---
title: 8 Gutsy Study Mnemonics for Nurse Practitioner Students | ThriveAP
description: Seven years into my nurse practitioner career, I still recite many of the mnemonics from my nurse practitioner school days. “Female, fat, fertile and forty…”, yep, this patient fits the bill for an acute cholecystitis diagnosis… A few simple memorization tricks can make life as an NP student much more manageable. So, next time you’re … 8 Gutsy Study Mnemonics for Nurse Practitioner Students Read More »
image: https://provider.thriveap.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/iStock-1254646139.jpg
---

![](https://provider.thriveap.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/iStock-1254646139.jpg?width=1250&height=625&name=iStock-1254646139.jpg)

# 8 Gutsy Study Mnemonics for Nurse Practitioner Students

Seven years into my nurse practitioner career, I still recite many of the mnemonics from my nurse practitioner school days. “Female, fat, fertile and forty…”, yep, this patient fits the bill for an acute cholecystitis diagnosis… A few simple memorization tricks can make life as an NP student much more manageable. So, next time you’re studying for an anatomy final or preparing to be grilled on your next clinical rotation, have a few mnemonics up your sleeve.

Here are a few of my favorite mnemonics relating to assessment, diagnosis and treatment of gastrointestinal system disorders that just might help nurse practitioners to-be.

**Abdominal Assessment: Physical Exam**

*What is the physical exam telling you? Simply remember DR. GERM.*

**D**istension (Liver problems, bowel obstruction)

**R**igidity (Board like, caused by internal bleeding)

**G**uarding

**E**cchymosis (Blunt abdominal trauma, ruptured ectopic, acute pancreatitis, ruptured aortic aneurysm, spontaneous bleeding related to anticoagulopathy)

**R**ebound tenderness (Infection)

**M**asses (Neoplasm)

**Abdominal Assessment: Signs of Chronic Liver Disease**

*It’s as simple as ABCDEFGHIJ.*

**A**scites, Atrophy of testicles, Ankle edema, Asterixis

**B**ruising

**C**lubbing, Color change of nails

**D**upuytren’s Contracture

**E**ncephalopathy, Erythema of palms

**F**oetor hepaticus

**G**ynecomastia

**H**epatomegaly

**I**ncreased parotid size

**J**aundice

**Differential Diagnoses: Causes of Acute Abdominal Pain**

*What’s going on with your patient’s BAD GUT PAINS?*

**B**owel Obstruction

**A**ppendicitis, Adenitis (mesenteric)

**D**iverticulitis, Diabetic Ketoacidosis, Diarrhea, Drug withdrawal

**G**astroenteritis, Gallbladder disease

**U**rinary tract obstruction (stone), Urinary tract infection

**T**esticular torsion, toxin (lead)

**P**neumonia, Pleurisy, Pancreatitis, Perforated bowel

**A**bdominal aneurysm

**IN**farcted bowel, Infarcted myocardium, Incarcerated hernia, Inflammatory bowel disease

**S**plenic rupture/infection, Sickle cell crisis

**Differential Diagnoses: Causes of Abdominal Swelling**

*Swollen? Bloated? Distended? The 9 F’s may be the key to your diagnosis.*

**F**at (Time to hit the gym…)

**F**eces (Constipation, bowel obstruction)

**F**luid (Ascites)

**F**latus (Diet, dysphagia)

**F**etus (Hey, preggo…)

**F**ull-sized tumors

**F**ull bladder (Urinary retention)

**F**ibroids

**F**alse pregnancy

**Differential Diagnoses: Causes of Hepatomegaly**

*Keep the 3 common and 3 rarer C’s in mind when looking for the cause of an enlarged liver.*

**3 Common C’s**

**C**irrhosis

**C**arcinoma

**C**ardiac Failure

**3 Rarer C’s:**

**C**holestasis

**C**ysts

**C**ellular Infiltration

**Differential Diagnoses: Vomiting **

*Vomiting may not be an indication of an abdoninal diagnosis. Don’t overlook extra GI causes!*

**V**estibular disturbance or Vagal causes

**O**piates

**M**igraine or Metabolic causes (DKA, gastroparesis, hypercalcemia)

**I**nfections

**T**oxcicity (cytotoxic, digitalis toxicity)

**I**ncreased ICP, Ingested alcohol

**N**eurogenic, psychogenic

**G**estation

**Differential Diagnoses: Right Lower Quadrant Abdominal Pain**

*Appendicitis is not always to blame. But, the word can aid in identifying other possibilities.*

**A**ppendicitis

**P**elvic Inflammatory Disease, Period (menstrual)

**P**ancreatitis

**E**ndometriosis, Ectopic Pregnancy

**N**eoplasia

**D**iverticulitis

**I**ntussusception

**C**yst

**I**nflammatory Bowel Disease

**T**orsion (ovarian)

**I**rritable Bowel Syndrome

**S**tones

**Treatment: H. Pylori Regimen**

*‘Please Make Tummy Better’ is a common request of patients with H. pylori. Here’s how to make it happen. *

**P**roton Pump Inhibitor

**M**etronidazole

**T**etracycline

**B**ismuth

***Which mnemonics help you as a nurse practitioner student?***

[Nurse Practitioner Students](https://provider.thriveap.com/blog/tag/nurse-practitioner-students)

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