Archives: Nursing Mnemonics and Tips

How Poisons Get Into the Body
poisons are introduced into the body in one of four ways:

• ingestion
• injection
• inhalation
• absorption (contact)

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Viral Infections Cheat Sheet
Simplistic overview of the main viral infections and the most notable involved species.

Overview of the main bacterial infections and the most notable species involved.

A toxidrome is a syndrome (set of symptoms) caused by specific medications or toxins.

There are 5 big ones to know:

Anticholinergic: low potency antipsychotics, oxybutynin, ACh receptor antagonists (ipratropium, atropine, scopolamine)
Cholinergic: ACh recptor agonists (pilocarpine), AChEIs (organophosphates, phyostigmine)
Opioid: Morphine, heroin, hydromorphone, etc
Sympathomimetic: epinephrine, cocaine, amphetamine (Aderol), methylphenidate (Ritalin)
Sedative-Hypnotic: Benzodiazepines, barbituates, “Z-drugs” (zopiclone, zolpidem), antihistamines

Here is a brief simplified chart of human blood INR Range, showing INR levels, and the factors that affect them.
This chart illustrates typical therapeutic INR levels, while using Coumadin (warfarin) therapy. An INR up to 10 is targeted in hyper-therapeutic situations, where any clotting at all absolutely must be avoided.

Blood INR Ranges
High Risk Group = 3.0 – 4.5
Intense Therapeutic Range = 2.5 – 3.5
Therapeutic INR Range = 2.0 – 3.0
Undefined INR Range = 1.2 – 2.0
Normal Human INR Range = 0.8 – 1.2

Systole is the contractile phase of the cardiac cycle and diastole is the relaxation phase of the cardiac cycle.

Cardiac Cycle

Ventricular filling: Mid-to-late ventricular diastole (includes atrial systole, P-Q interval)

Ventricular systole: isovolumetric contraction and ejection phase (Q-T interval)

Quiescent phase: isovolumetric relaxation in early ventricular diastole until atrial contraction (end of T wave to beginning of next P wave)

While heparin and warfarin are both anticoagulants, heparin provides an immediate response, while warfarin is generally used for long-term treatment, according to Johns Hopkins Medicine. Heparin is an injection, while warfarin is an oral medication.

The story of the AV Block family
key:
p wave = wife
qrs = husband
pacer = counseling

Normal sinus rhythm:
the wife (p wave) waits at home for the husband (qrs).
the husband (qrs) come homes on time every night.

1st degree AV block:
the wife (p wave) is waiting at home. the husband (qrs) comes home late every night, but he always comes home and its at the same time every night.

2nd degree block type I (Weinkebach):
the wife (p wave) is waiting at home. the husband (qrs) come home later and later every night until one night he doesn’t come at all.
note: husband (qrs) must come home at least 2 nights in a row to see this pattern.

2nd degree AV block type II
the wife (p wave) is waiting at home. sometimes the husband (qrs) comes home, sometimes he doesn’t. when he does come home, its always at the same time.
note: this is usually more serious than type I (Weinkebach) and will sometimes require counseling (pacing).

3rd degree AV block:
wife (p wave) is no longer waiting at home. she and her husband (qrs) are now both on separate schedules and have no relationship and they are no longer talking. each spouse has a regular, individual schedule.
note: this frequently requires counseling in the form of a temporary or permanent pacer.

Antidiabetic Drugs Infographic, NCLEX Pharmacology Study Guide