Real Deal Nurse Practitioner Club

Human trafficking is a healthcare issue, and many NPs do not feel fully prepared to recognize it in clinical practice. In this episode, I'm joined by NP educator Dr. Lauren Mays to discuss recognizing human trafficking, common misconceptions, and the important role healthcare providers play in supporting vulnerable patients.     We discuss how trafficking signs often show up as more of a vague "so...

LDL is one of the most important lab values to understand for NP boards because it plays a central role in cardiovascular risk and treatment decisions. In this minisode, I review the key LDL targets to know, explain when high-intensity statins come into play, and walk you through the clinical reasoning behind common board questions so you can confidently choose the next best step in dyslipidemia m...

If you're preparing for boards and wondering whether everyone else has it more figured out than you, you are not alone. In this episode, I sit down with NP instructor Caroline G to answer some of the most common NP board prep questions we hear from students every single week.     We talk through the big decisions and stress points that come up during board prep, including choosing between AANP and...

INR is one of the most commonly tested lab values on NP boards, especially when warfarin is involved. In this minisode, I review normal and therapeutic INR ranges, explain what high and low values mean, and walk through the safety-focused thinking behind common exam questions, including when to adjust therapy, when vitamin K is needed, and how diet and medication changes can affect INR levels.    ...

The future of Nurse Practitioners is changing faster than ever, creating new opportunities, new challenges, and exciting possibilities for the profession. As healthcare continues to evolve, understanding these trends can help you prepare for the career you're stepping into.     In this episode, Alex and I explore the future of Nurse Practitioners and the major forces shaping healthcare today. From...

GFR is one of the most important kidney lab values to know for NP boards because it tells you how well the kidneys are functioning and helps determine chronic kidney disease staging. In this minisode, I break down the key GFR cutoffs, explain how to think of CKD stages as a simple ladder, and review the clinical decisions that often show up on exams, including medication adjustments, kidney protec...

Diabetes can feel like one of the biggest and most overwhelming topics to study for NP boards. Between insulin types, medication classes, complications, and diagnostic criteria, it is easy to get lost in the details and spend hours studying without knowing what actually matters most.     In this episode, Alex and I walk through a practical diabetes review for NP boards and focus on the highest-yie...

Medication dosages can feel overwhelming, but for NP boards, it's all about recognizing the high-yield patterns that show up again and again. In this minisode, Kaitlyn breaks down the key dosage concepts you need to know for statins, levothyroxine, and metformin, including recognizing when a treatment is aggressive, when to start low and go slow, and how to safely adjust medications so you can app...

COPD can feel overwhelming when you are trying to memorize symptoms, diagnosis criteria, and treatment strategies all at once.      In this episode, Alex and I walk through a practical COPD review that covers the essentials you need to know for boards, including classic presentations, key differences between chronic bronchitis and emphysema, diagnostic spirometry cutoffs, and the GOLD treatment gr...

H. pylori treatment is highly testable on NP boards, and with the right memory tricks, it can be easy points. In this minisode, I simplify triple and quadruple therapy using quick mnemonics, review key treatment adjustments for penicillin allergies, and walk through high-yield exam pearls on ulcer causes and diagnostic testing so you can confidently tackle H. pylori questions on exam day.       Fo...

What do you do when you cannot use a first-line antibiotic? Knowing alternative antibiotics for NP boards is essential for answering exam questions and making safe clinical decisions.     In this episode, Alex and I cover alternative antibiotics for NP boards through a rapid-fire pharmacology review. We walk through common scenarios and help you understand how to choose the best alternative when f...

Wondering if your practice scores are high enough to pass your NP boards? In this minisode, Kaitlyn breaks down the numbers to aim for, why they're a helpful benchmark, and why your progress and trends matter just as much. You'll learn how to interpret your scores with more clarity so you can stay focused, build confidence, and keep moving forward in your exam prep.     Follow us on Instagram:  in...

Trying to decide between AANP vs ANCC for your NP certification exam can feel overwhelming, especially when it seems like the "wrong" choice could impact your future.       In this episode, Alex and I break down the AANP vs ANCC exams in a calm, practical way so you can choose your NP certification exam with clarity. We walk through what both exams have in common, how they differ in structure and...

Metronidazole is a must-know medication that is likely to show up on your NP board exams and very likely to show up in clinical practice. In this minisode, Alex walks you through high-yield uses like trichomoniasis and bacterial vaginosis, key safety points, and frequently tested concepts, so you can feel confident recognizing and answering metronidazole questions on exam day.         Follow us on...

Feeling overwhelmed about how to pass your 3P exam? You are not alone. The 3P exam can feel high-pressure, especially when it stands between you and starting clinicals.         In this episode, Alex and I explain how to pass the 3P exam by breaking down what it tests, how it differs from boards, and the most effective study strategies. We walk through common mistakes students make, practical strat...

In this minisode, Alex breaks down the 2026 ACC/AHA Dyslipidemia Guidelines, highlighting what's new and how it impacts both NP board exams and clinical practice. You'll learn the key updates, including a stronger emphasis on primary prevention, individualized care, and new diagnostic tools, while also being reassured that your current study plan is right on track.       Follow us on Instagram:  i...

Drug interactions do not have to feel confusing. Once the cytochrome P450 system clicks, it becomes much easier to reason through medication metabolism and pharmacology questions that nurse practitioners need to know.    In this episode, Alex and I explain the cytochrome P450 system and why it matters for drug metabolism, medication interactions, and clinical decision-making. You will walk away wi...

Herbal supplements may seem harmless, but they can have important effects on medications and patient safety. In this minisode, I review the herbal supplements nurse practitioners are most likely to encounter on exams and in clinical practice. From St. John's Wort and ginkgo to valerian root and black cohosh, this overview highlights the key uses, safety concerns, and medication interactions you sh...

Do alpha and beta adrenergic receptors feel confusing or overly detailed? Understanding these receptors is essential for success on your exams, and once they click, so much of pharmacology starts to make sense.         In this episode, Alex and I walk through alpha and beta adrenergic receptors step by step, connecting receptor function to real medications and common board-style scenarios. You wil...

Prescribing in pregnancy can feel intimidating, especially when a patient casually mentions they're 10 weeks along mid-visit. In this minisode, Kaitlyn and Courtney break down the core principles you need to confidently treat common pregnancy complaints, including first-line options for nausea, reflux, and infections, and which antibiotics are safe and when to avoid certain ones on boards and in p...

Have you had that "wait… I'm the provider now" moment yet? The first year as an NP is one of the biggest professional shifts you'll ever make, and it can feel both empowering and overwhelming at the same time.        In this episode, Courtney and I break down what transitioning from student to practicing NP really looks like, from orientation expectations and charting struggles to imposter syndrom...

TSH questions on your NP boards aren't meant to trick you, but they do test whether you understand the pattern behind thyroid labs. In this minisode, I review the normal TSH range, explain the inverse relationship between TSH and free T3 and T4, and walk through how to identify hypo versus hyperthyroidism so you can confidently interpret thyroid questions on exam day.      Follow us on Instagram: ...

Have you ever thought, "Why didn't anyone tell me this sooner?" That feeling is incredibly common as you move from NP school into real practice.      In this episode, Courtney and I share the lessons we wish we had known earlier, including what boards actually prepare you for, how to handle imposter syndrome, and why asking questions makes you a safer clinician, not a weaker one.     This conversa...

Hemoglobin A1c is one of the most high-yield lab values you'll see on NP boards and in real life. In this minisode, I review its alternate names, the key A1c cutoff and goal values, and how boards expect you to use trends to decide when treatment needs to be adjusted.    Follow us on Instagram:  instagram.com/smnpreviewsofficial

When you're preparing for NP boards, screening guidelines can seem a little dry, but these recommendations show up consistently on exams and form the foundation of primary care practice.   In this episode, Courtney and I run through an overview of the adult screening recommendations you'll need to know for primary care NP boards, leaning heavily on USPSTF recommendations.   Discover how to think t...