Cramming for exams? In my days as a nurse practitioner student, I employed several study tactics to help memorize content for both the certification exam and my NP program finals. Hand made flashcards littered my coffee table. Cheat sheets fell from dilapidated folders in my backpack. My favorite study tactic to fall back on was thinking up (or borrowing) study mnemonics. If you’re a nurse practitioner student struggling to study for exams, these cardiac mnemonics just might prevent you from having a finals-induced MI.
Anatomy: Aortic Valves (left to right)
Toilet Paper My A$$
Tricuspid valve
Pulmonary semilunar valve
Mitral (bicuspid) valve
Aortic semilunar valve
Drugs: Side Effects of ACE Inhibitors
CAPTOPRIL
Cough
Angioedema
Potassium excess
Taste changes
Orthostatic hypotension
Pressure drop (hypotension)
Renal failure or Rash
Indomethacin inhibition
Leukopenia
Drugs: Contraindications to ACE Inhibitors
PARK
Pregnancy
Allergy or Angioedema
Renal artery stenosis or Renal failure
K – hyperkalemia (potassium greater than 5.5)
Hypertension: Secondary Hypertension Causes
ABCDEF
Apnea
Birth control or Bad kidney
Coarctation of the aorta, Cushing’s syndrome, Conn’s syndrome
Drugs (alcohol, decongestants, estrogens)
Endocrine disorders or Erythropoietin
Fibromuscular dysplasia
CHF: Causes of Exacerbation
FAILURE
Forgot medication
Arrhythmia / Anemia
Ischemia / Infarction / Infection
Lifestyle (too much salt)
Upregulation of cardiac output (pregnancy, hyperthyroidism)
Renal failure
Embolism (pulmonary)
CHF: Treatment
LMNOP
Lasix
Morphine
Nitrites
Oxygen
vasoPressors
Coronary Artery Disease: Risk Factors
HOPEFULSSS
Hypertension
Obesity
Peripheral vascular disease
Elevated LHL
FMH
Up glucose (diabetes)
Low HDL
Smoking
Sex – male
Sedentary lifestyle
Peripheral Circulation: Findings in Acute Limb Ischemia
The 5 P’s
Pain
Pallor
Pulselessness
Paralysis
Paresthesia
Murmurs: Describing a Murmur
SCRIPT
Site
Character (harsh, soft, blowing etc)
Radiation
Intensity
Pitch
Timing
Murmurs: Innocent Murmur Features
8S’s
Soft
Systolic
Short
Sounds (S1 & S2) normal
Symptomless
Special tests normal (X-ray, EKG)
Standing / Sitting (vary with position)
Sternal depression
Tachycardia: Ventricular Tachycardia Treatment
LAMB
Lidocaine
Amiodarone
Magnesium/Mexiltene
Beta Blocker
Tachycardia: Supraventricular Tachycardia Treatment
ABCDE
Adenosine
Beta-blocker
Calcium channel antagonist
Digoxin
Excitation (vagal stimulation)
Bradycardia: Causes
PAD HIM
Physiological (athlete, sleep) or Paroxysmal
AV block
Drugs (beta-blockers, digoxin, amiodarone)
Hypothyroid or Hypothermia
Icteric
MI
Atrial Fibrillation: Causes of New Onset
THE ATRIAL FIBS
Thyroid
Hypothermia
Embolism
Alcohol
Trauma (cardiac contusion)
Recent surgery (post CABG)
Ischemia
Atrial enlargement
Lone or idiopathic
Fever, anemia, high-output states
Infarct
Bad valves (mitral stenosis)
Stimulants (cocaine, caffeine)
Atrial Fibrillation: Management
ABCD
Anti-coagulate
Beta-blockers
Cardiovert
Digoxin
Pericarditis: Causes
CARDIAC RIND
Collagen vascular disease
Aortic aneurysm
Radiation
Drugs (ex. hydralazine)
Infections
Acute renal failure
Cardiac infarction
Rheumatic fever
Injury
Neoplasms
Dressler’s syndrome
MI: Complications of Myocardial Infarction
DARTH VADER
Death
Arrhythmia
Rupture
Tamponade
Heart failure (acute or chronic)
Valve disease
Aneurysm of ventricles
Dressler’s synrome
thromboEmbolism
Recurrence or mitral Regurgitation
MI: Therapeutic Treatment of Myocardial Infarction
O BATMAN
Oxygen
Beta blocker
Aspirin
Thrombolytics (ex. heparin)
Morphine
ACE inhibitor
Nitroglycerin
What are your favorite cardiac mnemonics?
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