Straight A Nursing: Study for nursing school exams & NCLEX

Latest Episodes:

#88: Vital Skills for Vital Signs Feb 13, 2020

Show notes

As a new nursing student, it’s absolutely vital that your vital signs assessments be totally on point. After all, the MDs and RNs are counting on YOU to provide reliable information about their patients. If you’re feeling a lot of pressure, don’t worry. I’ve got you!

In this podcast episode, I’m sharing with you all the best tips for taking vital signs like a pro. You’ll learn all kinds of great info like how axillary temps differ from oral temps, the best way to palpate a brachial pulse and how to count respirations without your patient changing their breathing pattern on you (you’re so sneaky!).

Ready to learn some tools you can use on your very next clinical day? Then pop in those ear buds and let’s get to work!

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Full Transcript- Read the article and view references

FREE CLASS - If all you've heard are nursing school horror stories, then you need this class! Join me in this on-demand session where I dispel all those nursing school myths and show you that YES...you can thrive in nursing school without it taking over your life!

Clinical Success Pack - One of the best ways to fast-track your clinical learning is having the right tools. This pack includes report sheets, sheets to help you plan your day, a clinical debrief form, and a patient safety cheat sheet.

Study Sesh - Change the way you study with this private podcast that includes dynamic audio formats that help you review and test your recall of important nursing concepts on-the-go. Free yourself from your desk with Study Sesh!

Crucial Concepts Bootcamp - Start nursing school ahead of the game, or reset after a difficult first semester with my nursing school prep course, Crucial Concepts Bootcamp. Learn key foundation concepts, organization and time management, dosage calculations, and so much more.

💕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.

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#87: The Five Ws of Post-Op Fever Feb 06, 2020

Show notes

When taking care of patients in the post-operative period, you’re going to be watching them closely for any signs of complications...including a fever.

In this podcast episode, we’ll talk about “The Five Ws” of post-op fever...wind, water, walking, wound and wonder drugs. What’s all this mean? Pop in your ear buds and find out!

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Full Transcript- Read the article and view references

Med Surg Solution - Are you looking for a more effective way to learn Med Surg? Enroll in Med Surg Solution and get lessons on 57 key topics and out-of-this-world study guides.

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Straight a Nursing is a proud member of the Airwave Media Network.

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#86: Surviving Skills Check Off and Sim Lab Jan 30, 2020

Show notes

Sitting down to take an exam is one thing, but having to actually perform tasks and use critical thinking in the moment is something else altogether. That’s why many students struggle through two of the most dreaded assessments in nursing school: skills check-offs and simulation.

In this podcast episode, Nurse Mo talks you through strategies to help you shine in your skills check-offs and absolutely thrive in your simulation experiences. What is an incredibly stress-inducing situation for many could become a valuable and dynamic learning experience, but only if you leave your anxiety about it at the door. Find out how in this episode.

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Sim Lab- Read the article to get yourself prepared for sim lab

Skills Checkoff - Skills checkoffs require preparation, just as you would prepare for an exam. Let’s break down the best way to do that, shall we?

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Straight a Nursing is a proud member of the Airwave Media Network.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

#85: Five Attitude Adjustments to Make for Nursing School Jan 23, 2020

Show notes

Even the most successful pre-nursing students can find themselves blindsided by the realities of nursing school. In this podcast episode, Nurse Mo talks you through five attitude adjustments to make that will help you make the successful transition from pre-nursing student to nursing school rockstar!

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Full Transcript- Read the article and view references

New Nursing Student Checklist - Get prepped and ready for your nursing school program!

20 Secrets of Successful Nursing Students – Learn key strategies that will help you be a successful nursing student with this FREE guide!

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Straight a Nursing is a proud member of the Airwave Media Network.

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#84: Corticosteroids and Nursing Interventions Jan 16, 2020

Show notes

One of the most common medication classes you'll encounter in nursing is corticosteroids. They are used to treat a variety of conditions and come with unique side effects and dosing schedules. In this podcast episode you'll learn:

* What are corticosteroids?

* Conditions treated by corticosteroid therapy

* The risks of using long-term corticosteroids

* The many formulations that corticosteroids come in

* Side effects of corticosteroids

* How a patient stops taking corticosteroids

* Nursing care plan components including diagnoses, interventions and expected outcomes

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Full Transcript- Read the article and view references

Pharmacology Success Pack - Want to get a head start on pharmacology? Download the FREE Pharmacology Success Pack

Fast Pharmacology - Learn pharmacology concepts in 5 minutes or less in this audio based program. Perfect for on-the-go review!

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Straight a Nursing is a proud member of the Airwave Media Network.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

#83: Ventilators for Nursing Students Jan 09, 2020

Show notes

Mechanical ventilators are complex pieces of equipment that respiratory therapists study for years to master. As a nursing student, or new nurse, it's easy to feel intimidated by the many components, alarms, dials and displays. In this podcast episode, Nurse Mo talks you through the basics of ventilators for nursing students, giving you the foundation knowledge you need to thrive in the critical care environment. You'll learn:

* Key concepts related to mechanical ventilation

* Ventilator anatomy

* Ventilator settings (FiO2, PEEP and rate)

* Mechanical ventilator modes

* Two ventilator alarms you MUST always be aware of

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⁠⁠Full Transcript ⁠⁠- Read the article and view references

Episode 32 - Now that you've got your ventilator basics down, dive in to ventilator weaning...a process that starts the moment the patient is intubated. This episode will provide you with the basic knowledge you need to advocate for your patient and help guide them toward extubation.

⁠⁠FREE CLASS⁠⁠ - If all you've heard are nursing school horror stories, then you need this class! Join me in this on-demand session where I dispel all those nursing school myths and show you that YES...you can thrive in nursing school without it taking over your life!

⁠Clinical Success Pack⁠ - One of the best ways to fast-track your clinical learning is having the right tools. This FREE pack includes report sheets, sheets to help you plan your day, a clinical debrief form, and a patient safety cheat sheet.

⁠Med Surg Solution⁠ - Are you looking for a more effective way to learn Med Surg? Enroll in Med Surg Solution and get lessons on 57 key topics and out-of-this-world study guides.

⁠⁠Study Sesh⁠⁠ - Change the way you study with this private podcast that includes dynamic audio formats that help you review and test your recall of important nursing concepts on-the-go. Free yourself from your desk with Study Sesh!

⁠All Straight A Nursing Resources⁠ - Check out everything Straight A Nursing has to offer, including more FREE resources and online courses to help you succeed throughout nursing school!

💕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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Straight a Nursing is a proud member of the Airwave Media Network.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

#82: Mastering the Head-to-Toe Assessment Jan 02, 2020

Show notes

One of the most difficult and intimidating skills you will need to master early on in your nursing education is the full head-to-toe-assessment. In this episode, Nurse Mo walks you through a standard assessment and tips on how to prepare for your skills check-off.

If your school has not provided you with a full listing of the components of your assessment, download the cheatsheet from the Straight A Nursing website, edit to add any details relevant to your program and practice, practice, practice! You’ve got this!

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Full Transcript- Read the article and view references

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Straight a Nursing is a proud member of the Airwave Media Network.

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#81: Diving into Schizophrenia Dec 19, 2019

Show notes

In this week’s podcast we’ll be diving into schizophrenia, a psychiatric disorder that can have debilitating effects. It’s a complicated type of psychosis that has four subsets, each with its own unique profile. In this episode you’ll learn:

* The four subsets of schizophrenia and the signs/symptoms of each

* The four categories of schizophrenia symptoms, including positive and negative

* How to identify disorganized speech and disorganized thinking

* How to differentiate between types of “negative symptoms”

* The common types of delusions you’ll see in schizophrenia

* The different types of hallucinations your patient could have

* How schizophrenia is treated

* How to communicate with a patient who has schizophrenia

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Full Transcript- Read the article and view references

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Straight a Nursing is a proud member of the Airwave Media Network.

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#80: Why Keeping a Clinical Journal is a Genius Idea Dec 12, 2019

Show notes

In a job with a steep learning curve and many opportunities to learn from experience, a clinical journal can help you in so many ways. In this episode we’ll talk through all the ways a clinical journal can help you:

* Debrief after clinical. This will help you learn from past experiences, which is a critical skill for any nursing student or nurse

* Identify your current goals and track your progress

* Monitor how satisfied you are with your current situation

* Develop communication strategies

* Manage work or school-related stress

* Stay focused on your “why”

* Define your career pathway

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Full Transcript- Read the article and view references

Clinical Debrief Template - One of the best ways to fast-track your clinical learning is to debrief after each clinical day so you can apply what you learned to future scenarios.

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Straight a Nursing is a proud member of the Airwave Media Network.

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#79: Need Help Understanding HELLP Syndrome? Dec 05, 2019

Show notes

In Episode 68, we talked about preeclampsia which has many complications. One of those is HELLP syndrome, which is a life-threatening condition that occurs during the later stages of pregnancy or that first week or so after giving birth. HELLP syndrome has a mortality rate of 30% and involves severe blood and liver dysfunction.

In this podcast episode we’ll talk about:

* What the acronym HELLP stands for

* How HELLP syndrome is classified

* The signs and symptoms

* What tests are conduction when HELLP syndrome is suspected

* Complications of HELLP syndrome, including DIC, liver failure and cerebral hemorrhage

* How HELLP syndrome is treated

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Full Transcript- Read the article and view references

💕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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Straight a Nursing is a proud member of the Airwave Media Network.