REMEMBER (part 1)

As you may imagine, I read rather a lot about nursing. Magazines, books, newsletters, blogs – you name it and I almost read it! I believe I’ve already mentioned that some titles really draw me in. I really like lists, so after I come across anything that starts with “Top 10,” “Tips for,” or “List,” there’s an excellent probability I’ll open that page or click that link. Another favorite thing of mine are mnemonics, that are easy tricks for remembering complicated things, that are very helpful in nursing school and in practice!

Here are a few of my favorites:

To enable you to organize your day…
IMAGE: Introduce yourself, medications, assessment, purpose, explain and educate

To assess the symptom…
PQRST: Provocative/Palliative (what makes things higher/worse), Quality/Quantity, Region/Radiation, Severity, Time

To assess skin changes…
ABCDE: Asymmetry, Border, Color/Configuration, Diameter/Drainage, Evolution

To evaluate students…
PERRLA: Students are equal, round, conscious of light and accommodation

To include in your documentation…
PIE: Problem, intervention, assessment

More to return… Remember the one who memorized all of the cranial nerves?