Straight A Nursing: Study for nursing school exams & NCLEX

I’m sharing one of my favorites from the Rapid Response RN podcast with you in this special bonus episode! If you haven’t started listening to this podcast yet, you are going to LOVE Sarah! Her podcast helps nurses boost their confidence when responding to emergencies. New episodes drop every Friday, so make sure you are following the Rapid Response RN show, too! ___________________ Rapid Response...

Dysphagia is a condition in which the individual has difficulty swallowing. Proper swallowing relies on a complex coordination involving more than 30 nerves and muscles. When even one of these elements fails to work properly, dysphagia can result.  In this episode, you’ll learn:  The four stages of swallowing…more complex than we realize! Causes of dysphagia Signs and symptoms of dysphagia (AKA: i...

If you’re learning about advanced Med Surg concepts or even working in the clinical setting, you’ve no doubt heard of pulmonary embolism. But did you know it goes beyond impaired gas exchange? Hit play on this episode to learn how a pulmonary embolism can impair cardiac function, potentially leading to devastating consequences. In this episode, you’ll review foundation concepts to help you underst...

If you’ve ever thought that CRNA school might be in your future, the time to start preparing is now…even if you’re not in nursing school yet! In this episode, I’m joined by Jenny Finnell, CRNA and CEO of CRNA School Prep Academy. Not only is Jenny a great mentor, but she’s also extremely knowledgeable about what it takes to get into a CRNA program.  Hit play on this episode to get some of your que...

Dextro transposition of the great arteries (D TGA) is a congenital cyanotic heart defect in which the pulmonary artery and the aorta are transposed. In this lesson, you’ll review normal cardiopulmonary circulation (which is essential to understanding this condition) and learn:  How the abnormal anatomy of D TGA affects physiology Why you actually want the child with D TGA to have another congenita...

Air embolism is a rare, but potentially fatal, event that occurs when a bolus of air enters the vascular space. The risks and consequences depend on which type of air embolism has occurred - venous or arterial. In this episode, you’ll learn: The differences between venous and arterial air embolism Causes and risk factors for air embolism Signs and symptoms of venous and arterial air embolism Tests...

Nursing school exam questions place you into a clinical scenario where you have to make decisions based on the information provided. Many times these scenarios are robust and full of a lot of details such as vital signs, past medical history, and the patient’s signs and symptoms. When you have a complex scenario such as this, it is called a case study. Case studies can be challenging for students...

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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 pain is controlled.  Just because local anesthetics are “local” doesn’t mean systemic toxicity can’t occur. Local anesthetic systemic toxicity (LAST) occurs when local anesthetics extend into the system at toxic levels. It most typic...

When the heart rate is irregular or too slow, cardiac output is compromised. A pacemaker may be utilized to support the heart’s electrical system, stabilize arrhythmias, and ensure the heart pumps at a rate that supports tissue perfusion throughout the body.  A pacemaker may be indicated in patients with arrhythmias such as sick sinus syndrome (also known as sinus node dysfunction), symptomatic br...

Prioritizing patient care is often difficult for students in nursing school or even new nurses. And while novice nurses thrive when they utilize to-do lists, prioritization is so much more than making a task list and following it throughout your shift. It’s actually a constantly fluctuating component of your workflow that must take multiple factors (and multiple patients) into consideration.  The...

Even though nursing is THE most trusted profession, you may be surprised to learn that academic misconduct occurs at the same rate amongst nursing students as it does other academic disciplines. One reason for this is that cheating goes beyond just getting “extra help” on an exam, and students may not recognize other aspects of academic dishonesty as actual cheating.  The reason cheating is such a...

Did you know appendicitis is one of the most common gastrointestinal conditions you’ll see in the clinical setting? It’s also highly likely to show up on nursing school exams! In this episode you’ll learn:  Why symptoms can vary so much from person to person What we now know about the appendix (turns out, it’s not totally useless!) The classic presentation of a patient with appendicitis How to ass...

As a nursing student or nurse, you’ll learn about hundreds of drugs over the span of your career but the ones you’ll know really well are the ones you use on a consistent basis. If you’re just starting out and aren’t sure which drugs to focus on, this list of one dozen common drugs will come in handy in a wide variety of acute care settings.  This episode covers some of the key things to know abou...

Something you’ll learn quickly (if you haven’t already) is that the medical field is full of terms named after people…Beck’s triad, Kernig’s sign, McBurney’s point and Ortolani maneuver are just a few! Unfortunately, you just need to memorize what these are, so I’ve pulled together some common ones to know in this episode.  Hit play on this episode and soon you’ll be “talking the talk” just like a...

In this episode I’m breaking down eight key labs to know before your first clinical day in nursing school:  Hemoglobin Hematocrit WBCs Platelets Sodium Potassium Creatinine Glucose Hit play on this episode and start your nursing school clinicals with more confidence and the knowledge you need to create an effective plan of care. One of the best ways to fast-track your clinical learning is having t...

Did you know that more than 60% of adverse events in the clinical setting have been attributed to poor communication? To help ensure patient safety, SBAR is utilized as a standardized communication format but it can be difficult to know how to use it effectively when you’re a new nurse or nursing student.  I’m breaking down SBAR for you in this episode so you can finally have a clear understanding...

In this bonus episode, I’m re-releasing one of my most popular episodes just in case you missed it the first time around! Hit play on this episode to learn the key things you should do to get prepared for nursing school (Yes, they’re easy and yes, you can still enjoy your time off!).  ___________________ Get the New Nursing Student Checklist - Get all these tips in a convenient checklist so you ca...

Semaglutide, which is sold under the brand names Ozempic, Wegovy and Rybelsus, has become increasingly popular and is a medication you are likely to encounter in the clinical setting and when reviewing your patient’s medical histories. In this article, you’ll learn the key things to know about semaglutide using the Straight A Nursing DRRUGS framework. In this episode, you'll learn: The principles...

If all you’re hearing is how overwhelming, impossible, or miserable nursing school is, I want you to know that this does NOT have to be your story. But the only way you’re going to have a different experience is if you take active steps to have a different experience. Walking into nursing school cold or without doing any prep is about as smart as running a marathon without training…it would be a d...

When it comes to job hunting, whether you're a new grad nurse or an experienced RN, you always want to showcase your best self. A great way to do that is with an up-to-date nursing portfolio. Another reason to create and maintain a nursing portfolio as it creates a history of your career. As you apply for jobs now, and in the future, your portfolio is a wonderful resource for highlighting your acc...

Graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) is a complication that can occur after allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplant. It is a syndrome that involves multiple organs and occurs when transplanted immune cells identify the recipient cells as foreign invaders. The result is that the transplanted (graft) cells attack the recipient (host) cells. In this episode, you'll learn: Who is most at risk for develop...

RSI is rapid sequence intubation, a procedure performed to emergently intubate a patient with an intact gag reflex in cases of acute respiratory failure and/or cardiovascular collapse. As a nurse working in the emergency department or ICU, you will be obtaining and may be administering the medications used to perform a rapid sequence intubation. Please be aware of your scope of practice and facili...

In this episode, Nurse Mo is joined by Dr. Sehgal, a board-certified urologist and founder of the YouTube channel UroCoach where he teaches urology concepts in an easy-to-understand way. In this episode, Dr. Sehgal shares some great tips for troubleshooting Foley catheters and managing them like a pro. Hit the play button and you'll learn: Tips for when your Foley insertion doesn't go as planned H...

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an immune-mediated chronic condition of the central nervous system. It is characterized by the destruction of myelin, which is the protective sheath that covers nerve axons in the brain and spinal cord. When this protective layer is damaged, lesions (plaques) develop throughout the nervous system and nerve impulses slow down.  In this episode, you’ll learn the key things...