Straight A Nursing: Study for nursing school exams & NCLEX

This past year I've worked really hard to develop and follow a consistent morning routine. In this podcast episode, we’ll talk about the benefits of morning routines and how they can help make your life as a nurse or nursing student more balanced and organized and less chaotic and stressful. If your day typically starts in chaos, lacks focus or feels like a mad dash out the door, this episode is f...

We’re diving back into pediatrics in this week’s podcast and taking a look at a common childhood ailment, otitis media (otherwise known as a middle ear infection). Using the Straight A Nursing LATTE method, we’ll break down the key nursing assessments and interventions when it comes to taking care of kids with both acute and chronic infections.  ___________________ Full Transcript – Read the artic...

Let’s talk through diltiazem, a common calcium channel blocker (CCB) using the Straight A Nursing acronym DRRUGS. You’ll see this medication used to treat hypertension, angina and tachycardic arrhythmias such as atrial fibrillation. ___________________ Full Transcript - Read the article and view references FREE CLASS - If all you've heard are nursing school horror stories, then you need this clas...

Even the most successful, rock-star nursing student has moments where they feel overwhelmed, burned out and depleted. And for good reason. Nursing school is HARD, and I want you to know that what you are feeling is absolutely normal and absolutely okay.  Listen to this very special podcast episode when you need a pep talk, when you feel like you just can’t go on, or any time you doubt your ability...

Intra-abdominal hypertension (IAH) is a progressive and potentially fatal condition that can initially present with subtle clinical signs that make it hard to detect. Learn the basics of IAH, what to watch for and some common approaches utilized to treat it. ___________________ Full Transcript - Read the article and view references FREE CLASS - If all you've heard are nursing school horror stories...

Newsflash! Chest tubes do not have to strike terror into your heart! In this week’s podcast episode I’ll talk you through the basics of chest tubes, key assessments, what to watch for and what to do if things go wrong.  ___________________ Full Transcript - Read the article and view references FREE CLASS - If all you've heard are nursing school horror stories, then you need this class! Join me in...

Every time we post a PodQuiz the feedback is overwhelming...you guys LOVE these! This PodQuiz reviews the signs and symptoms of electrolyte imbalances. New to PodQuizzes? In this podcast format, I ask a question then pause, giving you time to answer. I then reveal the answer...they’re flashcards for your ears! ___________________ Full Transcript - Read the article and view references FREE CLASS -...

This week we’re diving back into Women’s Health with a look at high-risk pregnancy as it relates to the adolescent patient. The interesting thing about pregnant adolescents is that the high-risk aspect goes far beyond the physical.  Looking for more resources for nursing school? Visit www.straightanursingstudent.com ___________________ Full Transcript - Read the article and view references FREE CL...

Phenytoin is an anti-seizure medication that is commonly asked about on exams and NCLEX. Oh, and you’ll probably see it in your nursing school clinicals, too! In this podcast episode we’ll talk through this medication using the Straight A Nursing framework DRRUGS.  Looking to go beyond the Five Rights of medication administration with my Bulletproof guide? Grab yours here and take your medication...

Proper delegation is a key skill you’ll need to learn as a nursing student, long before you become an actual nurse. In fact, questions about proper delegation will show up on exams and your NCLEX! In this episode, learn the basics of delegation, what makes it safe (or unsafe) and the key components you need to consider each and every time.  ___________________ Full Transcript - Read the article an...

Compartment syndrome occurs when pressure inside a limb or other compartment of the body rises to the point that it impedes blood flow. Left untreated, compartment syndrome can result in tissue death and loss of the affected limb.  In this podcast episode, we’ll talk through the six Ps of compartment syndrome, how we assess patients and what the emergency treatment is for this serious condition. L...

One of the most critical times in a surgical patient’s hospital stay is the period right after surgery and the day or two that follow. Taking care of patients at this stage requires diligence, quick thinking, and an eye for spotting and preventing complications. Today we’ll be chatting about taking care of patients in the post-anesthesia recovery period when they are potentially the most unstable,...

In episode 114 we talked a lot about time management and prioritizing in clinical, but what about in your nursing school classes? Today I’ll be talking about one of my favorite subjects...being organized and efficient in nursing school. ___________________ 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...

As cute and adorable as they are, kids are not just tiny adults. Especially when it comes to pharmacology. The way kids absorb, distribute, metabolize and excrete drugs varies greatly, making pediatric pharmacology a truly unique subject.  If you’re heading into your pediatric rotation or starting out as a new pediatric RN, then pop in those earbuds. I’ll talk you through the key things you need t...

When you think of diabetes, chances are you immediately think of insulin. But did you know there are quite a few pharmacological treatments that go way beyond insulin? In this episode, we’ll talk about insulin and non-insulin treatments for diabetes mellitus.  ___________________ Full Transcript - Read the article and view references FREE CLASS - If all you've heard are nursing school horror stori...

Hopefully your final semester clinical experience hasn’t been impacted negatively from Covid-19 and you’re embarking on your preceptorship with joy and anticipation! These clinical hours are absolutely precious. You definitely want to get as much out of each and every minute so you can make that transition from student to new-grad RN with relative ease. In this week’s podcast, I’ll talk you throug...

Today we’ll be diving into third spacing and fluid shifts. This is a process you’ll see quite often in critical care, but also in Medical-Surgical patients as well.  So, pop in those earbuds and get outside for a walk...it’s beautiful out! Enjoy! ___________________ Full Transcript - Read the article and view references LATTE Method Template - Download the free LATTE Method Template so you can str...

While pulse oximetry tells you about your patient’s oxygenation status, capnography tells you about their ventilatory status. In fact, capnography can alert you to declines in respiratory function much faster than pulse oximetry, which makes it a wonderful tool in sedated patients or those recovering from surgery. In this podcast episode, learn the basics of capnography monitoring and how it helps...

If you’re a new nursing student who is starting your program, CONGRATULATIONS! Before classes begin, it’s important to set yourself up for success. In this podcast episode, I’ll talk about five easy things you can do before classes begin that will help you start your program with your best foot forward. Click here to grab the blood flow cheatsheet! Bloodflow Through Heart Download: https://www.str...

In this podcast episode Nurse Mo talks you through the basics of TORCH infections, which occur when pathogens are transmitted from mom to baby during pregnancy or delivery. These infections are toxoplasmosis, other (syphilis, listeria, varicella zoster, parvovirus), rubella, cytomegalovirus and herpes simplex virus. We’ll touch on the key details you need to know to prep for your NCLEX and your nu...

Sometimes an asthma attack can be so severe that oxygen and bronchodilators simply aren’t enough. Heliox to the rescue! Heliox is a mixture of helium plus oxygen that creates a gas that is lower in density, thereby decreasing work of breathing and helping inhaled medications get into the more distal areas of the bronchial tree ___________________ Full Transcript - Read the article and view referen...

In episode 7 I talked about how to give an excellent end-of-shift report. In this episode, we’re taking a deep dive into how nurses use “brain sheets” to ensure that report is thorough and efficient. For this episode, you’re going to want to print out the downloadable PDF and follow along with me as we go through all the components of an effective brain sheet so you can feel confident in the clini...

Patients with active GI bleeding are definitely high on my list of things that make me nervous. In many cases these patients can decompensate quickly, so careful monitoring and decisive action are key to keeping them safe. In this podcast episode, we’ll talk about the nursing care of patients with GI bleeds so that you can feel ready for anything. Want to be the most organized student in your clas...

In this week’s podcast episode we’re diving into Kawasaki disease, a condition that mainly affects children under the age of 8 who are Japanese or of Pacific Islander descent (though it’s certainly not limited to this group). We’ll go through Kawasaki disease in peds patients using the Straight A Nursing LATTE method, which is the perfect way to learn the info most likely to be on your exams.  ___...

In this podcast episode, we’ll talk about some interesting disease conditions that can often be recognized by the very distinct odors they produce. In addition, we’ll also talk through some tried-and-true strategies for dealing with foul odors in the clinical setting so you keep your patients (and yourself) comfortable. ___________________ Full Transcript - Read the article and view references FRE...