Anatomy subcategory

Vital Signs and Assessment

Mnemonics for observations, scoring systems and the acutely unwell patient.

Entries in Vital Signs and Assessment

ABCDE Assessment Mnemonic

Airway, Breathing, Circulation, Disability, Exposure, treating as you go

A memory aid for the structured assessment of an acutely unwell patient.

Vital Signs and AssessmentResuscitation and Cardiac Arrest
Falls Assessment Mnemonic

What happened, why, and what damage was done

A memory aid for the multifactorial assessment of a patient who has fallen.

Vital Signs and AssessmentTriage and Emergency Assessment
Fluid Status Assessment Mnemonic

History, observations, examination and charts together

A memory aid for assessing whether a patient is dry or overloaded.

Vital Signs and AssessmentShock and Sepsis
Glasgow Coma Scale Mnemonic

Eyes out of 4, Verbal out of 5, Motor out of 6

A memory aid for the components and scoring of the GCS.

Vital Signs and AssessmentResuscitation and Cardiac Arrest
NEWS2 Scoring Mnemonic

Six physiological parameters plus supplemental oxygen

A memory aid for the parameters of the national early warning score.

Vital Signs and AssessmentTriage and Emergency Assessment
Oxygen Delivery Devices Mnemonic

From nasal cannulae to non-rebreathe and Venturi masks

A memory aid for the oxygen delivery devices and the concentrations they give.

Vital Signs and AssessmentAirway and Ventilation
Pyrexia Assessment Mnemonic

Find the source, then the severity, then the risk factors

A memory aid for the assessment of a patient with a fever.

Vital Signs and Assessment
Sepsis Recognition Mnemonic

Life-threatening organ dysfunction from a dysregulated response to infection

A memory aid for recognising and treating sepsis.

Vital Signs and AssessmentShock and Sepsis
Shock Recognition at the Bedside Mnemonic

Inadequate tissue perfusion, recognised before hypotension appears

A memory aid for recognising and classifying shock clinically.

Vital Signs and AssessmentShock and Sepsis