Included with MnemoNurse Complete
Study all 158 characters in order
Follow the MnemoNurse sequence chapter by chapter: learn the character, understand the story, remember it with flashcards, practise the questions, then review every rationale.
Week-by-week NCLEX-RN roadmap
Each week: meet the characters, drill their flashcards, then take a practice quiz and review every rationale.
Week 1: Endocrine & Metabolic
0/15 chapters- Acidotic Andy — Metabolic Acidosis
- Alkalotic Alice — Metabolic Alkalosis
- Panicking Pam — Respiratory Alkalosis
- Potassium Pete — Hyperkalemia
- Low-K Lena — Hypokalemia
- Salty Sal — Hypernatremia
- Diluted Dana — Hyponatremia / SIADH
- Chvostek Chuck — Hypocalcemia
- Stony Stella — Hypercalcemia
- Magnesium Maggie — Magnesium Imbalance
- Ketone Kyle — Diabetic Ketoacidosis
- Hyperosmolar Hank — Hyperosmolar Hyperglycemic State
- Storming Tori — Thyroid Storm
- Sluggish Myra — Myxedema Coma
- Addison Ada — Adrenal Crisis
Week 2: Endocrine & Metabolic · Cardiovascular
0/15 chapters- Cushing Cora — Cushing's Syndrome
- Dry Dwayne — Diabetes Insipidus
- Phosphate Franklin — Phosphorus Imbalance: The Calcium See-Saw & Binders With Meals
- Overloaded Olive — Fluid Volume Overload: Crackles, Bounding Pulse & Stop the Infusion
- Slow-Drip Delia — IV Potassium Safety: Never Push, Always Dilute, Always Pump
- Levo Lucy — Levothyroxine: Empty Stomach, Same Time, Lifelong — and the Signs of Too Much
- Septic Sam — Distributive Shock
- Pumpless Paul — Cardiogenic Shock
- Bleeding Bea — Hypovolemic Shock
- Failing Frank — Heart Failure
- Infarcting Ivan — Myocardial Infarction
- Fibrillating Fay — Atrial Fibrillation
- Warfarin Wally — Anticoagulation
- Crisis Camila — Hypertensive Crisis
- Aneurysm Arturo — Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm
Week 3: Cardiovascular · Respiratory
0/15 chapters- Claudicating Clara — Peripheral Arterial Disease vs Venous Insufficiency
- Endocarditis Eli — Infective Endocarditis
- Pericardial Pearl — Pericarditis & Cardiac Tamponade
- Valve Vera — Valvular Heart Disease & Rheumatic Fever
- Paced Pia — Pacemakers & ICDs
- Clotted Cliff — Deep Vein Thrombosis & VTE Prevention
- Retaining Ray — Respiratory Acidosis
- Embolic Emma — Pulmonary Embolism
- Rigid Rita — ARDS
- Wheezing Wanda — Asthma Exacerbation
- Consolidated Carl — Pneumonia
- Vented Vince — Mechanical Ventilation
- Barrel Bart — COPD
- Collapsing Callum — Tension Pneumothorax & Chest Tubes: Tracheal Deviation and the Water Seal
- Trach Tomas — Tracheostomy & Suctioning Safety: Oxygenate First, Suction Out Only
Week 4: Respiratory · Neurological · Gastrointestinal & Renal
0/15 chapters- Oxygen Omar — Oxygen Delivery Devices: Matching the Mask to the Need — and Fire Safety
- Pressured Priya — Increased Intracranial Pressure
- Stroke Stan — Ischemic Stroke
- Seizing Simone — Seizures & Status Epilepticus
- Reflexive Rex — Spinal Cord Injury & Autonomic Dysreflexia
- Myasthenic Marge — Myasthenia Gravis & Myasthenic Crisis
- Tremor Tomas — Parkinson's Disease
- Meningitis Mia — Bacterial Meningitis: Stiff Neck, Droplet Precautions & Rapid Antibiotics
- Sclerosis Sadie — Multiple Sclerosis: Demyelination, Relapses & Heat Intolerance
- Ascending Abe — Guillain-Barré Syndrome: Weakness That Climbs Toward the Lungs
- Retinal Rhea — Retinal Detachment: The Curtain, the Flashes and the Painless Emergency
- Ammonia Amy — Cirrhosis & Hepatic Encephalopathy
- Anuric Alan — Acute Kidney Injury
- Pancreatic Pablo — Acute Pancreatitis
- Tarry Tara — Upper GI Bleed & Peptic Ulcer Disease
Week 5: Gastrointestinal & Renal · Pharmacology
0/15 chapters- Blocked Bruno — Bowel Obstruction
- Appendix Annie — Appendicitis & Peritonitis
- Gallstone Gina — Cholecystitis & Cholelithiasis
- Crohn's Colin — Inflammatory Bowel Disease (Crohn's vs Ulcerative Colitis)
- Diverticular Dee — Diverticulitis
- Hepatitis Hugo — Viral Hepatitis A, B & C
- Dialysis Dina — Chronic Kidney Disease & Hemodialysis
- Kidney Kwame — UTI & Pyelonephritis
- Prostate Percy — BPH & TURP Care
- Glomerular Greta — Post-Streptococcal Glomerulonephritis: The Tea-Colored Urine After the Sore Throat
- Ostomy Oscar — Ostomy Care: The Rose-Red Stoma and the Skin That Must Stay Whole
- Anaphylactic Ana — Anaphylaxis
- Shaky Shawna — Hypoglycemia
- Digoxin Dot — Digoxin Toxicity
- Insulin Ike — Insulin Types, Peaks & Administration Safety
Week 6: Pharmacology · Maternal & Newborn
0/15 chapters- ACE Angie — ACE Inhibitors: Cough, Angioedema & Hyperkalemia
- Beta Betty — Beta Blockers: Apical Pulse, Masked Hypoglycemia & Rebound
- Lasix Larry — Loop Diuretics: Hypokalemia & Ototoxicity
- Lithium Lila — Lithium: Therapeutic Levels, Toxicity & Sodium Balance
- Tyramine Tessa — MAOIs & the Tyramine Hypertensive Crisis
- Nitro Nina — Nitroglycerin: Sublingual Rules, Headache & Dangerous Combinations
- Heparin Holly — Heparin: aPTT, Protamine Sulfate & HIT
- Phenytoin Phil — Phenytoin: Narrow Range, Nystagmus & Gummy Smiles
- Warfarin Winnie — Warfarin & INR: Vitamin K, Bleeding Precautions and the Salad Problem
- Steroid Stan — Corticosteroid Therapy: Never Stop Abruptly, Watch Sugar and Hidden Infection
- Vanco Vera — Vancomycin: Slow the Infusion, Watch the Trough, Protect the Kidneys and Ears
- PCA Pablo — PCA & Opioid Safety: Only the Patient Presses the Button
- Pressure Pam — Antihypertensive Classes: Orthostatic Safety and Client Teaching
- Preeclamptic Penny — Preeclampsia & Magnesium Sulfate
- Gushing Gwen — Postpartum Hemorrhage & Uterine Atony
Week 7: Maternal & Newborn · Mental Health
0/15 chapters- Previa Paula — Placenta Previa
- Abrupting Abby — Placental Abruption
- Sugary Selena — Gestational Diabetes
- Decel Dina — Fetal Heart Rate Decelerations & Intrapartum Monitoring
- Yellow Yusuf — Newborn Hyperbilirubinemia & Phototherapy
- Cord Callie — Umbilical Cord Prolapse
- Feverish Fiona — Postpartum Infection & Mastitis
- Hyperemesis Hazel — Hyperemesis Gravidarum: Vomiting, Ketones & Dehydration
- Mastitis Mabel — Mastitis: Flu-Like Fever, a Red Wedge & Keep Nursing
- Labor Lena — Stages of Labor and the Normal Newborn Assessment
- Ectopic Erica — Ectopic Pregnancy: The Pain on One Side and the Shoulder That Screams Rupture
- Sober Sully — Alcohol Withdrawal & Delirium Tremens
- Manic Mia — Bipolar Mania & Lithium Toxicity
- Voices Victor — Schizophrenia & Antipsychotic Side Effects (EPS, NMS, tardive dyskinesia)
- Sinking Sadie — Major Depression & Suicide Risk
Week 8: Mental Health · Pediatrics
0/15 chapters- Flashback Felix — PTSD & Panic Disorder
- Narcan Nate — Opioid Overdose & Withdrawal
- Mirror Mila — Anorexia Nervosa & Refeeding Syndrome
- Serotonin Sylvia — Serotonin Syndrome
- Confused Connie — Delirium vs Dementia & Restraint Alternatives
- Obsessive Owen — OCD: Obsessions, Compulsions & Anxiety Relief
- Sundowning Sid — Alzheimer's Disease: Sundowning, Safety and Calm Redirection
- Listening Theo — Therapeutic Communication: What to Say, and What Never to Say
- Wheezy Winnie — Bronchiolitis & RSV
- Sickled Simon — Sickle Cell Vaso-Occlusive Crisis
- Cystic Cassie — Cystic Fibrosis
- Strawberry Kai — Kawasaki Disease
- Telescope Tommy — Intussusception
- Droopy Dani — Infant Dehydration & Gastroenteritis
- Leaded Liam — Lead Poisoning
Week 9: Pediatrics · Critical Care · Safety & Infection Control
0/15 chapters- Nephrotic Nolan — Childhood Nephrotic Syndrome: Puffy Eyes, Frothy Urine & Protein Loss
- Croupy Cora — Croup vs Epiglottitis: The Barking Cough and the Child You Never Lie Down
- Milestone Maya — Growth, Development and Age-Appropriate Safety
- Tet Spell Tilda — Tetralogy of Fallot: The Blue Spell and the Squat That Saves It
- Pyloric Piper — Pyloric Stenosis: The Olive, the Fountain and the Hungry Baby
- Lysing Luis — Tumor Lysis Syndrome
- Clotless Clara — Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation
- Burned Bella — Burns & Fluid Resuscitation
- Phantom Petra — Amputation Care: The Limb That Is Gone but Still Hurts
- Neutropenic Nia — Neutropenia & Chemotherapy Precautions
- Transfusing Tina — Blood Transfusion Reactions
- Spore Sean — Clostridioides difficile & Isolation Precautions
- CD4 Hana — HIV & Opportunistic Infections
- Delegating Deb — Delegation, Assignment & Scope of Practice
- Triage Theo — Disaster Triage & Prioritization
Week 10: Safety & Infection Control · Health Assessment
0/15 chapters- Consent Carmen — Informed Consent, Advance Directives & Privacy
- Quarantined Quinn — Tuberculosis: Airborne Precautions, Rifampin and the Orange Secret
- Shingles Sheila — Herpes Zoster: The One-Sided Band of Blisters and Airborne Rules
- Central Line Cesar — Central Lines & Air Embolism: Clamp It, Position It, Protect It
- Infiltrated Ivy — Infiltration vs Extravasation vs Phlebitis: Cool and Swollen or Red and Warm
- Feeding Fiona — Enteral Feeding & Aspiration Prevention: Head of Bed Up, Placement Verified
- Post-Op Priya — Postoperative Complications: The Day-by-Day Timeline Every Nurse Watches
- Restraint Rita — Restraints & Fall Prevention: Least Restrictive First, and the Order Rules
- Vaccine Vivian — Immunizations: Live Vaccines, Real Contraindications and the Reactions to Expect
- TPN Tessa — Total Parenteral Nutrition: High Sugar, Central Line, and Never Stop It Suddenly
- Pale Priscilla — Iron Deficiency Anemia
- Butterfly Bella — Systemic Lupus Erythematosus
- Compartment Cody — Fractures & Compartment Syndrome
- Ulcer Uma — Pressure Injury Staging & Prevention
- Rhabdo Rory — Rhabdomyolysis: Tea-Colored Urine, Potassium & Kidney Rescue
Week 11: Health Assessment
0/8 chapters- Osteo Opal — Osteoporosis: Silent Bone Loss, Fall Prevention & Bisphosphonates
- Glaucoma Gloria — Glaucoma: Silent Peripheral Loss vs Acute Angle-Closure Emergency
- Gout Gus — Gout: Uric Acid Crystals, the Angry Big Toe & Purine Teaching
- Meniere Mira — Meniere's Disease: Vertigo, Tinnitus & Hearing Loss
- Rheumatoid Rosa — Rheumatoid Arthritis: Symmetric Joints, Morning Stiffness & DMARDs
- Fractured Frida — Hip Fracture & Fat Embolism: The Shortened Leg and the Confusion That Follows
- Screening Sam — Cancer Warning Signs and Screening Teaching
- B12 Bianca — Pernicious Anemia: The Beefy Red Tongue and the Wobbly Walk
Weeks 12–13: Final review
Re-drill every flashcard you missed, take mixed practice quizzes across all categories, and revisit the characters behind your weakest areas.
Your chapter sequence
158 high-yield chapters in the same order as the Recall Binder.
Endocrine & Metabolic
21 chapters
1. Acidotic Andy — Metabolic AcidosisKussmaul breathing, fruity breath, pH ↓ · HCO₃⁻ ↓
2. Alkalotic Alice — Metabolic AlkalosisVomiting and diuretics, tingling fingers, pH ↑ · HCO₃⁻ ↑
4. Panicking Pam — Respiratory AlkalosisHyperventilation, numb lips, pH ↑ · PaCO₂ ↓
5. Potassium Pete — HyperkalemiaPeaked T waves, muscle cramps, hold the bananas
6. Low-K Lena — HypokalemiaFlat T waves, U waves, silent belly, never IV push
7. Salty Sal — HypernatremiaThirsty, dry, agitated — Na⁺ > 150, correct it slowly
8. Diluted Dana — Hyponatremia / SIADHToo much water, Na⁺ < 135, headache to seizure
9. Chvostek Chuck — HypocalcemiaTwitchy face, tingling lips, watch the airway
10. Stony Stella — HypercalcemiaStones, bones, groans and psychiatric overtones
11. Magnesium Maggie — Magnesium ImbalanceLow Mg = torsades; high Mg = reflexes gone
22. Ketone Kyle — Diabetic KetoacidosisType 1, glucose > 250, ketones, acidosis — fluids first
23. Hyperosmolar Hank — Hyperosmolar Hyperglycemic StateType 2, glucose > 600, no ketones, profound dehydration
25. Storming Tori — Thyroid StormEverything accelerates: fever, tachycardia, delirium
26. Sluggish Myra — Myxedema ComaEverything slows: hypothermia, bradycardia, hypoventilation
27. Addison Ada — Adrenal CrisisBronze skin, low Na⁺, high K⁺, hypotension — steroids now
28. Cushing Cora — Cushing's SyndromeMoon face, buffalo hump, high Na⁺, low K⁺, high glucose
29. Dry Dwayne — Diabetes InsipidusLiters of pale urine, Na⁺ ↑, specific gravity < 1.005
128. Phosphate Franklin — Phosphorus Imbalance: The Calcium See-Saw & Binders With MealsHis phosphorus climbs, his calcium falls, and he itches everywhere — the binder only works if he takes it with food
129. Overloaded Olive — Fluid Volume Overload: Crackles, Bounding Pulse & Stop the InfusionThe IV ran wide open, and now she is coughing pink froth with veins standing out in her neck
139. Slow-Drip Delia — IV Potassium Safety: Never Push, Always Dilute, Always PumpThe order says potassium — and the single most dangerous thing a nurse can do with it is give it fast
145. Levo Lucy — Levothyroxine: Empty Stomach, Same Time, Lifelong — and the Signs of Too MuchShe takes her thyroid pill with breakfast and a calcium chew — and wonders why she still feels exhausted
Cardiovascular
15 chapters
12. Septic Sam — Distributive ShockWarm flushed skin early, then BP bottoms out
13. Pumpless Paul — Cardiogenic ShockPump fails: cold, clammy, crackles, high filling pressures
14. Bleeding Bea — Hypovolemic ShockTank is empty: tachycardia first, hypotension late
33. Failing Frank — Heart FailureLeft = lungs, right = rest of the body; weigh daily
34. Infarcting Ivan — Myocardial InfarctionCrushing pain unrelieved by rest — MONA, then reperfusion
35. Fibrillating Fay — Atrial FibrillationIrregularly irregular — rate, rhythm, and clot prevention
36. Warfarin Wally — AnticoagulationWarfarin → INR → vitamin K; heparin → aPTT → protamine
82. Crisis Camila — Hypertensive CrisisBP 220/130 with a pounding headache and blurred vision — end-organ damage is the emergency, not the number alone
83. Aneurysm Arturo — Abdominal Aortic AneurysmPulsatile abdominal mass, sudden tearing back pain, and a dropping BP — never palpate deeply once rupture is suspected
84. Claudicating Clara — Peripheral Arterial Disease vs Venous InsufficiencyCold, pale legs that hurt with walking and improve with dangling — arterial disease is the opposite of venous
85. Endocarditis Eli — Infective EndocarditisNew murmur, fever, and tiny splinter hemorrhages under the nails — bacteria are colonizing his heart valves
86. Pericardial Pearl — Pericarditis & Cardiac TamponadeSharp chest pain that eases leaning forward, then muffled heart sounds and a falling BP — the pericardial sac is filling
87. Valve Vera — Valvular Heart Disease & Rheumatic FeverA childhood strep throat left scarred valves — now a harsh murmur and signs of failure decades later
88. Paced Pia — Pacemakers & ICDsHiccups after pacemaker placement can mean the lead is stimulating the diaphragm — check the pocket and the rhythm strip
89. Clotted Cliff — Deep Vein Thrombosis & VTE PreventionUnilateral calf swelling, warmth, and a positive Homans-like tenderness — never massage the leg, a clot may already be loose
Respiratory
10 chapters
3. Retaining Ray — Respiratory AcidosisCOPD, CO₂ narcosis, pH ↓ · PaCO₂ ↑
16. Embolic Emma — Pulmonary EmbolismSudden dyspnea — High-Fowler's + oxygen first
17. Rigid Rita — ARDSRefractory hypoxemia, stiff lungs, white-out on x-ray
18. Wheezing Wanda — Asthma ExacerbationA silent chest is worse than a loud one
19. Consolidated Carl — PneumoniaCrackles, rusty sputum, confusion in the elderly
21. Vented Vince — Mechanical VentilationHigh-pressure alarm = obstruction; low = disconnection
79. Barrel Bart — COPDBarrel chest, pursed-lip breathing, low-flow O₂ — his drive to breathe is low oxygen
130. Collapsing Callum — Tension Pneumothorax & Chest Tubes: Tracheal Deviation and the Water SealHe was stabbed in the chest, now he cannot catch his breath — and his windpipe is sliding away from the wound
142. Trach Tomas — Tracheostomy & Suctioning Safety: Oxygenate First, Suction Out OnlyHis secretions are thick, his saturation is dropping, and the safest suction is the shortest one
147. Oxygen Omar — Oxygen Delivery Devices: Matching the Mask to the Need — and Fire SafetyThe right oxygen device is not the biggest one — it is the one that matches the liters, the diagnosis and the risk
Neurological
10 chapters
30. Pressured Priya — Increased Intracranial PressureCushing's triad is late — act on the early changes
31. Stroke Stan — Ischemic StrokeTime is brain — last known well decides everything
32. Seizing Simone — Seizures & Status EpilepticusProtect, don't restrain — time the seizure
75. Reflexive Rex — Spinal Cord Injury & Autonomic DysreflexiaPounding headache, BP 220/120, bradycardia — sit him up and find the trigger
76. Myasthenic Marge — Myasthenia Gravis & Myasthenic CrisisPtosis and diplopia worsen with use — watch for crisis when swallowing and breathing fail
78. Tremor Tomas — Parkinson's DiseaseResting tremor, rigidity, bradykinesia — time levodopa exactly, never abruptly stop it
117. Meningitis Mia — Bacterial Meningitis: Stiff Neck, Droplet Precautions & Rapid AntibioticsA college dorm, a fever, and a neck too stiff to touch her chin to her chest
118. Sclerosis Sadie — Multiple Sclerosis: Demyelination, Relapses & Heat IntoleranceHer symptoms come, go, and come back somewhere else — and a hot bath makes every one of them worse
131. Ascending Abe — Guillain-Barré Syndrome: Weakness That Climbs Toward the LungsHis tingling toes became weak legs, then a weak chest — the paralysis is climbing, and the only question that matters is his breathing
164. Retinal Rhea — Retinal Detachment: The Curtain, the Flashes and the Painless EmergencyA curtain falling over the vision, flashes and floaters — painless, but the clock is ticking
Gastrointestinal & Renal
15 chapters
37. Ammonia Amy — Cirrhosis & Hepatic EncephalopathyJaundice, ascites, asterixis — lactulose until 2–3 stools a day
38. Anuric Alan — Acute Kidney InjuryUrine < 30 mL/hr, K⁺ ↑, creatinine ↑ — find the cause first
41. Pancreatic Pablo — Acute PancreatitisBoring epigastric pain to the back, lipase ↑, Ca²⁺ ↓ — NPO and rest the gland
80. Tarry Tara — Upper GI Bleed & Peptic Ulcer DiseaseBlack tarry stools, coffee-ground emesis, dropping BP — airway first, then fluids
81. Blocked Bruno — Bowel ObstructionNo stool, no flatus, high-pitched bowel sounds above the block — vomiting relieves, then it's silence
90. Appendix Annie — Appendicitis & PeritonitisPain migrates to McBurney's point, then suddenly stops — that relief can mean rupture, not recovery
91. Gallstone Gina — Cholecystitis & CholelithiasisRUQ pain after a fatty meal, radiating to the right shoulder — a positive Murphy's sign clinches it
92. Crohn's Colin — Inflammatory Bowel Disease (Crohn's vs Ulcerative Colitis)Skip lesions and fistulas mean Crohn's; continuous rectal bleeding means ulcerative colitis
93. Diverticular Dee — DiverticulitisLLQ pain, fever and a change in bowel habits — perforation turns this into peritonitis fast
94. Hepatitis Hugo — Viral Hepatitis A, B & CJaundice, dark urine, clay stools and RUQ tenderness — know your route of transmission to know your teaching
95. Dialysis Dina — Chronic Kidney Disease & HemodialysisNever take a BP or draw blood from the fistula arm — a thrill and bruit confirm it's still patent
96. Kidney Kwame — UTI & PyelonephritisBurning and frequency stay in the bladder — flank pain, fever and chills mean it's climbed to the kidney
97. Prostate Percy — BPH & TURP CareBright red urine with clots post-TURP is expected briefly — watch for bladder spasms and clot retention
162. Glomerular Greta — Post-Streptococcal Glomerulonephritis: The Tea-Colored Urine After the Sore ThroatA sore throat two weeks ago, now smoky urine, puffy eyes and a climbing blood pressure
165. Ostomy Oscar — Ostomy Care: The Rose-Red Stoma and the Skin That Must Stay WholeA healthy stoma is rose-red and moist — pale, purple or black means trouble
Pharmacology
17 chapters
15. Anaphylactic Ana — AnaphylaxisAirway closing — epinephrine IM, thigh, now
24. Shaky Shawna — HypoglycemiaCold and clammy, need some candy — 15 and 15
39. Digoxin Dot — Digoxin ToxicityNausea, yellow-green halos, HR < 60 — check K⁺ and the level
102. Insulin Ike — Insulin Types, Peaks & Administration SafetyKnow the peak, know the risk — hypoglycemia strikes hardest when the insulin is working hardest
106. ACE Angie — ACE Inhibitors: Cough, Angioedema & HyperkalemiaLisinopril lowers her blood pressure beautifully — until the dry cough starts and her lips begin to swell
107. Beta Betty — Beta Blockers: Apical Pulse, Masked Hypoglycemia & ReboundMetoprolol keeps her heart calm — but check the apical pulse first, and never let her stop it cold turkey
108. Lasix Larry — Loop Diuretics: Hypokalemia & OtotoxicityFurosemide drains the fluid from his failing heart — and flushes his potassium out with it
109. Lithium Lila — Lithium: Therapeutic Levels, Toxicity & Sodium BalanceLithium steadies her moods — but it rides on sodium, and one sweaty week or skipped salt can push her into toxicity
110. Tyramine Tessa — MAOIs & the Tyramine Hypertensive CrisisPhenelzine finally lifts her depression — until aged cheese and tap beer send her blood pressure through the roof
111. Nitro Nina — Nitroglycerin: Sublingual Rules, Headache & Dangerous CombinationsOne tablet under the tongue melts her angina in minutes — one tablet with the wrong pill can drop her pressure to the floor
112. Heparin Holly — Heparin: aPTT, Protamine Sulfate & HITThe heparin drip keeps her clot from growing — but the aPTT tells the nurse how fast it runs, and protamine turns it off
113. Phenytoin Phil — Phenytoin: Narrow Range, Nystagmus & Gummy SmilesPhenytoin stops his seizures at 10-20 — but nystagmus says the level is climbing, and his gums grow over his teeth
138. Warfarin Winnie — Warfarin & INR: Vitamin K, Bleeding Precautions and the Salad ProblemHer nosebleed will not stop, her INR is 6.5, and the only thing that changed was a week of kale smoothies — then a week without them
144. Steroid Stan — Corticosteroid Therapy: Never Stop Abruptly, Watch Sugar and Hidden InfectionHe felt better, so he stopped his prednisone on Friday — by Sunday his pressure was bottoming out
146. Vanco Vera — Vancomycin: Slow the Infusion, Watch the Trough, Protect the Kidneys and EarsHis face and neck turned red twenty minutes into the infusion — the drug is not the problem, the speed is
149. PCA Pablo — PCA & Opioid Safety: Only the Patient Presses the ButtonHis daughter pressed the button while he slept, because she loves him — and that is exactly how an overdose happens
157. Pressure Pam — Antihypertensive Classes: Orthostatic Safety and Client TeachingEvery blood pressure pill shares one teaching point — stand up slowly, and never stop it because you feel fine
Maternal & Newborn
13 chapters
40. Preeclamptic Penny — Preeclampsia & Magnesium SulfateBP ≥ 140/90 after 20 weeks + proteinuria — headache means danger
58. Gushing Gwen — Postpartum Hemorrhage & Uterine AtonyBoggy fundus, soaked pad in 15 min — fundal massage first, always
59. Previa Paula — Placenta PreviaPainless bright red bleeding — NEVER do a vaginal exam
60. Abrupting Abby — Placental AbruptionSudden pain + dark bleeding + rigid uterus — fetal distress races the clock
61. Sugary Selena — Gestational DiabetesFasting glucose ↑, macrosomic baby risk — diet and monitoring come first
62. Decel Dina — Fetal Heart Rate Decelerations & Intrapartum MonitoringVEAL CHOP: Variable=Cord, Early=Head, Accel=Okay, Late=Placenta
63. Yellow Yusuf — Newborn Hyperbilirubinemia & PhototherapyJaundice head-to-toe by day 2-3 — eyes covered, skin bare under lights
64. Cord Callie — Umbilical Cord ProlapseCord visible or felt pulsating — knee-chest, lift the presenting part off it NOW
65. Feverish Fiona — Postpartum Infection & MastitisFever ≥100.4°F after day 1, foul lochia, or a hot red breast wedge
124. Hyperemesis Hazel — Hyperemesis Gravidarum: Vomiting, Ketones & DehydrationThis is not morning sickness — she has lost 12 pounds and her urine is full of ketones
125. Mastitis Mabel — Mastitis: Flu-Like Fever, a Red Wedge & Keep NursingA hot red wedge on one breast and a 102 fever — and the treatment is to keep breastfeeding, not stop
155. Labor Lena — Stages of Labor and the Normal Newborn AssessmentFour stages, one APGAR at 1 and 5 minutes, and one number that says push
158. Ectopic Erica — Ectopic Pregnancy: The Pain on One Side and the Shoulder That Screams RuptureMissed period, one-sided pain, spotting — then shoulder pain means it has burst
Mental Health
12 chapters
42. Sober Sully — Alcohol Withdrawal & Delirium TremensTremors at hour 6, seizures at 24, DTs at 72 — CIWA drives the dose
43. Manic Mia — Bipolar Mania & Lithium ToxicityPressured speech, no sleep for days — then lithium 1.8, coarse tremor, vomiting
44. Voices Victor — Schizophrenia & Antipsychotic Side Effects (EPS, NMS, tardive dyskinesia)Auditory hallucinations, then a rigid jaw, then a 104°F fever — stop the drug, call the doctor
45. Sinking Sadie — Major Depression & Suicide RiskA sudden calm after weeks of despair is not recovery — it may mean a plan
46. Flashback Felix — PTSD & Panic DisorderFireworks trigger a flashback; racing heart and doom feel like a heart attack — it isn't
47. Narcan Nate — Opioid Overdose & WithdrawalPinpoint pupils, RR 6, unresponsive — naloxone now, then watch for it to wear off first
48. Mirror Mila — Anorexia Nervosa & Refeeding SyndromeBMI 14, bradycardic and 'fine' — feed her slowly, watch the phosphorus crash
49. Serotonin Sylvia — Serotonin SyndromeTwo serotonergic drugs, then agitation, clonus and a 102°F fever — stop both now
100. Confused Connie — Delirium vs Dementia & Restraint AlternativesSudden confusion that fluctuates hour to hour is delirium until proven otherwise — and it usually has a treatable cause
123. Obsessive Owen — OCD: Obsessions, Compulsions & Anxiety ReliefHe has washed his hands until they bleed — because stopping makes the anxiety unbearable
132. Sundowning Sid — Alzheimer's Disease: Sundowning, Safety and Calm RedirectionEvery evening the sun goes down and Sid goes looking for a job he retired from twenty years ago
153. Listening Theo — Therapeutic Communication: What to Say, and What Never to SayThe right answer is almost never advice, reassurance or a question starting with 'why'
Pediatrics
12 chapters
51. Wheezy Winnie — Bronchiolitis & RSVInfant, wheezing, nasal flaring — suction, humidified O2, no routine antibiotics
52. Sickled Simon — Sickle Cell Vaso-Occlusive CrisisSevere bone pain, dactylitis, priapism risk — hydrate, oxygenate, treat pain around the clock
53. Cystic Cassie — Cystic FibrosisSalty skin, greasy foul stools, thick mucus — airway clearance and pancreatic enzymes with every meal
54. Strawberry Kai — Kawasaki DiseaseFever ≥5 days, strawberry tongue, peeling hands — IVIG + aspirin, watch the coronaries
55. Telescope Tommy — IntussusceptionCurrant jelly stool, sausage-shaped mass, sudden inconsolable crying — think emergency, not colic
56. Droopy Dani — Infant Dehydration & GastroenteritisSunken fontanel, no tears, < 4 wet diapers/day — weigh-based oral or IV rehydration now
57. Leaded Liam — Lead PoisoningPica, old paint chips, blood lead ≥3.5 mcg/dL — remove the source, chelate if high
127. Nephrotic Nolan — Childhood Nephrotic Syndrome: Puffy Eyes, Frothy Urine & Protein LossHis eyelids are swollen shut in the morning and his urine foams — protein is leaking straight out of him
134. Croupy Cora — Croup vs Epiglottitis: The Barking Cough and the Child You Never Lie DownHer cough sounds like a seal barking at midnight — but if she starts drooling and leaning forward, the rules change completely
154. Milestone Maya — Growth, Development and Age-Appropriate SafetyEvery age has one milestone the NCLEX loves — and one hazard that comes with it
159. Tet Spell Tilda — Tetralogy of Fallot: The Blue Spell and the Squat That Saves ItFour defects, one blue spell — and the child squats to fix her own circulation
160. Pyloric Piper — Pyloric Stenosis: The Olive, the Fountain and the Hungry BabyProjectile vomiting in a 3-to-6-week-old who is starving right after — feel for the olive
Critical Care
4 chapters
67. Lysing Luis — Tumor Lysis SyndromeK⁺ ↑, uric acid ↑, phosphate ↑, Ca²⁺ ↓ — cells burst 24–72 hrs post-chemo
69. Clotless Clara — Disseminated Intravascular CoagulationBleeding AND clotting at once — oozing IV sites plus low platelets and fibrinogen
98. Burned Bella — Burns & Fluid ResuscitationDeep partial-thickness burns over 40% TBSA — the Parkland formula tells you how much fluid, but urine output tells you if it's working
161. Phantom Petra — Amputation Care: The Limb That Is Gone but Still HurtsPhantom pain is real nerve pain — treat it, never dismiss it
Safety & Infection Control
16 chapters
66. Neutropenic Nia — Neutropenia & Chemotherapy PrecautionsANC < 500, temp ≥ 100.4°F — a single fever is an emergency
68. Transfusing Tina — Blood Transfusion ReactionsFever, flank pain, hives within minutes — STOP the transfusion first
71. Spore Sean — Clostridioides difficile & Isolation PrecautionsWatery diarrhea after antibiotics — soap and water, not hand sanitizer
72. CD4 Hana — HIV & Opportunistic InfectionsCD4 < 200 = AIDS-defining risk — white oral patches, cough, weight loss
101. Delegating Deb — Delegation, Assignment & Scope of PracticeThe five rights of delegation exist because the RN keeps accountability even after handing off the task
104. Triage Theo — Disaster Triage & PrioritizationIn a mass casualty event, the sickest client doesn't always go first — resources go where they can save the most lives
105. Consent Carmen — Informed Consent, Advance Directives & PrivacyThe provider obtains informed consent — the nurse verifies it was given freely and understood
133. Quarantined Quinn — Tuberculosis: Airborne Precautions, Rifampin and the Orange SecretShe has coughed for three weeks, lost ten pounds, and sweats through the night — now she lives behind a negative-pressure door
137. Shingles Sheila — Herpes Zoster: The One-Sided Band of Blisters and Airborne RulesA stripe of blisters wraps one side of her chest like a belt that stops at the midline — and the pain arrived days before the rash
140. Central Line Cesar — Central Lines & Air Embolism: Clamp It, Position It, Protect ItHis tubing came apart for only a few seconds — and suddenly he is gasping, dizzy and dropping his pressure
141. Infiltrated Ivy — Infiltration vs Extravasation vs Phlebitis: Cool and Swollen or Red and WarmHer IV arm is puffy, pale and cool to the touch — the fluid is going into the tissue, not the vein
143. Feeding Fiona — Enteral Feeding & Aspiration Prevention: Head of Bed Up, Placement VerifiedOne flat-lying tube feeding is all it takes to turn nutrition into pneumonia
148. Post-Op Priya — Postoperative Complications: The Day-by-Day Timeline Every Nurse WatchesDay one her lungs, day three her bowel, day five her wound — every post-op day has its own emergency
150. Restraint Rita — Restraints & Fall Prevention: Least Restrictive First, and the Order RulesEverything else is tried before anything is tied — and once it is, the clock and the checks begin
151. Vaccine Vivian — Immunizations: Live Vaccines, Real Contraindications and the Reactions to ExpectA low fever is not a reason to skip a shot — but pregnancy and a suppressed immune system change everything
152. TPN Tessa — Total Parenteral Nutrition: High Sugar, Central Line, and Never Stop It SuddenlyThe bag is nutrition and a sugar load at the same time — stopping it abruptly drops the blood sugar off a cliff
Health Assessment
13 chapters
70. Pale Priscilla — Iron Deficiency AnemiaFatigue, pallor, spoon nails, pica — low hemoglobin, low ferritin
73. Butterfly Bella — Systemic Lupus ErythematosusButterfly rash, joint pain, photosensitivity — protect skin, watch the kidneys
74. Compartment Cody — Fractures & Compartment SyndromePain out of proportion, unrelieved by opioids — pallor and pulselessness are late
99. Ulcer Uma — Pressure Injury Staging & PreventionNon-blanchable redness over the sacrum is Stage 1 — waiting for an open wound means waiting too long
114. Rhabdo Rory — Rhabdomyolysis: Tea-Colored Urine, Potassium & Kidney RescueHe pushed through the workout, then collapsed — and his urine came out the color of iced tea
115. Osteo Opal — Osteoporosis: Silent Bone Loss, Fall Prevention & BisphosphonatesShe lost two inches of height and never felt a thing — until a hug fractured a vertebra
116. Glaucoma Gloria — Glaucoma: Silent Peripheral Loss vs Acute Angle-Closure EmergencyShe lost her side vision so slowly she never noticed — then one night her eye turned to stone
119. Gout Gus — Gout: Uric Acid Crystals, the Angry Big Toe & Purine TeachingHe woke at 2 a.m. with a big toe so hot and swollen the bedsheet felt like a blade
120. Meniere Mira — Meniere's Disease: Vertigo, Tinnitus & Hearing LossThe room spins without warning, one ear roars, and she has to grab the wall to stay upright
121. Rheumatoid Rosa — Rheumatoid Arthritis: Symmetric Joints, Morning Stiffness & DMARDsBoth hands, the same joints, every morning for over an hour — this is not wear and tear
135. Fractured Frida — Hip Fracture & Fat Embolism: The Shortened Leg and the Confusion That FollowsHer leg is shorter and turned outward after the fall — and two days later her confusion is not from the pain medicine
156. Screening Sam — Cancer Warning Signs and Screening TeachingThe finding that gets reported is the one that changed, and the one that does not hurt
163. B12 Bianca — Pernicious Anemia: The Beefy Red Tongue and the Wobbly WalkBig cells, smooth red tongue, tingling feet — iron anemia never touches the nerves