Straight A Nursing: Study for nursing school exams & NCLEX

#128: Otitis Media in Pediatric Patients

19 Nov 2020

Contributed by Lukas

We’re diving back into pediatrics in this week’s podcast and taking a look at a common childhood ailment, otitis media (otherwise known as a middl...

#127: Administering Diltiazem

12 Nov 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Let’s talk through diltiazem, a common calcium channel blocker (CCB) using the Straight A Nursing acronym DRRUGS. You’ll see this medication used ...

#126: The Ultimate Nursing School Pep Talk

05 Nov 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Even the most successful, rock-star nursing student has moments where they feel overwhelmed, burned out and depleted. And for good reason. Nursing sch...

#125: The Basics of Intra-Abdominal Hypertension

29 Oct 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Intra-abdominal hypertension (IAH) is a progressive and potentially fatal condition that can initially present with subtle clinical signs that make it...

#124: Build Your Confidence Working with Chest Tubes

22 Oct 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Newsflash! Chest tubes do not have to strike terror into your heart! In this week’s podcast episode I’ll talk you through the basics of chest tube...

#123: Electrolyte Imbalances: PodQuiz

15 Oct 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Every time we post a PodQuiz the feedback is overwhelming...you guys LOVE these! This PodQuiz reviews the signs and symptoms of electrolyte imbalances...

#122: The Risks of Adolescent Pregnancy

08 Oct 2020

Contributed by Lukas

This week we’re diving back into Women’s Health with a look at high-risk pregnancy as it relates to the adolescent patient. The interesting thing ...

#121: Phenytoin Basics You Need to Know

01 Oct 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Phenytoin is an anti-seizure medication that is commonly asked about on exams and NCLEX. Oh, and you’ll probably see it in your nursing school clini...

#120: Delegating Like a Pro

24 Sep 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Proper delegation is a key skill you’ll need to learn as a nursing student, long before you become an actual nurse. In fact, questions about proper ...

#119: The 6 Ps of Compartment Syndrome

17 Sep 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Compartment syndrome occurs when pressure inside a limb or other compartment of the body rises to the point that it impedes blood flow. Left untreated...

#118: Taking Care of Surgical Patients

10 Sep 2020

Contributed by Lukas

One of the most critical times in a surgical patient’s hospital stay is the period right after surgery and the day or two that follow. Taking care o...

#117: It’s Time we Talked About Time Management

03 Sep 2020

Contributed by Lukas

In episode 114 we talked a lot about time management and prioritizing in clinical, but what about in your nursing school classes? Today I’ll be talk...

#116: Pediatric Pharmacology 101

27 Aug 2020

Contributed by Lukas

As cute and adorable as they are, kids are not just tiny adults. Especially when it comes to pharmacology. The way kids absorb, distribute, metabolize...

#115: Pharmacology for Diabetes Management

20 Aug 2020

Contributed by Lukas

When you think of diabetes, chances are you immediately think of insulin. But did you know there are quite a few pharmacological treatments that go wa...

#114: Let’s Thrive in Your Preceptorship!

13 Aug 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Hopefully your final semester clinical experience hasn’t been impacted negatively from Covid-19 and you’re embarking on your preceptorship with jo...

#113: But First, Let’s Talk About Third Spacing

06 Aug 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Today we’ll be diving into third spacing and fluid shifts. This is a process you’ll see quite often in critical care, but also in Medical-Surgical...

#112: Capnography

30 Jul 2020

Contributed by Lukas

While pulse oximetry tells you about your patient’s oxygenation status, capnography tells you about their ventilatory status. In fact, capnography c...

#111: Starting Nursing School Soon? Do These Five Things Before You Start

23 Jul 2020

Contributed by Lukas

If you’re a new nursing student who is starting your program, CONGRATULATIONS! Before classes begin, it’s important to set yourself up for success...

#110: TORCH Infections

16 Jul 2020

Contributed by Lukas

In this podcast episode Nurse Mo talks you through the basics of TORCH infections, which occur when pathogens are transmitted from mom to baby during ...

#109: Heliox to the Rescue

09 Jul 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Sometimes an asthma attack can be so severe that oxygen and bronchodilators simply aren’t enough. Heliox to the rescue! Heliox is a mixture of heliu...

#108: Brain Sheets Decoded

02 Jul 2020

Contributed by Lukas

In episode 7 I talked about how to give an excellent end-of-shift report. In this episode, we’re taking a deep dive into how nurses use “brain she...

#107: It’s Okay to be Scared of GI Bleeds

25 Jun 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Patients with active GI bleeding are definitely high on my list of things that make me nervous. In many cases these patients can decompensate quickly,...

#106: The Nursing Student’s Guide to Kawasaki Disease

18 Jun 2020

Contributed by Lukas

In this week’s podcast episode we’re diving into Kawasaki disease, a condition that mainly affects children under the age of 8 who are Japanese or...

#105: Handling Offensive Odors with Compassion and Grace

11 Jun 2020

Contributed by Lukas

In this podcast episode, we’ll talk about some interesting disease conditions that can often be recognized by the very distinct odors they produce. ...

#104: Job, NCLEX and Life Tips for the New Grad Nurse

04 Jun 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Making the transition from nursing student to new grad nurse is one of the most intense, nerve-wracking and amazing experiences you’ll ever have. Ev...

#103: Real Talk About Hydroxychloroquine

28 May 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Let’s talk about hydroxychloroquine...what it’s actually used for and the nursing assessments and safety guidelines surrounding this medication. W...

#102: How to Set Boundaries and Deal with Difficult Patients and Families

21 May 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Today we’re going there...talking about how to deal with difficult patients and families. While most people you encounter as a nurse are a pleasure ...

#101: The Beginner’s Guide to Recognizing First, Second and Third Degree Heart Blocks

14 May 2020

Contributed by Lukas

In this podcast episode, Nurse Mo talks you through first, second and third-degree heart blocks so you can recognize them quickly in the clinical sett...

#100: Keeping Your Patient Safe After Thyroid Removal Surgery

07 May 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Taking care of patients after a thyroidectomy involves very specific assessments and interventions if complications arise. In this podcast episode, we...

#99: Providing End of Life Care

30 Apr 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Providing end-of-life care focused on comfort and dignity is one of the most challenging yet rewarding things we can do for our patients. In this podc...

#98: Levels of Consciousness Simplified

23 Apr 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Probably one of the elements of a head-to-toe assessment that is subject to the most uncertainty is the patient’s level of consciousness. Knowing t...

#97: Albuterol

16 Apr 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Albuterol is one of those medications you’ll see used so frequently that it almost seems like everyone gets a dose of albuterol here and there. Whil...

#96: Perfecting Your Start-of-Shift Routine

09 Apr 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Learning how to manage your time is one of the biggest hurdles in clinical and even when you’re beginning as a new nurse. After much trial and erro...

#95: The Low-Down on Dialysis

02 Apr 2020

Contributed by Lukas

CORRECTION: Mrs Dash is actually not high in potassium :-) In this podcast episode I'll talk you through the basics of hemodialysis and peritoneal d...

#94: Bulletproof Your Patient

26 Mar 2020

Contributed by Lukas

What does it mean to keep your patients safe? Is it keeping them from falling, avoiding medication errors, or preventing pressure-related injury? Yes,...

#93: What to Do When You’re Failing Nursing School

19 Mar 2020

Contributed by Lukas

If you’re failing, in clinical jeopardy or struggling with nursing school, then this episode is for you! I know how hard you’ve been working and I...

#92: Placenta Problems got You Perplexed?

12 Mar 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Two placental disorders that you’ll need to be able to differentiate are placental abruption (also known as abruptio placentae) and placenta previa....

#91: Say Hello to Haloperidol

05 Mar 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Haloperidol (Haldol) is a traditional antipsychotic with some very distinct guidelines that could show up on your next exam or with your next combativ...

#90: Assess These Five Things with Every Patient Interaction

27 Feb 2020

Contributed by Lukas

When you think about a nurse’s superpowers, you might picture someone performing CPR or rushing to open the airway of a patient in respiratory arre...

#89: Oxygenation and Related Concepts

20 Feb 2020

Contributed by Lukas

A lot of nursing schools are changing to a concept-based curriculum where instead of teaching disorders in isolation, they teach concepts that have br...

#88: Vital Skills for Vital Signs

13 Feb 2020

Contributed by Lukas

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 YO...

#87: The Five Ws of Post-Op Fever

06 Feb 2020

Contributed by Lukas

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 fev...

#86: Surviving Skills Check Off and Sim Lab

30 Jan 2020

Contributed by Lukas

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. ...

#85: Five Attitude Adjustments to Make for Nursing School

23 Jan 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Even the most successful pre-nursing students can find themselves blindsided by the realities of nursing school. In this podcast episode, Nurse Mo tal...

#84: Corticosteroids and Nursing Interventions

16 Jan 2020

Contributed by Lukas

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...

#83: Ventilators for Nursing Students

09 Jan 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Mechanical ventilators are complex pieces of equipment that respiratory therapists study for years to master. As a nursing student, or new nurse, it's...

#82: Mastering the Head-to-Toe Assessment

02 Jan 2020

Contributed by Lukas

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 th...

#81: Diving into Schizophrenia

19 Dec 2019

Contributed by Lukas

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...

#80: Why Keeping a Clinical Journal is a Genius Idea

12 Dec 2019

Contributed by Lukas

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...

#79: Need Help Understanding HELLP Syndrome?

05 Dec 2019

Contributed by Lukas

In Episode 68, we talked about preeclampsia which has many complications. One of those is HELLP syndrome, which is a life-threatening condition that o...

#78: Beta Blockers

28 Nov 2019

Contributed by Lukas

One of the most common medication classes you’ll see in the clinical setting is the beta blocker. In this episode we’ll talk about what they are, ...

#77: Got Cortisol? Understanding Cushing’s and Addison’s Disease

21 Nov 2019

Contributed by Lukas

When looking at endocrine disorders, it’s often helpful to look at them in pairs whenever possible because often the symptoms will mirror one anothe...

#76: Bulletproof Medication Administration

14 Nov 2019

Contributed by Lukas

In nursing school you’ve definitely learned the five rights of medication administration as a key component in keeping your patients safe. But if yo...

#75: Nursing Care of Patients in Alcohol Withdrawal

07 Nov 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Helping a patient through alcohol withdrawal is, hands down, one of the most challenging things you will encounter as a nurse. It requires patience, e...

#74: Study Groups Are (Usually) a Waste of Time

31 Oct 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Study groups and nursing school go hand-in-hand. They seem to be everyone's "go to" tactic when they are struggling with a class, and everyone seems t...

#73: Let’s Talk Ventricular Septal Defects

24 Oct 2019

Contributed by Lukas

To follow up with our episode about atrial septal defects, it’s now time to look at how this same anomaly affects physiology when it occurs in the v...

#72: Reversal Agents Save the Day

17 Oct 2019

Contributed by Lukas

As the main advocate for your patient’s safety, it’s important to understand that some medications can cause life-threatening conditions such as r...

#71: Seizure Disorders Simplified

10 Oct 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Seizure disorders can be quite complex as there are many different types, they have multiple causes and can present in a variety of ways. In this podc...

#70: Atrial Septal Defects in Infants

03 Oct 2019

Contributed by Lukas

In this podcast episode Nurse Mo talks you through the key components of atrial septal defects in infants. * Pathophysiology of ASD * Signs/sympto...

#69: Overcoming Imposter Syndrome

26 Sep 2019

Contributed by Lukas

If you've ever said to yourself, "I don't belong here" or "They're going to find out I don't know what I'm talking about" then you may very well suffe...

#68: What You Need to Know About Preeclampsia

19 Sep 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Preeclampsia is a somewhat common but very dangerous condition that can cause serious, even fatal, consequences for mom and baby. In this podcast epis...

#67: Test Anxiety in Nursing School

12 Sep 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Overcoming test anxiety in nursing school starts with recognizing WHY it happens so you can talk yourself off the ledge...it's going to be okay, I pro...

#66: Pancreatitis Nursing Care

05 Sep 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Learn pancreatitis nursing care in this podcast episode to help you in your Med Surg course and in your clinical rotations...it's even a great refresh...

#65: Let’s Talk About Acid-Base Balance

29 Aug 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Acid-base balance is one of those things that occur "behind-the-scenes" with all of your patients. But when this balance is off, it can be pretty dram...

#64: Atelectasis Nursing Interventions

23 Aug 2019

Contributed by Lukas

In this podcast episode Nurse Mo takes the complex topic of atelectasis and breaks it down to the "must know" information you need to take care of you...

#63: How to Administer Nitroglycerin

16 Aug 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Learning how to administer nitroglycerin can be challenging for nursing students because it is available in so many different forms. And if that isn't...

#62: Understanding Angina

09 Aug 2019

Contributed by Lukas

In this podcast episode I talk about the different types of angina, their causes, symptoms and options for treatment. This episode dovetails perfectly...

#61: Hyperthyroidism, When Your Thyroid Just Won’t Stop

02 Aug 2019

Contributed by Lukas

To continue our endocrine series, today we're talking about hyperthyroidism. Also known as Graves Disease, hyperthyroidism is a condition in which the...

#60: Acute Coronary Syndrome

29 Jul 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Acute coronary syndrome is a medical emergency that requires prompt recognition and treatment. In this podcast episode, Nurse Mo breaks down the key i...

#59: The Nurse’s Guide to DVTs

18 Jul 2019

Contributed by Lukas

DVTs (deep vein thromboses) are a serious risk for hospitalized patients and can cause fatal complications. In this nurse's guide to DVTs, learn the s...

#58: Hypothyroidism…When Your Thyroid Just Can’t Anymore

02 May 2019

Contributed by Lukas

I get so many questions about how to study for endocrine disorders because, frankly, they can be confusing as heck. Hypo-this, hyper-that, feedback lo...

#57: Right-Sided vs Left-Sided Heart Failure

22 Mar 2019

Contributed by Lukas

In this podcast episode, Nurse Mo breaks down heart failure to make a complex disease process easy to understand. You'll learn the causes of heart fai...

#56: The Complexities of Lupus Simplified

09 Feb 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a complex illness known as "the great imitator" because its signs/symptoms can mimic so many other diseases. Di...

#55: The Nurse’s Guide to Hyperkalemia

28 Jan 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Of all the electrolytes you'll evaluate when taking care of patients, potassium is one of the most important. In this podcast episode, Nurse Mo talks ...

#54: Nursing School Clinical Rotations

05 Jan 2019

Contributed by Lukas

In this podcast episode, Nurse Mo describes all the types of nursing school clinical rotations you could encounter on your journey to become a nurse. ...

#53: TPA Administration

18 Nov 2018

Contributed by Lukas

You've most likely heard of TPA because of its widespread usage in ischemic stroke, but did you know there are several other uses for this clot-bustin...

#52: Plan for Nursing School Success

01 Nov 2018

Contributed by Lukas

If there's one thing I get emails and questions about it's how on earth to manage everything efficiently in nursing school. The best advice I can give...

#51: The Scoop on Poop

16 Oct 2018

Contributed by Lukas

I always laugh and laugh and laugh when I hear stories of nursing students who think they'll never have to deal with poop and that toileting and bowel...

#50: Let’s Review Cranial Nerves

02 Oct 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Knowing your cranial nerves is essential to conducting a thorough neurological exam. You learn what they are and what they do in A&P, and in nursing s...

#49: Nursing School Pharmacology – Antihypertensives

27 Sep 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Many of you have emailed or reached out on social media asking about help with nursing school pharmacology. One of the most common types of drugs you'...

#48: Giapreza in Septic Shock

04 Sep 2018

Contributed by Lukas

One of the newest drugs to hit the critical care environment is angiotensin II, which goes by the brand name Giapreza. It is a continuous IV infusion ...

#47: When Your Nursing Heart is Broken, Dealing with Compassion Fatigue

21 Aug 2018

Contributed by Lukas

One of the harshest realities for new nurses is when that first big dose of compassion fatigue hits. It can be shocking, disheartening and confusing t...

#46: V/Q Mismatch Explained Simply

07 Aug 2018

Contributed by Lukas

In this podcast episode, learn the basics of the V/Q mismatch, what the V and Q stand for (and it's not as straightforward as you'd think!), the two m...

#45: What They Don’t Teach in Nursing School…but Should

27 Jul 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Nursing school teaches you a lot of things, but probably not some of the things you REALLY need to know. In this podcast episode we answer some burnin...

#44: Transition From Pre-Nursing to Nursing Student

11 Jul 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Being a pre-nursing student and an actual, bona-fide nursing student are two VERY different things. In this podcast episode, I share with you my best ...

#43: Basics of Shock

28 May 2018

Contributed by Lukas

In short terms, shock is a syndrome of hypoperfusion and hypotension that leads to inadequate oxygen delivery to the tissues and impaired cellular met...

#42: How Nurses Get sh#% Done

19 May 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Being an awesome nurse often boils down to the ability to seemingly get 20 things done all at once while making it look like a walk in the park. Of co...

#41: The Nurse’s Guide to Common Diuretics

02 May 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Diuretics are used quite frequently in the clinical setting. In this podcast episode, we discuss the ins and outs of: * Loop diuretics * Potassium-sp...

#40: COPD Nursing Interventions

18 Apr 2018

Contributed by Lukas

In this podcast episode we talk about the basics of COPD nursing interventions and assessments. You will see a LOT of COPD patients in the clinical se...

#39: IV Therapy for Nursing Students

17 Mar 2018

Contributed by Lukas

IV therapy is so much more than simply giving your patient's fluids. It's knowing what kind of IV access is most appropriate for your patient, how to ...

#38: Dealing with Nursing School Stress

01 Mar 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Nursing school stress comes in many forms and from many different directions. The key to managing it effectively is knowing what to expect and having ...

#37: Anticoagulants

12 Feb 2018

Contributed by Lukas

In this podcast episode we talk about the main medications used to prevent and treat blood clots. * Lovenox * Heparin * Coumadin * Eliquis and other ...

#36: Warrior Advocacy

29 Jan 2018

Contributed by Lukas

In this podcast, we feature our very first guest interview! Please pardon the sound quality as we are still getting the technical details figured out....

#35: Hemodynamic Medications

18 Jan 2018

Contributed by Lukas

In this podcast episode we talk about hemodynamic medications that you're likely to encounter in Advanced Med/Surg and/or your ICU clinical rotations....

#34: ‘Twas the Night Before Clinical

22 Dec 2017

Contributed by Lukas

Since it's the holidays, let's all take a break from studying, shall we? Enjoy a sweet little Christmas tale, relax with your family and friends, eat ...

#33: What Is the P/F Ratio

13 Dec 2017

Contributed by Lukas

In this podcast we talk about one of the MOST useful and EASIEST, QUICKEST calculations you can do to determine just how sick your respiratory-comprom...

#32: Ventilator Weaning Starts at Intubation

04 Dec 2017

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode of the Straight A Nursing podcast, we talk about ventilator weaning, which is actually a process that starts the moment the patient is...

#31: Trauma Case Study

15 Nov 2017

Contributed by Lukas

As I've said many times before, nursing is all about solving problems. You SEE something, you DO something...it's so simple. But, at the same time, pu...

#30: How to Perform an Awesome Head-to-Toe Assessment

02 Nov 2017

Contributed by Lukas

Nursing is all about SEEING something and then DOING something. We see problems, we fix them. We see potential problems and we try to avoid them. Tha...

#29: Sodium and Phosphorus

16 Oct 2017

Contributed by Lukas

When it comes to learning electrolytes in nursing school, sodium is one you'll probably talk about a lot and phosphorus is one you might not talk abou...