MNEMONICS

MNEMONICS CORNER 05

Acid-base—"ROME" (Respiratory Opposite, Metabolic Equal)
Acidosis
» Respiratory (opposite): pH Pco2
» Metabolic(equal): pH HCO3
Alkalosis
» Respiratory (opposite): pH Pco2
» Metabolic(equal): pH HCO3

Alcohol withdrawal: clinical features—"HITS"
Hallucinations (visual, tactile)
Increased vital signs and insomnia
Tremens delirium tremens (potentially lethal)
Shakes/ Sweats/ Seizures/ Stomach pains (nausea, vomiting)

Angina: precipitating factors—"4E's"
Eating
Emotion
Exertion (Exercise)
Extreme Temperatures (Hot or Cold weather)

Anorexia nervosa: clinical features—"ANOREXIC"
Adolescent women/ Amenorrhea
NGT alimentation (most severe cases)
Obsession with losing weight/ becoming fat though underweight
Refusal to eat (5% die)
Electrolyte abnormalities (e.g., K+, cardiac arrhythmia)
X - ercise
Intelligence often above average/ Induced vomiting
Cathartic use (and diuretic abuse)

Appendicitis: assessment—"PAINS"
Pain (RLQ)
Anorexia
Increased temperature, WBC (15,000–20,000)
Nausea
Signs (McBurney's, Psoas)

Neurovascular Occlusion: symptoms— "6 P's"
Pain
Pale
Pulseless
Paresthesia
Poikilothermic
Paralysis

Blood glucose (rhyme)
Symptom Implication
Cold and clammy . . . give hard candy
Hot and dry . . . glucose is high

Blood vessels in umbilical cord—"AVA" (2 arteries and 1 vein)
Artery
Vein
Artery

Cholecystitis: risk factors—"5F's"
Female
Fat
Forty
Fertile
Fair

Cleft lip: nursing care plan (postoperative)—"CLEFT LIP"
Crying, minimize
Logan bow
Elbow restraints
Feed with Brecht feeder
Teach feeding techniques; two months of age (average age at repair)
Liquid (sterile water), rinse after feeding
Impaired feeding (no sucking)
Position—never on abdomen

Cognitive disorders: assessment of difficulties—"JOCAM"
Judgment
Orientation
Confabulation
Affect
Memory

Coma: causes—"A-E-I-O-U TIPS"
Alcohol, acidosis (hyperglycemic coma)
Epilepsy (also electrolyte abnormality, endocrine problem)
Insulin (hypoglycemic shock)
Overdose (or poisoning)
Uremia and other renal problems
Trauma; temperature abnormalities (hypothermia, heat stroke)
Infection (e.g., meningitis)
Psychogenic ("hysterical coma")
Stroke or space-occupying lesions in the cranium

Complication of severe preeclampsia—"HELLP" syndrome
Hemolysis
Elevated Liver enzymes
Low Platelet count

Cushing's syndrome: symptoms—"3S's"
Sugar (hyperglycemia)
Salt (hypernatremia)
Sex (excess androgens)

Diabetes: signs and symptoms—"3P's,"
Polydipsia (very thirsty)
Polyphagia (very hungry)
Polyuria (urinary frequency)

Diet: low cholesterol—avoid the "3C's"
Cake
Cookies
Cream (dairy, e.g., milk, ice cream)

Dystocia: etiology—"3P's"
Power
Passageway
Passenger

Dystocia: general aspects (maternal)—"3P's"
Psych
Placenta
Position

Episiotomy assessment—"REEDA"
Redness
Edema
Ecchymosis
Discharge
Approximation of skin

Eye medications
Mydriatic = dilated pupils
Miotic = tiny (constricted) pupils

Hypertension: complications—"4 C's"
CAD (coronary artery disease)
CHF (congestive heart failure)
CRF (chronic renal failure)
CVA (cardiovascular accident; now called brain attack or stroke)

Hypertension: nursing care plan— "I-TIRED"
Intake and output (urine)
Take blood pressure
Ischemia attack, transient (watch for TIAs)
Respiration, pulse
Electrolytes
Daily weight

Hypoglycemia: signs and symptoms—"DIRE"
Diaphoresis
Increased pulse
Restless
Extra hungry

Infections during pregnancy—"TORCH"
Toxoplasmosis
Other (hepatitis B, syphilis, group B beta strep)
Rubella
Cytomegalovirus
Herpes simplex virus

IUD: potential problems with use—"PAINS"
Period (menstrual: late, spotting, bleeding)
Abdominal pain, dyspareunia
Infection (abnormal vaginal discharge)
Not feeling well, fever or chills
String missing

Manipulation: nursing plan—promote the "3C's"
Cooperation
Compromise
Collaboration

Medication administration—"six rights"
RIGHT medication
RIGHT dosage
RIGHT route
RIGHT time
RIGHT client
RIGHT technique

Melanoma characteristics—"ABCD"
Asymmetry
Border
Color
Diameter

Mental retardation: nursing care plan—"3R's"
Regularity (provide routine and structure)
Reward (positive reinforcement)
Redundancy (repeat)

Myocardial infarction: treatment—"MONA"
Monitor/ Morphine
Oxygen
Nitroglycerin
Aspirin

Newborn assessment components—"APGAR"
Appearance
Pulse
Grimace
Activity
Respiratory effort

Obstetric (maternity) history—"GTPAL"
Gravida
Term
Preterm
Abortions (SAB, TAB)
Living children

Oral contraceptives: signs of potential problems—"ACHES"
Abdominal pain (possible liver or gallbladder problem)
Chest pain or shortness of breath (possible pulmonary embolus)
Headache (possible hypertension, brain attack)
Eye problems (possible hypertension or vascular accident)
Severe leg pain (possible thromboembolic process)

Pain: assessment—"PQRST"
What Provokes the pain?
What is the Quality of the pain?
Does the pain Radiate?
What is the Severity of the pain?
What is the Timing of the pain?

Pain: management—"ABCs"
Ask about the pain
Believe when clients say they have pain
Choices—let clients know their choices
Deliver what you can, when you said you would
Empower/Enable clients' control over pain

Postoperative complications: order—"4W's"
Wind (pulmonary)
Wound
Water (urinary tract infection)
Walk (thrombophlebitis)

Preterm infant: anticipated problems—"TRIES"
Temperature regulation (poor)
Resistance to infections (poor)
Immature liver
Elimination problems (necrotizing enterocolitis [NEC])
Sensory-perceptual functions (retinopathy of prematurity [ROP])

Psychotropic medications: common antidepressives (tricyclics)—"VENT"
Vivactil
Elavil
Norpramin
Tofranil

Schizophrenia: primary symptoms—"4A's"
Affect
Ambivalence
Associative looseness
Autism

Sprain: nursing care plan—"RICE"
Rest
Ice
Compression
Elevation

Stool assessment—"ACCT"
Amount
Color
Consistency
Timing

Tracheoesophageal fistula: assessment—"3Cs"
Coughing
Choking
Cyanosis

Traction: nursing care plan—"TRACTION"
Trapeze bar overhead to raise and lower upper body
Requires free-hanging weights; body alignment
Analgesia for pain, prn
Circulation (check color and pulse)
Temperature (check extremity)
Infection prevention
Output (monitor)
Nutrition (alteration related to immobility)

Transient ischemic attacks: assessment—"3Ts"
Temporary unilateral visual impairment
Transient paralysis (one-sided)
Tinnitus = vertigo

Trauma care: complications—"TRAUMA"
Thromboembolism; Tissue perfusion, altered
Respiration, altered
Anxiety related to pain and prognosis
Urinary elimination, altered
Mobility impaired
Alterations in sensory-perceptual functions and skin integrity (infections)

Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome (alcohol-associated neurological disorder)—"COAT RACK"

Wernicke's encephalopathy (acute phase)
clinical features:
Confusion
Ophthalmoplegia
Ataxia
Thiamine is an important aspect of Tx

Korsakoff's psychosis (chronic phase)
characteristic findings:
Retrograde amnesia (recall of some old memories)
Anterograde amnesia (ability to form new memories)
Confabulation
Korsakoff's psychosis

MNEMONICS CORNER 04

SIGNS OF CANCER
Change in bowel /bladder habits
A sore that doesn’t heal
Unusual bleeding/ Discharge
Thickening of lump – breast or elsewhere
Indigestion/ Dysphagia
Obvious change in wart/ mole
Nagging cough/ hoarseness

Unexplained anemia
Sudden weight loss


FOCUS OF PATIENT CARE IN CLIENTS WITH CANCER
Chemotherapy
Assess body image disturbance (related to alopecia)
Nutritional needs when N/V present
Comfort from pain
Effective response to Tx? (Evaluate)
Rest (for patient and family)

MNEMONICS CORNER 03

Basic MI management - "BOOMAR"
Bed rest
Oxygen
Opiate
Monitoring
Anticoagulation
Reduce clot size

To Remember Immunoglobulins - "GAMED"
IgG
IgA
IgM
IgE
IgD

Location of the heart valve from right to left - "A Permanently Temperamental Man"
Aortic
Pulmonary
Tricuspid
Mitral

"Cut C4, breathe no more"
The 3rd, 4th and 5th cervical spinal nerves innervate the diaphragm.

Types of Joint movements - "FEEDPIPE CARDSHARP"
Flexion
Extension
Eversion
Dorsiflexion
Pronation
Inversion
Plantarflexion
Elevation
Circumduction
Abduction
Rotation
Depression
Supination
Hyperextension
Adduction
Retraction
Protraction

Cranial Nerves - "Oh Ohh Ohhh To Try And Fit A Gold Velvet So Heavenly"
Olfactory CN I
Optic CN II
Occulomotor CN III
Trochlear CN IV
Trigeminal CN V
Abducens CN VI
Facial CN VII
Auditory CN VIII
Glasopharyngeal CN IX
Vagus CN X
Spinal/Accessory CN XI
Hypoglossal CN XII

"Point and Shoot!"
For remembering that Parasympathetics are involved with erection and Sympathetics with ejaculation.

Layers of the scalp - "SCALP"
Skin
Connective tissue
Aponeurosis
Loose areolar tissue
Pericranium

Carpal bones of the hand (lateral to medial) - "She Looks Too Proud, Try To Chase Her"
Proximal row:
Scaphoid
Lunate
Triquetrum
Pisiform
Distal row:
Trapezium
Trapezoid
Capitate
Hamate

Viruses causing diarrhea - "ACNE CAR"
Adeno virus
Corana virus
Norwak virus
Entero virus
Calci virus
Astro virus
Rota virus

The Krebs cycle - "Can I Actually See Some Filipina Mothers"
Citrate
Isocitrate
alpha Ketoglutarate
Succinyl CoA
Succinate
Fumarate
Malate
Oxaloacetate

Stages of mitosis/meiosis including interphase as a phase - "In Philippines, Men Are Talented"
Interphase
Prophase
Metaphase
Anaphase
Telophase

Order of prevalence of White Blood Cells, most prevalent to least - "Never Let Monkeys Eat Bananas"
Neutrophils
Lymphocytes
Monocytes
Eosinophils
Basophils

10 essential amino acids - "PVT. TIM HALL"
Phenylalanine
Valine
Tryptophan
Threonine
Isoleucine
Metheonine
Histidine(semi-essential)
Arginine(semi-essential)
Leucine
Lysine

Uses of Chloroquine (other than malaria) - "RED LIP"
Rheumatoid arthritis
Extra intestinal amoebiasis
Discoid lupus erythematosus
Lepra reaction
Infectious mononucleosis
Photogenic reactions

Bronchodilators - "TO A SIS"
Terbutaline
Orciprenaline
Adrenaline
Salbutamol
Isoprenaline
Salmeterol

Signs of cor pulmonale - "Please Read His Text"
Peripheral edema
Raised JVP
Hepatomegaly
Tricuspid incompetence

Portal hypertension features - "ABCDE"
Ascites
Bleeding (hematemesis, piles)
Caput medusae
Diminished liver
Enlarged spleen

Key questions needed in an emergency history taking situation - "AMPLE"
Allergies
Medication
Past medical history
Last meal
Events and environment related to injury

Malignancies that metastisize to bone - "Laging Panalo Kung Taga Bulacan"
Lung
Prostat
Kidney
Thyroid
Breast

Six "S" in Scarlet Fever
Streptococci causal organism
Sorethroat
Swollen tonsils
Strawberry tongue
Sandpaper rash
miliarySudamina vesicles over hands, feet, abdomen

Signs of anti-cholinergic crisis - "SLUD"
Salivation
Lacrimation
Urination
Defecation

Causes of huge spleen - "3M's"
Myelofibrosis
Malaria
Myelogenous leukemia

Cardinal Symptoms of Parkinson's Disease - "TRAP"
Tremor
Rigidity
Akinesia and bradykinesia
Postural Instability

Days of appearance of rashesVaricella(chickenpox) - "Very Sick Patients Must Take Double Exercise"
1st dayScarlet fever
2nd dayPox(smallpox)
3rd dayMumps
4th dayTyphus
5th dayDengue
6th dayEnteric fever(typhoid)

MNEMONICS CORNER 02

SHOCK – HYPOTACHYTACHY
HYPOTENSION
TACHYPNEA
TACHYCARDIA

INCREASE ICP – HYPERBRADYBRADY
CUSHINGS TRIAD
HYPERTENSION (WIDE PULSE PRESSURE)
BRADYCARDIA
BRADYPNEA

HYPOGLYCEMIA
TREMORS, TACHYCARDIA
IRRITABILITY
RESTLESSNESS
EXTREME
DIAPHORESIS

EARLY SIGNS OF HYPOXIA
RESTLESSNESS
AGITATION
TACHYCARDIA

LATE SIGNS OF HYPOXIA
BRADYCARDIA
EXTREME RESTLESSNESS
DYSPNEA
CYANOSIS

CONGESTIVE HEART FAILURE
DIGOXIN
MORPHINE
AMINOPHYLLINE
DOPAMINE
DIURETICS
O2
GASSES – MONITOR (ABG)

MG SO4 TOXICITY
BP DECREASE
URINE OUTPUT DECREASE
RESPIRATORY RATE DECREASE
PATELLAR REFLEX ABSENT

SICKLE CELL DISEASE
HYDRATION
OXYGENATION
PAIN
INFECTION
AVOID HIGH PLACES

PREGNANCY INDUCED HYPERTENSION
HEMOLYSIS
ELEVATED LIVER ENZYMES
LOW
PLATELETS

GI SYMPTOMS AND TOXICITY TO DIGOXIN
VOMITTING
ANOREXIA
NAUSEA
DIARRHEA
ABDOMINAL PAIN

FRACTURE
PRESSURE
REST
ICE
COMPRESSION
ELEVATION

TETRALOGY OF FALLOT
DISPLACED AORTA
RIGHT VENTRICULAR HYPERTROPHY
OPENING INTO THE SEPTUM (VSD)
PULMONARY STENOSIS

HYPOKALEMIA
SKELETAL MUSCLE WEAKNESS
U-WAVE ON ECG
CONSTIPATION
TOXICITY TO DIGOXIN
IRREGULAR WEAK PULSE
OTOSTASIS
NUMBNESS PARESTHESIA

PAIN ASSESSMENT
PROVOCATION
QUALITY
RADIATION, RELIEF
SEVERITY
TIME

NEUROVASCULAR CHECK
PAIN
PULSELESSNESS
PARESTHESIA
PARALYSIS
PALLOR

VIRCHOW’S TRIAD IN DVT
VENUS STASIS
DAMAGE TO VESSELS
HYPERCOAGUABILITY

ABDOMINAL AORTIC ANEURISM (4A)
ASSYMPTOMATIC
ABDOMINAL MASS
ABDOMINAL PULSE
ACHES LOW BACK

ANTI TB DRUGS AND SIDE EFFECTS
RIFAMPICIN – RED-ORANGE URINE
ISONIAZID – PERIPHERAL NEURITIS
PYRAZINAMIDE – INCREASE URIC ACID
ETHAMBUTOL – EYE PROBLEMS
STREPTOMYCIN – OTOTOXIC

MNEMONICS CORNER 01

USE STRAW BECAUSE THESE DRUGS STAIN THE TEETH

L - LUGOL'S SOLUTION
I - IRON
N - NITROFURANTOIN
T - TETRACYCLINE

LR6 - LATERAL RECTUS : CN6
SO4 - SUPERIOR OBLIQUE : CN4
ALL3 - ALL THE REST : CN3

RADIATION TX VIA:
MUSTARD
ESTROGEN
NITROGEN
STEROIDS
ANTIBIOTICS