Straight A Nursing: Study for nursing school exams & NCLEX

In this episode, we are taking a close look at Le Fort osteotomies and walking through the nursing care using the LATTE method so you always know the key nursing priorities. Le Fort surgeries can be complex and the airway risks are real, so having a solid framework helps you stay focused and confident at the bedside. Here is what you will learn in this episode: What Le Fort osteotomies are and why...

Let's start your week strong with a quick tip you can incorporate right away. In this Mo's Monday Minute shortie episode, I break down why you might see an elevated BUN when caring for a patient with a GI bleed and no history of renal disease. ___________________ ⁠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...

Every other week I'm republishing one of my most popular or impactful episodes. This week I'm highlighting Episode 336, which is all about local anesthetic systemic toxicity (LAST). You'll definitely want to give this one a listen. Local anesthetics are medications that block nerve impulses so that pain signals aren’t transmitted to the brain. The result is that the anesthetized area is numb and p...

It’s PodQuiz Monday! Test your knowledge from last week’s episode with a quick set of audio flashcards designed to reinforce what you learned. These mini-reviews are a great way to study on the go, and they give you a taste of what it’s like inside Study Sesh, my audio study tool for busy nursing students. If you need a brush-up on neuraxial analgesia before you do this podquiz, I've got you cover...

Neuraxial analgesia is used every day in med–surg, orthopedics, OB, and PACU settings. Understanding how these blocks work, what medications are used, and how to assess patients as the block takes effect (and wears off) is essential for safe, confident nursing care. In this episode, we’ll walk through: What neuraxial anesthesia actually is (and why we use it) Key differences between epidurals and...

Every other week I'm republishing one of my most popular or impactful episodes and adding an update, new insight, or context that will help you benefit from it even more. This week I'm highlighting Episode 83, which is all about ventilators.  Review ventilator anatomy, settings, modes, alarms to be aware of and other key concepts when you hit play! ___________________ ⁠Full Transcript ⁠- Read the...

Let's start your week strong with a quick tip you can incorporate right away. In this Mo's Monday Minute shortie episode, low-sorb tubing takes the stage. I'll review what it is, why it matters, and which medications require it. ___________________ 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...

Cardiac stress tests are utilized to show how the heart performs under pressure, whether that’s from a walking on a treadmill or from a stress-inducing medication. In this episode, I share the key things a nurse needs to know about  exercise and pharmacologic stress tests. Hit play on this episode and you’ll learn: Why stress tests are ordered and what they are used to detect Key differences betwe...

Let's start your week strong with a quick tip you can incorporate right away. In this Mo's Monday Minute shortie episode, I'm talking about something every nurse needs to be able to recognize quickly: the early signs of hypovolemic shock. You don't want to miss this episode, intervening when you recognize these early signs can save your patient's life. For more talk about shock, check out episode...

Every other week I'm republishing one of my most popular or impactful episodes and adding an update, new insight, or context that will help you benefit from it even more. This week I'm highlighting Episode 59, the nurse's guide to DVTs...how they're spotted, treated and prevented. Everything you need for your care plans! ___________________ Full Transcript - Read the article and view references FR...

Let's start your week strong with a quick tip you can incorporate right away. In this Mo's Monday Minute shortie episode, I'm talking about the the difference between central and peripheral cyanosis. Not all cyanosis is the same, and identifying if it's central or peripheral will help you pinpoint the underlying cause. ___________________ FREE CLASS - If all you've heard are nursing school horror...

NSAIDs are everywhere, and for good reason. They’re incredibly effective at reducing inflammation and pain, managing fever, and even reducing cardiovascular risk. But while NSAIDs definitely have some great uses, they’re also not without risks.  In this episode, you’ll learn: How NSAIDs work in the body Common examples you’ll see at the bedside and what they are used to treat What conditions NSAID...

Let's start your week strong with a quick tip you can incorporate right away. In this Mo's Monday Minute shortie episode, I'm talking about the 50-50 Club in COPD patients and how to know when you need to quickly intervene. ___________________ 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 those nur...

Every other week I'm republishing one of my most popular or impactful episodes and adding an update, new insight, or context that will help you benefit from it even more. This week I'm highlighting Episode 64: Atelectasis Nursing Interventions. By the end of the episode you'll have reviewed the "must know" information you need to take care of your patients, write care plans and do well on your nur...

Let's start your week strong with a quick tip you can incorporate right away. In this Mo's Monday Minute shortie episode, I'm clearing up something that confuses a lot of nursing students: the difference between IV infiltration and extravasation. ___________________ 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...

Oxygen is one of those therapies that nurses use every single day with almost every single patient. But did you know too much oxygen can actually cause harm?  In this episode, you’ll learn: What oxygen toxicity is and how it develops The risk factors and causes you should watch for Key signs and symptoms Oxygen toxicity prevention And more! ___________________ Full Transcript - Read the article an...

Let's start your week strong with a quick tip you can incorporate right away. In this Mo's Monday Minute shortie episode, I'm talking about labs and lasix. Tune in to review why you should always check sodium and potassium labs before giving lasix. See you there! ___________________ FREE CLASS - If all you've heard are nursing school horror stories, then you need this class! Join me in this on-dem...

Every other week I'm republishing one of my most popular or impactful episodes and adding an update, new insight, or context that will help you benefit from it even more. This week I'm highlighting Episode 148, where I walk you through when to call a stroke alert and what happens next. When your patient has a sudden change in neurological status, it can be very scary for everyone involved. A timel...

Let's start your week strong with a quick tip you can incorporate right away. In this Mo's Monday Minute shortie episode, I'm talking about pre-load vs. after-load. This concept can be tricky and often trips students up, so grab those earbuds and let's clear it up! ___________________ FREE CLASS - If all you've heard are nursing school horror stories, then you need this class! Join me in this on-d...

If you’ve ever watched a medical drama or spent any amount of time in the clinical setting, you’ve seen a crash cart and have a general idea of what defibrillation is. In this lesson, we’ll dive deeper into defibrillation so you can feel confident when working with patients, practicing a mock code blue, or simply answering questions on an exam.  Here's what you'll learn: - What defibrillation is a...

Let's start your week strong with a quick tip you can incorporate right away. In this Mo's Monday Minute shortie episode, I'm talking about starting your shift off on the right foot by doing three things. ___________________ 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 those nursing school myths a...

Every other week I'm republishing one of my most popular or impactful episodes and adding an update, new insight, or context that will help you benefit from it even more. This week I'm highlighting Episode 101, which is all about first, second and third-degree heart blocks.  Together, we’ll cover:  -key ECG elements of each heart block -the many names for the second-degree blocks (why are there so...

I remember being a brand-new nurse and thinking my biggest challenge would be learning critical-care pathophysiology. Spoiler alert: it wasn’t. What really caught me off guard was “nurse shock.” It's an intense, disorienting phase where real-world nursing feels nothing like what I expected. In this powerful conversation with my nurse bestie and fellow educator Stephanie Griffeth, we talk about wha...

Let's start your week strong with a quick tip you can incorporate right away. In this Mo's Monday Minute shortie episode, I'm talking about highlighting when note-taking and giving you a simple five-color system that actually makes sense for 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 se...

Have you ever heard of injecting bubbles into someone’s vein on purpose? Sounds wild, right? But that’s exactly what a bubble study (AKA an “agitated saline study”) does. And it’s actually a safe and effective way to detect abnormal blood flow in the heart and lungs. In this episode, you’ll learn: What a bubble study is and how it works The key clinical indications How to interpret the timing of b...