Pulse Check with Archer Nursing

Early, late, or variable decelerations? Knowing the difference is one thing. Knowing what to do FIRST on the NCLEX® is another. In this episode of Pulse Check with Archer Nursing, Dr. Morgan Taylor breaks down fetal heart rate monitoring, how to recognize concerning patterns, and how to prioritize nursing interventions during labor. In just 15 minutes, you'll review: Normal fetal heart rate an...

SVT on the NCLEX®? The question isn't just about recognizing the rhythm. It's about knowing what to do NEXT. 🚨 Your patient has a heart rate of 190 BPM, a BP of 72/44, and a decreased level of consciousness. What's your priority nursing intervention? In this episode of  Pulse Check with Archer Nursing , Dr. Morgan Taylor breaks down supraventricular tachycardia (SVT) through an NCLEX®...

V-Tach vs. V-Fib: Do you know when to cardiovert and when to defibrillate? ⚡🫀 In this episode of  Pulse Check with Archer Nursing , Dr. Morgan Taylor breaks down two life-threatening cardiac rhythms, how to recognize them on an ECG, and the interventions every nursing student needs to know for the NCLEX®. We'll cover: How to identify V-Tach vs. V-Fib on an ECG V-Tach with a pulse vs. pulsele...

Cystic fibrosis is more than a respiratory disorder! 🫁 In this episode of Pulse Check with Archer Nursing, Dr. Morgan Taylor breaks down cystic fibrosis (CF), from the genetics behind thick, sticky mucus to the nursing interventions you need to know for exams and clinical practice. 🩺 In this episode, you'll learn: How cystic fibrosis affects the lungs, pancreas, and digestive system Key symp...

AFib or A-flutter? They can look similar, but knowing the key differences can help you recognize what’s happening fast. In this episode of Pulse Check with Archer Nursing, Dr. Morgan Taylor breaks down atrial fibrillation vs. atrial flutter, including what to look for on an ECG, why pulse rates can differ, stable vs. unstable AFib, treatment priorities, and the major complication you need to know...

Every answer looks right. So what do you do first? In this episode of Pulse Check with Archer Nursing, Dr. Morgan Taylor is joined by the Archer nurse educator team (Rachel, Jennifer Bonner, Shelley Kendik, and Tiffany Palino) to break down prioritization for the NCLEX and real-life nursing practice. Together they walk through four frameworks and work through real exam-style scenarios as a panel....

Struggling to make sense of arterial blood gases? In this episode of Pulse Check with Archer Nursing, Dr. Morgan Taylor breaks ABG interpretation down into three simple questions you can ask every single time. You'll learn: The normal values you actually need to memorize (pH, CO2, bicarb) How to spot the "party pooper" causing the imbalance Respiratory vs metabolic, made simple How t...

Starting nursing school or heading into a new semester? 🎓🩺 Let’s make sure you’re ready for what’s coming. In this bonus episode of  Pulse Check with Archer Nursing , Morgan is joined by Rachel, Shelly, and Jennifer from the Archer Nursing team to share the nursing school advice they wish they had from day one. We’re talking: 📚 How to organize your semester 🗓️ Planning and time management 🩺 Wh...

Potassium questions can get tricky fast, especially when the heart is involved. In this episode of  Pulse Check with Archer Nursing , Dr. Morgan Taylor breaks down hyperkalemia vs. hypokalemia, including the key signs to recognize, ECG changes to watch for, common causes, treatment priorities, and the NCLEX safety rules you don’t want to miss. Plus, work through a practice question and learn how t...

A patient has absent breath sounds on one side, dropping oxygen levels, hypotension, and tracheal deviation. What do you do first? In this episode of  Pulse Check with Archer Nursing , Dr. Morgan Taylor breaks down pneumothorax and tension pneumothorax in a way that’s easy to visualize, remember, and apply on the NCLEX. You’ll learn what happens when air enters the pleural space, the key assessmen...

A patient has absent breath sounds on one side, dropping oxygen levels, hypotension, and tracheal deviation. What do you do first? In this episode of  Pulse Check with Archer Nursing , Dr. Morgan Taylor breaks down pneumothorax and tension pneumothorax in a way that’s easy to visualize, remember, and apply on the NCLEX. You’ll learn what happens when air enters the pleural space, the key assessmen...

A pulmonary embolism can become life-threatening fast — but would you recognize the signs and know what to do  first ? In this episode of  Pulse Check with Archer Nursing , Dr. Morgan Taylor breaks down pulmonary embolisms (PEs) in a way that actually sticks. Learn why a PE causes a V/Q mismatch, the classic signs to watch for, Virchow’s triad, and how to prioritize nursing interventions when ever...

Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) can progress quickly, making early recognition and intervention essential for NICU nurses. In this episode of Pulse Check with Archer Nursing, Dr. Morgan Taylor is joined by Archer Review Chief Medical Officer and neonatologist Dr. Steve DeMayo to walk through a realistic NEC case and break down exactly what future nurses need to know. You’ll learn:* The pathophysio...

In this episode of Pulse Check with Archer Nursing, host Dr. Morgan Taylor sits down with Hiva Kaz, Director of Advanced Practice, to unpack what advocacy really means for nurses—and why it all starts with self-advocacy. Advocacy can feel overwhelming, especially when it gets tangled up with politics and policy. But before you can advocate for the profession, you have to be able to advocate for yo...

Postpartum hemorrhage (PPH) is one of the most urgent maternal emergencies every nursing student needs to recognize. In this episode of  Pulse Check with Archer Nursing , Dr. Morgan Taylor breaks down the pathophysiology behind postpartum hemorrhage, the most common causes, and the priority nursing interventions you need to know for the NCLEX and clinical practice.  Through a real-life clinical st...

What should a nurse do when a client taking haloperidol suddenly develops a high fever, severe muscle rigidity, confusion, and profuse sweating? In this episode of  Pulse Check with Archer Nursing , Dr. Morgan Taylor breaks down neuroleptic malignant syndrome, a rare but life-threatening reaction associated with antipsychotic medications. Learn how to recognize: • High fever and lead-pipe muscle r...

A painful rash after starting a new medication should never be ignored. In this episode of Pulse Check with Archer Nursing, Dr. Morgan Taylor explains how to recognize Stevens-Johnson Syndrome, why it is a medical emergency, and which nursing action takes priority. Test your knowledge with the practice question, then learn the clinical clues that can help you identify this life-threatening reactio...

Nursing careers do not always follow a straight path, and that is completely okay. In this episode of Pulse Check with Archer Nursing, Dr. Morgan Taylor sits down with Lauren, founder and CEO of Scrub Life Notes, to discuss her journey from ICU nurse to family nurse practitioner to nursing educator and entrepreneur. They explore how bedside nursing builds valuable skills in leadership, communicati...

RA vs. OA: Can you tell the difference? 🦴This week on Pulse Check, we're breaking down Rheumatoid Arthritis vs. Osteoarthritis — the anatomy, the causes, the hallmark signs, and how treatment differs for each. From morning stiffness clues to classic joint deformities, we'll help you nail this comparison for clinicals, NCLEX, and beyond.🩺 What you'll learn:The anatomy of a healthy joi...

In this episode of Pulse Check with Archer Nursing, Dr. Morgan Taylor breaks down serotonin syndrome in a clear, NCLEX-focused way. You’ll learn how too much serotonin affects the body, which medications can increase risk, and what symptoms nurses should recognize quickly, including fever, tachycardia, tremors, hyperreflexia, and agitation. Morgan walks through a case study involving an SSRI and t...

In this episode, Dr. Morgan Taylor breaks down neonatal abstinence syndrome, including why withdrawal happens after birth, what symptoms nurses should watch for, and why low-stimulation care, swaddling, small frequent feeds, skin protection, and parent education are so important. You’ll also walk through a practice question and learn why the priority nursing action is to swaddle the newborn and re...

Third-trimester bleeding can point to very different clinical pictures, and in this episode, we’re breaking down two major causes: placenta previa and placental abruption. Dr. Morgan Taylor explains how to tell the difference between painless, bright red bleeding with a soft uterus in placenta previa and painful, dark red bleeding with a rigid “board-like” uterus and fetal distress in placental ab...

Your first year as a nurse is challenging, emotional, and full of learning — but you are not alone. In this episode of Pulse Check with Archer Nursing, Morgan is joined by Tiffany to talk honestly about what it’s like to be a new grad nurse. They share what they wish they knew during their first year, including why it’s okay not to know everything, how to use your resources, why asking questions m...

Anemia is all about impaired oxygen delivery — but not every type of anemia looks the same. In this episode of Pulse Check with Archer Nursing, Dr. Morgan Taylor breaks down the major anemia “buckets”: decreased red blood cell production, increased red blood cell destruction, and blood loss. You’ll learn how to recognize key clinical clues for iron deficiency anemia, vitamin B12 deficiency/pernici...

Adrenal crisis is a life-threatening emergency that nurses need to recognize fast. In this episode of Pulse Check with Archer Nursing, Dr. Morgan Taylor breaks down the adrenal glands, cortisol, aldosterone, and what happens when the body cannot mount an effective stress response. You’ll learn why adrenal crisis can cause hypotension, hypoglycemia, hyponatremia, and hyperkalemia — and how those fi...