Straight A Nursing: Study for nursing school exams & NCLEX

In this episode you’ll see how schizophrenia impacts patient care across all medical environments including a psychiatric hospital, the emergency department and the in-patient setting. Follow along with three patient scenarios that highlight the complexities of caring for a patient with schizophrenia:  Jacob - Experiences paranoia and severe mistrust during an ER visit for an infected wound. Learn...

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 importance of critical thinking when a lab or vital sign result doesn’t really make sense.  ___________________ 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 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 81, which is all about schizophrenia, a psychiatric disorder that can have debilitating effects. It’s a complicated type of psychosis that has four subsets, each with its own unique profile. In...

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 sharing insight on one of the most mysterious of things in the clinical setting - abdominal pain. Many times it can be something simple and easily fixable like gas pains and other times it’s a true emergency. ___________________ FREE CLASS - If all you've heard are nursing...

In this episode, we explore peripheral nerve blocks (PNBs), which are a cornerstone of pain management in surgical care. PNBs offer targeted pain relief by blocking nerve signals, reducing the need for systemic analgesics, and enhancing recovery times. From their mechanism of action to nursing priorities, we cover everything you need to know to confidently care for patients receiving PNBs. In this...

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 sharing the purposeful highlighting tactics I used as a student to help me get a 4.0 all throughout 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 di...

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 224, where I share with you all the tips that have been shared in the Thriving Nursing Students Facebook group when it comes to going through nursing school with ADHD. And even if you don’t have...

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 sharing my pro tips for clustering your care so you can manage your time better and boost your efficiency at the bedside! ___________________ FREE CLASS - If all you've heard are nursing school horror stories, then you need this class! Join me in this on-demand session wher...

In this episode, Nurse Mo dives into neonatal hypoglycemia, the most common metabolic disturbance in newborns. With glucose as the brain’s primary energy source, recognizing and treating low blood sugar in infants is critical to preventing long-term complications like neurodevelopmental delays or cerebral palsy. Hit play on this episode and you will learn: Key terms - Brush up on key terms like gl...

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 sharing three things to always check at the start of your shift to set yourself (and your patient) up for success! ___________________ 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 dis...

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 184, where I take you through my eight favorite online tools for nursing school that help set you up for success. NEWLY ADDED! Organize your school and study schedules with My Study Life. Get Go...

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 what to do when you can’t feel your patient’s peripheral pulse. ___________________ 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 an...

Let’s face it. Nursing school is intense, and anxiety can creep in from every corner—whether it’s math exams, clinical rotations, or managing an overwhelming workload. But here’s the good news - you *can* take control of that anxiety and even start to enjoy your nursing school journey.   In this episode, I’m breaking down the top sources of anxiety nursing students face and sharing actionable tips...

In this episode, Nurse Mo breaks down the key differences between acute and chronic pain to help you navigate pain management more effectively as a nurse or nursing student. By understanding how these two types of pain differ in causes, duration, and treatment approaches, you’ll be better equipped to deliver compassionate and tailored care (and crush those nursing school exams!). Highlights includ...

A pulmonary embolism is a condition in which vessels in the lungs are blocked by a thrombus or other material that has traveled from somewhere else in the body. This is usually a result of a venous thromboembolism, but can also be due to amniotic fluid, air or fat embolus, or tumor material in patients with cancer. A key thing to understand about pulmonary embolism is that the airway is not occlud...

In this episode, we dive into the essentials of nursing care for patients with right-sided heart failure. You’ll learn: The difference between right-sided and left-sided heart failure. Common causes of right ventricular failure. Key nursing assessments and clinical signs to watch for. Diagnostic tests for right-sided heart failure. Evidence-based treatments, including medications and lifestyle mod...

Feeling unsure or timid at the bedside is something every new nurse and nursing student experiences. In this episode, Nurse Mo breaks down how to build courage in those crucial moments—whether it’s advocating for your patients, setting boundaries, or getting comfortable with personal patient care. You’ll gain confidence through practical advice and real-world strategies that will make your time at...

In this encore episode, I’m reviving a popular topic that is of special interest to nursing students right now…studying for finals! Hit play on this episode to hear my 12 tried-and-true tips for preparing for your final exams.  ___________________ 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...

In this episode, Nurse Mo breaks down the critical information you need to know about myxedema coma, a life-threatening complication of hypothyroidism. Learn how to recognize, assess, and treat this condition using the Straight A Nursing LATTE Method. Tune in to boost your confidence in both exams and clinical practice! Hit play on this episode to learn:  Key symptoms and patient presentation for...

Want to feel more confident on your exams or when caring for patients with prostate cancer? This episode has everything you need! This episode walks you through the essentials:  Who is most at risk for prostate cancer Key signs and symptoms of the condition Important nursing assessments for a patient with prostate cancer Tests utilized to evaluate or diagnose prostate cancer Prostate cancer treatm...

In this episode, we dive into one of the key aspects of mental health nursing: recognizing and understanding defense mechanisms. These psychological strategies, often unconscious, help individuals cope with reality and its stresses.  As nurses, it’s crucial to help patients gain self-awareness by identifying when these defense mechanisms are at play, which in turn can improve their understanding o...

This episode breaks down hypertensive crisis - what it is, how to recognize it, and the steps nurses can take to manage it effectively. You’ll learn the two main types of hypertensive crisis: hypertensive urgency and hypertensive emergency, and get tips on how to assess for signs of organ damage. Key takeaways include: Definition and parameters for hypertensive crisis Tips for getting an accurate...

I’m swapping podcast episodes this week with Kati Kleber from FreshRN and I could not be more excited about what she is sharing with you! In this mega episode, which aired originally on the FreshRN podcast, Kati shares a bounty of communication tips that you’ll find helpful whether you’re brand new or a seasoned nurse with years of experience at the bedside. This episode includes: How to talk to y...

In today’s episode, we cover four common cases of acute confusion (delirium) in hospitalized patients. While these scenarios provide insight, remember that any confusion should be thoroughly evaluated to find the underlying cause. Phyllis: A 76-year-old post-surgical patient becomes confused after surgery. Learn how medications, missed meals, and beta blockers played a role in this situation. Stan...

In this episode, I'm breaking down the concept of first-pass metabolism, also known as the first-pass effect, and why it’s important for nurses to understand. You’ll learn how medications are metabolized, why bioavailability matters, and how the first-pass effect impacts drug dosing and effectiveness. We also discuss common medications affected by this process and how it influences the choice of a...