Straight A Nursing: Study for nursing school exams & NCLEX

Learn the basics of radiation therapy, which is used to shrink tumors or kill or slow the growth of cancer cells. In this episode you’ll learn: * Different types of external radiation therapy * Complications of external beam radiation * Signs and symptoms patients experience with radiation * Key assessments for a patient undergoing radiation therapy * Tests and treatments utilized during radiation...

Even the most prepared student can start to panic during an exam. It’s what you do next that dictates whether test anxiety is going to take over and run the show, or if you’re going to get past this moment and continue on with the exam. In this episode I’m sharing some strategies you can use to get your exam (and your confidence) back on track! Read the article about conquering test anxiety here....

When performing a head-to-toe assessment, there are some key differences that you can expect to notice in an older adult. In this episode I’m sharing the ones you’re most likely to notice, including: * Vital signs differences * Differences in body composition and musculoskeletal changes * Changes to the integumentary system * Changes to sensory organs and neurological function * Changes to the res...

If I were your clinical instructor, these tips are exactly the things I’d make sure you understood before your first clinical day! In this episode, I’m sharing: How a typical day flows Tips for effective time management What in the world is happening in handoff report Some of the key players and their roles The most important skill you can develop One unpleasant truth (sorry!) How to make the most...

In this episode, I’m answering five common questions I get asked about nursing school! Q1: How can I feel more confident in NS? Q2: Can I work while going to school? Q3: How do I get everything done? Q4: How do I study for Med Surg? Q5: How do I learn from an instructor that just reads the PowerPoint slides word for word? Links and resources mentioned in this episode: Crucial Concepts Bootcamp: Ge...

If you’re heading into or dreaming of nursing school, you’re probably wondering what the classes and clinicals are like. In this episode I’m spilling all the nursing school tea on each class and a bit about my own clinical experiences. Helpful Resources: Crucial Concepts Bootcamp: Imagine having a BFF who shares their best advice, tips and strategies with you while also teaching core foundation co...

With changes to the NCLEX, it’s more important than ever that you understand electrolytes way beyond just knowing the normal lab values. In this overview, I’m sharing some of the most important things to know about electrolytes. ___________________ FREE CLASS - If all you've heard are nursing school horror stories, then you need this class! Join me in this on-demand session where I dispel all thos...

Neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS) occurs when neonates who were exposed to drugs in the womb experience withdrawal after birth. These substances pass through the placenta into neonatal circulation, causing dependency and ultimately withdrawal symptoms in the newborn. In this episode you will learn: * The complications of NAS * Signs and symptoms of withdrawal in neonates * Key assessments for an...

In this final episode of our “Say Yes to Success” miniseries sponsored by ATI, I’m interviewing an ATI team member to answer your questions about the new ATI TEAS 7 exam! As an ATI affiliate, I may earn a small commission when you buy from the links below and use the coupon code (at no extra cost to you). Get a discount on ATI TEAS prep materials - Use code SAN15 to get 15% off ATI TEAS prep mater...

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune condition in which the patient’s immune system attacks healthy cells inside the joints, leading to an inflammatory state. In this episode you’ll learn: * The pathophysiology of rheumatoid arthritis * Who’s most at risk, including modifiable and non-modifiable risk factors * Complications of the condition * Signs and symptoms of RA * Priority nursing asses...

I know nursing students have a LOT of questions about the Next Gen NCLEX, so I attended an NCSBN Conference to learn as much as I could about the changes coming for this important exam! In the fourth episode of our “Say Yes to Success” miniseries sponsored by ATI, I’m sharing five key things I learned about Next Gen NCLEX. As an ATI affiliate, I may earn a small commission when you buy from the li...

Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is a non-cancerous enlargement of the prostate gland that causes an obstruction to the outflow of urine. In this episode, you’ll learn the basics about this condition: * Who’s most at risk * The complications of BPH * Signs and symptoms * Key assessments for BPH * Common tests utilized in the evaluation of patients with BPH * BPH treatments, including medications...

In the third episode of our “Say Yes to Success” miniseries sponsored by ATI I’m sharing 12 tried and true tips you can use to prepare for final exams. As an ATI affiliate, I may earn a small commission when you buy from the links below and use the coupon code (at no extra cost to you). Use promo code SAN15 to save 15% on ATI TEAS prep materials* using this link. Achieve your dreams with ATI! – Le...

Reye’s syndrome is a rare but very serious condition that involves acute encephalopathy, cerebral edema and fatty liver failure. The pathophysiology is not fully understood but what we do know points to mitochondrial injury secondary to viral illness and the use of aspirin in young children. In this episode you will learn: * Who is most affected by Reye’s syndrome * Complications of the condition...

If you’re heading into nursing school, there’s a good chance you’ll be taking the ATI TEAS exam as part of your application process. In this episode, I’m sharing three key things to know about the TEAS so you can be prepared and perform your best on this crucial exam! The information I’m sharing comes straight from ATI, the creators of the TEAS exam and the sponsor of our “Say Yes to Success” seri...

In this episode, I’m finishing up the series on 20 Secrets of Successful Nursing Students by revealing secrets #18, #19 and #20. Scroll to the bottom for links to all the other secrets, and a link to download them all in one handy guide. Episode Resources: Thriving Nursing Students: Join a Facebook group where we focus on thriving and loving nursing school! Crucial Concepts Bootcamp: Get prepared...

If there’s one thing that’s consistent throughout all of nursing school it’s the constant feedback - on exams, in clinical, in skills lab, on assignments and in simulation lab. And yes, sometimes that feedback isn’t what we were hoping to hear and it can be really demoralizing if you let it. But with the right mindset, you can accept even the harshest feedback without it blowing your confidence! I...

Transfusing blood products is a high-risk procedure that requires careful attention to detail and excellent patient assessment skills. For this reason, any time you administer blood products you will be doing it with another RN to ensure all the safety checks have been conducted. Whether you’re a nurse wanting to boost your confidence in this area, or a student preparing for a blood transfusion ch...

Amniotic fluid embolism (AFE) is a life threatening condition in which there is a severe reaction to the amniotic fluid and fetal debris that enter maternal circulation during the birthing process, resulting in cardiovascular collapse. In this episode, you’ll learn about the pathophysiology and how to care for patients with amniotic fluid embolism. Full Transcript - Read the article and view refer...

Rhabdomyolysis is a condition in which skeletal muscle cells break down and leak their contents into the extracellular space and bloodstream. I usually saw this complex condition in the MICU due to patients who were “found down” and had been lying in one position, completely immobile, for extended periods of time. In this episode you’ll learn: * The causes of rhabdomyolysis (there are a lot!) * Pa...

How confident are you in cardiac assessment? Learn the key components in this episode, including: * Knowing when it’s appropriate to go beyond the head-to-toe assessment and do a full-blown cardiac assessment * Relevant vital signs and their significance * Questions to ask the patient * General observations to make * How to conduct a chest pain assessment * How to auscultate the heart, including w...

In this episode I am interviewing Susan Jarvis, a nursing student in Florida who is going through nursing school with ZERO debt, thanks to the power of scholarships! Hit the play button to hear how she did it and get inspired to secure some nursing school scholarships for yourself! __________  The information, including but not limited to, audio, video, text, and graphics contained on this podcast...

Lithium is a very common medication that you’ll see regularly in the clinical setting (and on exams if you’re a student!). In this episode you’ll learn: * The basics of lithium including drug class, routes of administration and regular dose * Conditions lithium is used to treat * Factors that contribute to lithium toxicity * Signs and symptoms of lithium toxicity * Key assessments and labs for a p...

Dialysis disequilibrium syndrome (DDS) is a serious and rare complication of dialysis that involves a range of neurological symptoms that are primarily considered to be a consequence of cerebral edema and increased intracranial pressure. Learn about the pathophysiology of DDS and how we prevent (and treat it) in this episode! Review the very important concept of third spacing here. Struggling with...

Trauma informed care is an approach to practice that strives to understand how past traumas affect why our patients do (or don’t do) what is needed in order to manage their health optimally. This concept of trauma informed care is gaining traction and being extensively studied in healthcare, education and public health. By providing trauma informed care, we bring the whole patient fully into their...