Real Deal Nurse Practitioner Club

Latest Episodes:

Herbal Supplements [NP Confidence Corner] Mar 11, 2026

Show notes

Herbal supplements may seem harmless, but they can have important effects on medications and patient safety. In this minisode, I review the herbal supplements nurse practitioners are most likely to encounter on exams and in clinical practice. From St. John's Wort and ginkgo to valerian root and black cohosh, this overview highlights the key uses, safety concerns, and medication interactions you should recognize.

160: Alpha & Beta Adrenergic Receptors Explained: NP Pharmacology Review Mar 04, 2026

Show notes

Do alpha and beta adrenergic receptors feel confusing or overly detailed? Understanding these receptors is essential for success on your exams, and once they click, so much of pharmacology starts to make sense.

In this episode, Alex and I walk through alpha and beta adrenergic receptors step by step, connecting receptor function to real medications and common board-style scenarios. You will leave with a clearer framework for answering pharmacology questions with confidence.

Get full show notes, transcript, and more information here: https://blog.npreviews.com/alpha-beta-adrenergic-receptors

Prescribing During Pregnancy with Confidence [NP Confidence Corner] Feb 25, 2026

Show notes

Prescribing in pregnancy can feel intimidating, especially when a patient casually mentions they're 10 weeks along mid-visit. In this minisode, Kaitlyn and Courtney break down the core principles you need to confidently treat common pregnancy complaints, including first-line options for nausea, reflux, and infections, and which antibiotics are safe and when to avoid certain ones on boards and in practice.

159: First Year as an NP: Transitioning from Student to Practitioner Feb 18, 2026

Show notes

Have you had that "wait… I'm the provider now" moment yet? The first year as an NP is one of the biggest professional shifts you'll ever make, and it can feel both empowering and overwhelming at the same time.

In this episode, Courtney and I break down what transitioning from student to practicing NP really looks like, from orientation expectations and charting struggles to imposter syndrome and building clinical confidence. We share what's normal, what to advocate for, and how to survive that steep learning curve with safety and structure at the center.

Get full show notes, transcript, and more information here: https://blog.npreviews.com/first-year-as-an-NP

Lab Values to Know for Boards - TSH [NP Confidence Corner] Feb 11, 2026

Show notes

TSH questions on your NP boards aren't meant to trick you, but they do test whether you understand the pattern behind thyroid labs. In this minisode, I review the normal TSH range, explain the inverse relationship between TSH and free T3 and T4, and walk through how to identify hypo versus hyperthyroidism so you can confidently interpret thyroid questions on exam day.

158: What I Wish I Knew: Lessons from Experienced NPs Feb 04, 2026

Show notes

Have you ever thought, "Why didn't anyone tell me this sooner?" That feeling is incredibly common as you move from NP school into real practice.

In this episode, Courtney and I share the lessons we wish we had known earlier, including what boards actually prepare you for, how to handle imposter syndrome, and why asking questions makes you a safer clinician, not a weaker one.

This conversation is here to reassure you that learning on the job is normal, growth takes time, and you don't have to have everything figured out to be a great nurse practitioner.

Get full show notes, transcript, and more information here: https://blog.npreviews.com/lessons-from-experienced-nps

Lab Values to Know for Boards - Hemoglobin A1c [NP Confidence Corner] Jan 28, 2026

Show notes

Hemoglobin A1c is one of the most high-yield lab values you'll see on NP boards and in real life. In this minisode, I review its alternate names, the key A1c cutoff and goal values, and how boards expect you to use trends to decide when treatment needs to be adjusted.

157: The Primary Care Screening Guidelines You Must Know to Pass Your NP Boards Jan 21, 2026

Show notes

When you're preparing for NP boards, screening guidelines can seem a little dry, but these recommendations show up consistently on exams and form the foundation of primary care practice.

In this episode, Courtney and I run through an overview of the adult screening recommendations you'll need to know for primary care NP boards, leaning heavily on USPSTF recommendations.

Discover how to think through screening questions without getting lost in the nitty gritty detail.

Get full show notes, transcript, and more information here: https://blog.npreviews.com/primary-care-screening-guidelines-pass-np-boards

Tips for Sick Season [NP Confidence Corner] Jan 14, 2026

Show notes

It's winter, which means full-blown sick season is here. In this minisode, Kaitlyn and Courtney break down three simple ways to distinguish between bacterial and viral infections and teach how to explain your clinical reasoning to patients in a way that helps them feel heard.

156: Hypertension Guidelines for NP Boards: What Matters for the Exam vs Practice Jan 07, 2026

Show notes

Hypertension is one of the most heavily tested topics on NP board exams, but recent guideline updates can make it hard to know what you actually need to focus on.

In this episode, I walk you through how to think about hypertension guidelines when you're preparing for boards, including what's still being tested and what's changing in real-world practice.

Learn how to study with clarity and avoid confusion around guideline updates.

Get full show notes, transcript, and more information here: https://blog.npreviews.com/hypertension-guidelines-np-boards-matters-exam-vs-practice Follow us on Instagram: instagram.com/smnpreviewsofficial

Our TOPPODCAST Picks

Follow Us

Stay Connected

Real Deal Nurse Practitioner Club

Related Podcasts

Links

Stay Connected