🧠 NCLEX Electrolyte Mnemonics: Easy Ways to Remember Sodium, Potassium, Calcium & More

Electrolyte imbalances show up everywhere on the NCLEX—lab value questions, medication safety, prioritization, and patient safety. But memorizing all those symptoms and levels?

✅ That’s where mnemonics come in.

This blog will help you:

• Memorize the most tested electrolyte symptoms

• Distinguish between hypo- and hyper- states

• Apply nursing actions based on KOTC visual mnemonics

• Practice with NCLEX-style question formats

🧠 Mnemonics to Remember Electrolyte Imbalances

🧂 Sodium (Na⁺)

Hyponatremia

🧠 "SALT LOSS"

• S – Stupor

• A – Anorexia (nausea/vomiting)

• L – Lethargy

• T – Tendon reflexes ↓

• L – Limp muscles

• O – Orthostatic hypotension

• S – Seizures

• S – Stomach cramps

🔁 Replace sodium slowly. Monitor neuro status.

Hypernatremia

💥 "FRIED SALT"

• F – Flushed skin

• R – Restless

• I – Increased BP

• E – Edema

• D – Decreased urine output

• S – Skin dry

• A – Agitation

• L – Low-grade fever

• T – Thirst

🍌 Potassium (K⁺)

Hypokalemia

⚡ "A SIC WALT"

• A – Alkalosis

• S – Shallow respirations

• I – Irritability

• C – Confusion

• W – Weakness

• A – Arrhythmias

• L – Lethargy

• T – Thready pulse

🔁 Administer K⁺ with food. Monitor ECG.

Hyperkalemia

🔥 "MURDER"

• M – Muscle weakness

• U – Urine (oliguria/anuria)

• R – Respiratory distress

• D – Decreased cardiac contractility

• E – ECG changes (tall T waves)

• R – Reflexes ↓ or absent

🔁 Give insulin + D50, calcium gluconate, or kayexalate.

🦴 Calcium (Ca²⁺)

Hypocalcemia

💡 "CATS"

• C – Convulsions

• A – Arrhythmias

• T – Tetany

• S – Spasms/Stridor

✅ Positive Chvostek’s & Trousseau’s signs.

Hypercalcemia

🐄 "BACK ME"

• B – Bone pain

• A – Arrhythmias

• C – Cardiac arrest

• K – Kidney stones

• M – Muscle weakness

• E – Excessive urination

🔁 Encourage fluids, loop diuretics, calcitonin.

🧘 Magnesium (Mg²⁺)

Hypomagnesemia

📉 Similar to low calcium. Think: neuromuscular excitability.

Hypermagnesemia

😴 Depressed everything. Think: muscle relaxation, hypotension, ↓ DTRs.

📝 NCLEX-Style Practice Question

A client with a serum potassium of 2.8 is admitted. What should the nurse do first?

• A. Restrict fluids

• B. Apply seizure precautions

• C. Place on cardiac monitor ✅

• D. Encourage ambulation

Rationale: Hypokalemia = risk for life-threatening arrhythmias → monitor ECG.

🧠 KOTC Study Tips

🎨 Study visuals daily—electrolyte mnemonics are included in our visual library
📊 Practice NCLEX-style questions in lab value mode
🎮 Use multiplayer and flashcard tools to make it stick
💡 Focus on symptoms + interventions—not just the numbers

Explore these tools at kingofthecurve.org/studyscience

🚀 Call to Action

✅ Start your electrolyte challenge mode → kingofthecurve.org/trial-sessions
✅ Get free lifetime access → kingofthecurve.org/free-lifetime
✅ Play the daily QOTD → kingofthecurve.org/qotd

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

• How many hours should I study for the MCAT each day?

  Aim for 4-6 focused hours, ensuring you incorporate breaks to avoid burnout.

• What is the best way to handle test anxiety?

  Practice mindfulness techniques, take practice exams under realistic conditions, and maintain a balanced lifestyle.

• How can I stay motivated during the long application process?

  Set short-term goals, seek support from mentors, and reward yourself for small achievements.

• What role does exercise play in MCAT preparation?

  Regular exercise improves focus, reduces stress, and enhances overall mental clarity.

• How does King of the Curve help with MCAT preparation?

  KOTC offers personalized learning tools, gamification features, and adaptive question banks to help students stay on track without burnout.