Straight A Nursing

If I were your clinical instructor, these tips are exactly the things I’d make sure you understood before your first clinical day! In this episode, I’m sharing: * How a typical day flows * Tips for effective time management * What in the world is happening in handoff report * Some of the key players and their roles * The most important skill you can develop * One unpleasant truth (sorry!) * How to make the most of your clinical time Links and resources mentioned in this episode: Get prepped for nursing school with Crucial Concepts Bootcamp! Learn how to use a brain sheet here. Download a brain sheet here. Learn how to use a run sheet and download one here. Dive even deeper into the interdisciplinary team in Episode 120. __________  The information, including but not limited to, audio, video, text, and graphics contained on this podcast are for educational purposes only. No content on this podcast is intended to guide nursing practice and does not supersede any individual healthcare provider's scope

In this episode, I’m answering five common questions I get asked about nursing school! Q1: How can I feel more confident in NS? Q2: Can I work while going to school? Q3: How do I get everything done? Q4: How do I study for Med Surg? Q5: How do I learn from an instructor that just reads the PowerPoint slides word for word? Links and resources mentioned in this episode: Crucial Concepts Bootcamp: Get prepped for nursing school so you can start out feeling more confident from your very first day! Med Surg Solution: Learn Med Surg topics in less time! LATTE template: Use the LATTE method to guide your studying for Med Surg, pediatrics, maternal/newborn and mental health nursing! Nursing School Planner: Get organized for nursing school with the first and best planner made JUST for nursing students! Thriving Nursing Students: Join my Facebook group and surround yourself with motivated and supportive nursing students! __________  The information, including but not limited to, audio, video, text, and grap

If you’re heading into or dreaming of nursing school, you’re probably wondering what the classes and clinicals are like. In this episode I’m spilling all the nursing school tea on each class and a bit about my own clinical experiences. Helpful Resources: Crucial Concepts Bootcamp: Imagine having a BFF who shares their best advice, tips and strategies with you while also teaching core foundation concepts that set you up for success. That’s exactly what you get in Bootcamp, an online program that has helped thousands of students crush nursing school! Get organized! Get the nursing student planner that students say keep them organized and on top of their busy nursing school schedules! >>> Did you find this episode helpful? Then I’d love it if you'd rate and review the podcast! And if you’re not following the show, add it to your podcast library so you never miss an episode! __________  The information, including but not limited to, audio, video, text, and graphics contained on this podcast are for educationa

With changes to the NCLEX, it’s more important than ever that you understand electrolytes way beyond just knowing the normal lab values. In this overview, I’m sharing some of the most important things to know about electrolytes. Helpful Resources: The QT interval - Learn about this critical ECG measurement. Take a deep dive into acid-base balance. Want to study on-the-go? Then Study Sesh might be the answer you’ve been looking for! >>> Did you find this episode helpful? Then I’d love it if you'd rate and review the podcast! And if you’re not following the show, add it to your podcast library so you never miss an episode! __________  The information, including but not limited to, audio, video, text, and graphics contained on this podcast are for educational purposes only. No content on this podcast is intended to guide nursing practice and does not supersede any individual healthcare provider's scope of practice or any nursing school curriculum. Additionally, no content on this podcast is intended to be

Neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS) occurs when neonates who were exposed to drugs in the womb experience withdrawal after birth. These substances pass through the placenta into neonatal circulation, causing dependency and ultimately withdrawal symptoms in the newborn. In this episode you will learn: * The complications of NAS * Signs and symptoms of withdrawal in neonates * Key assessments for an infant going through withdrawal * Tests and treatments * Important family education Helpful Resources: FNASS - See an example of the Finnegan Scale here Want to study on-the-go? Then Study Sesh might be the answer you’ve been looking for! >>> Did you find this episode helpful? Then I’d love it if you'd rate and review the podcast! And if you’re not following the show, add it to your podcast library so you never miss an episode! __________  The information, including but not limited to, audio, video, text, and graphics contained on this podcast are for educational purposes only. No content on this podcast is in

In this episode, the final of our “Say Yes to Success” miniseries sponsored by ATI, I’m interviewing an ATI team member to answer your questions about the new ATI TEAS 7 exam! >>>>Win an ATI TEAS comprehensive study package - ATI is giving away two TEAS comprehensive study packages! The first winner was announced Nov 22, 2022, and the second winner will be announced Dec 13, 2022. To enter head on over to my Instagram @straightanurse and look for the post titled ENTER HERE TO WIN - ATI GIVEAWAY #2. All details provided in this post…good luck! >>>>Get a discount on ATI TEAS prep materials - Use code SAN15 to get 15% off ATI TEAS prep material or packages when you spend $50 or more at atitesting.com. Promotion cannot be combined with any other offer. Promotion only available on ATI TEAS prep products, cannot be applied to TEAS testing fees or transcripts. Promotion cannot be applied to past purchases. Offer ends 8/31/2023. >>>>Do better with ATI! - Learn how ATI can help you get into nursing school, thri

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune condition in which the patient’s immune system attacks healthy cells inside the joints, leading to an inflammatory state. In this episode you’ll learn: * The pathophysiology of rheumatoid arthritis * Who’s most at risk, including modifiable and non-modifiable risk factors * Complications of the condition * Signs and symptoms of RA * Priority nursing assessments * Tests utilized in the diagnosis and evaluation of RA * Rheumatoid arthritis treatments, including pharmacology * Key patient education Helpful Resources: Get the full episode transcript and references here. Want to study on-the-go? Then Study Sesh might be the answer you’ve been looking for! Get organized! Get the nursing student planner that students say keep them organized and on top of their busy nursing school schedules! Review corticosteroids and be super ready for your next exam or day at the bedside! Learn about hydroxychloroquine in episode 103 using the Straight A Nursing DRRUGS framework.

I know nursing students have a LOT of questions about the Next Gen NCLEX, so I attended an NCSBN Conference to learn as much as I could about the changes coming for this important exam! In this bonus episode, which is #4 in our “Say Yes to Success” miniseries sponsored by ATI, I’m sharing five key things I learned about Next Gen NCLEX. >>>>Get a discount on ATI TEAS prep materials - Use code SAN15 to get 15% off ATI TEAS prep material or packages when you spend $50 or more at atitesting.com. Promotion cannot be combined with any other offer. Promotion only available on ATI TEAS prep products, cannot be applied to TEAS testing fees or transcripts. Promotion cannot be applied to past purchases. Offer ends 5/31/2023. >>>>Achieve your dreams with ATI! – Learn how ATI can help you get into nursing school with their comprehensive TEAS prep materials. __________  The information, including but not limited to, audio, video, text, and graphics contained on this podcast are for educational purposes only. No con

Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is a non-cancerous enlargement of the prostate gland that causes an obstruction to the outflow of urine. In this episode, you’ll learn the basics about this condition: * Who’s most at risk * The complications of BPH * Signs and symptoms * Key assessments for BPH * Common tests utilized in the evaluation of patients with BPH * BPH treatments, including medications and TURP surgery * Why TURP Syndrome happens, how it’s treated, and how we minimize the risk * Patient education for BPH including lifestyle modifications * Patient teaching after TURP procedure >>> Did you find this episode helpful? Then I’d love it if you'd rate and review the podcast! And if you’re not following the show, add it to your podcast library so you never miss an episode! Helpful Resources: Get the full episode transcript and references here. Want to study on-the-go? Then Study Sesh might be the answer you’ve been looking for! Beers drugs - Check out episode 169 to learn more about drugs on the Bee

In the third episode of our “Say Yes to Success” miniseries sponsored by ATI I’m sharing 12 tried and true tips you can use to prepare for final exams. Take a minute to follow the show so you don’t miss a single one of these bonus episodes! >>>>Get a discount on ATI TEAS prep materials - Use code SAN15 to get 15% off ATI TEAS prep material or packages when you spend $50 or more at atitesting.com. Promotion cannot be combined with any other offer. Promotion only available on ATI TEAS prep products, cannot be applied to TEAS testing fees or transcripts. Promotion cannot be applied to past purchases. Offer ends 5/31/2023. >>>>Prep for finals and your career with a FREE webinar from ATI - View the recording of this two-part webinar on resilience in nursing and preparing for finals here: https://atinursingblog.com/webinar-preparing-for-finals-career >>>>Achieve your dreams with ATI! – Learn how ATI can help you get into nursing school with their comprehensive TEAS prep materials. __________  The informa

Reye’s syndrome is a rare but very serious condition that involves acute encephalopathy, cerebral edema and fatty liver failure. The pathophysiology is not fully understood but what we do know points to mitochondrial injury secondary to viral illness and the use of aspirin in young children. In this episode you will learn: * Who is most affected by Reye’s syndrome * Complications of the condition * Signs and symptoms * Key assessments and diagnostic tests * Nursing interventions and other treatments * What to teach parents >>> Did you find this episode helpful? Then I’d love it if you'd rate and review the podcast! And if you’re not following the show, add it to your podcast library so you never miss an episode! Helpful Resources: Get the full episode transcript and references here. Want to study on-the-go? Then Study Sesh might be the answer you’ve been looking for! New Nursing Student Checklist - Get a step-by-step list of the key things to do before nursing school starts. __________  The informatio

If you’re heading into nursing school, there’s a good chance you’ll be taking the ATI TEAS exam as part of your application process. In this episode, I’m sharing three key things to know about the TEAS so you can be prepared and perform your best on this crucial exam! The information I’m sharing comes straight from ATI, the creators of the TEAS exam and the sponsor of our “Say Yes to Success” series. Take a minute to follow the show so you don’t miss a single one of these bonus episodes! >>>>Get a discount on ATI TEAS prep materials - Use code SAN15 to get 15% off ATI TEAS prep material or packages when you spend $50 or more at atitesting.com. Promotion cannot be combined with any other offer. Promotion only available on ATI TEAS prep products, cannot be applied to TEAS testing fees or transcripts. Promotion cannot be applied to past purchases. Offer ends 5/31/2023. >>>>Achieve your dreams with ATI! – Learn how ATI can help you get into nursing school with their comprehensive TEAS prep materials. _____

In this episode, I’m finishing up the series on 20 Secrets of Successful Nursing Students by revealing secrets #18, #19 and #20. Scroll to the bottom for links to all the other secrets, and a link to download them all in one handy guide. Episode Resources: Thriving Nursing Students: Join a Facebook group where we focus on thriving and loving nursing school! Crucial Concepts Bootcamp: Get prepared for nursing school, learn dosage calculations, and so much more! 20 Secrets of Successful Nursing Students: Get all twenty secrets in one downloadable workbook with journaling prompts so you can approach nursing school with a success mindset. You’ve got this! You can also listen to all the episodes in this series by using the links below or searching for the episode number in your favorite podcast app: Secret #1: Episode 174 Secret #2: Episode 181 Secret #3 and #4: Episode 185 Secret #5: Episode 187 Secret #6 and #7: Episode 189 Secret #8 and #9: Episode 193 Secret #10, #11 and #12: Episode 214 Secret #13, #14,

If there’s one thing that’s consistent throughout all of nursing school it’s the constant feedback - on exams, in clinical, in skills lab, on assignments and in simulation lab. And yes, sometimes that feedback isn’t what we were hoping to hear and it can be really demoralizing if you let it. But with the right mindset, you can accept even the harshest feedback without it blowing your confidence! In this episode I’m sharing some mindset tips and a new way to view feedback so that it helps you grow (even when it’s not what you want to hear). I’m also sharing tips from ATI, the sponsor of our “Say Yes to Success” series which airs for five consecutive weeks. Take a minute to follow the show so you don’t miss a single episode! You can also listen to all the episodes in this series by using the links below or searching for the episode number in your favorite podcast app: Secret #1: Episode 174 Secret #2: Episode 181 Secret #3 and #4: Episode 185 Secret #5: Episode 187 Secret #6 and #7: Episode 189 Secret #8 an

Transfusing blood products is a high-risk procedure that requires careful attention to detail and excellent patient assessment skills. For this reason, any time you administer blood products you will be doing it with another RN to ensure all the safety checks have been conducted. Whether you’re a nurse wanting to boost your confidence in this area, or a student preparing for a blood transfusion check-off, this lesson is a great review of the key things you need to know. You’ll learn: * The different types of blood products * ABO compatibility * The steps for performing a blood transfusion * The signs of a transfusion reaction * What to do when a reaction occurs * How to monitor your patient after the transfusion Want to maximize your learning by reading this information, too? Check out the article and references for types of blood products here, and on blood transfusion basics here. RATE, REVIEW AND FOLLOW! If this episode helped you, please take a moment to rate and review the show! This helps others fi

Amniotic fluid embolism (AFE) is a life threatening condition in which there is a severe reaction to the amniotic fluid and fetal debris that enter maternal circulation during the birthing process, resulting in cardiovascular collapse. In this episode, you’ll learn about the pathophysiology and how to care for patients with amniotic fluid embolism. Helpful links for this episode: Maximize your learning by reading this information, too. Check out the article and references here. DIC: Dive deeper and review the principles of DIC, which occurs in patients with amniotic fluid embolism. AFE Foundation: Discover helpful support resources for AFE. Study Sesh: Change the way you study and prep for NCLEX with PodQuizzes, case studies, and drills! Crucial Concepts Bootcamp: Prepare for nursing school by learning key foundation concepts and strategies for success. Med Surg Solution: Struggling with Med Surg? It’s not you! It’s the way your instructors are teaching it. Get focused, clear, effective lessons in Med

Rhabdomyolysis is a condition in which skeletal muscle cells break down and leak their contents into the extracellular space and bloodstream. I usually saw this complex condition in the MICU due to patients who were “found down” and had been lying in one position, completely immobile, for extended periods of time. In this episode you’ll learn: * The causes of rhabdomyolysis (there are a lot!) * Pathophysiology * Rhabdomyolysis complications * Signs and symptoms of rhabdomyolysis * Key assessments * Lab tests used to diagnose and monitor the condition * Treatments * Important education components Want to maximize your learning by reading this information, too? Check out the article and references here. RATE, REVIEW AND FOLLOW! If this episode helped you, please take a moment to rate and review the show! This helps others find the podcast, which helps me help even more people :-) Click here, scroll to the bottom, then simply tap to rate with 5 stars and select, "write a review." I'd love to hear how t

How confident are you in cardiac assessment? Learn the key components in this episode, including: * Knowing when it’s appropriate to go beyond the head-to-toe assessment and do a full-blown cardiac assessment * Relevant vital signs and their significance * Questions to ask the patient * General observations to make * How to conduct a chest pain assessment * How to auscultate the heart, including which side of the stethoscope to actually use * Normal and abnormal heart sounds * How to assess for a pulse deficit HELPFUL LINKS MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE: Did you love the PodQuiz at the end? Then you’ll love Study Sesh, the podcast that helps you study on-the-go! Read about cardiac assessment here, see images of digital clubbing and find additional links to various heart sounds. Listen to S3 and S4 here. RATE, REVIEW AND FOLLOW! If this episode helped you, please take a moment to rate and review the show! This helps others find the podcast, which helps me help even more people :-) Click here, scroll to th

In this episode I am interviewing Susan Jarvis, a nursing student in Florida who is going through nursing school with ZERO debt, thanks to the power of scholarships! Hit the play button to hear how she did it and get inspired to secure some nursing school scholarships for yourself! __________  The information, including but not limited to, audio, video, text, and graphics contained on this podcast are for educational purposes only. No content on this podcast is intended to guide nursing practice and does not supersede any individual healthcare provider's scope of practice or any nursing school curriculum. Additionally, no content on this podcast is intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Straight a Nursing is a proud member of the Airwave Media Network. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Lithium is a very common medication that you’ll see regularly in the clinical setting (and on exams if you’re a student!). In this episode you’ll learn: * The basics of lithium including drug class, routes of administration and regular dose * Conditions lithium is used to treat * Factors that contribute to lithium toxicity * Signs and symptoms of lithium toxicity * Key assessments and labs for a patient taking lithium * Safe administration, including the key drug-drug interactions * Patient education for lithium * Common and severe side effects Want to maximize your learning by reading this information, too? Check out the article and references. Get a head start on pharmacology with the Pharmacology Success Pack Review key pharmacology concepts and over 80 drug classes, each in 5 minutes or less, in my audio-based program Fast Pharmacology. This program is perfect for use while you're in nursing school, studying for NCLEX, or wanting to gain confidence administering medications as a working nurse. Learn m