Straight A Nursing: Study for nursing school exams & NCLEX

A student reached out to me a few weeks ago to ask “How do you leave your work at the hospital? What do you do when a patient touches your heart, but you have to leave and go home?” In this podcast episode we’ll be diving into compassion fatigue, what causes it, the signs, and how to prevent it.  ___________________ FREE CLASS - If all you've heard are nursing school horror stories, then you need...

When we’re looking at burns, we’re going to be looking at four main factors. The type of burn, the amount of surface burned, the depth of the burn and the location of the burn. We’ll dive into each of those in this episode and even do a little practice estimating TBSA.  ___________________ Full Transcript - Read the article and view references FREE CLASS - If all you've heard are nursing school ho...

When your patient has a sudden change in neurological status, it can be very scary for everyone involved. If your patient is having a stroke, their best chance for a positive outcome is TIMELY intervention. In today’s episode we’ll be talking through what happens when you call a stroke alert on your patient.  ___________________ Full Transcript - Read the article and view references FREE CLASS - I...

So very many of you have written emails, reviews and social media messages telling me how you listen to the podcast while you're exercising, making dinner, driving to class or doing chores around the house. For a lot of you, my voice is one you hear often throughout your program and it makes me feel like I'm along with you on your journey. I am speaking deep from within my heart when I say I absol...

If there’s one thing that gets nursing students and new nurses REALLY nervous (like voice shaking, sweat-on-the-forehead nervous), it’s calling the MD with a concern about your patient. You might be thinking, “What if I don’t know what to say?” or “What if they ask me a question I don't know the answer to?” or even “What if they yell at me, tell me to stop wasting their time, and hang up on me?” ...

One of the first things you’ll learn in your OB class is what’s expected in a normal, uncomplicated, low-risk labor and delivery. Once you’ve got that down, it’s much easier to conceptualize the high-risk complex L&D issues (and yes, they do get complicated!) Today we’re talking about:  The signs an individual is in labor Differentiating between true labor and false labor Physiological changes dur...

Today we’re taking a deep dive into angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors (otherwise known as ACE inhibitors). In this podcast episode you will learn:  * The RAAS pathway (understanding this is crucial to understanding how and why ACE inhibitors work!) * How to easily spot an ACE inhibitor * What conditions ACE inhibitors are used to treat * Adverse effects of ACE inhibitors...including one tha...

Nursing school is challenging, intense and even really frustrating at times. In this week’s podcast episode we’re talking about nursing school burnout, my friends: * All the reasons a nursing student might experience burnout...trust me, it’s not just you!  * How to recognize when you are on your way to burnout (and hopefully catch it before it gets too bad!) * Tips to help you avoid it or even com...

Anaphylaxis is a life-threatening hypersensitivity reaction that occurs immediately (or shortly after) exposure to an antigen. Because it can quickly be fatal, it’s crucial that you understand how to recognize it and intervene immediately. In this podcast episode we’ll talk through: What happens in anaphylaxis and anaphylactic shock Why it is potentially fatal The signs/symptoms of anaphylaxis Nur...

Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) can be a highly effective treatment for depression and bipolar disorder, though it is shrouded in suspicion as one of the most stigmatized therapies currently in use. In this podcast episode we’ll talk about ECT, why and how it is used and nursing interventions for patients undergoing this therapy. ___________________ Full Transcript - Read the article and view refe...

Even though most nursing students LOVE clinical, there’s still often a lot of worry and uncertainty surrounding the experience. In this episode we’ll talk about some of the most common worries students have about clinicals and dispel them one by one. Looking for your new BFFs? Join the Thriving Nursing Students Facebook group! Want to see what Nurse Mo is up to in between podcast episodes? Follow...

In this special bonus episode we’re exploring what it’s like to pursue a career as a CRNA. Join me as I interview Jenny Finnell, creator of the CRNA School Prep Academy (https://crnaschoolprepacademy.com). In this episode Jenny shares her expertise in navigating the complex journey of becoming a CRNA, including: What students can start doing NOW to prepare What the application process is like Wher...

If I had to name the top three things that make me nervous at the bedside, pediatric respiratory distress would be at the top of that list. And for very good reason.  In this podcast episode I’ll talk you through all the reasons that pediatric respiratory distress is of special concern and what you (as the awesome nurse that you are) are going to do about it. Have you subscribed to the podcast, bu...

In this week’s episode I’m talking you through a potent medication used in the critical care setting to treat severe hypotension that has not responded to fluids. And that, my friends, is norepinephrine (brand name Levophed). Using the Straight A Nursing DRRUGS framework, we’ll dive into the need-to-know info so you can feel confident in clinical, on the job, or on your exams. ___________________...

In nursing school we learned the standard ECG measurements...the PR interval, the QRS, ST elevations, the rate...and that was about it! It wasn’t until I started working in the ICU that I learned about the QT interval and why it is probably one of the MOST important ECG measurements I can monitor. In this podcast episode, I’ll talk you through what the QT interval represents, how to measure it, so...

In this special bonus episode I interview Michael Smith from the Real Talk School of Nursing podcast. Michael is a wonderful student advocate who provides nursing students with a real-world perspective on nursing school through his podcast and hilarious Instagram memes (seriously, go check them out!)   In addition to mentoring students, Michael also works in the emergency room of a L1 trauma cente...

Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is the most severe form of lung injury and happens to be prevalent as of late due to Covid-19. In this podcast episode we’ll talk about the pathophysiology of ARDS and then dive into the key need-to-know information using the Straight A Nursing LATTE method.  If you find this podcast helpful, we’d love for you to take the time to subscribe, rate and revie...

Students, even those who do well in other classes, often struggle with mental health nursing. Many times these students have no idea why they’re struggling, they just know this class can be especially difficult. But guess what? When you understand WHY you could find a class challenging, you can go in there armed with appropriate tools to meet these challenges (and possibly even thrive despite them...

Follow along with a neuro case study featuring a fictional patient who suffers a CVA. We’ll talk through his medical history and key assessment findings then implement a plan of care that unfolds as you listen.  Imagine walking into the first day of class already understanding things like nursing diagnoses, care plans and dosage calculations. Talk about starting off strong! ___________________ Ful...

I know so many nursing students have questions about L&D nursing, what it’s like and how to get into such an exciting (and popular) field. So today I have a special treat for you! I’m interviewing Hannah, an RN who recently landed her dream job at a large hospital’s labor and delivery unit. We’ll talk through what she loves about the job, the different roles of the L&D nurse, and the path she took...

In celebration of reaching ONE MILLION DOWNLOADS a few months ago, I invited my podcast listeners and nurse colleagues to call in with their best advice for new nurses and nursing students. I am so excited to share these inspiring and encouraging messages with you in this bonus episode! To everyone who recorded a message, thank you SO MUCH! It takes all of us to grow and nurture our future colleag...

In this episode, I’m revealing the core subjects you should review to prepare for pharmacology. After all, it’s one of the most challenging subjects for nursing students to master because it introduces a vast amount of new material. However, the good news is, a lot of this material stems from foundation knowledge you already possess. A systematic review of some key concepts you learned in A&P can...

To all who have received acceptance letters and are starting nursing school soon...CONGRATULATIONS! I am so very excited and happy for you as you take this next big step on your journey to become a nurse.  In this episode I’ll talk you through some of the key things you can do before school even starts to get ready for nursing school, including which A&P topics to review.  ___________________ Full...

Today we’re talking about one of my favorite topics….shopping for nursing school supplies! With the holidays coming up, it’s the perfect time to add some must-have items to your wish list.  It includes some bigger ticket items and things that fit beautifully in a stocking. Happy shopping! ------------ Full Transcript - Get the links to all my favorite nursing school supplies FREE CLASS - If all yo...

The key to feeling confident (or at least less anxious) in clinical is knowing what to do should something really scary happen. In this episode, we’ll talk through the three main types of tracheostomy emergencies and how nurses can intervene.  ___________________ Full Transcript - Read the article and view references FREE CLASS - If all you've heard are nursing school horror stories, then you need...