50 Must-Know Nursing Mnemonics for NCLEX Success: RN & PN Made Simple

Preparing for the NCLEX can feel overwhelming. Between pharmacology, maternal health, pediatric milestones, psychiatric nursing, and prioritization strategies, students are expected to recall thousands of details. That’s where nursing mnemonics come in. These short, memorable word patterns help simplify complex topics and make them stick when it matters most—on exam day. Whether you’re preparing for the NCLEX-RN or NCLEX-PN, mnemonics can transform your study sessions into efficient, high-yield learning.

In this guide, we’ll explore 50 essential mnemonics every nursing student must know. Each one is explained with context so you’ll not only memorize, but also understand how to apply them. Use these alongside structured practice exams and flashcards from NCLEKS.com, where we also provide NCLEX-RN, NCLEX-PN, TEAS7, HESI A2 practice banks, and even nursing paper writing help for students juggling coursework.

Pharmacology Mnemonics 

Pharmacology is one of the most challenging NCLEX domains, but mnemonics simplify drug classes, antidotes, and side effects.

1. SLUDGEM – Symptoms of cholinergic toxicity: Salivation, Lacrimation, Urination, Diarrhea, GI upset, Emesis, Miosis.

2. MONA – Immediate MI treatment: Morphine, Oxygen, Nitrates, Aspirin.

3. Always Administer Drugs Before A Ventricle Dies – For antiarrhythmics: Adenosine, Amiodarone, Digoxin, Beta-blockers, Atropine, Vasopressors, Diltiazem.

4. Naloxone = Narcotic Antidote – Remember N for N.

5. “Warfarin = Watch INR” – Target therapeutic INR is 2–3.

6. ACE = “PRIL” – Common suffix for ACE inhibitors like Lisinopril.

7. Beta-Blockers end in “-LOL” – Metoprolol, Atenolol, Propranolol.

8. Digoxin Toxicity: A-V Block + Visual Changes – Green/yellow halos.

9. Potassium-sparing diuretics: “The K+ STAYS” – Spironolactone.

10. “Dilantin = Don’t Dilute Too Fast” – Prevents cardiac arrhythmias.

These pharmacology mnemonics not only make memorization easier but also serve as quick clinical reminders that nursing students can apply during exams and in practice. From SLUDGEM for cholinergic toxicity to MONA for heart attack management, each one simplifies complex drug information into manageable chunks. However, true mastery comes from consistent practice and applying these memory aids in exam-style scenarios. That’s why many students use resources like NCLEKS.com, where they can access NCLEX-RN and NCLEX-PN practice banks, flashcards, and study tools that reinforce these mnemonics through real test questions. By combining these shortcuts with structured practice, students boost their confidence and are better prepared for exam day.

Medical-Surgical Nursing Mnemonics

Medical-surgical nursing often demands that students and practicing nurses recall a wide range of conditions, symptoms, and treatment priorities quickly. With so many critical details to master, mnemonics become an essential learning strategy. They not only simplify recall but also help connect clinical signs with appropriate interventions, making it easier to respond in emergencies or during patient care. The following mnemonics highlight some of the most important concepts for managing common conditions like diabetes, heart failure, trauma, and cancer warning signs.

1. HOT & DRY = Sugar High – Hyperglycemia.

2. COLD & CLAMMY = Need Some Candy – Hypoglycemia.

3. COPD = Cough, Oxygen, Pursed lips, Diaphragmatic breathing.

4. RIGHT-SIDED HF = “SWELL” – Swelling, Weight gain, Edema, Large neck veins, Lethargy.

5. LEFT-SIDED HF = “DROWNS” – Dyspnea, Rales, Orthopnea, Weakness, Nocturnal dyspnea, Sputum (pink frothy).

6. RICE – Injury treatment: Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevation.

7. DVT = “Virchow’s Triad” – Hypercoagulability, Endothelial injury, Venous stasis.

8. ABCDE – Trauma assessment: Airway, Breathing, Circulation, Disability, Exposure.

9. CAUTION – Cancer warning signs: Change in bowel/bladder, A sore, Unusual bleeding, Thickening lump, Indigestion, Obvious change in mole, Nagging cough.

10. RAPID – Hypoglycemia treatment: Rapid sugar intake, Assess, Prepare glucagon, Initiate IV dextrose, Document.

This is how powerful mnemonics can be in simplifying complex medical-surgical concepts—but the real test is applying them in exam-style scenarios. That’s why we invite you to try our free NCLEX practice questions, where you can put these memory tricks into action and strengthen your test-taking skills.

Maternal & Newborn Mnemonics

Maternal and newborn nursing covers some of the most delicate aspects of care, where a nurse’s quick recall of assessments and complications can directly impact the safety of both mother and baby. Mnemonics are especially valuable in this area because they simplify complex terms and procedures into short, memorable cues. From fetal heart monitoring to postpartum assessments, these tools help students prepare for NCLEX-style questions while reinforcing safe practice in real-world maternity settings.

1. VEAL CHOP – Fetal HR interpretation: Variable = Cord compression, Early = Head compression, Acceleration = Okay, Late = Placental insufficiency.

2. TPAL – Pregnancy history: Term, Preterm, Abortions, Living.

3. HELLP – Preeclampsia complication: Hemolysis, Elevated Liver enzymes, Low Platelets.

4. BUBBLE-HE – Postpartum assessment: Breasts, Uterus, Bladder, Bowel, Lochia, Episiotomy, Homan’s sign, Emotions.

5. Mothers Taking Medications = Monitor Baby – Breastfeeding safety.

6. GRAVIDA = Pregnancies, PARA = Births.

7. “3 Ps of Diabetes in Pregnancy” – Polyuria, Polydipsia, Polyphagia.

8. LATCH – Breastfeeding assessment: Latch, Audible swallowing, Type of nipple, Comfort, Hold.

Pediatric Nursing Mnemonics

Pediatric nursing requires careful attention to developmental milestones, immunizations, and disease-specific conditions that can vary widely between newborns, children, and adolescents. Mnemonics make this knowledge easier to retain, giving students a quick way to recall essential details such as pain scales, congenital heart defects, and emergency protocols. By mastering these shortcuts, nursing students can approach pediatric NCLEX questions with greater confidence and accuracy.

1. MURDER – Hyperkalemia: Muscle cramps, Urine abnormalities, Respiratory distress, Decreased cardiac contractility, ECG changes, Reflexes.

2. IM DAMN SHP – Congenital heart defects.

3. MMR, Varicella = 12 months – Key immunization memory.

4. “APGAR” – Newborn scoring: Appearance, Pulse, Grimace, Activity, Respiration.

5. FLACC – Pain scale: Face, Legs, Activity, Cry, Consolability.

6. HEADSS – Adolescent assessment: Home, Education, Activities, Drugs, Sexuality, Suicide.

7. PALS = Pediatric Advanced Life Support.

8. RSV = Respiratory Syncytial Virus (contact/droplet precautions).

Psychiatric Nursing Mnemonics

Psychiatric nursing challenges students to recall diagnostic criteria, risk factors, and therapeutic interventions while maintaining a compassionate approach to care. Because mental health conditions often overlap and present subtly, mnemonics serve as powerful tools for organizing complex information into manageable patterns. From recognizing the signs of major depression with SIGECAPS to assessing suicide risk using SAD PERSONS, these shortcuts make exam preparation more efficient and clinical decision-making more precise.

1. SIGECAPS – Depression: Sleep, Interest, Guilt, Energy, Concentration, Appetite, Psychomotor, Suicidal.

2. SAD PERSONS – Suicide risk: Sex, Age, Depression, Previous attempt, Ethanol abuse, Rational thinking loss, Social support lacking, Organized plan, No spouse, Sickness.

3. “Hallucinations = Senses, Delusions = Beliefs.”

4. ABCDE Crisis – Assess, Build rapport, Control emotions, Determine problem, Encourage coping.

5. GAD = “Worry WARTS” – Wound-up, Anxious, Restless, Tired, Sleep issues.

6. PIE – Documentation: Problem, Intervention, Evaluation.

Critical Care & Prioritization Mnemonics

Critical care and prioritization are at the core of safe nursing practice, especially in high-stress environments like emergency departments and intensive care units. Nurses must act quickly, make rapid assessments, and communicate effectively with the healthcare team. Mnemonics such as ABC for prioritizing airway, breathing, and circulation or SBAR for structured communication help ensure no critical step is overlooked, both in exams and in real-world patient care

1. ABC – Always prioritize Airway, Breathing, Circulation.

2. RACE – Fire safety: Rescue, Alarm, Confine, Extinguish.

3. PASS – Fire extinguisher: Pull, Aim, Squeeze, Sweep.

4. “Triage Colors” – Red (immediate), Yellow (delayed), Green (minor), Black (expectant).

5. SBAR – Communication: Situation, Background, Assessment, Recommendation.

6. AMPLE – Emergency history: Allergies, Medications, Past history, Last meal, Events leading up.