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Straight A Nursing: Study for nursing school exams & NCLEX

In this show, Maureen Osuna, MSN, RN (Nurse Mo) breaks down a wide range of nursing school concepts so they’re easy to understand. Each episode aims to help nursing students improve their study techniques, pass nursing school exams, and feel more confident in clinical. If you’re nervous about nursing school, not “getting it” in lecture, or feeling overwhelmed with all the information you have to learn, this podcast will help you optimize your study time so you can learn more with less stress.
While nursing school is challenging, it doesn’t have to be impossible. When concepts are explained in a way that “just makes sense”, nursing students have better recall on exams, feel more confident working with patients in clinical, and are better prepared for NCLEX.
Nurse Mo understands the struggles nursing students face and draws on more than 11 years of clinical experience to make nursing school less intimidating. Each episode removes the “fluff” and focuses on the key things a nursing student (and nurse) needs to know about a variety of disease conditions. The show also provides tips for succeeding in nursing school, guidance for students and new nurses, and insider information to help you excel at the bedside.

Copyright: © 2021-2024

Latest Episodes:

#516: MMM - Applying to Nursing School? Don't Underestimate The Entrance Exam Sep 28, 2026

Show notes

If you're applying to nursing school, your GPA probably feels like the whole application. And yes, your GPA is important, but it's only one piece of your application. Most competitive nursing programs are weighing several other factors right alongside your GPA, and the entrance exam is the one that trips up more applicants than you'd expect.

If your school requires you to take the TEAS, I highly recommend investing in test prep materials from ATI. They write the exam so you know your time will be spent studying what's actually on the test.

ATI has a variety of TEAS Prep packages and they offer 15% off to Straight A Nursing fans. Full disclosure that I earn a small commission when you buy TEAS Prep packages from my link and use the coupon code SAN15 at checkout (no extra cost to you, just savings 🙌).

Save 15% on your TEAS Prep package when you use coupon code SAN15 at check out here.*

I dive deeper into the TEAS exam in episode #482: What the TEAS is Really Testing.

💕Did you love this episode? Please take a moment to follow or subscribe to the show so you never miss an episode!

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*Promotion cannot be combined with any other offer. Promotion only available on digital ATI TEAS prep products (excluding eBooks), cannot be applied to TEAS testing fees or transcripts. Promotion cannot be applied to past purchases.

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

#515: Cardiogenic Pulmonary Edema Sep 24, 2026

Show notes

A patient is stable going into surgery and comes out of anesthesia fine. Twenty minutes later in the PACU, she's gasping for air, her neck veins are bulging, and she's coughing up pink, frothy sputum. Yikes! What just happened? And why did it happen so fast?

In this episode, I'm breaking down cardiogenic pulmonary edema, including:

- A walk through the actual blood flow pathway that explains why pressure backs up into the lungs in the first place

- Two distinct processes that can cause cardiogenic pulmonary edema:

☝️ the classic fluid overload picture <-- you probably learned about this in school

✌️ vascular failure <-- a pattern less commonly taught, where a patient can develop flash pulmonary edema without carrying any excess fluid at all.

- Common signs and symptoms

- Priority assessments

- Key tests utilized to evaluate the condition

- Treatments

- Follow-up education

- References to the patient described above, so you can see exactly how her history, her labs, and her imaging all tell the same story once you know what you're looking at.

If you've ever memorized 'crackles plus JVD equals heart failure' without really understanding the mechanism behind it, this episode connects those dots.

To thrive in nursing school, you need a study system that helps concepts like this actually stick instead of just memorizing lists of symptoms. I get you started building that system with my free Nursing School Survival Blueprint. 👉 ⁠Download the Blueprint⁠

💕Did you love this episode? Please take a moment to follow or subscribe to the show so you never miss an episode!

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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

#514: MMM - MRI vs. MRA and CT vs. CTA: Which Scan Does What? Sep 21, 2026

Show notes

Do you know the differences between a MRI, MRA, CT and CTA scan? By the end of this episode you'll understand the purpose and nursing considerations of each of these scans, and you'll be a better nurse for it.

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⁠Nursing School Survival Blueprint⁠- Feeling overwhelmed or unsure how to approach nursing school? Download this free Blueprint to understand exactly what's working against you — and what to do instead.

Straight A Nursing Study Resources⁠⁠ - ⁠Check out everything Straight A Nursing has to offer, including free resources and online courses to help you succeed!

💕Did you love this episode? Please take a moment to follow or subscribe to the show 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 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

Parkinson's Disease for Nursing Students - ENCORE! #198 Sep 17, 2026

Show notes

This encore episode features a brief update to discuss some new medications that are currently being utilized to treat Parkinson's disease. By the end of this episode you'll have a thorough understanding of what you need to know about Parkinson's for your nursing school exams and NCLEX.

Read the article "Parkinson’s Disease NCLEX Review" and view references here.

If you found this episode helpful, I've got lessons and comprehensive study guides on over 57 more topics in my course Med Surg Solution. Learn how Med Surg Solution can help you thrive in your Med Surg class (and on NCLEX!) here.

This is a throwback to episode 198 of the Straight A Nursing School Podcast, where nursing school help is at your fingertips with hundreds of episodes covering your journey from taking the TEAS through passing NCLEX and having success as a new-grad nurse.

💕Did you love this episode? Please take a moment to follow or subscribe to the show so you never miss an episode…and share with friends so you can help other nurses thrive!

___________________

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

#513: MMM - SIRS vs. Sepsis vs. Septic Shock Sep 14, 2026

Show notes

This is a quick review of SIRS vs sepsis vs septic shock, including what distinguishes each from the next, the earliest clinical signs of this whole progression (hint: it's not hypotension), and why knowing these things matters.

___________________

⁠Nursing School Survival Blueprint⁠- Feeling overwhelmed or unsure how to approach nursing school? Download this free Blueprint to understand exactly what's working against you — and what to do instead.

Straight A Nursing Study Resources⁠⁠ - ⁠Check out everything Straight A Nursing has to offer, including free resources and online courses to help you succeed!

💕Did you love this episode? Please take a moment to follow or subscribe to the show 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 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

#512: Your First Clinical Day: What to Actually Expect Sep 10, 2026

Show notes

Heading into clinical? Ease your nerves by building a mental map of a typical clinical day. Hit play and I'll show you what I mean as I walk you through how I used to run a typical shift in clinical, from start to finish.

Have you grabbed the Nursing School Survival Blueprint yet? If you're heading into your first clinical rotation soon, going through this blueprint will help you build the kind of structure that makes clinical days and the rest of your nursing school journey feel a whole lot more manageable. Grab it here for free: Nursing School Survival Blueprint

💕Did you love this episode? Please take a moment to follow or subscribe to the show so you never miss an episode…and share with friends so you can help other nurses thrive!

___________________

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

#511: MMM - Your First Rapid Response as a New Nurse Sep 07, 2026

Show notes

New nurses, have you called your first rapid response yet? The scariest part of your first rapid response usually isn't the clinical situation in front of you. It's the moment you have to decide whether you should even call it. If you're nervous about calling a rapid response, I've got a reframe and some actionable advice for you in this quick episode. See you there!

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👋 Want to walk into clinical situations feeling more prepared instead of just hoping for the best? Confident Nurse Academy is our on-demand clinical readiness program, built to help new nurses get clinically ready for high-stakes situations like this one, faster. Get a free sneak peak into this program by grabbing the Confident Code Blue Response lesson here.

💕Did you love this episode? Please take a moment to follow or subscribe to the show 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 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

Reye’s Syndrome Basics for Nursing Students - ENCORE! #257 Sep 03, 2026

Show notes

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

Read the article and view references here.

Nursing school gets easier when you have a system to help you identify what to focus on as you study. I get you started building that system in my free Nursing School Survival Blueprint, where I share the key shifts you can make which separate struggling students from thriving ones.

👉 ⁠Download the Blueprint⁠

This is a throwback to episode 257 of the Straight A Nursing School Podcast, where nursing school help is at your fingertips with hundreds of episodes covering your journey from taking the TEAS through passing NCLEX and having success as a new-grad nurse.

💕Did you love this episode? Please take a moment to follow or subscribe to the show so you never miss an episode…and share with friends so you can help other nurses thrive!

___________________

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

#510: PodQuiz - Acute Kidney Injury (AKI) Aug 31, 2026

Show notes

Test your knowledge of AKI with this quick set of audio flashcards. Dive right in or brush up on your nursing knowledge of AKI first, in episode #509: Acute Kidney Injury for Nursing Students: Causes, Symptoms, Labs & Treatment.

These mini-reviews are a great way to study on the go, and they give you a taste of what it’s like inside Study Sesh, my audio study tool for busy nursing students.

🧠 Ready to quiz yourself? Let’s dive in!

👉Want more practice like this? ⁠Check out Study Sesh!

💕Did you love this episode? Please take a moment to follow or subscribe to the show 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 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

#509: Acute Kidney Injury for Nursing Students: Causes, Symptoms, Labs & Treatment Aug 27, 2026

Show notes

Acute kidney injury is one of the most common complications seen in hospitalized patients, yet it's a topic that often leaves nursing students overwhelmed by lab values and terminology.

In this episode, I'm breaking down the three types of AKI and showing you how to recognize the clues that help distinguish one from another. We'll talk through:

- Common causes

- Important assessment findings

- Key lab values

- Complications to watch for when kidney function begins to decline.

We'll also review how urine output, fluid status, creatinine, BUN, potassium, and other findings fit together so you can stop memorizing isolated facts and start understanding the bigger picture.

Nursing school gets easier when you have a system to help you identify what to focus on as you study, and to connect the dots so you can see that bigger picture. I get you started building that system in my free Nursing School Survival Blueprint, where I share the key shifts you can make which separate struggling students from thriving ones. 👉 ⁠Download the Blueprint⁠

Read the article and view references here.

💕Did you love this episode? Please take a moment to follow or subscribe to the show so you never miss an episode…and share with friends so you can help other nurses thrive!

___________________

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

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