When studying for the RD Exam are Mnemonics helpful?
Short answer - YES!
Long Answer: While mnemonics can be a great way to quickly remember exam content you want to focus on using the ones that make sense to YOU and also remember so much of this exam is comprehension that just knowing a mnemonic isn't enough. Mnemonics work best when they seem natural to you. It should be something catchy that allows you for quick recall. If your “mnemonic” is a long story it likely isn't going to be something you remember in the heat of the exam.
Dana's Favorite RD Exam Mnemonics
Food Science:
Gluten Free: Better have 2020 vision to see the gluten free label, the GF label has to be foods with <20 ppm.
C for C: Casein is the main cow’s milk protein
Carnitine is the car that shuttles fat into the cell.
Tryptophan: turkey makes you sleep, turkey is high in tryptophan
3 F’s: fructose, facilitated and GLUT five
Amylopectin: longer name/more complex, no bonds, 1-4 and 1-6
Canning: A goes with B, more acidic (pH < 4.6) = boiling water canning
In propyl gallate the first 3 letters are the same as pork
Baking Powder gives you POWER so gives you a bigger rise!
BHT and BHA, fat has 3 letter and does do these additives
Billing Code:
97802: two is new
97803: 3 comes after 2, reassessment
97804: 4 people in a group
G0270: not group
Bio Chem:
Apoptosis: Pop to die
Firmicutes: in the American diet these are FIRMLY placed
You need BCAA to LIV (Leucine, isoleucine, Valine)
Can Sizes:
Can numbers with a 2 in them mean that there is a 1/2 fraction in the number of cups
Can numbers with a 3 in them mean that there is a ¾ fraction in the number of cups
Vitamins and Deficiencies:
Niacin gives you a NICE beefy red tongue
Koilonychiae: is the spoon nails from Fe deficiency because you eat chia pudding with a spoon
NCP:
Geriatric nutrition risk index uses geriatric methods of basing malnutrition on albumin
Medicine:
Rapid insulin is going to rapidly work, but also rapidly decline
Biguanides are the BIG diabetes drugs = Metformin
Thiazolidinedione seems Greek to me so it has names like Actos and Avandia
Digestion and Absorption:
The CCK is the Paul Revere of the GI track, it tell the intestines that the troops (the food) is coming
Insulin bring glucose IN
Glucagon is secreted when glucose is GONE
Pancreatic:
Exocrine EXITS the pancreas (Pancreatic Enzymes)
Endocrine you would see an Endocrinologist, you see the the endocrinologist for insulin issues
Inborn:
Maple (syrup disease) trees have a lot of branches (amino acids)
Calorie/Protein Needs:
We HATE HARRIS because it is the least accurate equations!
Labs:
Macrocytic anemia: 2 BIG nutrition problems, B12 and folate
T3 and 4: because T3 is “younger” it doesn’t always follow T4 in the labs for hyper/high or hyper/low
Community:
Primary prevention is the first time you hear about a disease
T is for treatment for tertiary prevention is for when you have the disease
Management:
Strategic is always GOAL oriented
Cost-benefit: benefits my pocket ($)
Kitchen:
Flight deck 🡪 airports are high volume and have conveyor belts
Financial:
Solvency: solid is long term, it takes a long time to solve a problem
Liquidity: this is quick/short-term cash so it is liquid/liquid spills quickly
Unions:
Open Shop: they are open to you picking if you want to be in the union or not
Closed Shop: the door to the job is closed unless you are in the union
Agency Shop: an open shop, but you have to pay the agent (union) fee no matter what
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