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 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

***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:)