Straight A Nursing

Learning how to manage your time is one of the biggest hurdles in clinical and even when you’re beginning as a new nurse. After much trial and error with my own practice, I finally settled on a solid start-of-shift routine that helped me start each day off as organized and methodical as possible. I found that on those days when I neglected my routine, I was much more frazzled, unfocused, and ended up wasting more time by trying to play catch up. In this podcast episode, I share with you seven things to do at the beginning of your shift. Take a listen and then I invite you to devise your own start-of-shift routine so you can feel like the confident, organized nurse you are! Download a sample Run Sheet here. ___________________ Full Transcript - Read the article and view references 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 and show you that YES...you can thrive in nursing school wi

In this podcast episode I'll talk you through the basics of hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis. Pop in those earbuds and learn all about key nursing assessments and interventions, how to monitor your patient for complications, what lab values you'll follow, how to keep your patient safe, and the nitty-gritty details you need for those dialysis NCLEX and nursing school exam questions. Starting nursing school soon? Grab my free guide, the 20 Secrets of Successful Nursing Students here: https://straightanursing.ck.page/4d90f769dc ___________________ 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 and show you that YES...you can thrive in nursing school without it taking over your life! Study Sesh - Change the way you study with this private podcast that includes dynamic audio formats that help you review and test your recall of important nursing concepts on-the-go. Free yourself from yo

What does it mean to keep your patients safe? Is it keeping them from falling, avoiding medication errors, or preventing pressure-related injury? Yes, yes and definitely yes! And while you can’t cushion your patient with bubble wrap, you can take steps to do what I call “bulletproofing” your patient against harm.  In this podcast episode I share with you my best tips for creating an organized room and an environment that promotes safety, helps prevent errors and sets things up so anyone could take over for you without missing a beat. As always, please defer to your facility's protocols as they will always trump my recommendations and advice. These are great guidelines, but every facility is different, so make sure you do your homework. Looking for the Bulletproof Your Patient checklist? It's right here! (for those viewing on a podcast, player, grab it at https://straightanursingstudent.com/podcast94/) Bulletproof Patient Checklist Download ___________________ FREE CLASS - If all you've heard are nursing schoo

If you’re failing, in clinical jeopardy or struggling with nursing school, then this episode is for you! I know how hard you’ve been working and I know this must be a really difficult time for you, so just know that I am absolutely rooting for you every step of the way. Even if you’re not currently struggling, you’ll get some great tips that can help you stay ahead of the game. In this podcast episode, I’ll talk you through: * Steps to take when you’re failing a course * What to do if you’re failing in clinical or in clinical jeopardy * How to survive skills check-offs * My best tips for turning things around * Advice for filing an appeal Need a Nursing School Booster Shot? https://straightanursing.mykajabi.com/boostershot Got test anxiety? I got you! https://straightanursingstudent.com/test-anxiety-in-nursing-school-episode-67/ Struggling to take effective notes in nursing school? https://straightanursingstudent.com/taking-notes/ NCLEX-style questions got you shaking in your Danskos? Decipher them with the

Two placental disorders that you’ll need to be able to differentiate are placental abruption (also known as abruptio placentae) and placenta previa. In this podcast episode, we’ll talk through the key differences and nursing interventions so it all makes perfect sense. In this podcast you’ll learn: * What these two conditions are * Classification criteria  * Key signs and symptoms for each * Risk factors for both conditions * Medical and surgical treatments * Nursing interventions for both * How to differentiate between the two for your exams ___________________ Full Transcript - Read the article and view references 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 and show you that YES...you can thrive in nursing school without it taking over your life! Study Sesh - Change the way you study with this private podcast that includes dynamic audio formats that help you review and test your

Haloperidol (Haldol) is a traditional antipsychotic with some very distinct guidelines that could show up on your next exam or with your next combative, delirious patient.  In this podcast episode, I’ll talk you through: * What Haldol is used for in the clinical setting * The multiple ways Haldol can be given (and how we’re going to give it for acute agitation in the hospital) * THE most important thing you need to know before you give Haldol and what to monitor afterwards. * The very dangerous thing that could happen to your patient with Haldol administration * Monitoring parameters * Common side effects of Haldol Plus, I’m sharing a sneak peak into my Pharmacology course and an acronym that can help you focus your studying when learning new medications.  Want to learn more about the QT interval? (https://straightanursingstudent.com/qt-interval/) Want to see how I remember drug side effects? (https://straightanursingstudent.com/psychopharmacology-podcast/) ___________________ Full Transcript - Read the art

When you think about a nurse’s superpowers, you might picture someone performing CPR or rushing to open the airway of a patient in respiratory arrest. But the nurse’s real superpower is his or her ability to assess. It’s the watchful awareness of the nurse that catches subtle changes in patient condition that enable the team to intervene BEFORE the unthinkable happens.  In this podcast episode, I’m going to talk with you about the importance of those routine interactions and how they can provide you with a wealth of data about your patients. By assessing these five things with every patient contact, you can catch changes in patient condition even before your next head-to-toe assessment is due. When you develop a habit of using every patient interaction as an opportunity to assess, you become hypervigilant about your patient and begin to develop those rockstar assessment skills. Are you working hard to put all the pieces together for your care plans? A key component you may be overlooking is the important role

A lot of nursing schools are changing to a concept-based curriculum where instead of teaching disorders in isolation, they teach concepts that have broader application. For example, instead of just teaching about asthma, these programs teach oxygenation as a concept and use asthma as an example for beginning students (and then more complex disorders such as ARDS for the advanced students). By learning about oxygenation as a concept, the consensus is that you’ll apply this knowledge more easily in clinical (and on exams) because you’ll have a better understanding of how it interrelates with the patient’s overall condition.  In this podcast episode Nurse Mo talks you through the basics of oxygenation and some related concepts. You will learn: * The difference between oxygenation and ventilation * The difference between hypoxia and hypoxemia * The difference between diffusion and perfusion * Why hypoxia and hypoxemia do not always co-exist (though they often do!) * How optimal oxygenation looks in a healthy pat

As a new nursing student, it’s absolutely vital that your vital signs assessments be totally on point. After all, the MDs and RNs are counting on YOU to provide reliable information about their patients. If you’re feeling a lot of pressure, don’t worry. I’ve got you! In this podcast episode, I’m sharing with you all the best tips for taking vital signs like a pro. You’ll learn all kinds of great info like how axillary temps differ from oral temps, the best way to palpate a brachial pulse and how to count respirations without your patient changing their breathing pattern on you (you’re so sneaky!).  Ready to learn some tools you can use on your very next clinical day? Then pop in those ear buds and let’s get to work! ___________________ Full Transcript - Read the article and view references 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 and show you that YES...you can thrive in nursin

When taking care of patients in the post-operative period, you’re going to be watching them closely for any signs of complications...including a fever.  In this podcast episode, we’ll talk about “The Five Ws” of post-op fever...wind, water, walking, wound and wonder drugs. What’s all this mean? Pop in your ear buds and find out! Struggling to take epic nursing school notes? Why bother, when they’ve already been done for you? Check out our Med Surg Success Pack and spend more time learning and less time stressing: https://straightanursingstudent.com/study-guides/med-surg-success-pack/ ___________________ Full Transcript - Read the article and view references 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 and show you that YES...you can thrive in nursing school without it taking over your life! Study Sesh - Change the way you study with this private podcast that includes dynamic audio f

Sitting down to take an exam is one thing, but having to actually perform tasks and use critical thinking in the moment is something else altogether. That’s why many students struggle through two of the most dreaded assessments in nursing school: skills check-offs and simulation.  In this podcast episode, Nurse Mo talks you through strategies to help you shine in your skills check-offs and absolutely thrive in your simulation experiences. What is an incredibly stress-inducing situation for many could become a valuable and dynamic learning experience, but only if you leave your anxiety about it at the door. Find out how in this week’s episode. Read more about skills check-offs here Read more about simulation lab here Struggling in your Med Surg course? Grab the Med Surg Success Pack here: https://straightanursingstudent.com/study-guides/med-surg-success-pack/ ___________________ 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

Even the most successful pre-nursing students can find themselves blindsided by the realities of nursing school. In this podcast episode, Nurse Mo talks you through five attitude adjustments to make that will help you make the successful transition from pre-nursing student to nursing school rockstar!  ___________________ Full Transcript - Read the article and view references 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 and show you that YES...you can thrive in nursing school without it taking over your life! Study Sesh - Change the way you study with this private podcast that includes dynamic audio formats that help you review and test your recall of important nursing concepts on-the-go. Free yourself from your desk with Study Sesh! Crucial Concepts Bootcamp - Start nursing school ahead of the game, or reset after a difficult first semester with my nursing school prep course, Crucia

One of the most common medication classes you'll encounter in nursing is corticosteroids. They are used to treat a variety of conditions and come with unique side effects and dosing schedules. In this podcast episode you'll learn: * What are corticosteroids? * Conditions treated by corticosteroid therapy * The risks of using long-term corticosteroids * The many formulations that corticosteroids come in * Side effects of corticosteroids * How a patient stops taking corticosteroids * Nursing care plan components including diagnoses, interventions and expected outcomes ___________________ Full Transcript - Read the article and view references 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 and show you that YES...you can thrive in nursing school without it taking over your life! Study Sesh - Change the way you study with this private podcast that includes dynamic audio formats that help

Mechanical ventilators are complex pieces of equipment that respiratory therapists study for years to master. As a nursing student, or new nurse, it's easy to feel intimidated by the many components, alarms, dials and displays. In this podcast episode, Nurse Mo talks you through the basics of ventilators for nursing students, giving you the foundation knowledge you need to thrive in the critical care environment. You'll learn: * Key concepts related to mechanical ventilation * Ventilator anatomy * Ventilator settings (FiO2, PEEP and rate) * Mechanical ventilator modes * Two ventilator alarms you MUST always be aware of ___________________ Full Transcript - Read the article and view references 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 and show you that YES...you can thrive in nursing school without it taking over your life! Study Sesh - Change the way you study with this private

One of the most difficult and intimidating skills you will need to master early on in your nursing education is the full head-to-toe-assessment. In this episode, Nurse Mo walks you through a standard assessment and tips on how to prepare for your skills check-off. If your school has not provided you with a full listing of the components of your assessment, download the cheatsheet at www.straightanursingstudent.com/podcast82, edit to add any details relevant to your program and practice, practice, practice! You’ve got this! ___________________ 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 and show you that YES...you can thrive in nursing school without it taking over your life!

In this week’s podcast we’ll be diving into 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 this episode you’ll learn:  * The four subsets of schizophrenia and the signs/symptoms of each * The four categories of schizophrenia symptoms, including positive and negative * How to identify disorganized speech and disorganized thinking * How to differentiate between types of “negative symptoms” * The common types of delusions you’ll see in schizophrenia * The different types of hallucinations your patient could have * How schizophrenia is treated * How to communicate with a patient who has schizophrenia ___________________ Full Transcript - Read the article and view references 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 and show you that YES...you can thrive in nurs

In a job with a steep learning curve and many opportunities to learn from experience, a clinical journal can help you in so many ways. In this episode we’ll talk through all the ways a clinical journal can help you: * Debrief after clinical. This will help you learn from past experiences, which is a critical skill for any nursing student or nurse * Identify your current goals and track your progress * Monitor how satisfied you are with your current situation * Develop communication strategies * Manage work or school-related stress * Stay focused on your “why” * Define your career pathway ___________________ Full Transcript - Read the article and view references 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 and show you that YES...you can thrive in nursing school without it taking over your life! Study Sesh - Change the way you study with this private podcast that includes dynamic au

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 stands for * How HELLP syndrome is classified * The signs and symptoms * What tests are conduction when HELLP syndrome is suspected * Complications of HELLP syndrome, including DIC, liver failure and cerebral hemorrhage * How HELLP syndrome is treated ___________________ Full Transcript - Read the article and view references 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 and show you that YES...you can thrive in nursing school without it taking over your life! Study Sesh - Change the way you

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 beta blockers exert their influence and how this affects the patient * Commonly used beta blockers and the many conditions they’re used to treat * A closer look at metoprolol, including its formulations and dosages, how you’ll monitor the patient, and what key education you’ll need to provide. ___________________ Full Transcript - Read the article and view references 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 and show you that YES...you can thrive in nursing school without it taking ove

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 between primary and secondary adrenal insufficiency * Signs, symptoms, tests and treatments for Addison’s * Complications of Addison’s Disease, including Addisonian Crisis * Basics of Cushing’s Disease (hypercortisolism) * Complications of Cushing’s Disease * Signs, symptoms, tests and treatments for Cushing's Starting nursing school or struggling to keep your head above water? Download the 20 Secrets of Successful Nursing Students here: https://straightanursing.ck.page/4d90f769dc ___________________ Full Transcript - Read the article and view references FREE CLASS - If all you've heard are nursing school horror storie