Remember more, review less.

• MnemonicSampleDHA and EMREENurses and physicians

  ABCDE

  Systematic order for assessing an acutely unwell patient?

  • A: Airway (protect the cervical spine if injury is possible)
  • B: Breathing
  • C: Circulation (control bleeding, check perfusion)
  • D: Disability (consciousness, glucose, pupils)
  • E: Exposure (undress to examine, then keep warm)

  When to use itTreat each problem as you find it before moving to the next letter, and go back to A after every intervention or change.

  CarefulIn catastrophic external bleeding many trauma protocols stop the bleeding first (cABCDE).

• MnemonicSampleDHANurses and physicians

  ISBAR

  Structured handover for escalating or handing over a patient?

  • I: Introduce yourself and Identify the patient
  • S: Situation (what is happening now)
  • B: Background (relevant history)
  • A: Assessment (what you think and the observations)
  • R: Recommendation or Request (what you need and by when)

  When to use itMakes a call to a doctor or a handover short, complete and easy to act on.

  CarefulA good Recommendation is specific and has a time frame, such as 'please review within 15 minutes'.

• MnemonicSampleDHA and EMREENurses and physicians

  VEAL CHOP

  Which fetal heart rate pattern goes with which cause?

  • Variable decelerations: Cord compression
  • Early decelerations: Head compression
  • Accelerations: OK (reassuring)
  • Late decelerations: Placental insufficiency

  When to use itLinks a CTG pattern to its usual cause so you can choose first actions such as turning the mother, stopping oxytocin or calling the obstetrician.

  CarefulIt leaves out baseline rate and variability, which matter as much. Look at the whole trace, not just the decelerations.

• MnemonicSampleDHA and EMREENurses and physicians

  ASMR in systole, ARMS in diastole

  Which valve lesions cause systolic and diastolic murmurs?

  • Systolic: Aortic Stenosis and Mitral Regurgitation (ASMR)
  • Diastolic: Aortic Regurgitation and Mitral Stenosis (ARMS)
  • Also systolic: VSD, tricuspid regurgitation, HOCM
  • Also diastolic: pulmonary regurgitation, tricuspid stenosis

  When to use itTiming of the murmur narrows the cause. Then use location, radiation, pulse and added sounds.

  CarefulInnocent flow murmurs are common, especially in children and pregnancy. Echocardiography confirms the lesion.

• MnemonicSampleDHA and EMREENurses and physicians

  SnNout and SpPin

  Rule of thumb for using sensitivity and specificity?

  • SnNout: a Sensitive test, when Negative, rules OUT
  • SpPin: a Specific test, when Positive, rules IN

  When to use itUse a sensitive test to screen and a specific test to confirm.

  CarefulIt works best at extremes of sensitivity or specificity. Combine with pre-test probability.

• MnemonicSampleDHA and EMREENurses and physicians

  MONA

  Old ACS first-aid list that is now outdated as a plan?

  • M: Morphine
  • O: Oxygen
  • N: Nitrates
  • A: Aspirin

  When to use itA historical list of first measures in a suspected acute coronary syndrome. Aspirin is the item that is still standard when there is no contraindication.

  CarefulDo not use it as a treatment plan. Give oxygen only if hypoxic (local target, commonly below about 90 percent), avoid nitrates in hypotension, right ventricular infarct or recent PDE5 inhibitor use, and use opioid analgesia selectively.

A mnemonic is a memory aid. It can help you recall a list, but it does not replace understanding it, and Meddex makes no claim about how much it will help your results. Check any hook against your course material and current local guidance.