NURSING.com Podcast — NCLEX Prep for Nursing Students - TopPodcast.com

View Top 200 Chart

Back to Rankings Page

NURSING.com Podcast — NCLEX Prep for Nursing Students — Health & Fitness
NURSING.com Podcast — NCLEX Prep for Nursing Students

Staring at another practice score wondering if you’re actually ready for the NCLEX? You’re in the right place.

The NURSING.com Podcast is built for nursing students and new grads: short, focused episodes that teach one thing at a time — and tell you straight whether you’re ready.

New episodes six days a week:

MON · MED OF THE DAY — one drug, its biggest danger, and a way to remember it
TUE · LAB VALUES IN 5 — the value, the normal range, and what you do about it
WED · NURSING MNEMONICS — memory tricks for NCLEX questions that actually stick
THU · NCLEX QUESTION OF THE DAY — one practice question broken down answer by answer, including why the tempting wrong answer is wrong
FRI · FIRST SHIFT — interviews, residencies, and surviving your first nursing job
SAT · BATTLEFIELD / FAILED IT, PASSED IT — true stories from working nurses, and from students who failed the NCLEX and came back to pass

Hosted by Jon Haws, RN — critical care nurse and founder of NURSING.com — the show covers NCLEX-RN® and NCLEX-PN® prep, Next Gen NCLEX (NGN) question styles, pharmacology, lab values, prioritization and delegation, dosage calculation, and the parts of nursing school nobody warns you about.

Failed the NCLEX? Pushing your test date again? Scores bouncing all over the place? This show is for you.

Grab the free cheat sheets from every episode at nursing.com/cheatsheets. And when you’re tired of guessing whether you’re ready, take SIMCLEX® at NURSING.com — the NCLEX simulator that shows you your readiness before test day does.

New here? Start with a Question of the Day episode — then tap Follow so tomorrow’s episode is waiting for you.

Now go out and be your best self today. Happy nursing, y’all!

NCLEX®, NCLEX-RN® and NCLEX-PN® are registered trademarks of the National Council of State Boards of Nursing, Inc. (NCSBN®). This podcast is not affiliated with or endorsed by NCSBN.

Copyright: © 2019 TazKai, LLC and NRSNG, LLC

Latest Episodes:

LAB VALUES IN 5: Bilirubin for NCLEX Nov 10, 2026

Show notes

Bilirubin — the must-know liver lab value for the NCLEX, covered in 5 minutes.

In this episode: what bilirubin measures, the normal reference range of 0.3-1.2 mg/dL, why bilirubin matters — a byproduct of heme catabolism, the breakdown of the iron portion of hemoglobin — how albumin transports bilirubin to the liver where it's conjugated and then excreted through the feces, why elevated bilirubin (hyperbilirubinemia) in newborns is dangerous, kernicterus and severe brain damage at levels above 15-20 mg/dL, signs like poor feeding, eye deviation, seizures and lethargy, and why phototherapy gets the GI system moving to clear bilirubin.

Keywords: bilirubin, total bilirubin, T-bilirubin, normal range, reference range 0.3-1.2, hyperbilirubinemia, kernicterus, conjugated bilirubin, unconjugated bilirubin, heme catabolism, albumin transport, newborn jaundice, phototherapy, NCLEX lab values, nursing labs.

FREE DOWNLOAD: Get the 63 must-know lab values to pass the NCLEX at https://nursing.com/63labs — the free study guide every nursing student needs before test day.

New episodes of Lab Values in 5 drop every Tuesday.

MED OF THE DAY: Bupropion (Wellbutrin) Nov 09, 2026

Show notes

Welcome to Med of the Day — new episodes drop every Monday. It's Med Monday!

Bupropion (Wellbutrin) is an antidepressant and smoking deterrent (pharmacologic class: aminoketone) for depression, smoking cessation, and adult ADHD. It increases dopaminergic and noradrenergic transmission via dopamine and adrenaline reuptake inhibition. Nursing considerations: seizure and suicidal ideation risk; never give with an MAOI — allow a 14-day gap between stopping an MAOI and starting; use caution with renal or hepatic impairment; assess mental status and depression; avoid alcohol (seizure risk, hallucinations, anxiety, panic attacks).

Download your FREE cheatsheet of the 50 most commonly prescribed medications: https://nursing.com/50meds

The 3 A.M. Spiral: New Nurse Stories | First Shift Nov 06, 2026

Show notes

"I survived, somehow."

Her first night on her own. Five patients, meds on time, chart checks ahead of the orders — and then all hell broke loose: IV pumps beeping, call bells nonstop, ten antibiotics hung on time, a new admit who needed cardiac monitoring that she caught just before leaving. She did nearly everything right. And then she went home and lay awake replaying every decision — the catheter that went in great and came back blood-tinged, the charge nurse she "felt so stupid" for dragging in — "stalking the clock," waiting for a call about a mistake she doesn't know she made.

In this episode of First Shift, Jon Haws, RN — founder of NURSING.com — tells her story, then talks about the spiral: asking the charge nurse was exactly right, not stupid. The spiral means you care, and caring is the job. And the call from the manager? It never comes.

If you're a nursing student or a new nurse, this one's for you. New episodes of First Shift drop every Friday — real stories from nurses' first shifts, and the honest talk that gets you through yours.

Studying for the NCLEX? Try SIMCLEX — the adaptive practice exam that tells you when you're ready: https://nursing.com/simclex

It's time to go out and be your best self today. Happy nursing, y'all.

QOD: Nosey Cup | NCLEX Practice Question Nov 05, 2026

Show notes

Today's NCLEX Question of the Day:

The nursing category is neuro. The NCLEX category is basic care and comfort. A nurse is caring for an 80-year-old client who is in rehabilitation after having a stroke. The nurse is teaching the client about how to use a nosey cup. Which of the following best describes this device? A, a cup that allows liquid to flow into the nose and the mouth. B, a cup that has a portion cut out of the front. C, a cup that can be held with a handle and an easy grip. D, a cup that holds more liquid than a standard cup.

Think you know the answer? Listen to the episode for the full breakdown and rationale.

Do you actually KNOW if you're ready for the NCLEX, or are you just hoping? Stop guessing and find out for free. Take the free SIMCLEX at nursing.com/simclex. It simulates the algorithms of the NCLEX, the same question rules, the same difficulty, so you get a real feel for what the actual exam is like.

New NCLEX Question of the Day episodes drop every Thursday.

K Up D Down Acidosis and Alkalosis | Nursing Mnemonics for NCLEX Nov 04, 2026

Show notes

Welcome to Nursing Mnemonics — new episodes drop every Wednesday.

Which side of the pH scale is which? Remember: alkalosis has a K, so it's kicking the pH up — acidosis has a D, so it's dropping the pH down. This episode's memory device sorts out acidosis and alkalosis for good.

Go to nursing.com/cheatsheets to get the must-know nursing mnemonics for NCLEX.

LAB VALUES IN 5: Aspartate Aminotransferase for NCLEX Nov 03, 2026

Show notes

Aspartate Aminotransferase (AST) — the must-know liver lab value for the NCLEX, covered in 5 minutes.

In this episode: what AST measures, the normal reference range of about 8-40 (ranges differ slightly for males and females), how AST is found in the liver plus the heart, skeletal muscle, kidneys, brain and red blood cells — and how that differs from ALT which is mostly just in the liver, why AST is part of the liver function tests (LFTs) alongside ALT, bilirubin and protein, when it's ordered including liver disorder symptoms like jaundice, abdominal swelling, nausea, vomiting, weakness, fatigue, loss of appetite, itching and darker urine, at-risk patients like those exposed to hepatitis, heavy drinkers, drug use, overweight and diabetes, how high AST climbs in viral hepatitis (up to 10 times normal) versus chronic hepatitis (4-5 times normal), and other causes of elevated AST like myocardial infarction and kidney disease.

Keywords: AST, aspartate aminotransferase, normal range, reference range 8-40, elevated AST, liver function tests, LFTs, liver panel, amino acid metabolism, viral hepatitis, chronic hepatitis, myocardial infarction, kidney disease, jaundice, ALT vs AST, bilirubin, NCLEX lab values, nursing labs.

FREE DOWNLOAD: Get the 63 must-know lab values to pass the NCLEX at https://nursing.com/63labs — the free study guide every nursing student needs before test day.

New episodes of Lab Values in 5 drop every Tuesday.

MED OF THE DAY: Bismuth subsalicylate (Pepto-Bismol) Nov 02, 2026

Show notes

Welcome to Med of the Day — new episodes drop every Monday. It's Med Monday!

Bismuth subsalicylate (Pepto-Bismol, Kaopectate) is an adsorbent antidiarrheal/antiulcer med for diarrhea, heartburn, indigestion, and H. pylori-associated ulcers. Its exact mechanism isn't fully documented — it's thought to stimulate intestinal fluid/electrolyte absorption, reduce stomach hypermotility, bind E. coli toxins, and has weak antacid properties. Nursing considerations: contraindicated with aspirin hypersensitivity (it's a salicylate); impaction risk in geriatric and pediatric patients; bismuth can interfere with radiologic exams; monitor liver profile (LFTs).

Download your FREE cheatsheet of the 50 most commonly prescribed medications: https://nursing.com/50meds

The Baby Who Wouldn't Wait: New Nurse Stories | First Shift Oct 30, 2026

Show notes

"She was trying to place a catheter. She almost delivered a baby instead."

A new L&D nurse, still orienting. Her preceptor steps out for lunch — and in that window, a routine in-and-out cath turns into the wildest twenty minutes of her new career: she can't visualize the urethra ("felt like I was hitting baby head"), her preceptor finally gets the cath in and urine flowing, and then the patient says, "I think I feel something coming out." An entire baby head. The call button, the yelling for doctors — too late. Eight pounds, eight ounces, slides out onto the bed. She never even pushed.

In this episode of First Shift, Jon Haws, RN — founder of NURSING.com — tells her story, then gets honest about the L&D learning curve: OB humbles everyone, the curve is vertical, and sometimes your failures protect you — she's very, very glad she never got that cath in.

If you're a nursing student or a new nurse, this one's for you. New episodes of First Shift drop every Friday — real stories from nurses' first shifts, and the honest talk that gets you through yours.

Studying for the NCLEX? Try SIMCLEX — the adaptive practice exam that tells you when you're ready: https://nursing.com/simclex

It's time to go out and be your best self today. Happy nursing, y'all.

QOD: Spica Cast | NCLEX Practice Question Oct 29, 2026

Show notes

Today's NCLEX Question of the Day:

The nursing category is musculoskeletal. The NCLEX category is basic care and comfort. A nurse is working with a family whose child was born with developmental dislocation of the hip. The physician has applied a spica cast to the child. Which statement from the nurse best describes this type of cast to the child's family? A, your child will need to wear this cast for the first year of his life. B, you will have to take the cast off when your child needs to urinate or have a bowel movement. C, this cast will make it so your child will be able to walk some day. D, this cast will keep the hip joints in the correct position so they can heal.

Think you know the answer? Listen to the episode for the full breakdown and rationale.

Do you actually KNOW if you're ready for the NCLEX, or are you just hoping? Stop guessing and find out for free. Take the free SIMCLEX at nursing.com/simclex. It simulates the algorithms of the NCLEX, the same question rules, the same difficulty, so you get a real feel for what the actual exam is like.

New NCLEX Question of the Day episodes drop every Thursday.

PISO Electrolyte Location | Nursing Mnemonics for NCLEX Oct 28, 2026

Show notes

Welcome to Nursing Mnemonics — new episodes drop every Wednesday.

Where do the electrolytes actually live — inside or outside the cell? The PISO mnemonic makes potassium, sodium, and the rest stick so you never mix them up on the NCLEX.

Go to nursing.com/cheatsheets to get the must-know nursing mnemonics for NCLEX.

Related Podcasts