NCLEX RN Mnemonics – Flashcards
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Cranial Nerves, Sensory vs Motor Think: "Some Say Money Matters But My Brother Says Big Brains Matter Most."
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S-Sensory, M-Motor, B-Both S-Olfactory I S-Optic II M-Oculomotor III M-Trochlear IV B-Trigeminal V M-Abducens VI B-Facial VII S-Auditory VIII) B-Glossopharyngeal IX B-Vagus X M-Accessory XI M-Hypoglossal XII
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Autonomic Nervous System Function Rhyme
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Sympathetic: fight or flight Parasympathetic: rest and digest
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Causes of HTN Think: ABCDE
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Aldosterone/Apnea Bad kidney/Bruits Catecholamine/Cushings syndrome Drug/Diet Endocrine All the above are secondary causes, primary causes occur when there is no identifiable cause.
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Disease caused by Streptococcus Pyogenes Think: GET NIPPLES
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Glomerulonephritis Endocarditis (Heart Valve) Toxic shock syndrome Necrotizing fascitis and myositis Impetigo Pharyngitis Pneumonia Lymphangitis Erysipelas and cellulitis Scarlet fever/Rheumatic fever
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Causes of Hyperkalemia Think: MACHINE
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Meds (ACE1, Steroids, Beta Blockers) Acidosis Cellular destruction (Rhabdo, burns, trauma) Hypoaldossteronism, hemolysis Intake, excessive Nephrons, renal failure Excretion, impaired
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Causes of Hypokalemia Think: GRAPHIC IDEA
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GI loss Renal Aldosterone Periodic paralysis Hypothermia Cushing's syndrome Insufficient intake Diuretics Elevated beta adrenergic activity Alkalosis
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Signs of Hypokalemia Think: 6L's
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Lethargy Lethal cardiac arrhythmia Leg cramps Limp muscles Low, shallow respiration's Less stool (constipation)
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Insulin Functions on Cells Think: INsulIN
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INsulIN stimulates 2 things to go IN 2 cells: Potassium and Glucose
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Activities of Daily Living Think: BATTED
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Bathing Ambulation Toileting Transfers Eating Dressing
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Therapeutic Dosage and Toxicity values Think: The magic 2's
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Digitalis 0.5-1.5 Toxicity 2.0 Lithium 0.6-1.2 Toxicity 2.0 Theophylline 10-20 Toxicity >20.0 Dilantin 10-20 Toxicity >30.0 APAP 1-20 Toxicity 120
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Staph Aureus Think: causes SOFT PAINS
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Skin infections Osteomyelitis Food poisoning Toxic shock syndrome Pneumonia Acute endocarditis Infective arthritis Necrotizing fascitis Sepsis
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Hypertension Treatment Think: ABCD
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ACE inhibitors/ARBS Beta Blockers Calcium Channel Blockers Diuretics
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Hypertension Nursing Interventions: Think: DIURETIC
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Daily weight Intake & Output (I&O) Urine output Response of BP Electrolytes Take Pulses Ischemic Episode (TIA) Complications: 4C's
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Signs of Hypernatremia Think: you are FRIED
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Fever Restless Increased Edema Decreased urinary output
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Maniac Symptoms Think: DIG FAST
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Distractibility Indiscretion Grandiosity Flight of ideas Activity increases Sleep deficit Talkative
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Hypersensitivity Reactions Think: ACID
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Anaphylactic-type 1 Cytotoxic-type 2 Immune complex-type 3 Delayed hypersensitivity-type 4
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Intestinal Components Think: Dow Jones Industrial Can't Choose
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Duodenum Jejunum Ileum Cecum Colon Sigmoid
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ARB side effects (Angiotension II Receptor Blocker) Think: Halt Dangerous Hypertension
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Headache Dizziness Hyperkalemia
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Aspirin side effects Think: ASPIRIN
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Asthma Salicyalism Peptic ulcer disease Intestinal blood loss Reye's syndrome Idiosyncrasy Noise (tinnitus)
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Hyperglycemia Think: 3 P's
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Polyphagia Polydipsia Polyurea Hot & Dry, Sugar is High
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Serotonin Syndrome Characteristics Think: they cause HARM
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Hyperthermia Autonomic instability (delirium) Rigidity Myoclonus
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Signs of Esophageal Atresia and Tracheoesophageal Fistula Think: 3 C's
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Coughing Choking Cyanosis
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Cancer's Early Warning Signs Think: CAUTION UP
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Change in bowel or bladder A lesion that does not heal Unusual bleeding or discharge Thickening or lump in breast or elsewhere Indigestion or difficulty swallowing Obvious changes in wart or mole Nagging cough or persistent hoarseness Unexplained weight loss Pernicious anemia
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Acute Lithium Toxicity Symptoms Think" CAN HAM SUCS
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Confusion An increase in urine & thirst Nausea Hand tremors Ataxia (in-coordination of arms and legs) Muscle twitches Seizures Uncontrollable eye movement Coma Slurred speech
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Bleeding Precautions Think: RANDI
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Razor electric no blades Aspirin No needles (esp. in small gauge) Decrease needle sticks Injury (protect from)
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Morphine side effects Think: MORPHINES
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Myosis Orthostatic HTN Respiratory depression Pneumonia (aspiration) Hypotension Infrequent waste release (constipation & urine retention) Nausea Emesis Sedation
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SNRI side effects Think: BAD SNRI
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Body weight increases Anorexia Dizziness Suicidal thoughts Nausea/Vomiting Reproductive/sexual dysfunction Insomnia
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Melanoma Characteristics Think: ABCDE
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Asymmetrical Borderline irregular Color dark and variation Diameter is large (>6mm) Evolving
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Acidosis/Alkalosis Think: ROME
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Respiratory Opposite *pH up & PCO2 down = Alkalosis *pH down & PCO2 up = Acidosis Metabolic Equal *pH up & HCO2 up = Alkalosis *pH down & HCO2 down = Acidosis
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Hormones that Increase Blood Glucose Think: STENGG
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Somatotropin (growth hormone) Thyroid hormones (thyroxine & triiodthyorine) Epinephrine Norepeinephrine Glucagon Glucocorticosteroids
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Tricyclic antidepressants (TCA) side effects Think: TCA'S
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Thrombocytopenia Cardiac (arrhythmia, MI, stroke) Anticholinergic effects (tachycardia, urinary retention, ect) Seizures
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Indications for Thiazide Diuretic use Think: CHIC
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CHF Hypertension Insipidous (Lithium induced) Calcium calculi
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6 P's of Dyspnea
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Pneumonia Pulmonary Bronchial Constriction Possible foreign body Pulmonary embolus Pneumothorax Pump failure
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Heart Valves by Order of Blood Flow Think: Toilet Paper My Ass
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Tricuspid Pulmonic Mitral Aortic
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White Blood Cells (in order of decreasing numbers) Think: Never Let Monkeys Eat Bananas
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Neutrophils Lymphocytes Monocytes Eosinophils Basophils
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SSRI side effects Think: BAD SSRI
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Body weight increases Anxiety Dizziness Serotonin syndrome Stimulated CNS Reproductive/sexual dysfunction Insomnia
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ACE Inhibitor side effects Think: CAPTOPRIL
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Cough Angioedema/Agranulocystosis Potassium excess Taste changes Orthohypotension Pregnancy contraindications Renal artery stenosis contraindication Inflammation-related pain Lower GFR (glomerular filtration rate)
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Hypoxia symptoms Think: RAT BED
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Early hypoxia: Restlessness Anxiety Tachycardia/Tachypnea Late hypoxia: Bradycardia Extreme restlessness Dyspnea
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Stages of Shock Think: CPR
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Compensatory stage Progressive stage Refractory stage
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Corticosteroids side effects Think: CUSHGOID
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Cataracts Ulcers Skin thinning, bruising, & striae Hyperglycemia/HTN/Hirsutism Infections Necrosis: Avascular necrosis of the femoral head Glycosuria Osteoporosis, Obesity Diabetes
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Hypoglycemia signs & symptoms Think: TIRED
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Tachycardia Irritability Restlessness Excessive hunger Diaphoresis Cold & clammy, need some candy
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Calcium Channel Blocker side effects Think: SHRED the GAPS
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Stevens Johnson Syndrome Headache Edema Dizziness the Gingival hyperplasia Angina Palpitations Sleepiness
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Liver Functions Think: PUSH DoG
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Protein synthesis Ureas synthesis Storage Hormone synthesis Detoxification Glucose and fat metabolism
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Potassium Increasing Agents Think: K-BANK
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K-sparing diuretics Beta Blockers ACE inhibitors NSAIDS K+ supplement
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Cholinergic Agonist effects Think: SLUDGE BAM
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Salivation/Sweating/Secretions Lacrimation Urination Defecation GI upset Emesis Bradycardia Abdominal Cramps Miosis
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Circulatory Checks Think: 5 P's
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Pain Paresthesia Paralysis Pulse Pallor
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Antipsychotic Drug side effects Think: ISHADE
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Impotence Sedation, Seizures Hypotension Akathsia (inability to sit still) Dermatological side effects Extrapyramidal reactions (acute, dystonias, rigidity, tremor, tachycardia)
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Signs of Inflammation Think: PRISH
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Pain Redness Immobility Swelling Heat
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Antimuscarinic/Anticholinergic side effects Think: ABCD'S
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Anorexia Blurry vision Constipation/Confusion Dry mouth Stasis of urine
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MAOI side effects Think: HAHA
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Hypertension/Hypertensive crisis Anticholinergic side effects Hepatocellular jaundice Arrhythmia/Anoxeria
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For better perfusion Veins & Arteries
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eleVate Veins dAngle Arteries
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APGAR means: APGAR measures: HR, RR, muscle tone, reflexes, and skin color each 0-2 point. A score: 8-10 is OK. A score: 0-3 RESUSCITATE.
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A= appearance (color all pink, pink and blue, blue [pale]) P= pulse (>100, < 100, absent) G= grimace (cough, grimace, no response) A= activity (flexed, flaccid, limp) R= respirations (strong cry, weak cry, absent)
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Airborne Precautions Think: My Chicken has TB!
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My - Measles Chicken - Chicken Pox/Varicella Hez - Herpes Zoster/Shingles TB - Tuberculosis) *Private Room - negative pressure with 6-12 air exchanges/hr Wear Mask, N95 for TB
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Droplet Precautions Think: SPIDERMAN!
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S - Sepsis, scarlet fever, streptococcal pharyngitis P - Parvovirus B19, Pneumonia, pertussis I - influenza D - Diphtheria (pharyngeal) E - Epiglottis R - Rubella M - Mumps, Meningitis, Mycoplasma, or Meningeal pneumonia An - Adenovirus Private Room or cohort Mask
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Contact Precautions Think: MRS. WEE
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M - Multidrug resistant organism R - Respiratory infection S - Skin infections W - Wound infection E - Enteric infection - clostridium difficile E - Eye infection- conjunctivitis
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Skin Infections Think: VCHIPS:
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V - Varicella Zoster C - Cutaneous diphtheria H - Herpes simplex I - Impetigo P - Pediculosis S - Scabies
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Hypo-parathyroid Think: CATS
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Convulsions Arrhythmia's Tetany Also will have decreased Ca+. Give high Ca+, low phosphorus diet.
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FHR patterns Think: VEAL CHOPS
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VC - Variable decelerations; caused by Cord Compression EH - Early decelerations; caused Head Compression AO - Accelerations; Okay LP - Late decelerations; caused by Placental Insufficiency
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ICP & Shock have opposite Vital Signs
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ICP-increased BP, decreased pulse, decreased resp. SHOCK- decreased BP, increased pulse, increased resp.
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Major Depressive Disorder Diagnosis Think: SIG-E-CAPS
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Must have at least 5 of the following s/s for 2 weeks or more to be Dx w/Depression. Sleep changes: increase during day or decreased sleep at night Interest (loss): of interest in activities that used to interest them Guilt (worthless): depressed elderly tend to devalue themselves Energy (lack): common presenting symptom (fatigue) Cognition/Concentration: reduced cognition &/or difficulty concentrating Appetite (wt. loss); usually declined, occasionally increased Psychomotor: agitation (anxiety) or retardations (lethargic) Suicide/Death preoccupation
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For Peripheral Vascular Disease Think: DAVE
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Position of legs: Dependent for Arterial Venous are Elevated
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Cane Walking Think: COAL:
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Cane Opposite Affected Leg
