Nursing mnemonics to help you prepare for the NCLEX
This article was updated on June 18, 2024.
Written by Michael Feder
This article was reviewed by Raelene Brooks, Dean, College of Nursing.
In this article - nursing mnemonics
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The NCLEX®, or National Council Licensure Examination, is the licensing examination for nurses in the United States. This test is designed to measure the general knowledge and nursing skills that are required for entry-level professional nurses. The NCLEX is largely a multiple-choice test, meaning it will test your recall of specific information and situations from nursing school.
This is where nursing mnemonics can come in handy. Mnemonics are word devices designed to improve memory and recall. These devices can benefit nursing students, who need to memorize several multistep procedures and treatments to pass exams like the NCLEX after they have graduated nursing school.
All levels of nurses, from master’s students becoming nurse educators to RNs attaining a BSN, can benefit from having these nursing mnemonics in their back pocket. We’ve listed some helpful nursing mnemonics in alphabetical order to help you study.
1. The 5 A’s of Alzheimer’s diagnosis
The five A’s of Alzheimer’s diagnosis can help nurses identify Alzheimer’s in patients. The five A’s are:
- Amnesia
- Anomia
- Apraxia
- Agnosia
- Aphasia
2. The 6 L’s of hypokalemia
Nurses can use the letter L to remember the signs of hypokalemia, which is a potassium deficiency. The signs are:
- Lethargy
- Leg cramps
- Limp muscles
- Low or shallow breathing
- Lethal cardiac dysrhythmia
- Lots of urine
3. The 5 P’s of compartment syndrome
This mnemonic is designed to help nurses identify compartment syndrome, which can happen when there’s too much pressure around the patient’s muscles. The five P’s to check for compartment syndrome are:
- Pallor
- Pain
- Pulse
- Paralysis
- Paresthesia
4. The 6 P’s of dyspnea
This mnemonic is designed to help you memorize the six major causes of dyspnea, commonly known as shortness of breath. They are:
- Pulmonary bronchial constriction
- Possible foreign body
- Pulmonary embolism
- Pneumothorax
- Pump failure
- Pneumonia
5. The 3 S’s of adrenal gland hormones
The adrenal glands help regulate essential functions in the body by producing hormones, including:
- Sugar (glucocorticoids)
- Salt (mineralocorticoids)
- Sex (androgens)
6. The 6 S’s of steroids
This mnemonic device is intended to help nurses remember the common side effects of steroid treatment. Steroids, particularly corticosteroids, are used to treat several conditions. Patients taking steroids may experience the following:
- Sugar – hyperglycemia
- Soggy bones – osteoporosis
- Sick – decreased immunity
- Sad – depression
- Salt – water and salt retention (hypertension)
- Sex – decreased libido
7. ABCDEF
The basics of prenatal care can be remembered with the first six letters of the alphabet. Each letter represents a question for the nurse to ask a pregnant woman to further understand her condition. The questions are:
- Amniotic fluid?
- Bleeding?
- Contractions?
- Dysuria?
- Edema?
- Fetal movement?
8. ACHES
This acronym is designed to help you recognize a patient experiencing severe complications from taking birth control pills. The letters stand for:
- Abdominal pain
- Chest pain
- Headaches
- Eye problems
- Severe leg pain
9. AEIOU TIPS
This mnemonic is designed to help nurses discover possible causes of an altered mental state. This acronym stands for:
- Alcohol
- Epilepsy/Electrolytes
- Insulin/Inborn errors of metabolism
- Overdose/Oxygen
- Uremia
- Trauma
- Infection
- Psychiatric/Poisoning
- Stroke/Subarachnoid Hemorrhage
10. AIR RAID
AIR RAID is an acronym that can help nurses identify when the epiglottis is inflamed due to bacterial infection. The letters stand for:
- Airway inflammation
- Increased pulse
- Restlessness
- Retraction of the ribs
- Anxiety
- Inspiratory stridor
- Drooling
11. “Ali loves boxing matches”
This phrase is designed to help nurses remember the common Parkinson’s medications. Each letter of this phrase, which starts with the name of a famous person who had Parkinson’s, the late boxing great Muhammad Ali, stands for:
- Amantadine
- Levodopa
- Bromocriptine
- MAO inhibitors
12. “All dogs eat kibble”
This phrase is designed to help medical professionals remember fat-soluble vitamins. “All dogs eat kibble” stands for vitamins A, D, E and K. Those four, as opposed to water-soluble vitamins, are absorbed and transported in organic matter including or similar to fats.
13. “A nice, delicious pie”
The first letters of this phrase are designed to help nurses remember the steps in the general nursing process. They are:
- Assessment
- Nursing diagnosis
- Plan
- Interventions
- Evaluation
14. APGAR
APGAR is a standardized assessment used to gauge the health and responsiveness of a newborn at one minute and five minutes after birth. APGAR stands for:
- Appearance
- Pulse
- Grimace
- Activity
- Respiration
15. ASTHMA
Some treatment mnemonics use the name of the disease or condition they’re used for to make it easier to remember. This is the case with ASTHMA, which stands for the common treatments of asthma:
- Adrenergic (albuterol)
- Steroids
- Theophylline
- Hydration (IV)
- Mask (oxygen)
- Antibiotics
16. B1 vs. B2
This mnemonic is designed to help nursing students remember which beta-blockers to use. B1 is for the heart (because we have one heart) and B2 is for the lungs (we have two lungs).
17. BATTED
This mnemonic can help nurses determine whether a patient needs care at home, and what care they need. The letters stand for routine daily activities. Specifically:
- Bathing
- Ambulation (walking or maneuvering around a space)
- Toileting
- Transfers (moving from a seated or reclined position)
- Eating
- Dressing
18. BRAT
BRAT stands for the diet treatment for nonchronic diarrhea. The letters stand for:
- Banana
- Rice
- Applesauce
- Toast
Nursing students may recall this is typically a short-term diet, as it is low in nutrients and easy to digest.
19. BUBBLE
This acronym is designed to help nurses conduct a postpartum assessment on a pregnant patient. The letters stand for:
- Breasts
- Uterus
- Bowels
- Bladder
- Lochia
- Episiotomy/C-section incision
20. CAUTION
The letters can help nurses identify some of the warning signs of cancer, including:
- Change in bladder or bowels
- A sore that won’t heal
- Unusual bleeding or discharge
- Thickening or lumpy tissue
- Indigestion or trouble swallowing
- Obvious change in the size of wart or mole
- Nagging cough or hoarseness
21. “Clouds over grass, smoke over fire …”
The phrase “Clouds over grass, smoke over fire, chocolate on stomach” is designed to help nurses remember the proper ECG/EKG lead placement.
As nursing students prepare for the NCLEX, they may use this mnemonic to recall that the white lead (clouds) goes over the green lead (grass), the black lead (smoke) goes over the red lead (fire) and the brown lead goes on the stomach.
22. “Hot and dry: sugar high …”
This phrase can help nurses assess a diabetes reaction: “Hot and dry: sugar high. Cold and clammy: need some candy.” This simplifies whether a diabetic patient is experiencing insulin levels that are too high or too low.
23. DIG FAST
This acronym helps nurses remember and identify the signs of mania, which is a type of altered mental state indicative of bipolar 1 disorder. The letters stand for:
- Distractibility
- Indiscretion or excessive involvement in pleasurable activities
- Grandiosity
- Flight of ideas
- Activity increase
- Sleeplessness
- Talkativeness
24. “Drugs to LEAN on”
This phrase is designed to help nurses remember the medications most often used in emergencies. LEAN stands for:
- Lidocaine
- Epinephrine
- Atropine sulfate
- Narcan
25. FAME
This mnemonic is designed to help nurses identify the signs of endocarditis, which is inflammation of the inner linings of the heart. FAME stands for:
- Fever
- Anemia
- Murmur
- Endocarditis
26. FAST
FAST is an acronym used by the American Stroke Association, designed to help both medical and nonmedical personnel identify the signs of a stroke. The letters stand for:
- Facial drooping
- Arm weakness
- Speech difficulty
- Time to call emergency services
27. FFFFF
The five F’s as a mnemonic device are designed to help nurses and nursing students understand the risk factors of cholelithiasis, or gallstones. Cholelithiasis has several risk factors, but these are the most common:
- Fat
- Forty
- Fertile
- Female
- Fair
28. FRIED
FRIED is an acronym designed to help nurses identify symptoms of hypernatremia, a condition caused by high levels of sodium in the bloodstream. The letters stand for:
- Fever
- Restless
- Increased fluid retention and increased blood pressure
- Edema
- Decreased urinary output/dry mouth
29. HELLP
This acronym is designed to help nurses recognize preeclampsia in pregnant patients. This can be a high-risk condition for the fetus and the mother-to-be. The letters stand for:
- Hemolysis
- Elevated liver enzymes
- Low platelet count
30. IDEA
This acronym is designed to help nurses remember the treatment for bradycardia, which is a slower-than-normal heart rate. The letters stand for:
- Isoproterenol
- Dopamine
- Epinephrine
- Atropine sulfate
31. MADD DOG
This acronym is designed to help nurses remember the treatment for pulmonary edema, often caused by congestive heart failure. These letters stand for:
- Morphine
- Aminophylline
- Digoxin
- Dopamine
- Diuretics
- Oxygen
- Gases
32. MONA
This mnemonic is designed to help nurses remember the treatment for myocardial infarction, more commonly known as a heart attack. The letters stand for:
- Morphine
- Oxygen
- Nitroglycerine
- ASA score
33. “Mr. Dice runs”
This phrase can help nurses remember the systems of the body. They are:
- Muscular
- Respiratory
- Digestive
- Integumentary
- Circulatory
- Endocrine
- Reproductive
- Urinary
- Nervous
- Skeletal
34. PAINS
This acronym is designed to help nurses identify the signs of appendicitis. The letters stand for:
- Pain in the right lower quarter
- Increased temperature
- Nausea
- Signs – McBurney’s or Psoas
35. PISO
This mnemonic is an acronym for the phrase “potassium inside, sodium outside” and is designed to help nurses remember where electrolytes are in the cell.
36. “Please read his text”
This phrase is designed to help nurses identify cor pulmonale, which is a condition that causes the right side of the heart to fail. The first letters of “please read his text” stand for:
- Peripheral edema
- Raised jugular venous pressure (JVP)
- Hepatomegaly
- Tricuspid incompetence
37. PRICE
PRICE is an acronym that can help nurses, and even patients, remember how to properly treat a fracture. The letters stand for:
- Pressure
- Rest
- Ice
- Compression
- Elevation
38. SALT LOSS
This mnemonic is designed to help nurses remember the signs of hyponatremia, or low blood sodium (not to be confused with hypernatremia, or high sodium levels). The letters stand for:
- Stupor/coma
- Anorexia
- Lethargy
- Tendon reflexes decreased
- Limp muscles
- Orthostatic hypotension
- Seizures/headaches
- Stomach cramping
39. SAMPLE
This acronym is designed to help nurses remember the steps in a basic health history assessment. The letters stand for:
- Symptoms
- Allergies
- Medications
- Past medical history
- Last oral intake
- Events leading up to the illness/injury
40. SLUDGE
This mnemonic is designed to help nurses identify symptoms of organs and glands being overstimulated, which can lead to life-threatening complications if untreated. The signs of these conditions include:
- Salivation
- Lacrimation
- Urination
- Defecation
- Gastric upset
- Emesis, or vomiting
41. SPAMS
SPAMS is an acronym designed to help nurses remember the causes of heart murmurs. The letters stand for:
- Stenosis of a valve
- Partial obstruction
- Aneurysm
- Mitral
- Septal defect
42. STING
The symptoms of hyperthyroidism can be represented and remembered by the acronym STING. The letters stand for:
- Sweating
- Tremors or tachycardia
- Intolerance to heat, irregular period, irritability, irregular eyes
- Nervousness
- Gastrointestinal problems
43. “These drugs can interact”
The first letters in this phrase helps nurses remember the following common drug interactions with one another:
- Theophylline
- Dilantin
- Coumadin
- Ilosone
44. TRAP
This acronym is designed to help nurses and medical professionals identify the signs of Parkinson’s disease. The letters stand for:
- Tremor
- Rigidity
- Akinesia
- Postural instability
45. UNLOAD FAST
This acronym is designed to help nurses remember the treatment for congestive heart failure. The letters stand for:
- Upright position
- Nitrates
- Lasix
- Oxygen
- Ace inhibitors
- Digoxin
- Fluid decrease
- Afterload decrease
- Sodium decrease
- Test: dig level, ABC, K+
46. ZZLSD
Medications to treat HIV can be memorized with the abbreviation ZZLSD:
- Zidovudine
- Zalcitabine
- Lamivudine
- Stavudine
- Didanosine
Continuing your education after learning nursing mnemonics for the NCLEX to become an RN
Depending on your field, you may have other, more specialized mnemonics to remember treatments, signs of conditions and medications. The nursing mnemonics in this article are simply some of the most common that describe patient health, treatments and medications learned in nursing school that may appear on the NCLEX.
Once you pass the NCLEX, meet the licensing requirements for the state in which you want to work, and get your RN license you’ll be prepared to start your career as a registered nurse. That’s where University of Phoenix (UOPX) comes in. UOPX can help you continue your nursing education or enhance your career with an online RN to BSN degree.
If you already have your BSN but are seeking a relevant master’s program, UOPX also offers a Master of Science in Nursing with a concentration in Nurse Education along with other nursing program options to consider.
NCLEX is a registered trademark of the National Council of State Boards of Nursing, Inc.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
A graduate of Johns Hopkins University and its Writing Seminars program and winner of the Stephen A. Dixon Literary Prize, Michael Feder brings an eye for detail and a passion for research to every article he writes. His academic and professional background includes experience in marketing, content development, script writing and SEO. Today, he works as a multimedia specialist at University of Phoenix where he covers a variety of topics ranging from healthcare to IT.
ABOUT THE REVIEWER
Dr. Raelene Brooks, dean of the College of Nursing, has been a registered nurse for more than 25 years and practiced extensively in the areas of ICU, trauma and critical care. Her publications include a focus on nursing education, critical care and diversity, equity and inclusion. She is a leader in creating, guiding and launching innovative curriculum.
This article has been vetted by University of Phoenix's editorial advisory committee.
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