BADDIE RNBaddie RN
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Nursing Mnemonics with Baddie RN sass

The pocket-brain we wish we had in nursing school. Real mnemonics, real rationale, real Baddie Bestie sayings — free to print, share, and pass boards with.

More cheat sheets
Chart it like you'll be deposed on it 👑
If it isn't documented, it didn't happen — Baddie's first rule.
Trust your nurse gut. It went to school too.
Assess first, panic never.
Your license > their attitude.
Slow is smooth. Smooth is safe. Safe is baddie.
You are not 'just' a nurse. You are THE nurse.

🩺Assessment & Priorities

ABCDE
Primary survey — every patient, every time
  • A — Airway (patent? snoring? stridor?)
  • B — Breathing (rate, depth, SpO₂, breath sounds)
  • C — Circulation (HR, BP, cap refill, bleeding)
  • D — Disability (LOC, GCS, glucose, pupils)
  • E — Exposure (skin, temp, head-to-toe)

Baddie rule 👑: if you can't remember what to do first, start at A. Always.

SAMPLE
Fast history on a crashing patient
  • S — Signs & symptoms
  • A — Allergies
  • M — Medications
  • P — Past medical history
  • L — Last oral intake
  • E — Events leading up
OPQRST
Pain assessment that actually charts well
  • O — Onset
  • P — Provocation / palliation
  • Q — Quality
  • R — Radiation
  • S — Severity (0–10)
  • T — Timing
AVPU
Quick LOC in 2 seconds
  • A — Alert
  • V — responds to Voice
  • P — responds to Pain
  • U — Unresponsive

🗣️Handoff & Communication

SBAR
The handoff that makes doctors call you back
  • S — Situation (who, what, right now)
  • B — Background (why they're here, pertinent hx)
  • A — Assessment (your nurse gut + vitals)
  • R — Recommendation (what you need from them)

Baddie tip 👑: end every SBAR with a clear ask. Never dump, always request.

I-PASS
Shift-to-shift handoff
  • I — Illness severity
  • P — Patient summary
  • A — Action list
  • S — Situation awareness / contingencies
  • S — Synthesis by receiver

❤️‍🔥Cardiac & ACLS

MONA
Initial ACS management (order by clinical priority)
  • M — Morphine (if pain uncontrolled by nitro)
  • O — Oxygen (only if SpO₂ < 90%)
  • N — Nitroglycerin
  • A — Aspirin (chew 162–325 mg)

Baddie truth 👑: MONA is a memory hook — Aspirin comes FIRST clinically.

H's & T's
Reversible causes of cardiac arrest
  • H — Hypovolemia, Hypoxia, Hydrogen ion (acidosis), Hypo/Hyperkalemia, Hypothermia
  • T — Tension pneumo, Tamponade, Toxins, Thrombosis (pulm), Thrombosis (coronary)
STEMI-Time
Door-to-balloon standard
  • Goal: PCI within 90 minutes
  • Fibrinolytics: within 30 min if no PCI
  • 12-lead within 10 min of arrival

🫁Respiratory & PACU

LMNOP
Acute pulmonary edema / CHF flash
  • L — Lasix (loop diuretic)
  • M — Morphine (reduce preload + anxiety)
  • N — Nitrates
  • O — Oxygen
  • P — Position upright
PACU Aldrete
Discharge readiness — score ≥ 9
  • Activity — moves all 4 extremities
  • Respiration — deep breath / cough
  • Circulation — BP within 20% baseline
  • Consciousness — fully awake
  • Oxygen — SpO₂ > 92% on room air

PACU baddie 👑: never discharge on vibes. Score them, chart it, hand off with SBAR.

Laryngospasm
Fix it fast
  • 1. Jaw thrust + Larson's point pressure
  • 2. 100% O₂ + positive pressure
  • 3. Deepen anesthesia (propofol 10–20 mg)
  • 4. Succinylcholine 0.1–0.5 mg/kg if unbroken
  • 5. Call for help — every time

💊Meds & Safety

6 Rights
Med pass without a med error
  • Right patient · Right drug · Right dose
  • Right route · Right time · Right documentation
  • Bonus baddies add: Right reason + Right response
TACO vs TRALI
Transfusion reactions — know the difference
  • TACO — volume Overload: HTN, JVD, crackles, ↑BNP
  • TRALI — acute Lung Injury: hypotension, fever, bilateral infiltrates within 6 hr
  • Both: STOP transfusion, keep line open with NS, notify blood bank

Baddie rule 👑: 'TACO fills 'em up, TRALI drowns 'em.'

SLUDGE
Cholinergic (organophosphate) toxicity
  • S — Salivation
  • L — Lacrimation
  • U — Urination
  • D — Defecation
  • G — GI cramps
  • E — Emesis
  • Antidote: Atropine + Pralidoxime

🧠Neuro & Stroke

FAST
Stroke recognition
  • F — Face drooping
  • A — Arm weakness
  • S — Speech difficulty
  • T — Time to call 911 / activate stroke
Cushing's Triad
↑ Intracranial pressure — late sign, don't miss it
  • ↑ Systolic BP with widened pulse pressure
  • ↓ HR (bradycardia)
  • Irregular respirations

🧪Labs & Fluids

MUDPILES
High anion gap metabolic acidosis
  • M — Methanol
  • U — Uremia
  • D — DKA
  • P — Paraldehyde / Propylene glycol
  • I — Iron / Isoniazid
  • L — Lactic acidosis
  • E — Ethylene glycol
  • S — Salicylates
ROME
ABG interpretation shortcut
  • Respiratory = Opposite (pH ↑, CO₂ ↓ or vice versa)
  • Metabolic = Equal (pH and HCO₃ move together)

Baddie flex 👑: read pH first, then CO₂, then HCO₃. Every. Single. Time.

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