Real Deal Nurse Practitioner Club

Latest Episodes:

3 Medication Safety Rules to Know for NP Boards [NP Confidence Corner] Jul 29, 2026

Show notes

Medication safety questions are some of the highest-yield topics you'll encounter on your NP boards because they test whether you can recognize situations that could seriously harm a patient. In this minisode, Alex reviews three essential medication safety rules every NP student should know, including which blood pressure medications to avoid during pregnancy, a high-risk warfarin drug interaction, and why NSAIDs are contraindicated in heart failure. You'll walk away with practical board pearls that will also help you prescribe more safely in clinical practice.

170: When to Refer vs When to Manage: A Primary Care Guide for NP Boards Jul 22, 2026

Show notes

Knowing when to refer and when to manage a patient yourself is one of the biggest clinical judgment skills you will build in primary care. It can also be a common source of confusion on NP boards, especially when referral feels like the safest answer.

In this episode, Alex and I break down how to think through referral decisions using patient stability, red flags, scope of practice, and response to first-line treatment. We walk through primary care scenarios involving hypertension and diabetes to show why the same diagnosis may be managed in one situation and referred in another.

Get full show notes, transcript, and more information here: https://blog.npreviews.com/when-to-refer-primary-care-np-boards

Understanding the GINA Asthma Guidelines for NP Boards [NP Confidence Corner] Jul 15, 2026

Show notes

Asthma treatment has changed, and understanding the latest GINA guidelines can help you earn easy points on your NP boards. In this minisode, Kaitlyn breaks down the shift away from albuterol alone, explains why inhaled corticosteroids are the foundation of asthma management, and reviews the step-up, step-down approach so you can confidently answer asthma treatment questions on exam day.

169: Recognizing Human Trafficking: What Every NP Should Know with Dr. Lauren Mays Jul 08, 2026

Show notes

Human trafficking is a healthcare issue, and many NPs do not feel fully prepared to recognize it in clinical practice. In this episode, I'm joined by NP educator Dr. Lauren Mays to discuss recognizing human trafficking, common misconceptions, and the important role healthcare providers play in supporting vulnerable patients.

We discuss how trafficking signs often show up as more of a vague "something's not quite right here" feeling and what to do when this feeling comes up. Dr. Mays also shares some examples of common symptoms, how to create privacy and safety, and why our role is not to investigate or rescue, but to provide trauma-informed, patient-centered care.

Get full show notes, transcript, and more information here: https://blog.npreviews.com/recognizing-human-trafficking-lauren-mays

Connect with Lauren on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/lauren-c-mays-2676781a2/

Lab Values to Know for Boards - LDL [NP Confidence Corner] Jul 01, 2026

Show notes

LDL is one of the most important lab values to understand for NP boards because it plays a central role in cardiovascular risk and treatment decisions. In this minisode, I review the key LDL targets to know, explain when high-intensity statins come into play, and walk you through the clinical reasoning behind common board questions so you can confidently choose the next best step in dyslipidemia management.

168: Top NP Board Prep Questions Answered with Caroline G Jun 24, 2026

Show notes

If you're preparing for boards and wondering whether everyone else has it more figured out than you, you are not alone. In this episode, I sit down with NP instructor Caroline G to answer some of the most common NP board prep questions we hear from students every single week.

We talk through the big decisions and stress points that come up during board prep, including choosing between AANP and ANCC, when to apply, when to test, how much to study, and whether you need multiple review resources. Caroline and I also discuss practice question scores, when to start practice exams, and what to do if your study plan gets off track.

Get full show notes, transcript, and more information here: https://blog.npreviews.com/top-np-board-prep-questions-answered

Lab Values to Know for Boards - INR [NP Confidence Corner] Jun 17, 2026

Show notes

INR is one of the most commonly tested lab values on NP boards, especially when warfarin is involved. In this minisode, I review normal and therapeutic INR ranges, explain what high and low values mean, and walk through the safety-focused thinking behind common exam questions, including when to adjust therapy, when vitamin K is needed, and how diet and medication changes can affect INR levels.

167: The Future of Nurse Practitioners: AI, Autonomy, & What's Next Jun 10, 2026

Show notes

The future of Nurse Practitioners is changing faster than ever, creating new opportunities, new challenges, and exciting possibilities for the profession. As healthcare continues to evolve, understanding these trends can help you prepare for the career you're stepping into.

In this episode, Alex and I explore the future of Nurse Practitioners and the major forces shaping healthcare today. From expanding autonomy and telehealth to artificial intelligence, personalized medicine, and NP entrepreneurship, we discuss how the profession is evolving and what these changes could mean for your future practice.

Get full show notes, transcript, and more information here: https://blog.npreviews.com/future-of-nurse-practitioners-AI-autonomy

Lab Values to Know for Boards - GFR [NP Confidence Corner] Jun 03, 2026

Show notes

GFR is one of the most important kidney lab values to know for NP boards because it tells you how well the kidneys are functioning and helps determine chronic kidney disease staging. In this minisode, I break down the key GFR cutoffs, explain how to think of CKD stages as a simple ladder, and review the clinical decisions that often show up on exams, including medication adjustments, kidney protection strategies, and when dialysis becomes necessary.

166: Diabetes Review for NP Boards: What to Focus On May 27, 2026

Show notes

Diabetes can feel like one of the biggest and most overwhelming topics to study for NP boards. Between insulin types, medication classes, complications, and diagnostic criteria, it is easy to get lost in the details and spend hours studying without knowing what actually matters most.

In this episode, Alex and I walk through a practical diabetes review for NP boards and focus on the highest-yield concepts you should prioritize during your prep. This is not meant to be a complete deep dive into every diabetes medication or clinical nuance. Instead, we focus on the core concepts, common board-style presentations, medication side effects, and complications most important to understand for exams.

Get full show notes, transcript, and more information here: https://blog.npreviews.com/diabetes-review-for-np-boards

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