diastole ASS = Atrial stenosis systole MRS = Mitral regurgitation systole MSD = Mitral stenosis diastole The 5 P's of circulation loss in a limb. Pain, Pallor, Pulselessness, Parasthesia, Poikilothermia Heres one I learned about EKG Snow over Grass- white over green smoke over fire- black over red and ground in the middle- brown

I finally know what METHODS mean on DISCHARGE PLANNING. M-edicine E-xercise T-reatment H-ealth Teaching O-ut patient follow-up or check-up D-iet S-ex(sexual activity) Side effects & adverse reactions to immunizations: F- Fever I- Itching S- Stiffness H- Headache E- Edema R- Redness F- Fussy L- Localized Tenderness A- Appetite decrease G- General Aches Pains WHUTN- "Whutnthehell?" W- Wheezing H- Hypotension U- Uticaria T- Tachycardia N- Nasal Decongestion Assess for treatable causes of changes in cognition and behavior. The mnemonic DEMENTIA can be used to remember potential causes: D: Drugs and alcoholincluding over-the-counter drugs E: Eyes and earsdisorientation due to visual/auditory distortion M: Medical disorderse.g., diabetes, hypothyroidism E: Emotional and psychological disturbancese.g., mood or paranoid disorders N: Neurological disorderse.g., multiinfarct dementia T: Tumors and trauma I: Infectionse.g., urinary tract or upper respiratory tract A: Arteriosclerosisleading to heart failure, insufficient blood supply to heart and brain, and confusion ***GRANULOCYTES are Never Eat Bananas. Normal (Neutrophils) Monkeys (Monocytes) Like to (Lymphocytes) Eat (Eosinophils) Bananas (Basophils)

Parkinson's Medications: "Ali Loves Boxing Matches" A-Amantadine L- Levodopa B- Bromocriptine M-MAO inhibitors The 4 H's that invalidate a neuro exam: Hypotension Hpoxia Hypoglycemia Hypothermia* 3 ICP waveforms: A is awful, B is bad and C is common Glasgow Coma Scale: #'s go low to high, with head to toe: eye, mouth, motor 1. Eye opening (1-4) 2. Verbal response (1-5) 3. Best Motor response (1-6) Glasgow Coma Scale: If they're <8, they intubate! To remember DECEREBRATE posturing, it is abnormal extension. Their hands look like the flippers of a seal - Think DESEALEBRATE! Pinpoint pupils: Drugs, drops & nearly dead Drugs: opiates Drops: meds for glaucoma Nearly dead: damage in the pons area of the brainstem Dilated pupils: Fear, Fits & Fast Living Fear: panic, extreme anxiety Fits: seizures Fast Living: cocaine, crack, phencyclidine (PCP) The pathophysiology of ARDS: Assault on the respiratory system Respiratory distress Decreased lung compliance Severe respiratory failure Diagnostic criteria of ARDS Acute onset Ratio (PaCO2/FiO2) <200 Diffuse infiltration Swan-Ganz wedge pressure (PAWP) <18mm Hg

Acute respiratory failure (ARF) Type II (hypoventilation) criteria: 50/50 Rule PaCO2 >50 PaO2 <50 (on >50% oxygen) Alpha 1 Receptor stimulation: arteries & arterioles Causes vasoconstriction when stimulated which increases afterload dobutamine (Dobutrex) stimulates beta 1 receptors (increase contractility & CO/CI) Treatment of all acute coronary syndromes (unstable angina, NSTEMI or STEMI): OADH Open coronary arteries Here, think MONA greets all MI's: Morphine Oxygen Nitroglycerin Aspirin (CHEWED) Anticoagulate & antiplatelet Destress the heart (with beta blockers; limited activity for 12h) Hemodynamic stability Complications of thrombolytic therapy: The 3 B's Bleeding Brady's (dysrhythmias) Bloodclots (d/t excessive thrombin) Complications of cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB): The 3 H's Hypothermia (to decrease O2 consumption)...Effects SVR (vasoconstriction) and causes myocardial depression (decreases contractility) Hemodilution (to improve macrocirculation)...fluid shifting (third-spacing), e-lyte imbalances (K+, Mg+ & Ca++ often need replacing!) Heparinzation (to prevent clots in circuit)...monitor aPTT. Signs and symptoms of cardiac tamponade (Beck's Triad): The Three D's Distant heart sounds Distended jugular veins Decreased pulse pressure (think of a narrow pulse pressure as opposed to a wide one) Atrial Arrhythmias: ABCDE Adenosine/amiodorone or anticoagulate (if Afib/Flutter has been present >48h) Beta blockers Calcium channel blockers Digoxin Electrocardiovert (if <48h) For ventricular arrhythmias: AL Amiodorone Lidocaine

8 A's for Hepatotoxic Drugs (Check SGPT/SGOT) Antituberculosi Anticonvulsant S - sodium Luminal G - gabapentin P - phenytoin T - tegretol Anticancer Aspirin Alcohol Antifamily (contraceptice pills) Acetaminophen Aflatoxins Breast self examination (i made a song out of this) 1 little 2, little 3 little fingers Do BSE 7 days after menses Press nipple once check for discharge Call your doctor I'm sure you will do it more... STANDARD ROOM PRECAUTION A -irborne (PTB, SARS, Antrax) B -lood and body fluids - AIDS, Hepa B C -ontact - open wounds, lesions D - roplet - Diphtheria, Pneumonia, Pertussis E - nteric - GIT infections RIGHT SIDED HEART FAILURE A norexia and ascites B loating and indigestion C ardiomegaly D istended neck vein E dema-peripheral F acial puffiness G allop H epatomegaly I tchiness J aundice HYPERTHYROIDISM (GRAVE'S) G oiter R avenous appetite A gitation and nervousness V S increased E xophthalmos S kin is moist & heat intolerance: