One of the toughest concepts to master in medical school is the electrolyte disorders, specifically the causes of hypernatremia, hyponatremia, hyperkalemia, and hypokalemia. These happen to also be some of the most frequently tested topics on the boards and shelf exams, and they are critical for clinical application.
While it is quite possible to learn and remember these through plenty of reasoning and repetition, we found that having picture medical mnemonics anchored in our mind’s eye often allowed us to get to the answer more quickly, and time is GOLD on the kind of fast-paced board exams that we have to take. May I add, too, when my attending was pimping me about the causes of euvolemic hyponatremia in front of a group of residents and students, remembering the Picmonics were a lifesaver!
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In addition to learning the Picmonic cards and concepts for each type of electrolyte disorders, our illustrators have combined all of the topic characters into organized “Pic-Trees”. These infographics visually connect all the causes of hyponatremia, hypernatremia, hypokalemia and hyperkalemia. While each Picmonic helps you master the information from the bottom up, the Pic-Trees help you master the topics from the top down. By using them both, no matter what kind of question they throw at you, you’ll be able to identify the right answer quickly and easily.
Hopefully by now you’ve checked out all of our electrolyte abnormality Picmonics. They’re a great medical school study tool and resource. If you haven’t, you’re missing out! Treat yourself to an afternoon full of hilarious and memorable stories while mastering them all with Picmonic.
Ron Robertson, Co-founder & CEO, Picmonic Inc.
Ron Robertson founded Picmonic as a 3rd-year medical student at the University of Arizona. He’s at the helm of Picmonic’s mission to lead and inspire a new era of learning through innovative and effective educational solutions. Ron holds a Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry from the University of San Diego with a focus on memory science, is the product visionary behind Picmonic, and is involved in every aspect of the company.
