Emergency Medicine Mnemonics

Aaron Tjomsland

Most podcasts are about understanding. This emergency medicine podcast is about knowledge recall. Active learning requires your brain to process actively.
Can you withstand sitting with the discomfort of being asked a question until you can answer it easily and readily?
I promise you won’t be comfortable listening to each episode, but after you withstand the discomfort, your ability to recall, will be far superior than any other passive, listening.

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63 episodes
Updated Sep 11, 2025

Episodes63

Newest first

Mar 29, 2024 · 13 min
PERC Score: HAD CLOTS mnemonic for pulmonary embolism rule out criteria
The PERC (Pulmonary Embolism Rule-out Criteria) Rule is a "rule-out" tool – all variables must receive a "no" to be negative.
Mar 22, 2024 · 54 min
Headache: Deadly Differentials & Red Flags
Headache: Deadly Differentials & Red Flags
Mar 17, 2024 · 13 min
Asthma & Croup Quiz: basic meds knowledge
Asthma & Croup Quiz: basic meds knowledge for educational purposes only!
Mar 17, 2024 · 27 min
Normal Lab Values Mnemonic: CMP, CBC, ABG, Coags
Normal Lab Values Mnemonic: CMP, CBC, ABG, Coags
Feb 29, 2024 · 28 min
BMP Fishbone: Normal Lab Values Mnemonic
Remember the Chem7 by the mnemonic: Salty Bun (Na/Cl, BUN), Pot of Hot Coffee, Cream (K, HCO3, Cr), and Sugar (glucose)
Sep 23, 2023 · 24 min
Hs And Ts: Reversible Cardiac Arrest
Hippo and Thor. That’s all you need to remember the reversible causes of cardiac arrest.
Sep 21, 2023 · 1 hr 7 min
STROKE ALGORITHM: Last Known Normal
Shout out to Dr Jared Ross for laying the foundation knowledge for this episode about Stroke.
Sep 2, 2023 · 24 min
EKG Flowchart: Is there a P Wave
EKG Flowchart: Is there a P Wave
Aug 30, 2023 · 33 min
ACLS Basic Basic Basic framework
On a piece of paper, draw three lines horizontally to divide four unique approaches to ACLS: Shockable, unshockable, bradycardia, tachycardia. Of course, the entire paper represents CPR. These four unique approaches are how to handle the electrical and chemical aspects. You’ve got this!
Aug 23, 2023 · 21 min
The 6-Ps of Dyspnea: Critical Pulmonary Differential
The 6-Ps of Dyspnea: Critical Pulmonary Differential
Aug 20, 2023 · 14 min
Mafia PCC: pseudomonas antibiotics (a.k.a. shoe-domonas)
Antibiotics that cover pseudomonas: Meropenem, aztreonam, fluoroquinolones (not moxi), Imipenem, aminoglycosides, pip/tazo, cefepime, ceftazidime. If there is a puncture wound through the foot, you want to ask if they have worn shoes because if so, you need to cover for pseudomonas.
Aug 19, 2023 · 8 min
NSAID Nexus criteria: rule out need for c spine imaging
NSAID Nexus criteria: rule out need for c spine imaging
Jul 24, 2023 · 13 min
DKA the 8 I etiologies: I Dont Know Anything
DKA the 8 I etiologies: I Dont Know Anything
Jul 22, 2023 · 9 min
TAPPED: 6 Chest Pain Deadly Differentials
The mnemonic can be remembered by ED doctor overwhelmed by so many patients when a chest pain comes in…think “oh man, I’m tapped out”…. Or think TAP P.D.E.: 6 Chest Pain Deadly Differentials.
Jul 15, 2023 · 4 min
DOTS: when to suspect a fracture
Oh, this is one of the most simple acronyms on how to suspect a fracture. Deformity. Open wound. Tenderness/toddlers. Swelling. Emergency medicine is about ruling out the bad stuff and this mnemonic can help you remember to get an x-ray.
Jul 13, 2023 · 8 min
FAILURE: CHF Exacerbation Causes
FAILURE: These are the quick recall potential etiologies of congestive heart failure exacerbations. If you can sit with the discomfort of the silence until you’re able to answer the questions, you will know that you can easily and quickly recall this knowledge comfortably in the moment you need it. Then, ask yourself: do I need to check a thyroid function? Is this patient non-compliant with medications and do I need to ask the patient if they recently took their meds? What’s the baseline hemoglobin? Is there weight gain from last visit and how much? Is this patient recently ill? Is there pleuritic chest pain, low oxygen saturation? Do I need to consider the pulmonary embolism risk factors mnemonic THROMBOSIS?
Jul 12, 2023 · 22 min
AEIOU TIPS: Altered Mental Status
AEIOU TIPS: Altered Mental Status broad differential. Sit with the discomfort of this episode to master 17 broad differentials for AMS.
Jul 11, 2023 · 12 min
Syncope: Is it Cardiac? 3 Main Categories
Syncope: Cardiac, hypovolemic, Neuro Most important to establish from the history is “was there a prodrome?”
Jul 11, 2023 · 11 min
Tachy Epsilon: Cardiac Syncope EKG findings
Tachy Epsilon: Cardiac Syncope EKG findings. Tacky, epsilon, prolongs delta with 2 to 3 daggers in saddle. If there is a syncopal episode, please don’t be the provider who merely states NO STEMI… The standard of care is to evaluate the EKG for more than just myocardial infarction as the cause of a syncopal episode. Go above and beyond the standard of care to at least consider the 7 cardiac EKG findings for syncope.
Jul 10, 2023 · 7 min
Ive Fallen: Falls (possible causes)
I’ve Fallen: Falls (possible causes)

Emergency Medicine Mnemonics

PERC Score: HAD CLOTS mnemonic for pulmonary embolism rule out criteria

Headache: Deadly Differentials & Red Flags

Asthma & Croup Quiz: basic meds knowledge

Normal Lab Values Mnemonic: CMP, CBC, ABG, Coags

BMP Fishbone: Normal Lab Values Mnemonic

Hs And Ts: Reversible Cardiac Arrest

STROKE ALGORITHM: Last Known Normal

EKG Flowchart: Is there a P Wave

ACLS Basic Basic Basic framework

The 6-Ps of Dyspnea: Critical Pulmonary Differential

Mafia PCC: pseudomonas antibiotics (a.k.a. shoe-domonas)

NSAID Nexus criteria: rule out need for c spine imaging

DKA the 8 I etiologies: I Dont Know Anything

TAPPED: 6 Chest Pain Deadly Differentials

DOTS: when to suspect a fracture

FAILURE: CHF Exacerbation Causes

AEIOU TIPS: Altered Mental Status

Syncope: Is it Cardiac? 3 Main Categories

Tachy Epsilon: Cardiac Syncope EKG findings

Ive Fallen: Falls (possible causes)