NURSING MNEMONICS
Nurses need to remember a lot of information. After graduating, and moving into a specialty, what you’ve learned is compartmentalized into what you need to know on a daily basis, what you might need to know on occasion, and what you’ll rarely need to remember because it’s outside your specialty. Nursing mnemonics are a great way to pull even the oldest memories out of your memory banks, and we’ve compiled most of them here. If you have any we’re missing, please let us know and we’ll get it added straight away!

Medical-Surgical

  • AEIOU (the vowels) – Clients requiring dialysis; Acid base imbalance, Electrolyte imbalance, Intoxication, Overload of fluids, Uremic symptoms
  • AAAAPPPP – Causes of shortness of breath; Airway obstruction, Angina, Anxiety, Asthma, Pneumonia, Pneumothorax, Pulmonary edema, Pulmonary emboli
  • ABCS – Symptoms of Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS); Abdominal distention, Bloating, Constipation/diarrhea, Stools with mucus
  • ACID – Hypersensitivity reactions; Anaphylaxis (Type I), Cytotoxic (Type II), Immune complex mediated (TYPE III), Delayed hypersensitivity (Type IV)
  • AIR RAID – Signs and symptoms of epiglottitis; Airway closed, Increased pulse, Restlessness, Retractions, Anxiety up, Inspiratory stridor, Drooling
  • Alright People Enjoy The Mall – Heart sounds; Aortic (2nd right intercostal space – the only right sided heart sound), Pulmonic (2nd left intercostal space), Erb’s Point (3rd left intercostal space), Tricuspid (4th left intercostal space), Mitral (5th left intercostal space)
  • ANT – Symptoms of leukemia; Anemia/decreasedhemoglobin, Neutropenia, Thrombocytopenia
  • APPENDICITIS – Reasons for RLQ pain; Appendicitis/abscess, Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID), Pancreatitis, Ectopic pregnancy/endometriosis, Neoplasia, Diverticulitis, Intussusception, Crohn’s, Inflammatory Bowel Disease, Torsion, IBS, Stones
  • ASTHMA – management of asthma; Andrenergics, Steroids, Theophylline, Hydration, Mask (oxygen), Antibiotics
  • BOOMAR – Nursing management of MI; Bed rest, Oxygen, Opioids, Monitoring, Anticoagulation, Reduce clot
  • CAUTION UP – Early warning signs of cancer; Change (bladder or bowel), An unhealing lesion, Unusual bleeding/discharge, Thickening/lump, Indigestion, Obvious changes in wart or mole, Nagging cough, Unexplained weight loss, Pernicious anemia
  • CHORD – Shock differential; Cardiac, Hypovolemia, Obstructive, Respiratory, Distributive (anaphylaxis, sepsis)
  • CHORD ITEM – Signs and symptoms of shock; Cold, clammy skin, Hypotension, Oliguria, Rapid breathing, Drowsiness, Irritability, Tachycardia, Elevated CVP, Multi-organ damage
  • CUSHING – Cushing’s Disease; Central obesity, Urine (increased glucose), Skin (thin, striae), Hypercortisolism/Hyperglycemia/Hypercholesterolemia/Hypernatremia/Hypertension/Hirsutism, Infection, Neoplasms, Gynecomastia
  • DEMENTIA – Causes for delirium and/or dementia; Diabetes, Ethanol, Medication, Environmental, Nutritional, Trauma, Infection/sepsis, Alzheimer’s
  • DIURETIC – Hypertension care; Daily weight, Input/output, Urine output, Response of BP, Electrolytes, Take pulse, Ischemic episodes (TIAs), Complications (CVA)
  • Eat Some Darn Sunflower Seeds – Meningeal spaces; Epidural (between dura mater and skull), SubDural (between arachnoid and dura mater), Subarachnoid Space (between arachnoid and pia mater)
  • FAME – Endocarditis; Fever, Anemia, Murmur = Endocarditis
  • FAST – How to spot a stroke; Face droop, Arm weakness, Speech difficulty, Time to call 911
  • Hot & dry, sugar high. Cold & clammy, need some candy – hyper or hypo glycaemia
  • Kate Cooks Treats and Bakes Bread – Abnormal breathing patterns; Kussmaul, Cheyne-Stokes, Tachypnea, Bradypnea, Biots
  • KING UFC – Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA); K+, Insulin, NG tube, Glucose, Urea, Fluids, Creatinine
  • LEAN – Medication for advanced life support; Lidocaine, Epinephrine, Atropine, Narcan
  • MADD DOG – Congestive Heart Failure treatment; Morphine, Aminophylline, Digoxin, Dopamine, Diuretics, Oxygen, Gases (ABGs)
  • Oh, Oh, Oh, To Touch And Feel A Great Velvet, So Heavenly – cranial nerves; Olfactory, Optic, Oculomotor, Trochlear, Trigeminal, Abducens, Facial, Vestibulocochlear, Glossopharyngeal, Vagus, Spinal, Hypoglossal
  • ONAM – I’m ON fire in the AM – Myocardial Infarction treatment; Oxygen, Nitroglycerin, Aspirin, Morphine
  • PRICE – Strain or sprain treatment; Pressure, Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevation
  • P-THORAX – signs of pneumothorax; Pleuritic pain, Trachea deviation, Hyper-resonance, Onset sudden, Reduced breath sounds, Absent fremitus, X-ray (Showing collapsed lung)
  • RAT BED – Signs of early (RAT) and late (BED) hypoxia; Restlessness, Anxiety, Tachycardia/tachypnea, Bradycardia, Extreme restlessness, Dyspnea
  • SAD REP – Complications of meningococcal meningitis; Sepsis/shock, Ataxia, DIC/deafness, Retardation, Epilepsy, Paralysis
  • SHRIMP CAN – Different types of shock; Septic, Hemorrhage, Respiratory, Insulin, Metabolic, Psychogenic, Cardiogenic, Anaphylactic, Neurogenic
  • Some Say Marry Money But My Brother Says Big Boobs Matter Most – Cranial nerves in order from I – XII, stating Sensory, Motor, or Both. SSMMBMBSBBMM
  • SPAMS – Causes of heart murmur; Stenosis (valve), Partial obstruction, Aneurysm, Mitral regurgitation, Septal defect
  • Stress versus Peace – Autonomic nervous system response; Stress = Sympathetic; fight or flight. Peace = Parasympathetic; rest and digest
  • The 5 Hypers of Cushing’s – Hypercortisolism, Hyperglycemia, Hypercholesterolemia, Hypernatremia, Hypertension
  • The 5 As of Alzheimer’s – Diagnostic signs of Alzheimer’s; Amnesia, Anomia, Apraxia, Agnosia, Aphasia
  • The 5 Ws – Postoperative fever; Wind (pneumonia/atelectasis), Wound (infection), Water (urinary infection), Walking (DVT/emboli), Wonder-drugs (anesthetics)
  • The 3 Ss – Salt, Sugar, Sex – Adrenal hormones; Mineralocorticoids, glucocorticoids, androgens
  • The 4 Es – Angina precipitating factors; Exertion, Eating, Emotions, Extreme temperatures
  • The 4 Ps – Signs of arterial occlusion; Pain, Pulselessness, Pallor, Paresthesia
  • The 5 Ps – Signs and symptoms of compartment syndrome; Pain, Pallor, Pulselessness, Pressure increase, Paresthesia
  • TIRED – Signs and symptoms of hypoglycemia; Tachycardia, Irritability, Restlessness, Excessive hunger, Diaphoresis
  • Tissue Paper My Assets – Cardiac blood flow; Tricuspid, Pulmonic, Mitral, Aortic
  • TRACTION – Care of a client in traction; Temperature of extremity, Ropes hanging freely, Alignment (body/injured area), Circulation, Type of fracture, Increased fluids, Overhead trapeze, No weights on bed/floor
  • TRAP – Main signs of Parkinson’s; Tremor, Rigidity, Akinesia (bradykinesia), Postural instability
  • TRAUMATIC – Complications of trauma; Tissue perfusion, Respiratory, Anxiety, Unstable clotting factors, Malnutrition, Altered body image, Thromboembolism, Infection, Crush syndrome
  • UNLOAD FAST – Congestive Heart Failure treatment; Upright position, Nitrates, Lasix, Oxygen, ACE inhibitors, Digoxin, Fluids (decrease), Afterload (decrease), Sodium (restrict), Tests (ABGs, Digoxin levels)

Obstetrics/Gynecology

  • ACHES – Oral contraceptive complications;Abdominal pain, Chest pain, Headache, Eye problems, Severe leg pain (DVT), Pulmonary embolism
  • BUBBLE HE – Postpartum assessment; Breasts, Uterus, Bladder, Bowels, Lochia, Emotional status, Hemorrhoids, Episiotomy
  • BURP – Signs of magnesium sulfate toxicity; BP down, Urine output down, Respirations down, Patellar reflex absent
  • HELLP – A variant or complication of preeclampsia; Hemolysis, Elevated Liver enzymes, Low Platelets
  • PAINS – Complications of intrauterine devices (IUDs); Period irregularities, Abdominal pain, Infection, Not feeling well (fever/chills), String missing
  • TORCH – Prenatal viral testing; Toxoplasmosis, Other viruses, Rubella, Cytomegalovirus, Hepatitis A and B
  • VEAL CHOP – Fetal heart monitoring; Variability = Compression, Early decelerations = Head, Accelerations = Oxygenation, Late decelerations = Placental insufficiency

Pediatrics

  • DOWN – Characteristics of Down’s syndrome; Decreased alpha-fetoprotein, One extra chromosome (chromosome 21), Women over 40, Nondisjunction during maternal meiosis
  • FINES – Symptoms of hypoxia in children; Feeding difficulty, Inspiratory stridor, Nares flaring, Expiratory grunting, Sternal retractions
  • HOP – Treatment for sickle cell anemia crisis; Hydration, Oxygen, Pain management
  • The 5 Cs of chronic diarrhea – causes of chronic diarrhea in children; Cow’s milk intolerance, Celiac disease, Colitis, Cystic fibrosis, Crohn’s
  • The 6 Ss of scarlet fever – Signs and symptoms of scarlet fever; Streptococci, Sore throat, Swollen tonsils, Strawberry tongue, Sandpaper rash, Sudamina (also called miliaria)

Psychiatry

  • The 4 As of Schizophrenia – Primary signs and symptoms of schizophrenia; Affect, Ambivalence, Associative looseness, Autistic-like behavior
  • CAGE – screening for alcohol use; Cut back (has anyone suggested you cut back on your drinking?) Annoyed (has anyone expressed annoyance at your drinking habits?), Guilt (do you feel guilty about drinking?), Eye opener (do you need a drink to wake up in the morning?)
  • CAPS –signs of depression; Concentration impaired, Appetite changes, Psychomotor function decreased, Suicidal/sleep disturbances
  • DIG FAST – Signs of a bipolar manic episode; Distractibility, Indiscretion, Grandiosity, Flight of ideas, Activity increase, Sleep deficit, Talkative
  • DIM TOP – Things that can cause altered mental status; Drugs (prescription or illicit), Infections, Metabolic, Trauma, Oxygen deficit, Psychological
  • Worry WARTS – Signs of anxiety disorder. Wound up, Worn out, Absentminded, Restless, Touchy (increased emotional sensitivity), Sleepless

 Lab Values

  • HELPR – Complete blood counts; Hemoglobin/hematocrit, Erythrocytes, Leukocytes, Platelets, RBCs/reticulocytes
  • Miss Piggy and Kermit Came Home on Cloud Nine – Normal lab values from lowest to highest; Magnesium (1.5 – 2.5), Phosphate (2.5 – 4.5), K – Potassium (3.5 – 5.5), Calcium (8.5 – 10.5), HCO2 (22 – 26), Oxygen (95 – 100%), Chloride (95 – 104), Na – Sodium (135 – 145)
  • Never Let Monkeys Eat Bananas – White blood cells; Neutrophils, Lymphocytes, Monocytes, Eosinophils, Basophils
  • ROME – Acid base; Respiratory Opposite (pH up – CO2 down = alkalosis, pH down – CO2 up = acidosis); Metabolic Equal (pH up – HCO3 up = alkalosis, pH down – HCO3 down = acidosis)

 Electrolytes

  • AS WILDCAT – Signs and symptoms hypokalemia; Alkalosis, Shallow respirations, Weakness/fatigue, Irritability, Lethargy, Decreased intestine mobility, Confusion, Arrhythmias, Thready pulse
  • CATS – Signs and symptoms of hypocalcaemia; Convulsions, Arrhythmias, Tetany, Stridor/Spasms
  • FRIED SALT – Signs and symptoms of hypernatremia; Fever, Restless, Increased BP, Edema, Decreased urine/dry mouth, Skin flushed, Agitation, Low-grade fever, Thirst
  • MACHINE – Causes of hyperkalemia; Meds, Acidosis, Cellular trauma, Hemolysis, Intake (dietary), Nephrons (renal failure), Excretion impaired
  • MODEL – Causes of hypernatremia; Meals/medications, Osmotic diuresis, Diabetes Insipidus, Excessive loss of water, Low intake of water
  • MURDER – Signs and symptoms of hyperkalemia; Muscle cramps and weakness, Urine (oliguria/anuria), Respiratory distress, Decreased cardiac contractility, ECG changes, Reflexes
  • The 6 Ls – Hypokalemia symptoms; Lethargy, Leg cramps, Limp muscles, Low respirations, Lethal dysrhythmias, Lots of urine

 Pharmacology

  • ABC – Antihypertensive meds; ACE inhibitors, Beta blockers, Calcium channel blockers
  • ABCDE – contraindications to propranolol; Asthma, Block (heart), Cardiac failure, Diabetes mellitus, Extremeties (occlusive arterial disease)
  • ABCDEFGH – Side effects of anti-epileptics; Ataxia, Blood dyscrasia, Cleft lip, Dupuytrens/low vit D, Exfoliation (Stevens Johnson’s), Fits, Gum hypertrophy, Hepatitis/Hirsuitism
  • BLESS DUMB MW – Bradycardia, Lacrimation, Emesis, Salivation, Sweating, Diarrhea, Urination, Meiosis, Bronchorrea, Muscle Weakness
  • CANT SCREAM – CNS effects of morphine; Convulsions, Asphyxia, Nausea, Truncal rigidity, Sedation, Cough suppression, Respiratory depression, Euphoria, Analgesia, Myosis
  • CRAP PILOT – ACE inhibitor side effects; Cough, Renal impairment, Anaphylaxis, Palpitations, Potassium up, Impotence, Leukocytosis, Orthostatic hypotension, Taste
  • DR TIMED – The 6 Rights of Drug Administration; right Dose, right Route, right Time, right Individual, right Medication, right Expiration/Effect, right Documentation
  • G4HRT – Cyclosporin side effects; Gum Hypertrophy, Hyperkalemia, Hypertension, Hirsuitism, Renal toxicity, Tremor
  • IDEA – Bradycardia medications; Isoproterenol, Dopamine, Epinephrine, Atropine
  • LITHUM CATS – side effects of lithium; Leukocytosis, Inhibits PIP2, Teratogenic, Hypothyroidism/hyponatremia, Insipidus (diabetes), visUal dysfunction, Movement: Choreoathetosis, Ataxia, Tremors, Seizures
  • NSAID – Non-steroidal anti-inflammatories; Naproxen, Salicylates, Advil, Ibuprofen, Diclofenac
  • Some Drugs Create Awesome Knockers – Gynecomastia causing meds; Spironolactone, Digitalis, Cisplatin, Alcohol, Ketoconozole
  • The 3 Hs – MAOI side effects; Hepatocellular jaundice, Hyperthermia, Hypertension
  • TO A SIS – Bronchodilators; Terbutaline, Orciprenaline, Adrenaline, Salbutamol (albuterol), Isoprenaline, Salmeterol

 Nursing Management/Fundamentals

  • ABCDE – Management of pain; Assess, Believe client’s description, Choices (for relief), Delivery (of appropriate relief), Empower client to control his pain
  • ADPIE – Steps in the Nursing Process; Assessment, Diagnosis, Planning, Implementation, Evaluation
  • BATTED – ADLs; Bathing, Ambulating, Toileting, Transferring, Eating, Dressing
  • COAL – Walking with a cane; Cane, Opposite, Affected, Leg
  • I TRIED – Nursing management hypertension; Intake/Output, Take BP, Respirations, Ischemia monitoring, Electrolytes, Daily weights
  • OARS – Motivational interviewing; Open-ended questions, Affirmations, Reflections, Summaries
  • OLD CART – Pain assessment; Onset, Location, Duration, Characteristics, Aggravating factors, Radiation, Treatment
  • PASS – Using a fire extinguisher; Pull, Aim, Squeeze, Sweep
  • PQRST – Pain assessment; Provokes (what brought it on), Quality (type of pain), Region, Severity (0-10), Timing
  • RACE – Steps to take when there is a fire; Rescue, Alert/Alarm, Confine/Contain, Extinguish/Evacuate
  • The 3 Cs – Care planning; Collaboration, Cooperation, Compromise