Straight A Nursing: Study for nursing school exams & NCLEX
Episodes
#318: Is it a STEMI or NSTEMI?
23 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Two terms you’ve probably heard mentioned are STEMI and NSTEMI, and you may be wondering what the difference between these two cardiac events is. In...
#317: Nursing Care for Gestational Diabetes
16 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Gestational diabetes is a complication of pregnancy in which individuals with no history of diabetes have persistently elevated glucose levels. In t...
#316: Peripheral Neuropathy NCLEX Review
09 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of the Straight A Nursing podcast, we’re breaking down the key things a nurse needs to know about peripheral neuropathy. This is a c...
#315: Neural Tube Defects
02 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Nurse Mo delves into neural tube defects, with a focus on spina bifida and anencephaly. In addition to learning about the key charact...
#314: The Basics of Pulmonary Hypertension
26 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, we’re exploring the key things a nurse needs to know about pulmonary hypertension (PH). This condition affects the blood vessels i...
#313 Unraveling the Connection - CHF and Anemia
19 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Welcome to another exciting episode of Straight A Nursing! I'm your host, Nurse Mo, and today we'll be diving into a fascinating topic: the relationsh...
#312: Postpartum Depression - The Thief of Motherhood
12 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Postpartum depression (PPD) has been called “the thief that steals motherhood” and is defined as a temporary episode of major depression associate...
#311: From Terrified to Excited: A Guide to Conquering ICU Clinical Rotations
05 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Welcome back to the Straight A Nursing podcast with Nurse Mo, where we dive into all things nursing school and the bedside. In today's episode, we're ...
#310: Beyond the Blue - Exploring the Varied Applications of Methylene Blue
28 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Welcome back to the Straight A Nursing podcast! I'm Nurse Mo, and today we have an intriguing topic to discuss. Have you ever wondered about that myst...
#309: Pain Essentials for Nursing
21 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Welcome back to Straight A Nursing, the podcast that provides practical tips and knowledge to excel in your nursing practice. In this episode, we'll b...
#308: The Journey to Becoming a Travel Nurse
14 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
If you’ve ever dreamed about travel nursing, then you’ll love this episode where I’m talking with Kylee from Passports and Preemies. Kylee is a ...
#307: Review of Pediatric Endocrine Disorders
07 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Hormones are chemical messengers in the body that travel through the bloodstream to specific receptors on cells throughout the body where they elicit ...
#306: Cardiomyopathy Basics
31 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Cardiomyopathy is a term that describes a disease affecting the heart muscle, and is most commonly related to damage of the myocardium. There are four...
#305: Diabetes NCLEX Review
24 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Diabetes mellitus is a condition in which the body’s ability to respond to insulin or produce insulin is impaired. This results in abnormal carbohyd...
#304: The Nursing School Application Process
17 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Applying to nursing school can be a complex process, which requires organization and attention to detail. In this episode, we’ll explore what the ap...
#303: Components of the BMP
10 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
One of the most common lab tests ordered for your patients is the BMP, otherwise known as the basic metabolic panel. This lab test looks at eight diff...
#302: Malignant Hyperthermia
03 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Malignant hyperthermia (MH) is a hypermetabolic crisis that is fatal if left untreated. It occurs in individuals with a specific genetic condition whe...
#301: The ABCs of OCD
27 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Obsessive compulsive disorder is a chronic mental health condition in which the individual has recurring, unwanted thoughts or fears that cause a sign...
#300: Pharmacology Foundations
20 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
When students struggle with pharmacology it’s typically because they’re trying to memorize drugs, their indications, important nursing implication...
#299: Pleural Effusions NCLEX Review
13 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Pleural effusions are defined as a buildup of excess fluid between the pleura and it can occur as a consequence of a wide variety of conditions. In th...
#298: Medical Terminology PodQuiz
06 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Being able to decipher medical language means understanding the common roots, suffixes and prefixes. For example, if you know “ectomy” means the r...
#297: Understanding Orthostatic Hypotension
29 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Orthostatic hypotension (OH) occurs when the body has an inadequate response to postural changes and, as a result, is unable to maintain a steady bloo...
#296: The Disease of Kings
22 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Because of the propensity for gout to occur in the wealthy who lived a lavish lifestyle, gout was once called the “disease of kings.” Today gout i...
#295: Nursing Care for Patients with Pertussis
15 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Pertussis (also known as “whooping cough”) is a respiratory tract infection caused by the bacteria Bordetella pertussis. It is a highly contagious...
#294: BONUS! Float Pool Nursing
13 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Have you ever wondered what float pool nursing is like? These vital nurses fill staffing gaps throughout various units in the hospital, meaning no two...
#293: Nursing Care for Sickle Cell Disease
08 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Sickle cell disease (SCD) is one of the most common inherited hematologic disorders and can lead to serious complications including organ failure and ...
#292: BONUS! What is Nurse Shock?
06 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
I remember being a new grad nurse and foolishly thinking my biggest challenge would be learning critical care pathophysiology. Boy was I wrong. Nursi...
#291: Financial Tips for New Grads
01 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In this podcast episode, I am joined by Kristin Wade from Fiscal Bliss Financial Coaching. She’s a nurse turned financial coach who is passionate ab...
#290: BONUS! The #1 Mistake New Grad Nurses Make
30 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In episode 288, I mentioned the importance of having a growth mindset as one way to set yourself up for new grad success. In this special bonus episod...
#289: Let’s Review Lumbar Punctures
25 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
A lumbar puncture is a procedure that involves the insertion of a needle into the space between two lumbar vertebrae to obtain a sample of CSF for eva...
#288: BONUS! Five Ways to Set Yourself up for New Grad Success
23 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The transition from student to new grad RN is a time of incredible transformation and growth. It is also a time of immense challenges. In this episode...
#287: Everything You’ve Been Taught About Digital Clubbing is Wrong
18 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In nursing school, I learned that digital clubbing was a key sign of COPD and I accepted this as gospel and moved on with my life. I used this informa...
[Announcement] Your New Grad Nurse Questions Answered
17 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
If you're a new grad nurse or soon-to-be new grad, then you probably have questions. A lot of them. I remember being exactly where you are right now,...
#286: BONUS! Introduction to Rapid Response with Sarah Lorenzini
16 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
As a nursing student or new grad nurse, the thought of your patient taking a turn for the worse is really scary. In this special bonus episode I’m j...
#285: How Nurses Prevent Central Line Infections
11 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Central line associated bloodstream infections (CLABSI) occur when pathogens invade the bloodstream via a central venous catheter (CVC). Key points i...
#284: Intubation Demystified
04 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Knowing when a patient is in respiratory distress and will likely be intubated is a key skill you will use regularly as a nurse. Nurses in all setting...
#283: Pediatric Musculoskeletal NCLEX Review
27 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
A big part of learning about pediatrics is understanding different musculoskeletal disorders in children. Rather than going through each of these usin...
#282: Five Tips to Improve Your TEAS Score
25 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
When you don’t meet your target school’s criteria on this ATI TEAS entrance exam, it can lead to feelings of discouragement and even thoughts of g...
#281: Guillain Barré NCLEX Review
20 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS) is an autoimmune attack on the peripheral nervous system which results in neuropathy. It is typically a self-limiting c...
#280: Introduction to TTTS
13 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome (TTTS) is a rare condition of pregnancy that affects identical twins and other multiple pregnancies when two or more...
#279: BMT Overview
06 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode Nurse Mo teaches the key things to know about bone marrow transplant (BMT), including: * Conditions treated with BMT * The function o...
#278: Sneak Peak into ACLS
30 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
If you’re a new grad or transitioning to critical care or the ER, then you will soon be taking your ACLS certification course. This two-day class co...
#277: The Doorway Assessment
23 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
As the nurse, one of your key responsibilities is to notice changes in patient condition…and that can be difficult to do in a timely manner if you’...
#276: Huntington’s NCLEX Review
16 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Huntington’s disease (HD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder that is caused by extra repeats of the cytosine-adenine-guanine (CAG) amino ac...
#275: Navigating a Job Offer
09 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
If you are starting your job hunt as a new grad, or even as an experienced nurse, you may have questions about navigating job offers. In this special ...
#274: Introduction to Vascular Assessment
02 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
A key component of your head-to-toe and focused assessments is the vascular assessment. In this episode I’m sharing tips and real-world examples to ...
#273: Sneak Peek at Peri-op Clinicals
23 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
If your nursing program provides a periop clinical experience, consider yourself very lucky! I really enjoyed my periop clinicals and learned a ton ab...
#272: Splenectomy Nursing Basics
16 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
A splenectomy is a procedure in which the spleen is removed either partially or completely. In this episode Nurse Mo talks you through the key things ...
#271: Get Ready to Give Adenosine
09 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Adenosine is one of the scariest, and most amazing, drugs I’ve ever administered as a nurse. In this episode, you’ll learn the key things to know ...
#270: Basics of External Beam Radiation
02 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Learn the basics of radiation therapy, which is used to shrink tumors or kill or slow the growth of cancer cells. In this episode you’ll learn: * D...
#269: When You Start to Panic During an Exam
26 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Even the most prepared student can start to panic during an exam. It’s what you do next that dictates whether test anxiety is going to take over and...
#268: Tips for Geriatric Assessment
19 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
When performing a head-to-toe assessment, there are some key differences that you can expect to notice in an older adult. In this episode I’m sharin...
#267: 7 Things to Know Before Starting Clinicals
12 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
If I were your clinical instructor, these tips are exactly the things I’d make sure you understood before your first clinical day! In this episode,...
#266: Five Questions I Get Asked About Nursing School
05 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, I’m answering five common questions I get asked about nursing school! Q1: How can I feel more confident in NS? Q2: Can I work whil...
#265: Nursing School Classes Decoded
29 Dec 2022
Contributed by Lukas
If you’re heading into or dreaming of nursing school, you’re probably wondering what the classes and clinicals are like. In this episode I’m spi...
#264: Electrolytes Overview
22 Dec 2022
Contributed by Lukas
With changes to the NCLEX, it’s more important than ever that you understand electrolytes way beyond just knowing the normal lab values. In this ove...
#263: Understanding Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome
15 Dec 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS) occurs when neonates who were exposed to drugs in the womb experience withdrawal after birth. These substances pass...
#262: BONUS! Deep Dive into the New ATI TEAS Exam
12 Dec 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, the final of our “Say Yes to Success” miniseries sponsored by ATI, I’m interviewing an ATI team member to answer your questions...
#261: Rheumatoid Arthritis
08 Dec 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune condition in which the patient’s immune system attacks healthy cells inside the joints, leading to an inf...
#260: BONUS! Five Things to Know About Next Gen NCLEX
05 Dec 2022
Contributed by Lukas
I know nursing students have a LOT of questions about the Next Gen NCLEX, so I attended an NCSBN Conference to learn as much as I could about the chan...
#259: Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia NCLEX Review
01 Dec 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is a non-cancerous enlargement of the prostate gland that causes an obstruction to the outflow of urine. In this ep...
#258: BONUS! How to Prepare for Finals
28 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In the third episode of our “Say Yes to Success” miniseries sponsored by ATI I’m sharing 12 tried and true tips you can use to prepare for final...
#257: The Basics of Reye’s Syndrome
24 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Reye’s syndrome is a rare but very serious condition that involves acute encephalopathy, cerebral edema and fatty liver failure. The pathophysiology...
#256: BONUS! Three Things to Know about the TEAS Exam
21 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
If you’re heading into nursing school, there’s a good chance you’ll be taking the ATI TEAS exam as part of your application process. In this epi...
#255: Secrets 18-20 Revealed
17 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, I’m finishing up the series on 20 Secrets of Successful Nursing Students by revealing secrets #18, #19 and #20. Scroll to the botto...
#254: BONUS! Accepting Feedback in Nursing School
14 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
If there’s one thing that’s consistent throughout all of nursing school it’s the constant feedback - on exams, in clinical, in skills lab, on as...
#253: Transfusing Blood with Confidence
10 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Transfusing blood products is a high-risk procedure that requires careful attention to detail and excellent patient assessment skills. For this reason...
#252: Nurse’s Guide to Amniotic Fluid Embolism
03 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Amniotic fluid embolism (AFE) is a life threatening condition in which there is a severe reaction to the amniotic fluid and fetal debris that enter ma...
#251: Let’s Break Down Rhabdomyolysis
27 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Rhabdomyolysis is a condition in which skeletal muscle cells break down and leak their contents into the extracellular space and bloodstream. I usuall...
#250: Performing a Cardiac Assessment
20 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
How confident are you in cardiac assessment? Learn the key components in this episode, including: * Knowing when it’s appropriate to go beyond the ...
#249: BONUS! She Cracked the Code on Nursing School Scholarships
15 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode I am interviewing Susan Jarvis, a nursing student in Florida who is going through nursing school with ZERO debt, thanks to the power o...
#248: Let’s Take a Look at Lithium
13 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Lithium is a very common medication that you’ll see regularly in the clinical setting (and on exams if you’re a student!). In this episode you’l...
#247: Dialysis Disequilibrium Syndrome Demystified
06 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Dialysis disequilibrium syndrome (DDS) is a serious and rare complication of dialysis that involves a range of neurological symptoms that are primaril...
#246: It’s Time to Talk About Trauma Informed Care
29 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Trauma informed care is an approach to practice that strives to understand how past traumas affect why our patients do (or don’t do) what is needed ...
#245: Let’s End Anemia Confusion
22 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
There are so many different types of anemia that it can sometimes feel overwhelming. That’s why I’m breaking down the key types in this episode! ...
#244: Polyhydramnios – Too Much of a Good Thing
15 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Polyhydramnios is a condition in which there is too much amniotic fluid produced during pregnancy. In this episode you’ll learn the causes of polyhy...
#243: Sepsis Bundle NCLEX Review
08 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Sepsis is a life-threatening medical emergency that is caused by a massively overblown response to infection. Sepsis affects more than 1.7 million adu...
#242: BONUS! Sneak Peek into Hospice Nursing
03 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Have you ever thought about hospice nursing? I am so excited to share this interview with you where I talk with Nurse Allie, an absolutely incredible ...
#241: AVMs A to Z
01 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
An arteriovenous malformation (AVM) is an abnormal cluster of blood vessels that lack a capillary network, which results in both disrupted blood flow ...
#240: BONUS! Building Your Wealth as a Nurse
27 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode I talk with Savannah from Net Worth Nurse about financial literacy and investing for nurses. You can learn more about Savannah and her...
#239: Your Guide to POTS
25 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
This week on the podcast, we’re tackling postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS). It’s a disorder of the autonomic nervous system that ha...
#238: Day in the Life of a PACU Nurse
18 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
A few years ago I made the big leap from ICU to PACU and I haven’t looked back since. Sure, I loved the ICU where I worked, but I made the decision ...
#237: Conducting a Respiratory Assessment
11 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
I worked in the MICU for about eight years and most of my patients had some kind of respiratory involvement. For some it was pneumonia, for others it ...
#236: Medical Terms You Don’t (Yet) Know
04 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
When I was a student (and new nurse) I remember hearing medical terms all the time that would make me think, “I should probably know what that means...
#235: BONUS! So You Want to be a Nurse Practitioner?
02 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Nurse practitioners are advanced practice nurses that fulfill a variety of roles in the healthcare setting. Having an NP license enables a nurse to wr...
#234: Get Confident With Neuro Assessments
28 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Of all the assessments you learn in nursing school, neuro assessment can easily be the most challenging (not to mention the most lengthy!). In this e...
#233: Isoniazid NCLEX Review
21 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
I mentioned isoniazid in episode 218 when we talked about tuberculosis, so if you’re interested in some exponential learning, make sure you go back ...
#232: BONUS! Let’s Bust Some Nursing School Myths
18 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
If you’re thinking about nursing school or about to start, chances are you’ve heard a lot of weird, ugly or just downright wrong rumors floating a...
#231: BONUS! My First Two Weeks of Nursing School
17 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
If we haven’t met yet, “Hi, I’m Nurse Mo and I am that weirdo that saves every planner and calendar for years and years. Nice to meet you!” O...
#230: BONUS! Grades Aren’t Everything
16 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Yes - the name of the pod is Straight A Nursing - but guess what? You don’t have to get straight As to be an awesome student or an awesome nurse. I...
#229: BONUS! What if your teacher is terrible?
15 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
First off, let me say that I 100% think most nursing school instructors are passionate about teaching and sincerely want their students to succeed. W...
#228: More Secrets of Successful Nursing Students Revealed
14 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, I’m continuing to reveal the secrets of successful nursing students. Helpful links: -Get all 20 Secrets of Successful Nursing Stud...
#227: BONUS! My Fave Productivity Tool
13 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
By the time you get through nursing school, you will be a productivity hacking genius! It’s just a necessary part of getting everything done, so it’...
#226: BONUS! Seven Things I Wish I’d Known Before Starting Nursing School
12 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode I’m sharing seven things I wish I’d known before starting nursing school. Things like… * How intense the schedule is and how mu...
#225: BONUS! Getting Your Partner on Board for Nursing School
11 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
I always say that nursing is a team sport, and nursing school is no different. In fact, when you go to nursing school, it’s kind of like those arou...
#224: Nursing School With ADHD
10 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In this bonus episode I’m sharing with you all the tips that have been shared in the Thriving Nursing Students Facebook group when it comes to going...
#223: The Ultimate New Nursing Student Checklist
09 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
If you’re at all like me then you LOVE a good checklist, which is why I created the ultimate new nursing student checklist so you’d know exactly w...
#222: You’re Not Too Old For Nursing School
08 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Guess what? You're not too old for nursing school! In fact, many older students felt they had a distinct advantage (and sometimes more than one!). In ...
#221: Caring for Patients with Bipolar Disorder
07 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Bipolar disorder is a mental health condition characterized by alternating episodes of emotional highs and lows. The occurrence of these extreme mood ...
#220: The Dangers of Oligohydramnios
30 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
The term oligohydramnios literally means “scant amniotic fluid” and is diagnosed when ultrasound reveals an amniotic fluid index (AFI) of less tha...