Pharmacology Nursing Mnemonics & Tips
Admit it, at least once in our life as students and as nurses, we cursed Pharma. Pharmacology isn’t exactly everyone’s favorite subject. Remember all the nerve wracking exams that made you feel clueless about the world, the brain draining drug studies that made you feel dizzy, the crazy discussions that bled you dry and all the “I-don’t-even-know-how-to-pronounce-this” drugs that you had to memorize? Yup, again, not everyone’s favorite subject.
But then, as nurses who care for patients, it is inescapable as it is considered as an important part of the profession. So, how do we deal with this? How can we memorize/remember all those drugs a bit more easily? Below are some mnemonics and tips that might be of help for us nurses, in our attempt to survive Pharma:
- Lidocaine Toxicity: “SAMS”
S: Slurred speech
A: Altered central nervous system
M: Muscle twitching
S: Seizures
- Medication Administration Checklist: “TRAMP”
T: Time
Check the order for when it would be given and when was the last time it was given.
R: Route
Check the order if it’s through oral, IV, SQ, IM, or etc.
A: Amount
Check the medication sheet and the doctor’s order before medicating. Be aware of the difference of an adult and a pediatric dose.
M: Medication
Check and verify if it’s the right name and form. Beware of look-alike and sound-alike medication names.
P: Patient
Ask the name of the client and check his/her ID band before giving the medication. Even if you know that patient’s name, you still need to ask just to verify.
- Serious Complications of Oral Birth Control Pills: “SEA CASH”
S: Severe leg pain
E: Eye problems
A: Abdominal pain
C: Chest pain
A: Acne
S: Swelling of ankles and feet
H: Headaches which are severe
- Emergency Drugs to “LEAN” on
L: Lidocaine
ACTION: Suppresses automaticity of ventricular cells, decreasing diastolic depolarization and increasing ventricular fibrillation threshold. Produces local anesthesia by reducing sodium permeability of sensory nerves, which blocks impulse generation and conduction. USES: Ventricular arrhythmias, topical/local anesthetic
E: Epinephrine
ACTION: Stimulates alpha- and beta-adrenergic receptors, causing relaxation of cardiac and bronchial smooth muscle and dilation of skeletal muscles. USES: Bronchodilation; anaphylaxis; hypersensitivity reaction; Acute asthma attack; Chronic simple glaucoma
A: Atropine Sulfate
ACTION: Inhibits acetylcholine at parasympathetic neuroeffector junction of smooth muscle and cardiac muscle, blocking sinoatrial (SA) and atrioventricular (AV) nodes to increase impulse conduction and raise heart rate. USES: Decreases respiratory secretions, treats sinus bradycardia, reverses effects of anticholinesterase medication
N: Narcan
ACTION: Naloxone is used to treat an opioid emergency such as an overdose or a possible overdose of a narcotic medicine. USES: Opioid-induced toxicity; opioid-induced respiratory depression; used in neonates to counteract or treat effects from narcotics given to mother during labor
- Drugs for Bradycardia & Hypotension: “IDEA”
I: Isoproterenol
Acts on beta2-adrenergic receptors, causing relaxation of bronchial smooth muscle; acts on beta1-adrenergic receptors in heart, causing positive inotropic and chronotropic effects and increasing cardiac output. Also lowers peripheral vascular resistance in skeletal muscle and inhibits antigen-induced histamine release.
D: Dopamine
Causes norepinephrine release (mainly on dopaminergic receptors), leading to vasodilation of renal and mesenteric arteries. Also exerts inotropic effects on heart, which increases the heart rate, blood flow, myocardial contractility, and stroke volume.
E: Epinephrine
Stimulates alpha- and beta-adrenergic receptors, causing relaxation of cardiac and bronchial smooth muscle and dilation of skeletal muscles. Also decreases aqueous humor production, increases aqueous outflow, and dilates pupils by contracting dilator muscle.
A: Atropine Sulfate
Acts on beta2-adrenergic receptors, causing relaxation of bronchial smooth muscle; acts on beta1-adrenergic receptors in heart, causing positive inotropic and chronotropic effects and increasing cardiac output. Also lowers peripheral vascular resistance in skeletal muscle and inhibits antigen-induced histamine release.
- Thiazides Indications: “CHIC”
C: Congestive Heart Failure
H: Hypertension
I: Insipidus
C: Calcium calculi
- Morphine Side Effects: “MORPHINE”
M: Myosis
O: Out of it (sedation)
R: Respiratory depression
P: Pneumonia (aspiration)
H: Hypotension
I: Infrequency (constipation, urinary retention)
N: Nausea
E: Emesis
- Atrial Arrhythmias: “ABCDE”
A: Anticoagulants
To prevent embolization.
B: Beta blockers
To block the effects of certain hormones on the heart to slow the heart rate.
C: Calcium Channel Blockers
Help slow the heart rate by blocking the number of electrical impulses that pass through the AV node into the lower heart chambers (ventricles).
D: Digoxin
Digoxin helps slow the heart rate by blocking the number of electrical impulses that pass through the AV node into the lower heart chambers (ventricles).
E: Electrocardioversion
A procedure in which electric currents are used to reset the heart’s rhythm back to regular pattern.
Sources:
http://nurseslabs.com/pharmacology-nursing-mnemonics-tips/
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/36802921931229329/
Liane Clores, RN MAN
Currently an Intensive Care Unit nurse, pursuing a degree in Master of Arts in Nursing Major in Nursing Service Administration. Has been a contributor of Student Nurses Quarterly, Vox Populi, The Hillside Echo and the Voice of Nightingale publications. Other experience include: Medical-Surgical, Pediatric, Obstetric, Emergency and Recovery Room Nursing.
