The Ashley O Show

On this episode, we talk about a few quick tips I have for anyone about to start at a new job, especially for my new nurses! These tips should help you start your job in a positive mindset, prepared for the challenge ahead. I'm rooting for you!! I would love to answer ANY questions you have about nursing in general, or hear about areas you are struggling with right now. Message me @ashley_nur...

On this episode, we have a real quick, to-the-point PEP TALK for all of those nurses who need that right now. This idea has been on my heart, and I have had this feeling like some of you guys might need some support and love right now. I am ROOTING for you, and I am always on your team. You are doing incredible things, and I SEE you. I would love to answer ANY questions you have about nursing in g...

On this episode, we interview Becky, the owner of Family Wise Financial Coach! We cover it all, from budgeting, credit versus cash, paying off debt, and saving for big money goals. Becky is so easy to talk to, and explains complicated financial topics in a straightforward, easy-to-understand way. This episode is perfect for anyone on a financial journey and is full of JUICY information for anyone...

On this episode, we discuss HYPOKALEMIA, as in low potassium. This is the first of our ELECTROLYTE series! It may seem like a simple topic, but we talk about this electrolyte's role in the body, normal ranges, symptoms, causes, and how to treat this issue. This includes some practical tips to use inside of the hospital and we cover some important nursing considerations.  I would love to answe...

On this episode, I give you guys a quick job/life/podcast update! We discuss my new nursing job, why I made this decision, some mindset shifts I had to make, and what this means for the podcast! All of these big changes meant that I took a step back from the podcast during the transition phase, but we are back in business. Check this episode out if you are also thinking about finding a new job wit...

On this episode, we talk about what to do if you are feeling stuck in your nursing career. Do you ever question why you became a nurse in the first place? Do you constantly wish you had a reason to leave your current position? Do you dread going to work? Maybe you just don't feel PASSIONATE about what you do. If these things are true for you, know that you don't have to stay STUCK! We sp...

On this episode, we discuss some tips and things to remember if you are a new nurse in the COVID ICU (or any COVID unit). We talk about flexing that "asking for help" muscle, swallowing a little pride, time management tips specific for COVID, and clinical expectations for these patients. Newer nurses are certainly being thrown into the deep end between shortened orientations, surged assi...

On this episode, we discuss my tops tips to mastering delegation. I prefer to think about delegation as asking for help, and being assertive when needed. Delegation can feel uncomfortable at first, especially when you are new to a well-established unit. It can feel weird to delegate tasks to someone who has been doing this for 10 years while you have only been on the unit for a week, but it is suc...

On this episode, I give you some tips and tricks to master prioritization in your patient care. Prioritization is key for efficient and effective nursing, but is often a tough skill to tackle. We discuss using your ABCs, adopting the CURE hierarchy when ranking your tasks, and some important questions to ask yourself while deciding what to do first (Which task can I get done quickly? If I delay th...

On this episode, we discuss how to build and maintain strong relationships with your significant other, family, or friends as a nurse. Especially for those of you who are new, this can be a tough challenge as you transition into the profession. 12 hour shifts, working nights, exhaustion, and overwhelm can test any relationship. We discuss strong communication, patience, and even how to navigate sh...

On this episode, we discuss the science behind the stress response, how stress can actually HELP us, reframing our thoughts, and managing stress and overwhelm (rather than trying to eliminate it). During this season, we all have a million reasons to feel stressed. Between a pandemic, working too many hours, and the holiday season, it can all feel like too much to handle. On today's episode we...

On this episode, we talk through a full patient case (2 patients) in the COVID ICU on a busy night. Unlike our last "night in the life," this was the type of night where there was no time to get organized, review charts, or plan the day as we normally like to. This was a "put out fires and keep your head above water" type of shift that would not have been possible without an in...

On this episode, we have our FIRST interview with Emily Mazurak of the Fill Up Your Cup Project!! Get to know Emily, hear her story, and  learn about her incredible company. We talk burnout and recovery, tips for new nurses, personal development, setting boundaries for work/life balance, and MORE! This was such a valuable conversation and I think it provides so much meaningful content.  Emily and...

On this episode, we discuss signs that you might be struggling with time management and tips to improve on this much-needed skill. Time management skills are vital in the nursing profession as we attempt to fit SO MUCH into 12 hours. That's why those hours often fly by. So let's talk about how to make the most of each shift. We talk planning your shift, developing a stellar shift routine...

On this episode, we talk about what I have learned during the heat of the COVID-19 pandemic, changes to treatments, and how we have adapted in our care for these patients. We will discuss paralytics, COVID codes, proning, long-term ICU stays/intubation, PTSD, cardiac damage, new drug treatments, and loss. We also continue our discussion regarding burnout. This episode is part 2 in our COVID series...

On this episode, we talk about the COVID shuffle at my hospital. How we organized our patients, the initial hospital response, staffing, and incentives for staff. I talk a little bit about my experience with this adjustment and the feelings of burnout that ensued. Since this pandemic is such a huge topic to cover, this episode will be a part one of a COVID series. That way we can pay this subject...

On this week's episode, we discuss the art of giving nursing shift change report! We discuss the basic framework of your report, which details to include and which to leave out, and we break down the various categories and sections within your report. Giving a stellar report takes PRACTICE, you've got to build that muscle over time. I hope this episode will provide some guidance to help...

On this episode, I break down my first CODE BLUE experience! This is a tough one for me to talk about, and has played a big role in the start to my nursing career. This code happened in the first few months of my career while I was still in orientation, and was difficult for me to recover from. It took a lot of talking and processing, but now I want to share this experience, and the lessons learne...

On this episode, we have a raw, uncut, and honest conversation about how I am feeling about my nursing career. We talk burnout, struggle, and uncertainty. This episode is a little different than our usual feel-good, positive pump-up. Don't get me wrong, I still want you guys to practice positivity and gratitude through the struggles, but sometimes you have got to be authentic and truthful abo...

On this episode, we continue our discussion of the "who's who" on the hospital team. This week we talk about roles including RT's, OT'S, PT's, palliative care, pharmacy and more. This episode came at the request of one of our fantastic listeners, and I hope it can be helpful as some of you enter the workforce in understanding the different roles and responsibilities o...

On this episode, we discuss the "who's who" on the hospital team, including attendings, fellows, residents, intensivists, hospitalists, house supervisors, clinical nurse leaders, and MANY more. This episode came at the request of one of our fantastic listeners, and I hope it can be helpful as some of you enter the workforce in understanding the different roles and responsibilities o...

On this episode, I walk you through my favorite patient case with a positive outcome. This patient definitely surprised me with his recovery, and I often remind myself of this story when I am struggling. We also talk a little bit about return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) after cardiac arrest and targeted temperature management (TTM)! We don't always get to hear about the good stories sin...

On this episode, we have a raw and honest discussion about my experience during my orientation. I talk about my struggles, my feeling, and the strategies that I used to overcome this hurdle. The first few months of anyone's nursing career is stressful, overwhelming, and also FULL of opportunity. I hope that by being honest about how I struggled, you can learn from that and EMBRACE your orient...

On this episode, we discuss embracing the stage that you are in of your nursing career, and how to shift your mindset! I think this is a super important topic because in nursing, mindset is EVERYTHING. Your ability to get back up and recover from mistakes or hardships will define your career. So too will your ability to tackle challenges and value every lesson that you learn during the hard times....

On this episode, we talk about the NCLEX and some prep strategies! I specifically discuss what I did to prep, what worked for me, and some tips and tricks to (hopefully) make the process a little less stressful. This is your last big hurdle before the adventure that is a nursing career! You've got this, I have no doubt!! I hope this episode can answer some of your questions about this topic,...