Straight A Nursing: Study for nursing school exams & NCLEX

In Episode 68, we talked about preeclampsia which has many complications. One of those is HELLP syndrome, which is a life-threatening condition that occurs during the later stages of pregnancy or that first week or so after giving birth. HELLP syndrome has a mortality rate of 30% and involves severe blood and liver dysfunction.  In this podcast episode we’ll talk about:  * What the acronym HELLP s...

One of the most common medication classes you’ll see in the clinical setting is the beta blocker. In this episode we’ll talk about what they are, how they work, what they do, what conditions they’re used for and how you’re going to monitor your patient. Some key information you’ll learn is:  * How beta blockers work in the autonomic nervous system * The types of beta receptors in the body * Where...

When looking at endocrine disorders, it’s often helpful to look at them in pairs whenever possible because often the symptoms will mirror one another. In this week’s episode we look at two endocrine conditions related to the adrenal glands: Cushing’s Disease and Addison’s Disease. In this episode we’ll cover: * Basics of Addison’s Disease (also known as adrenal insufficiency) * The differences bet...

In nursing school you’ve definitely learned the five rights of medication administration as a key component in keeping your patients safe. But if you want to go even further and truly understand all the factors that go into giving medication safely, then you’re in the right place my friend.  In this podcast episode, I’ll talk you through the five rights of medication administration that all nursin...

Helping a patient through alcohol withdrawal is, hands down, one of the most challenging things you will encounter as a nurse. It requires patience, empathy, a strong backbone and high vigilance to keep both you and the patient safe.  In this podcast episode, you will learn:  * The timeline of alcohol withdrawal * The range of symptoms and when they occur * Serious complications such as delirium t...

Study groups and nursing school go hand-in-hand. They seem to be everyone's "go to" tactic when they are struggling with a class, and everyone seems to love them, so they MUST be incredibly helpful. And, the bigger the better. Right?  Wrong. In this podcast episode I’ll let you in on the key reasons why your study group might be wasting you time and detracting you from meeting your goals.  But don...

To follow up with our episode about atrial septal defects, it’s now time to look at how this same anomaly affects physiology when it occurs in the ventricles. In this podcast episode, I’ll talk you through: * How a VSD affects physiology * Review of the flow of blood through the heart * Complications of a VSD, including Eisenmenger syndrome * Symptoms a baby with VSD may have * How a VSD is treate...

As the main advocate for your patient’s safety, it’s important to understand that some medications can cause life-threatening conditions such as respiratory depression, bradycardia and even bleeding. And while not all medications have a reversal, some of them do...thank goodness! In this podcast episode, we’ll talk about some of the most common meds that, if overdone, may require emergent reversal...

Seizure disorders can be quite complex as there are many different types, they have multiple causes and can present in a variety of ways. In this podcast episode we’ll talk about the basics of seizures, how they’re treated, and seizure nursing interventions to keep your patients safe.  This episode includes: * Causes of seizure * The different types of seizures * Nursing interventions during and a...

In this podcast episode Nurse Mo talks you through the key components of atrial septal defects in infants. * Pathophysiology of ASD * Signs/symptoms of ASD in infants * How ASD is diagnosed * ASD treatments and complications ___________________ Full Transcript - Read the article and view references Episode 73 - Review how this same anomaly affects physiology when it occurs on the ventricles in "Le...

If you've ever said to yourself, "I don't belong here" or "They're going to find out I don't know what I'm talking about" then you may very well suffer from imposter syndrome. In this podcast episode, Nurse Mo talks about imposter syndrome, why it's so common in nursing students and why it has absolutely nothing to do with how amazing you actually are. ___________________ Full Transcript - Read th...

Preeclampsia is a somewhat common but very dangerous condition that can cause serious, even fatal, consequences for mom and baby. In this podcast episode, you'll learn: What is preeclampsia? What is eclampsia? How is preeclampsia diagnosed? What are the signs/symptoms of preeclampsia? How is it treated? What are the risk factors for preeclampsia? What are the complications? ___________________ Ful...

Overcoming test anxiety in nursing school starts with recognizing WHY it happens so you can talk yourself off the ledge...it's going to be okay, I promise! In this podcast episode, I explain all the reasons why you could have test anxiety in nursing school, even if you've never suffered from it before. ___________________ Full Transcript - Read the article and view references FREE CLASS - If all y...

Learn pancreatitis nursing care in this podcast episode to help you in your Med Surg course and in your clinical rotations...it's even a great refresher for post-licensure nurses, too! In this podcast episode, Nurse Mo takes you through pancreatitis nursing care using the Straight A Nursing LATTE method: how will the patient LOOK, how will you ASSESS the patient, what TESTS will be ordered, what T...

Acid-base balance is one of those things that occur "behind-the-scenes" with all of your patients. But when this balance is off, it can be pretty dramatic! In this podcast episode, Nurse Mo takes you through a review of acid-base physiology and then brings it home with patient scenarios you're likely to see in the clinical setting. In this episode we'll review: Common causes of acid-base imbalance...

In this podcast episode Nurse Mo takes the complex topic of atelectasis and breaks it down to the "must know" information you need to take care of your patients, write care plans and do well on your nursing school exams. * The types of atelectasis...who knew there were so many? * Who is at risk for atelectasis (it's a lot of folks!) * How to assess for postoperative atelectasis * Complications of...

Learning how to administer nitroglycerin can be challenging for nursing students because it is available in so many different forms. And if that isn't enough, each formulation has its own distinct method of administration. In this podcast episode, Nurse Mo talks you through how nitroglycerin is given and the nursing implications for each type. ___________________ Full Transcript - Read the article...

In this podcast episode I talk about the different types of angina, their causes, symptoms and options for treatment. This episode dovetails perfectly with Episode 60 (linked below) on Acute Coronary Syndrome, so if you haven't listened to that one yet...go back and listen to it...then come back here. ___________________ Full Transcript - Read the article and view references Episode 60 - Dive in t...

To continue our endocrine series, today we're talking about hyperthyroidism. Also known as Graves Disease, hyperthyroidism is a condition in which the thyroid produces too much hormone. Left untreated, it can lead to life-threatening complications. In this podcast episode, Nurse Mo talks you through hyperthyroidism using the LATTE method...how will the patient LOOK, how will you ASSESS them, what...

Acute coronary syndrome is a medical emergency that requires prompt recognition and treatment. In this podcast episode, Nurse Mo breaks down the key information you need to understand this important topic so you can answer those tricky exam questions with ease! ___________________ Full Transcript - Read the article and view references FREE CLASS - If all you've heard are nursing school horror stor...

DVTs (deep vein thromboses) are a serious risk for hospitalized patients and can cause fatal complications. In this nurse's guide to DVTs, learn the signs and symptoms of a DVT, how they are treated and how nurses play a key role in their prevention. ___________________ Full Transcript - Read the article and view references FREE CLASS - If all you've heard are nursing school horror stories, then y...

I get so many questions about how to study for endocrine disorders because, frankly, they can be confusing as heck. Hypo-this, hyper-that, feedback loops, stimulating hormones, signaling pathways and a dizzying array of signs/symptoms. In this podcast episode, Nurse Mo talks you through hypothyroidism using the Straight A Nursing LATTE method. ___________________ FREE CLASS - If all you've heard a...

In this podcast episode, Nurse Mo breaks down heart failure to make a complex disease process easy to understand. You'll learn the causes of heart failure, how it's diagnosed, how it's treated, and how to differentiate between right-sided and left-sided failure. Basically, everything you need to know to do well in clinical and on your exams. GO YOU! Best of luck with school! ___________________ Ri...

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a complex illness known as "the great imitator" because its signs/symptoms can mimic so many other diseases. Diagnosis is often a convoluted and lengthy pathway with many patients suffering for years before learning their joint pain, GI symptoms, hair loss and multitude of other symptoms are indeed SLE. In this podcast episode, Nurse Mo breaks down lupus into...

Of all the electrolytes you'll evaluate when taking care of patients, potassium is one of the most important. In this podcast episode, Nurse Mo talks about the causes of hyperkalemia, the signs of this common condition, and what you are going to do to keep your patient's safe. ___________________ Full Transcript - View transcript and references Episode 347 - Tune in to this updated episode about h...