If you have a memory that is even half as bad as mine, like me, you will rely on a large palate of mnemonics, acronyms and memory aids  to get all that information off the tip of your ….um…er…. the tip of your thingy.
Of course you might like to sprinkle some of these  super descriptive acronyms (like GOMER and BUNDY and OSINTOT) into your notes to improve your communication skills,
but to help you remember all stuff you need to know I have harvested some of the more  (at least I think so) useful mnemonics from the extensive list over at medicalmnemonics.com.
How about you? Do you have any killer mnemonics or memory aids that help you get through the shift?  Just drop them in the comments….

History: quick medical history checklist

SAMPLE:
Signs/ Symptoms
Allergies
Medications
Pertinent history
Last oral intake
Events preceding this incident

Pain history checklist

OPQRSTU:
Onset of pain (time, duration)
Palliative factors for pain
Quality of pain (throbbing, stabbing, dull, etc.)
Region of body affected
Severity of pain (usually scale of 1-10)
Timing of pain (after exercise, in evening, etc.)
U: How does it affect ‘U’ in your daily life?

May wish to expand to OPPQRRSTTUVW, with the extra letters representing:
Provocative factors
Radiation (how does pain spread)
Treatments tried
Deja Vu: Has this happened before?
Worry: What do you think or fear that it is?

Sign vs. symptom

sIgn: something I can detect even if patient is unconscious.
sYMptom is something only hYM knows about.

Physical examination

“I Palpate People’s Abdomens“:
Inspection
Palpation
Percussion
Auscultation

ST elevation causes in ECG

ELEVATION:
Electrolytes
LBBB
Early repolarization
Ventricular hypertrophy
Aneurysm
Treatment (eg pericardiocentesis)
Injury (AMI, contusion)
Osborne waves (hypothermia)
Non-occlusive vasospasm

Beck’s triad (cardiac tamponade)

3 D’s:
Distant heart sounds
Distended jugular veins
Decreased arterial pressure

Kubler-Ross dying process: stages

“Death Always Brings Great Acceptance“:
Denial
Anger
Bargaining
Grieving
Acceptance

Coma causes checklist

AEIOU TIPS:
Acidosis/ Alcohol
Epilepsy
Infection
Overdosed
Uremia
Trauma to head
Insulin: too little or or too much
Pyschosis episode
Stroke occurred

Shock: types

RN CHAMPS:
Respiratory
Neurogenic
Cardiogenic
Hemorrhagic
Anaphylactic
Metabolic
Psychogenic
Septic

Fall: potential causes

I’VE FALLEN:
Illness
Vestibular
Environmental
Feet/ Footwear
Alcohol and drugs
Low blood pressure
Low O2 states
Ears/ Eyes
Neuropathy

Subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) causes

BATS:
Berry aneurysm
Arteriovenous malformation/ Adult polycystic kidney disease
Trauma (eg being struck with baseball bat)
Stroke

Endotracheal tube: troubleshooting

DOPEY:
Displaced: esophagus, right mainstem, back of throat, etc
Obstructed: secretions, blood, mucus plug, kink, etc
Pneumothorax
Equipment: malfunctions, O2, ETT, BVM, ventilator, monitor
You: your approach, technique: missing something?

Organophosphates poisoning: symptoms

DUMBBELS:
Diarrhea
Urination
Miosis
Bradycardia
Bronchospasm
Emesis
Lacrimation
Salivation

Coma and signicantly reduced conscious state causes: causes

COMA:
CO2 and CO excess
Overdose: TCAs, Benzos, EtOH, insulin, paracetamol, etc.
Metabolic: BSL, Na+, K+, Mg2+, urea, ammonia, etc.
Apoplexy: stroke, SAH, extradural, subdural, Ca, meningitis, encephalitis, cerebral abscess, etc.

Shortness of breath:

AAAA PPPP:
Airway obstruction
Angina
Anxiety
Asthma
Pneumonia
Pneumothorax
Pulmonary Edema
Pulmonary Embolus

Single vehicle accident·

7 S’s:
Suds (EtOH)
Suicide
Sleep
Seizure
Sugar
Stroke (bleed)
Stupidity

Abdominal swelling causes

9 F’s:
Fat
Feces
Fluid
Flatus
Fetus
Full-sized tumors
Full bladder
Fibroids
False pregnancy