When you need to know how to remember magnesium levels for a test, you haven’t got time for memory tricks.
You need the best possible medical mnemonics.
Especially for complex values related to magnesium, which is so critical to not just basic health.
It’s a key to human flourishing!
That’s why on this page, I’ll show you exactly how to learn all the critical information on the blood test results chart.
Think of it like having a lab values cheat sheet in your mind.
Once you have it, you can stop struggling to remember the magnesium lab values.
You’ll always have them when you need them.
Ready to memorize all things magnesium and other lab values quickly?
Let’s dive in!
What Does a Normal Metabolic Table Look Like?
The Basic Metabolic Panel (BMP) covers the normal ranges for:
- Sodium
- Potassium
- Blood Urea Nitrogen
- Creatinine
- Glucose
- Calcium
- Chloride
- Bicarbonate
The memorize all of these lab values quickly, give this video a view and emulate the table I’ve created for you below:
Here’s the table of normal metabolic values to memorize by combining the Major System with the pegword method.
Although memorizing these values for comparison against an actual blood test results chart will take a bit of time, it’s well worth learning these memory techniques. They’ll save you time and mental energy.
How to Remember Magnesium Levels: 3 Mnemonics
When it comes to specifically memorizing the magnesium levels, here’s the basic layout:
1.7 to 2.2 mg/dL (0.85 to 1.10 mmol/L)
It’s important to note, however, that these values may change from lab to lab. For example, some sources suggest a normal magnesium level can be as low as 0.6. You may also find issues in different labs relating to BMP vs CMP.
All the more reason to have solid mnemonics so you can memorize in real time – like my student Rose Szwed learned to do.
With Rose’s medical terminology success in mind, here’s a rundown of the mnemonics involved with specific examples for the magnesium levels.
One: A Mnemonic Number System
As in the examples for the Basic Metabolic Panel, the most direct method is to use a number shape system.
For 1.7 to 2.2. mg/dL, that would suggest a candle and a boomerang for 1.7. For 2.2, I would simply use two swans. These figures would be interacting with Magnum P.I., the perfect mnemonic image for magnesium.
You could also use number rhymes or a PAO System. Although these techniques are more advanced, they pay off much more in the long run.
No matter what system you use, the key is to get the associations to interact. For example, you could have Magnum P.I. throwing a candle at a boomerang in the beaks of two swans. It’s the weirdness of such images that make the target information easier to recall.
Two: The Memory Palace Technique
Using the Memory Palace technique is useful because it gives you a way to “store” the mnemonics you assign to the magnesium value range.
A Memory Palace is simple a mental re-creation of a place you’re familiar with. For example, I would think of my friend Michael’s home for magnesium because his name and magnesium start with the same letter.
Then, I would place Magnum P.I. with the candle, boomerang and two swans for 1.7-2.2 in his home. Later, I would use spaced repetition to usher this information into long-term memory.
Three: Spaced Repetition
Spaced repetition offers an optimized review system. You can use it in combination with the Memory Palace technique to rapidly speed up your retention.
There’s no magic numbers, however. The key is to make your associations and then review them as much as it takes to form the memories.
But the good news is that you can also use flashcards or Anki to potentially achieve even faster results. These spaced repetition tools can help track the number of repetitions you need.
The only risk is digital amnesia. If you’re concerned about that, I suggest you combine everything we’ve discussed so far with a print journal.
Alternatively, you can explore learning techniques like Zettelkasten and the Leitner System to put in your reps.
Master Any Blood Test Results Chart Fast
The best part about these mnemonics for nursing and other medical professionals is that you can use them in real-time. They let you chunk together information about individual patients with the normal ranges. You can even use their location in a clinic or hospital as a Memory Palace.
The key is to get started using these techniques.
If you think you would benefit from eve more help, grab my FREE Memory Improvement Kit:
It will help you create your first Memory Palaces and make sure you don’t miss the details that really make this technique sing.
It’s by far the strongest mnemonic strategy.
It’s also the most flexible. It extends to pharmacology and anatomy.
There’s literally nothing that proper medical mnemonics cannot help you easily learn and retain as you become the best possible professional in your field.
