Straight A Nursing: Recent Episodes

Straight A Nursing

Educational podcast for nursing students featuring Nurse Mo, MSN, RN.

Hormones are chemical messengers in the body that travel through the bloodstream to specific receptors on cells throughout the body where they elicit a response. Hormones play a key role in many physiologic processes, including metabolism, blood pressure regulation, blood glucose regulation, growth and development, reproduction, the sleep-wake cycle, and mood. This lesson provides a brief overview of key pediatric hormonal disorders:

Type 1 diabetes mellitus Type 2 diabetes mellitus Hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism Growth hormone deficiency Hyperpituitarism Congenital adrenal hyperplasia

Dive deeper into diabetes with episode 305

Get more details about hyperthyroidism in episode 61.

Expand your knowledge about hypothyroidism in episode 58.

Learn more about adrenal disorders in episode 77.

Read the article Pediatric Endocrine Disorders and view references here.

Review pediatrics topics with Study Sesh and study on the go! Study Sesh is my private podcast that uses PodQuizzes, Drills, Case Studies and more to truly change the way you study. Learn more here.

If this episode helped you, please take a moment to rate and review the show! This helps others find the podcast, which helps me help even more people :-) _____________________________________ The information, including but not limited to, audio, video, text, and graphics contained on this website are for educational purposes only. No content on this website 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 website is intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.

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 categories of cardiomyopathy – dilated, restrictive, hypertrophic and arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathies. In this episode, you’ll learn the basics about each type, key nursing assessments, how cardiomyopathy is treated and the main tests used to evaluate the condition.

View references and read about cardiomyopathy in the article Cardiomyopathy NCLEX Review.

Are you looking for an easier way to learn Med Surg? Enroll in Med Surg Solution and get lessons on 57 key topics as well as out-of-this-world study guides!

If this episode helped you, please take a moment to rate and review the show! This helps others find the podcast, which helps me help even more people :-) _____________________________________ The information, including but not limited to, audio, video, text, and graphics contained on this website are for educational purposes only. No content on this website 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 website is intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.

Diabetes mellitus is a condition in which the body’s ability to respond to insulin or produce insulin is impaired. This results in abnormal carbohydrate metabolism and elevated blood glucose levels. In this episode you’ll learn the basic things to know about diabetes so you can feel confident at the bedside or on nursing school exams (including NCLEX!).

Hit the play button to learn:

Differences between the various types of diabetes Physiology of blood glucose and pathophysiology of diabetes Classic signs and symptoms of diabetes (including the three Ps) Vital nursing assessments for a patient with diabetes Tests utilized in the treatment of diabetes Diabetes treatments including pharmacology and the different types of insulin Other important treatments including foot care, nutrition, and lifestyle modifications Hypoglycemia treatment Important patient/family education

For even more information about diabetes, check out Med Surg Solution.

Read the article and view references here.

If this episode helped you, please take a moment to rate and review the show! This helps others find the podcast, which helps me help even more people :-) _____________________________________ The information, including but not limited to, audio, video, text, and graphics contained on this website are for educational purposes only. No content on this website 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 website is intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.

Applying to nursing school can be a complex process, which requires organization and attention to detail. In this episode, we’ll explore what the application process entails and tips for managing it all like a pro.

Overview of the application process The difference between merit based, lottery system, and first-come-first-served Overview of the ATI TEAS exam Tips for preparing for the ATI TEAS exam Advice for your nursing school interview Tips for writing an irresistible essay

Use promo code SAN2023 to save 15% on ATI TEAS prep materials when you spend $50 or more. Learn more about ATI TEAS prep materials here.

Promotion cannot be combined with any other offer. Promotion only available on ATI TEAS prep products, cannot be applied to TEAS testing fees or transcripts. Promotion cannot be applied to past purchases. Offer ends 10/31/2023.

If this episode helped you, please take a moment to rate and review the show! This helps others find the podcast, which helps me help even more people 🙂 _____________________________________ The information, including but not limited to, audio, video, text, and graphics contained on this website are for educational purposes only. No content on this website 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 website is intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.

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 different components which provide a wealth of information about your patient’s condition. The components of the BMP are sodium, potassium, calcium, chloride, carbon dioxide, glucose, BUN and creatinine.

Read the article and view references here.

Review lab values and electrolytes when you study with Study Sesh! Study Sesh is my private podcast that uses PodQuizzes, Drills, Case Studies and more to truly change the way you study. Learn more here.

If this episode helped you, please take a moment to rate and review the show! This helps others find the podcast, which helps me help even more people :-) _____________________________________ The information, including but not limited to, audio, video, text, and graphics contained on this website are for educational purposes only. No content on this website 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 website is intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.

Malignant hyperthermia (MH) is a hypermetabolic crisis that is fatal if left untreated. It occurs in individuals with a specific genetic condition when they are exposed to certain anesthetic gasses or the medication succinylcholine.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

Malignant hyperthermia pathophysiology Complications of MH Who is most at risk for experiencing malignant hyperthermia Signs and symptoms Important assessments for a patient with malignant hyperthermia Tests utilized to diagnose and evaluate MH Treatments for malignant hyperthermia (and why you’ve got to act fast and get help!) Key patient education

To learn more about DIC, listen to episode 173 To learn more about rhabdomyolysis, listen to episode 251 To learn more about compartment syndrome, listen to episode 119

Read the article about malignant hyperthermia and view references here.

If this episode helped you, please take a moment to rate and review the show! This helps others find the podcast, which helps me help even more people :-) _____________________________________ The information, including but not limited to, audio, video, text, and graphics contained on this website are for educational purposes only. No content on this website 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 website is intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.

Obsessive compulsive disorder is a chronic mental health condition in which the individual has recurring, unwanted thoughts or fears that cause a significant amount of stress that can only be relieved by performing ritualistic behavior. The recurring thoughts or fears are the individual’s obsessions. The ritualistic activity that alleviates the obsessive thoughts and the associated stress is the compulsion.

In this episode you’ll learn:

The pathophysiology of OCD and who is most at risk Complications of the condition Key signs and symptoms of OCD Priority nursing assessments How OCD is diagnosed Treatment for OCD, including cognitive behavioral therapy and pharmacology Important patient education

Read the article about obsessive compulsive disorder and view references here.

Change the way you study with Study Sesh. If you’re tired of sitting and staring at a screen or a book, it’s time to check out Study Sesh!

If this episode helped you, please take a moment to rate and review the show! This helps others find the podcast, which helps me help even more people 🙂

_____________________________________ The information, including but not limited to, audio, video, text, and graphics contained on this website are for educational purposes only. No content on this website 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 website is intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.

When students struggle with pharmacology it’s typically because they’re trying to memorize drugs, their indications, important nursing implications, and the many side effects. And while these things are important, they’re only part of the picture. To understand pharmacology, you must do more than memorize and, instead, invest some energy in learning foundation concepts.

In this episode, you’ll get a sneak peek into my new program Fast Pharmacology! I’ve taken some of the foundation lessons in that program and compiled them into this overview of key pharmacology concepts to help you be successful in this challenging class.

Topics covered in this episode include:

Overview of pharmacokinetics: absorption, distribution, metabolism and excretion Onset, peak and duration defined and why knowing this information is vital for the nurse The difference between delayed release and extended release formulations The basics of pharmacodynamics The difference between efficacy and potency Pharmacologic classifications vs. therapeutic classifications

Learn pharmacology in five minutes or less with Fast Pharmacology! In this audio-based program, each pharmacology concept is explained in under five minutes so you can study on-the-go without sacrificing valuable study time. Learn more about Fast Pharmacology here!.

Want to get a head start with pharmacology? Download the free Pharmacology Success pack here.

Read the articles that accompany this episode here: Nursing Guide to Pharmacokinetics Pharmacodynamics for Nursing Students Pharmacologic vs Therapeutic Drug Classes

If this episode helped you, please take a moment to rate and review the show! This helps others find the podcast, which helps me help even more people 🙂 _____________________________________ The information, including but not limited to, audio, video, text, and graphics contained on this website are for educational purposes only. No content on this website 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 website is intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.

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 this episode, you’ll learn:

The two types of pleural fluid Risk factors for pleural effusion Complications of pleural effusion Signs and symptoms of pleural effusion Priority assessments How pleural effusions are identified and what lab tests are conducted Treatments for pleural effusion Important patient education

To review chest tube management, listen to episode 124.

To dive deep into respiratory assessment, listen to episode 237.

Read the article about pleural effusions and view references here.

Grab the FREE Straight A Nursing LATTE template to easily create your own Med Surg study guides.

Are you looking for an easier way to learn Med Surg? Enroll in Med Surg Solution and get lessons on 57 key topics as well as out-of-this-world study guides!

If this episode helped you, please take a moment to rate and review the show! This helps others find the podcast, which helps me help even more people 🙂

_____________________________________ The information, including but not limited to, audio, video, text, and graphics contained on this website are for educational purposes only. No content on this website 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 website is intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.

Being able to decipher medical language means understanding the common roots, suffixes and prefixes. For example, if you know “ectomy” means the removal of something…even without recognizing the rest of the word, you at least know the patient had some kind of surgical procedure and something was removed. A great example of this is appendectomy or lobectomy.

In this PodQuiz, you’ll test your knowledge of medical terms as you review along with me. If this is your first PodQuiz, here’s how it works: I’ll ask a question, give you time to answer and then tell you the answer. It’s basically like doing flashcards for your ears!

If you love this format for reviewing and learning material, then you’ll really love Study Sesh, my audio-based program that allows you to get up from your desk and study on-the-go. Study Sesh includes more than 100 PodQuizzes, covering a wide range of topics (plus, there’s some other really cool stuff in there, too!).

Learn more about Study Sesh here…and change the way you study!

If this episode helped you, please take a moment to rate and review the show! This helps others find the podcast, which helps me help even more people 🙂

_____________________________________ The information, including but not limited to, audio, video, text, and graphics contained on this website are for educational purposes only. No content on this website 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 website is intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.

Orthostatic hypotension (OH) occurs when the body has an inadequate response to postural changes and, as a result, is unable to maintain a steady blood pressure when moving from a lying to standing position. It is defined as a decrease in systolic or diastolic blood pressure that occurs within three minutes of moving from a sitting or supine position to a standing position. The parameter for OH is a decrease of 20 mmHg systolic or a decrease of 10 mmHg diastolic.

In this episode you’ll learn:

The physiology of orthostatic hypotension The key difference between acute and chronic OH How neurogenic OH differs from non-neurogenic OH Conditions that exacerbate OH Why drug-induced OH occurs Medical conditions that can cause an individual to have acute or chronic OH The complications of orthostatic hypotension How orthostatic hypotension is diagnosed How orthostatic hypotension is treated Pharmacology for OH

Read the article and view references here.

Are you looking for an easier way to learn Med Surg? Enroll in Med Surg Solution and get lessons on 57 key topics as well as out-of-this-world study guides!

If this episode helped you, please take a moment to rate and review the show! This helps others find the podcast, which helps me help even more people 🙂

_____________________________________ The information, including but not limited to, audio, video, text, and graphics contained on this website are for educational purposes only. No content on this website 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 website is intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.

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 is a common form of inflammatory arthritis that can lead to significant pain and lack of mobility. In this episode, you’ll learn the following about caring for patients with…

The post The Disease of Kings: Episode 296 appeared first on Straight A Nursing.

Gout is a type of inflammatory arthritis that can lead to significant pain and lack of mobility. It occurs when hyperuricemia leads to the formation of crystallized monosodium urate which gets deposited in joints, tendons and bursae, causing swelling and pain. Gout can be primary or secondary. The exact cause of primary gout is not…

The post Gout NCLEX Review appeared first on Straight A Nursing.

Pertussis (also known as “whooping cough”) is a respiratory tract infection caused by the bacteria Bordetella pertussis. It is a highly contagious disease that predominantly impacts children. In this episode you’ll learn the key things you know about pertussis: Pertussis pathophysiology and stages of disease The pertussis vaccine Complications of pertussis Signs and symptoms of…

The post Nursing Care for Patients with Pertussis: Episode 295 appeared first on Straight A Nursing.

Pertussis (also known as “whooping cough”) is a respiratory tract infection caused by the bacteria Bordetella pertussis. It is a highly contagious disease that predominantly impacts children. Pertussis is spread via droplets in the air when an infected individual breathes or coughs. Because cases of pertussis increase approximately every three to four years, it is…

The post Pertussis Basics for Nursing Students appeared first on Straight A Nursing.

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 days are the same. Whether you’re an experienced nurse looking for a change of pace or a nursing student who is intrigued by the idea of having a lot of…

The post BONUS! Float Pool Nursing: Episode 294 appeared first on Straight A Nursing.

Sickle cell disease (SCD) is one of the most common inherited hematologic disorders and can lead to serious complications including organ failure and death. In this episode, Nurse Mo talks through the key things you should know about sickle cell disease, including: The four key crises of sickle cell disease How SCD affects different organs…

The post Nursing Care for Sickle Cell Disease: Episode 293 appeared first on Straight A Nursing.

Sickle cell disease (SCD) is one of the most common inherited hematologic disorders. In SCD, hemoglobin A is either partially or completely replaced with defective hemoglobin called hemoglobin S. The condition is characterized by abnormally shaped red blood cells that can’t effectively carry oxygen to the tissues. In a healthy individual, red blood cells are round and flexible so they can fit through tiny capillaries easily. In SCD, the cell is crescent shaped, rigid and sticky. As a result, these abnormal cells can get lodged in the small blood vessels leading to microvascular occlusion, severe pain, tissue ischemia, and organ damage. When this occurs it is called a vaso-occlusive crisis. Repeat or serious episodes can ultimately lead to organ failure.

The four crises of sickle cell crisisWhen a patient has an exacerbation of sickle cell disease, they are in what is called a “sickle cell crisis” of which there are four types.

Vaso-occlusive crisis – A common occurrence in those with SCD, a vaso-occlusive crisis involves blockages in the microvasculature leading to ischemia and infarction.
Hyperhemolytic crisis – This occurs when there is rapid destruction of red blood cells.
Splenic sequestration – This serious complication is caused by clumping and pooling of blood in the spleen.
Aplastic crisis – This crisis is often triggered by folic acid depletion or a viral infection and involves reduced production of red blood cells occurring along with greater destruction of red blood cells.

How else does sickle cell disease affect different systems in the body?The manifestations and complications of sickle cell disease are widespread, and essentially any organ or tissue can be affected.

Hematologic – The lifespan of sickled cells is much shorter than that of healthy cells and the spleen breaks them down with more frequency. This leads to severe hemolytic anemia.

Spleen – Over time, as the sickled cells cause infarctions throughout the spleen, scarring and fibrosis lead to the spleen becoming non-functional. Additionally, sickle-shaped cells get stuck in the splenic pulp, which leads to severe anemia and a rapidly enlarging spleen in a condition called splenic sequestration. Many patients with SCD will ultimately undergo a splenectomy.

Pulmonary – Acute chest syndrome (ACS) is the most common acute pulmonary condition that affects patients with SCD and is a leading cause of death and hospitalization in this patient population. It is defined as new opacity on a chest x-ray that occurs with respiratory symptoms and fever. In children, it is often triggered by infection, and in adults it is more likely to be triggered by vaso-occlusive events or pulmonary embolism.

Pulmonary hypertension affects approximately 10% of patients with SCD. The pathogenesis of how this occurs is not fully known, but it is thought to be due, in part, to endothelial damage from recurrent sickling.

Other pulmonary complications of SCD include pulmonary embolism, chronic dyspnea, pulmonary fibrosis, sleep apnea and asthma.

Cardiovascular – Patients with SCD can develop cardiovascular complications including cardiomyopathy, diastolic dysfunction, sudden cardiac death, and thrombosis.

Renal – Sickle cell nephropathy is a group of renal abnormalities that collectively cause renal dysfunction and can lead to chronic kidney disease and renal failure. Some patients will require dialysis or even a kidney transplant.

Neuro – Patients with SCD are at higher risk for stroke. While it affects individuals of all ages, sickle cell disease is the most common cause of stroke in childhood. One study found that the median age of onset for cerebral infarction was age 14 and the median age of onset for intracranial hemorrhage was 30 years.

Other GI – Aside from the spleen, other organs of the gastrointestinal system can be affected. Complications include ischemic colitis, liver infarction, acute sickle hepatic crisis (a pain crisis in the liver), and cholelithiasis.

Other – Other complications include vision loss, painful leg ulcers, avascular necrosis (death of bone tissue that most commonly affects the hip joint), frequent infections, priapism, and of course, the severe pain associated with a vaso-occlusive crisis.

Life expectancy – Though early newborn screenings have played a large part in increasing life expectancy for individuals with SCD, the median life expectancy remains low at just 54 years.

Who is most at risk for sickle cell disease?As an autosomal recessive genetic disorder, both parents must carry the sickle cell gene in order for the trait to manifest in their children. It is most common in individuals of African, Mediterranean, and Middle Eastern descent. A 2020 study revealed that 8% of African Americans possess the gene for sickle cell disease.

Sickle cell disease Straight A Nursing LATTE method:Now that you have a basic understanding of sickle cell disease, it’s time to review the nursing implications using the Straight A Nursing LATTE Method.

L: How does the patient LOOK?A patient in sickle cell crisis will have varying symptoms depending on what type of crisis they are experiencing.

In vaso-occlusive crisis (the most common clinical manifestation of SCD) the patient will complain of unrelenting abdominal pain as well as swollen and painful hands, feet, and joints.
Common signs in hyperhemolytic crisis include anemia, reticulocytosis (increased numbers of immature RBCs), and jaundice.
With splenic sequestration, the patient may show signs of significant anemia, hypovolemia and even shock.
A patient in aplastic crisis will have significant anemia, weakness, and pallor.

Other signs and symptoms of sickle cell disease will vary based on the organ system affected and severity of the condition. This can include:

Chest pain, tachypnea, shortness of breath, cough and respiratory distress may be present in cases of acute chest syndrome, which can be fatal in and of itself.
An enlarged liver and/or spleen may be present. Over time, as the splenic tissue becomes scarred, the organ reduces in size and may ultimately be impalpable.
Jaundice may be present in cases of hepatic involvement.
Fatigue and exercise intolerance secondary to chronic and acute anemia
Swollen hands and feet due to blockages in blood vessels
Reduced visual acuity
Frequent infections
Chronic dyspnea
Swollen, painful joints
Leg ulcers
Delayed growth in children as well as delayed puberty

Note that children under six months of age typically do not show symptoms due to the large amount of fetal hemoglobin that is present for the first few months of life.

A: How do you ASSESS the patient?Since patients are typically hospitalized during vaso-occlusive episodes, a thorough pain assessment is a vital component of your care plan. In addition to obtaining a full set of vital signs, tailor your assessments to whichever organ systems are affected by the condition.

Some specific assessments include:

Conduct a complete neurological assessment, since patients with SCD are at much higher risk for stroke.
Track I/O and monitor for signs of fluid overload secondary to renal impairment or heart failure.
Assess urine output and make note of hematuria or foamy urine (a sign of proteinuria).
Monitor respiratory status for signs of acute chest syndrome or pulmonary edema secondary to fluid overload. Listen to lungs, measure SpO2, observe work of breathing, inquire about chest pain, and watch for signs of respiratory distress.

T: What TESTS will be conducted?In the U.S., the most important test is mandatory early screening of newborns. Testing can also be conducted in utero via amniocentesis or chorionic villus sampling for those at especially high risk.

Screening tests for sickle cell disease include:

Sickle turbidity test (also called hemoglobin solubility) – Conducted via fingerstick but may yield a false positive result and is not used on its own for diagnosis
Stained blood smear – Will show the sickled cells
Hemoglobin electrophoresis – Shows the presence of hemoglobin S
CBC with reticulocyte count – This test shows if anemia is present and if there are a large number of immature RBCs (reticulocytes).

Other ongoing tests for a patient with SCD can include:

Routine CBC to assess for anemia and infection
Urinalysis, BUN and Cr will be monitored in patients with sickle cell nephropathy
Electrolytes may be abnormal, especially in cases of renal impairment
Liver function tests will be abnormal in patients with hepatic involvement
Chest x-ray and arterial blood gas will be utilized to evaluate acute chest syndrome or pulmonary embolism
Echocardiogram will be utilized to evaluate a patient with heart failure
MRI scans may be utilized to diagnose avascular necrosis
Ophthalmological exams will be performed in patients with decreased visual acuity and may reveal corkscrew shaped vessels

T: What TREATMENTS will be provided?* Treatments for vaso-occlusive crisis include IV fluids (to flush out occlusions and improve blood flow), pain medication, blood transfusions and oxygen therapy. * Pharmacological treatments are aimed at decreasing hemolysis and the frequency of crisis events. Medications include hydroxyurea, voxelotor, L-glutamine and crizanlizumab. + Hydroxyurea is an antineoplastic agent taken by mouth that helps reduce sickling. A common side effect of this medication is leukopenia (low WBCs), so watch your patient for signs of infection. + Voxelotor is a hemoglobin S polymerization inhibitor that binds to hemoglobin S and improves its affinity for oxygen which, in turn, reduces sickling and improves blood viscosity. Common adverse effects include headache, fatigue, fever, nausea, diarrhea, abdominal pain and rash. + L-glutamine is a naturally occurring amino acid. Though the mechanism of action is not fully understood, studies show it can reduce the frequency of vaso-occlusive crisis. + Crizanlizumab is a monoclonal antibody administered IV. Common adverse effects include fever, joint pain, back pain, abdominal pain and nausea. * Folic acid supplementation is utilized to replace folate depleted by the increased erythropoiesis that occurs in SCD, and thereby reduce anemia. * Blood transfusions as needed to address anemia. * Frequent blood transfusions can cause iron levels to increase, which causes patients with SCD to have more painful episodes and greater risk for organ failure. Iron chelation therapy may be utilized to remove excess iron from the body. * Splenectomy may be necessary in patients experiencing splenic sequestration crisis, splenomegaly, and splenic infarction. * Patients with avascular necrosis of the femoral head may undergo hemiarthroplasty. * Pneumococcal vaccines are administered to prevent infection. * Prophylactic penicillin is utilized in children with SCD until they receive all their pneumococcal vaccinations or until they reach age 5 (whichever is later). * Bone marrow transplant is the only available treatment that can cure SCD, though it doesn’t come without risks of its own. Learn more about BMT here.

E: How do you EDUCATE the patient and family?Because sickle cell disease is a chronic, life-long condition the amount of patient/family teaching is extensive. Many times your teaching will focus on the specific organ involvement your patient is experiencing. General teaching points for sickle cell disease include:

Teach the patient/parents that triggers for vaso-occlusive crisis can vary from person to person and to avoid anything that has triggered a crisis in the past. Generally, a trigger is going to be anything that puts stress on the body and can include infection/illness, dehydration, exposure to cold, pregnancy, physical exertion and even emotional stress.
Teach about the importance of regular vaccinations to prevent illness and that patients with SCD are at higher risk for infection.
Encourage the patient to avoid dehydration, which increases blood viscosity and can trigger a crisis.
Teach the patient to avoid substances that cause vasoconstriction such as nicotine, caffeine and stimulants.
Educate the patient on how to take all medications.
- Key teaching for hydroxyurea: The medication will make the individual more prone to infection so teach infection prevention strategies. Because this medication can cause thrombocytopenia, instruct patients to use a soft toothbrush and electric razor to decrease risk of bleeding. Advise female patients to discuss plans for pregnancy and breastfeeding with their physician as this medication causes fetal harm. They may need to use contraception for a full year after discontinuing hydroxyurea. Additionally, the medication can cause male infertility.
- Key teaching for voxelotor: Advise female patients to notify their MD if pregnancy is planned or suspected; they should also avoid breastfeeding while taking this medication and for two weeks after the last dose.
- Key teaching for L-glutamine: Mix the amino acids with 8 oz of water every 2 to 3 hours while awake and take with a meal or snack.
- Key teaching for crizanlizumab: This medication can also cause fetal harm, so advise female patients to discuss pregnancy and breast feeding with their physician.
Ensure family members understand the importance of seeking immediate medical care if any neurologic symptoms arise.
Encourage the patient/family to seek help when experiencing increased shortness of breath, unusual vital signs, increasing pain, and/or increasing fever.

I hope this overview of sickle cell disease increases your understanding. Want to dive into other hematological disorders? Here you go!

The information, including but not limited to, audio, video, text, and graphics contained on this website are for educational purposes only. No content on this website 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 website is intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.

References:

Aeddula, N. R., Bardhan, M., & Baradhi, K. M. (2023). Sickle Cell Nephropathy. In StatPearls. StatPearls Publishing. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK526017/Capriotti, T. (2020). Davis advantage for pathophysiology: introductory concepts and clinical perspectives (Second edition). F.A. Davis.CDC. (2022, May 10). Complications of Sickle Cell Disease. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/sicklecell/complications.htmlCDC. (2023, January 31). Steps to Better Heart Health for People with Sickle Cell Disease. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/sicklecell/betterhealthtoolkit/heart-health.htmlCharache, S., Terrin, M. L., Moore, R. D., Dover, G. J., Barton, F. B., Eckert, S. V., McMahon, R. P., & Bonds, D. R. (1995). Effect of Hydroxyurea on the Frequency of Painful Crises in Sickle Cell Anemia. New England Journal of Medicine, 332(20), 1317–1322. https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJM199505183322001Ebert, E. C., Nagar, M., & Hagspiel, K. D. (2010). Gastrointestinal and hepatic complications of sickle cell disease. Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology: The Official Clinical Practice Journal of the American Gastroenterological Association, 8(6), 483–489; quiz e70. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cgh.2010.02.016Field, J., & Willen, S. (2023). Acute chest syndrome (ACS) in sickle cel disease (adults and children). UpToDate. https://www.uptodate.com/contents/acute-chest-syndrome-acs-in-sickle-cell-disease-adults-and-childrenGordeuk, V. R., Castro, O. L., & Machado, R. F. (2016). Pathophysiology and treatment of pulmonary hypertension in sickle cell disease. Blood, 127(7), 820. https://doi.org/10.1182/blood-2015-08-618561Hammoudi, N., Lionnet, F., Redheuil, A., & Montalescot, G. (2020). Cardiovascular manifestations of sickle cell disease. European Heart Journal, 41(13), 1365–1373. https://doi.org/10.1093/eurheartj/ehz217Health Union Editorial Team. (2020, November 18). Iron Chelation Therapy in Sickle Cell Anemia. Sickle-Cell.Com. https://sickle-cell.com/iron-chelationHealth Union Editorial Team. (2021, February 19). Why Does Sickle Cell Cause Heart Complications? Sickle-Cell.Com. https://sickle-cell.com/complications/heart-diseaseIlesanmi, O. O. (2010). Pathological basis of symptoms and crises in sickle cell disorder: implications for counseling and psychotherapy. Hematology Reports, 2(1), 2. https://doi.org/10.4081/hr.2010.e2Indiana Hemophilia & Thrombosis Center. (n.d.). Splenic Sequestration in Sickle Cell Disease | Complications. IndianaHemophilia & Thrombosis Center. Retrieved April 10, 2023, from https://www.ihtc.org/sickle-cell-splenic-sequestrationKirkham, F. J., & Lagunju, I. A. (2021). Epidemiology of Stroke in Sickle Cell Disease. Journal of Clinical Medicine, 10(18), 4232. https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm10184232Klings, E., & Willen, S. (2022). Overview of the pulmonary complications of sickle cell disease. UpToDate.Klings, MD, E. S., & Farber, MD, H. W. (2022, January 14). Pulmonary hypertension associated with sickle cell disease. UpToDate. https://www.uptodate.com/contents/pulmonary-hypertension-associated-with-sickle-cell-diseaseLerma MD, FACP, FASN, FAHA, E. V., & Vichinsky, MD, E. P. (2021, February 4). Sickle cell disease effects on the kidney – UpToDate. UpToDate. https://www.uptodate.com/contents/sickle-cell-disease-effects-on-the-kidneyLubeck, D., Agodoa, I., Bhakta, N., Danese, M., Pappu, K., Howard, R., Gleeson, M., Halperin, M., & Lanzkron, S. (2019). Estimated Life Expectancy and Income of Patients With Sickle Cell Disease Compared With Those Without Sickle Cell Disease. JAMA Network Open, 2(11), e1915374. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2019.15374Mangla, A., Ehsan, M., Agarwal, N., Maruvada, S., & Doerr, C. (2022). Sickle Cell Anemia (Nursing). In StatPearls. StatPearls Publishing. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK568706/Mayo Clinic. (2022, March 9). Sickle cell anemia – Symptoms and causes. Mayo Clinic. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/sickle-cell-anemia/symptoms-causes/syc-20355876Minter, K., & Gladwin, M. (2001). Pulmonary Complications of Sickle Cell Anemia. American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, 164(11), 2017–2019.Pack-Mabien, A., Labbe, E., Herbert, D., & Haynes, J. (2001). Nurses’ attitudes and practices in sickle cell pain management. Applied Nursing Research, 14(4), 187–192. https://doi.org/10.1053/apnr.2001.26783PBS: Evolution: Library. (2001). A Mutation Story. WGBH Educational Foundation and Clear Blue Sky Productions, Inc. https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/evolution/library/01/2/l_012_02.html#:~:text=Scientists%20believe%20the%20sickle%20cell,the%20Middle%20East%2C%20and%20Africa.Platt, O. S., Brambilla, D. J., Rosse, W. F., Milner, P. F., Castro, O., Steinberg, M. H., & Klug, P. P. (1994). Mortality In Sickle Cell Disease — Life Expectancy and Risk Factors for Early Death. New England Journal of Medicine, 330(23), 1639–1644. https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJM199406093302303Powars, D. R., Chan, L. S., Hiti, A., Ramicone, E., & Johnson, C. (2005). Outcome of Sickle Cell Anemia: A 4-Decade Observational Study of 1056 Patients. Medicine, 84(6), 363–376. https://doi.org/10.1097/01.md.0000189089.45003.52Risoluti, R., Caprari, P., Gullifa, G., Massimi, S., Sorrentino, F., Maffei, L., & Materazzi, S. (2020). Innovative screening test for the early detection of sickle cell anemia. Talanta, 219, 121243. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.talanta.2020.121243Tanabe, P., Spratling, R., Smith, D., Grissom, P., & Hulihan, M. (2019). CE: Understanding the Complications of Sickle Cell Disease. AJN, American Journal of Nursing, 119(6), 26–35. https://doi.org/10.1097/01.NAJ.0000559779.40570.2cVerduzco, L. A., & Nathan, D. G. (2009). Sickle cell disease and stroke. Blood, 114(25), 5117–5125. https://doi.org/10.1182/blood-2009-05-220921The post Sickle Cell Disease NCLEX Review appeared first on Straight A Nursing.

I remember being a new grad nurse and foolishly thinking my biggest challenge would be learning critical care pathophysiology. Boy was I wrong.

Nursing is a complex job and the learning phase involves a whole lot more than learning about how to care for patients. It also involves learning how to care for ourselves, too.

In this episode, I’m talking with Stephanie Griffeth about a concept that highlights how vitally important it is that nurses take as excellent care of themselves as they do their patients, especially in the beginning of their careers.

Click “play” to learn all about nurse shock, brilliantly explained using metaphors your nurse brain already understands.

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Are you a new grad or almost new grad who is looking for support as you make your transition into your career? I’m creating a program to help you do just that! Sign up here to receive notifications about Confident Nurse Academy!

If this episode helped you, please take a moment to rate and review the show! This helps others find the podcast, which helps me help even more people
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The information, including but not limited to, audio, video, text, and graphics contained on this website are for educational purposes only. No content on this website 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 website is intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.

The post BONUS! What is Nurse Shock? Episode 292 appeared first on Straight A Nursing.

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 about helping healthcare professionals make their hard-earned money work hard for them in return.

If you’re a new grad or about to finally start your career, you may have some questions about evaluating hospital employment contracts, whether or not you need liability insurance and how to manage your “real nurse money.” Kristin talks about all these must-know topics in this episode!

You can reach out to Kristin and learn a lot more on her website.

Are you a new grad or almost new grad who is looking for support as you make your transition into your career? I’m creating a program to help you do just that! Sign up here to receive notifications about Confident Nurse Academy.

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The information, including but not limited to, audio, video, text, and graphics contained on this website are for educational purposes only. No content on this website 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 website is intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.

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 episode, I’m expanding on this concept by bringing in Stephanie Griffeth, my nurse bestie and amazing nurse educator and coach.

In this episode you’ll learn the number one mistake new grad nurses make and what to do instead. And spoiler alert…the mistake probably isn’t what you think!

Got questions about being a new grad nurse? Get a free e-book I wrote with Nurse Steph here: The New Grad Q&A Guide

Listen to episode 288 to hear 4 more ways to set yourself up for new grad success. Tune in from your podcast player, or from the Straight A Nursing website here.

If this episode helped you, please take a moment to rate and review the show! This helps others find the podcast, which helps me help even more people 🙂

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The information, including but not limited to, audio, video, text, and graphics contained on this website are for educational purposes only. No content on this website 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 website is intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.

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 evaluation.

In this episode you’ll learn about the nursing implications for a patient undergoing a lumbar puncture, including:

What conditions lumbar punctures are most often used to diagnose
The normal qualities of CSF
How a lumbar puncture is performed
Contraindications for lumbar puncture
Common and serious complications of lumbar puncture
Preparing the patient for lumbar puncture
Caring for the patient after the procedure
Key things to teach the patient/family

Read the article and view references here.

Are you looking for an easier way to learn Med Surg? Enroll in Med Surg Solution and get lessons on 57 key topics as well as out-of-this-world study guides!

If this episode helped you, please take a moment to rate and review the show! This helps others find the podcast, which helps me help even more people 🙂

_____________________________________
The information, including but not limited to, audio, video, text, and graphics contained on this website are for educational purposes only. No content on this website 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 website is intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.

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, I’m sharing five things you can do to set yourself up for new grad success. You’ll learn:

Why “you’re doing great” is terrible feedback and what to ask for instead
Why you’re not going to be competent after a few months and why this is actually where you’re supposed to be
How to maximize being an advanced beginner, or even a novice nurse
Your secret weapon when you don’t know what to do or how to do it
How leaning into the rough bits makes you stronger
An easy shift you can make in your self-talk that propels you into a much more powerful mindset

Got questions about being a new grad nurse? Get a free e-book I wrote with my nurse bestie here: Get the New Grad Guide

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 information to answer exam questions on the topic and I always included assessing for it in my care plans for patients with COPD.

But, like all things in nursing, there’s so much more to this story.

In this episode you’ll learn why much of what you’ve been taught about digital clubbing is wrong, and what’s actually going on (spoiler alert…we don’t fully know!)

In this episode, you’ll get answers to your burning questions:

What is digital clubbing?
What disease conditions are associated with digital clubbing?
How is digital clubbing evaluated, measured and categorized?
What is the pathophysiology of digital clubbing?

Read the article and view references here.

Are you looking for an easier way to learn Med Surg? Enroll in Med Surg Solution and get lessons on 57 key topics as well as out-of-this-world study guides!

If this episode helped you, please take a moment to rate and review the show! This helps others find the podcast, which helps me help even more people 🙂
_____________________________________
The information, including but not limited to, audio, video, text, and graphics contained on this website are for educational purposes only. No content on this website 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 website is intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.

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, only I didn’t have the benefit of a nurse mentor. I had to navigate new grad life on my own. Even with a robust residency program, it was still one of the toughest years of my life.

So that’s why I’ve teamed up with my nurse bestie, Steph, to answer the most common questions new grad nurses ask. We’ve pulled them together and answered them in a free e-book called The New Grad Q&A Guide.

Get your New Grad Q&A Guide here

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 joined by Sarah Lorenzini from the podcast Rapid Response RN. Sarah talks you through “calling a rapid” on your patient, what to expect from the rapid response nurse, and what to do if you’re the first one on the scene when your patient codes!

After this episode, not only will you be a huge fan of Sarah’s, but you’ll hopefully feel more confident handling deteriorating patients.

Got questions about being a new grad nurse? Get a free e-book I wrote with my nurse bestie here: Get the New Grad Q&A Guide

Be sure to check out Sarah’s podcast, Rapid Response RN, available anywhere you listen to podcasts!

If this episode helped you, please take a moment to rate and review the show! This helps others find the podcast, which helps me help even more people 🙂
_____________________________________
The information, including but not limited to, audio, video, text, and graphics contained on this website are for educational purposes only. No content on this website 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 website is intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.

Central line associated bloodstream infections (CLABSI) occur when pathogens invade the bloodstream via a central venous catheter (CVC).

Key points in this episode:

Explanation of different types of central lines and their associated infection risk
Infection risk during CVC insertion
Ongoing care of a central line to prevent infection
Standards for CVC dressing changes
The signs of a central line infection
How a central line infection is treated

Learn more about IV therapy in Bulletproof IV Medication Administration: Episode 183

Read the article and view references here.

Are you looking for an easier way to learn Med Surg? Enroll in Med Surg Solution and get lessons on 57 key topics as well as out-of-this-world study guides!

If this episode helped you, please take a moment to rate and review the show! This helps others find the podcast, which helps me help even more people 🙂

_____________________________________
The information, including but not limited to, audio, video, text, and graphics contained on this website are for educational purposes only. No content on this website 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 website is intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.

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 settings come into contact with patients who decompensate, and knowing when you need to intervene can mean the difference between life and death.
In this episode, we’ll talk about:

Normal respiratory findings
The general signs of respiratory compromise
The process of emergent intubation
What medication to avoid if your patient is hyperkalemic
Care of the patient after intubation

Want to learn more about conducting a respiratory assessment? Take a deep dive into this key skill in Episode 237.

Ready to explore further? Learn more about acute respiratory distress syndrome in Episode 137.

Read the article “When to Intubate Your Patient”.

Are you struggling in your Med Surg class? What if I told you that it’s not you at all…it’s likely the way it’s being taught! Enroll in Med Surg Solution to get simplified explanations and study guides for 57 key disease conditions.

The information, including but not limited to, audio, video, text, and graphics contained on this website are for educational purposes only. No content on this website 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 website is intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.

A big part of learning about pediatrics is understanding different musculoskeletal disorders in children. Rather than going through each of these using the full Straight A Nursing LATTE method, I’ve provided a concise summary of a wide range of conditions:

Soft tissue injuries and fractures
Developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH)
Skeletal limb deficiencies
Osteogenesis imperfecta
Legg-Calve-Perthes
Slipped capital femoral epiphysis
Spinal curvature disorders
Juvenile idiopathic arthritis
Achondroplasia
Osteochondroma and osteosarcoma
And more!

You can read this information and view references in the articles “Pediatric Soft Tissue Injuries and Fractures” and “Musculoskeletal Disorders in Children“.

Review pediatric topics on the go with Study Sesh! Study for your nursing school exams and NCLEX on the go with over 90 PodQuiz episodes covering a wide range of topics. Sign up for Study Sesh here!

The information, including but not limited to, audio, video, text, and graphics contained on this website are for educational purposes only. No content on this website 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 website is intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.

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 giving up on your dream.

If this describes you, I want you to know that you are not alone! In this episode, I’m sharing five tips for improving your TEAS score. I’m also speaking with a rep from ATI and a rep from Rasmussen University who share their tips for getting your best possible score and making a good impression during the application process.

For a limited time, use promo code SAN15 to get 15% off Official TEAS Prep by ATI – Including ATI TEAS SmartPrep and the Official ATI TEAS Online Practice Tests.* The ATI TEAS SmartPrep Tutorial has proven results to raise your score by more than 7.5%. Don’t just prep to pass – prep to get your highest score possible with ATI. Visit www.atitesting.com/teas-prep for more information.

Get the support you need from a national leader in nursing education—Rasmussen University. You can begin sooner with multiple start dates per year and no waiting list at many campuses for qualified applicants. Learn more at rasmussen.edu/nursing!

A big thank you to both ATI and Rasmussen University for sponsoring this episode!

If this episode helped you, please take a moment to rate and review the show in your favorite podcast app! This helps others find the podcast, which helps me help even more people 🙂

*Promotion ends August 31, 2023.
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The information, including but not limited to, audio, video, text, and graphics contained on this website are for educational purposes only. No content on this website 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 website is intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.

Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS) is an autoimmune attack on the peripheral nervous system which results in neuropathy. It is typically a self-limiting condition that comes on rapidly and results in muscle weakness with some mild sensory loss in the distal extremities.

In this episode you’ll learn…

What causes GBS
The four subtypes of GBS and which is most common
Signs and symptoms of Guillain Barre
Key assessments
Tests and treatments
Important things to teach patients and families

Read the article “Key Elements of Guillain-Barré Syndrome” and view references here.

Are you looking for an easier way to learn Med Surg? Enroll in Med Surg Solution and get lessons on 57 key topics as well as out-of-this-world study guides!

Download the free Straight A Nursing LATTE Method template here.

The information, including but not limited to, audio, video, text, and graphics contained on this website are for educational purposes only. No content on this website 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 website is intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.

Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS) is an autoimmune attack on the peripheral nervous system which results in neuropathy. It is typically a self-limiting condition that comes on rapidly and results in muscle weakness with some mild sensory loss in the distal extremities.

GBS typically follows a recent GI tract or respiratory system infection and has been associated with surgery, immunization and viral infections including Epstein-Barr, influenza and the Zika virus. In cases where the axon is targeted, it is thought to be a result of molecular mimicry of pathogen-borne antigens.

There are four subtypes of GBS:

Acute inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (AIDP) – This subtype accounts for most cases of GBS. It involves an ascending paralysis that typically starts in the lower extremities.
Acute motor axonal neuropathy (AMAN) – This subtype involves progressive weakness of acute onset with no sensory impairment.
Acute motor and sensory axonal neuropathy (AMSAN) – This subtype involves ascending paralysis and sensory impairment.
Miller Fisher syndrome (MFS) – This subtype accounts for less than 5% of cases and symptoms can be similar to the common AIDP subtype. However, the typical presentation involves disruptions in cranial nerves 3, 5 and 6 resulting in ophthalmologic symptoms, areflexia and ataxia. A common trigger for MFS is infection, specifically campylobacter jejuni enteritis.

Now that you have a basic understanding of what GBS is and what causes it, let’s break down the nursing implications using the Straight A Nursing LATTE method. Since most patients with Guillain-Barré have the AIDP subtype, that’s what we’ll focus on in this lesson.

L: How does the patient LOOK?The clinical manifestations of GBS can vary from person to person and involves ascending flaccid paralysis that starts in the lower extremities and works its way upward to result in full quadriplegia and respiratory insufficiency.

The official diagnostic criteria include:

Progressive weakness of more than two limbs
Loss of neurological reflexes (areflexia)
Duration of four weeks or less (remember, this is an acute condition)

Prior to experiencing the ascending paralysis, many patients report prodromal symptoms such as fever, cough, sore throat, pain, rhinorrhea and diarrhea. During the acute phase of the illness, signs and symptoms include:

Bilateral ascending paralysis
Decreased sensation, numbness, tingling
Diminished or absent neurological reflexes (areflexia)
Facial weakness or paralysis that can be unilateral or bilateral. As a result, the individual could have dysphagia and dysarthria.
Respiratory compromise due to paralysis of the muscles of respiration. A patient with respiratory compromise will be on a mechanical ventilator and this occurs in about 30% of patients. Note that the patient may also require intubation if the neck muscles are severely weakened, which puts the patient at risk for airway compromise.
Weakness and fatigue
Pain that is often worse with movement. The pain with GBS can be related to joints, muscles or dysesthesia, which is an abnormal pain that can present as burning, aching or tingling. Interestingly, pain is often the first symptom seen in pediatric patients.
Autonomic dysfunction including orthostatic hypotension, urinary retention, cardiac arrhythmias and extremes in blood pressure

A: How do you ASSESS a patient with Guillain-Barré Syndrome?Key assessments for a patient with GBS are centered on monitoring for rapid deterioration namely due to respiratory compromise.

Respiratory status – When assessing respiratory status, monitor the patient’s respiratory effort, depth of respirations, rate, oxygen saturation level, shortness of breath, work of breathing, and lung sounds.

Neurological status – Of course, you’re also carefully monitoring neurological status with frequent neuro assessments. In the ICU, these could be as frequent as every hour and with any change in condition. As part of this assessment, make note of the patient’s level of paralysis, their sensory and motor function (including a full cranial nerve assessment), and their level of consciousness. Make note of any dysfunction that could put the patient at risk for aspiration including dysphagia and dysarthria.

Monitor cardiovascular status – Due to autonomic dysfunction, the patient will also be at risk for cardiovascular abnormalities including hypotension and hypertension, orthostatic hypotension, tachycardia, significant bradycardia and bradyarrhythmias, and even asystole. This patient should be on continuous telemetry monitoring.

Pain assessment – Just because the condition involves paralysis and sensory impairment does not mean the patient is not at risk for pain. Also, be very aware of the effect opioids have on respiratory drive, especially when these muscles are weakened.

Blood glucose monitoring – During the paralysis phase of GBS, some patients can develop hyperglycemia or hyperinsulinemia. Note that this may be due to treatment with corticosteroids, but can be present even if these medications are not used. Note that corticosteroids are not currently recommended as a treatment modality, but that doesn’t mean you won’t see them used.

Skin assessment – Neuropathy and decreased mobility both put your patient with GBS at high risk for skin breakdown.

Disability scoring – Though this will be up to the physician, it’s helpful to understand how the functional status of patients with GBS is classified.

The Guillain Barré Disability Score:

0: Healthy, no symptoms
1: Minor symptoms and capable of manual work or running
2: Able to walk 5-10 meters or more without assistance but unable to run
3: Able to walk 5-10 meters across an open space with assistance
4: Bedridden or chair bound
5: Requiring assisted ventilation for at least part of the day
6: Deceased

T: What TESTS will be utilized to monitor a patient with GBS?The diagnostic tests for GBS include:

Nerve conduction studies – In this test, small electrodes are attached to the skin and minor electrical shocks are delivered to activate the nerves. The test measures how quickly the signals travel along nerve fibers and helps determine if the GBS is demyelinating or axonal type.
Needle electromyography – This test involves tiny needles inserted into the muscles while electrical recordings are taken. These recordings show how the muscles react when associated nerves are activated.
Lumbar puncture with CSF analysis – An analysis of the cerebrospinal fluid can show if albuminocytologic dissociation is present. It looks to see if the CSF has more WBC and higher CSF protein than normal without an overall increase in cell count. It is present in about 80% of patients approximately 2 weeks after symptom onset.
Spinal MRI – This imaging study may be useful to rule out other conditions that could cause the patient’s symptoms
Blood test for ganglioside antibodies – Though these antibodies are detected in 50% of patients with GBS, the turnaround time for the test is relatively long so it may not be especially beneficial when quick diagnosis is needed.
Negative inspiratory force (NIF) – This test is often conducted by the respiratory therapist and helps determine the risk for respiratory compromise. RM strength and receive…and helsp determine ability to be weaned from MV and risk for resp conpromise
Speech evaluation – To assess your patient’s ability to swallow safely, the MD will order a speech therapy evaluation.

T: What TREATMENTS will be provided for a patient with GBS? Immunomodulatory therapy – Two types of immunomodulatory therapy are utilized in the treatment of GBS, and these are intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) and plasma exchange. This type of therapy is typically considered in patients who are within four weeks of symptom onset, though it’s important to note that not all patients will benefit from treatment.

The preferred therapy is generally intravenous immunoglobulin which is better tolerated in most cases and easier to administer than plasma exchange.

IVIG, which contains many antibodies, is administered at a weight-based dose for a period of five days. Diphenhydramine, acetaminophen and fluids are often given prior to the infusion. During administration, the nurse monitors the patient for adverse reactions which can include hypotension, headache, nausea, rash, acute kidney failure, and transfusion reactions. Note that if the dose is condensed into fewer than five days, the risk for cardiac and renal complications increases.

The process of plasma exchange filters out pathogenic antibodies as well as the mediatory and complement proteins involved in Guillain-Barré syndrome. The process of performing plasma exchange requires specialized training and may be done by a dialysis RN. Patients typically receive four to six treatments over a period of eight to ten days. Complications include transfusion reactions, sepsis and hypotension.

Other treatments include:

Physical therapy during the recovery phase
Insulin to manage blood glucose levels
Enteral feeding as needed
Mechanical ventilation as needed (the patient will likely have a tracheostomy if ventilatory support is required for more than a week or two)
Regular oral care for ventilated patients to reduce the risk of ventilator acquired pneumonia
A pacemaker may be needed if the patient has significant bradycardia as a result of autonomic dysfunction
DVT prophylaxis
Bowel care regimen to avoid constipation

E: How do you EDUCATE the patient and family?In addition to ensuring your patient understands all medications and key treatments, some key things to teach are:

GBS rarely recurs and more than 80% of patients are independent within six months and about 65% have a full recovery. However, about 20% do have significant disability even with treatment.
Recovery will include extensive PT and OT.
The patient may continue to experience fatigue, pain, and paresthesias for several years.

The information, including but not limited to, audio, video, text, and graphics contained on this website are for educational purposes only. No content on this website 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 website is intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.

References:

Aladawi, M., Elfil, M., Abu-Esheh, B., Abu Jazar, D., Armouti, A., Bayoumi, A., & Piccione, E. (n.d.). Guillain Barre Syndrome as a Complication of COVID-19: A Systematic Review. The Canadian Journal of Neurological Sciences. Le Journal Canadien Des Sciences Neurologiques, 1–11. https://doi.org/10.1017/cjn.2021.102ClinicalKey for Nursing. (n.d.). Guillain-Barré Syndrome – ClinicalKey. https://www-clinicalkey-com.kaiserpermanente.idm.oclc.org/#!/content/67-s2.0-76d69e82-ffd2-4e0f-96f6-efa8c27703adFokke, C., van den Berg, B., Drenthen, J., Walgaard, C., van Doorn, P. A., & Jacobs, B. C. (2014). Diagnosis of Guillain-Barré syndrome and validation of Brighton criteria. Brain, 137(1), 33–43. https://doi.org/10.1093/brain/awt285Kaiser Permanente. (n.d.). Guillain–Barré Syndrome | NEJM. https://www-nejm-org.kaiserpermanente.idm.oclc.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMra1114525Koike, H., Chiba, A., & Katsuno, M. (2021). Emerging Infection, Vaccination, and Guillain–Barré Syndrome: A Review. Neurology and Therapy, 10(2), 523–537. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40120-021-00261-4Liu, S., Dong, C., & Ubogu, E. E. (2018). Immunotherapy of Guillain-Barré syndrome. Human Vaccines & Immunotherapeutics, 1–12. https://doi.org/10.1080/21645515.2018.1493415Merck Manual. (n.d.). Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS) – Neurologic Disorders. Merck Manuals Professional Edition. https://www.merckmanuals.com/professional/neurologic-disorders/peripheral-nervous-system-and-motor-unit-disorders/guillain-barr%C3%A9-syndrome-gbsNguyen, T. P., & Taylor, R. S. (2022). Guillain Barre Syndrome. In StatPearls. StatPearls Publishing. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK532254/Shang, P., Feng, J., Wu, W., & Zhang, H.-L. (2021). Intensive Care and Treatment of Severe Guillain–Barré Syndrome. Frontiers in Pharmacology, 12. https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphar.2021.608130Uncini, A., & Kuwabara, S. (2018). The electrodiagnosis of Guillain-Barré syndrome subtypes: Where do we stand? Clinical Neurophysiology, 129. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.clinph.2018.09.025van Koningsveld, R., Steyerberg, E. W., Hughes, R. A. C., Swan, A. V., van Doorn, P. A., & Jacobs, B. C. (2007). A clinical prognostic scoring system for Guillain-Barré syndrome. The Lancet. Neurology, 6(7), 589–594. https://doi.org/10.1016/S1474-4422(07)70130-8Verboon, C., Doets, A. Y., Galassi, G., Davidson, A., Waheed, W., Péréon, Y., Shahrizaila, N., Kusunoki, S., Lehmann, H. C., Harbo, T., Monges, S., Van den Bergh, P., Willison, H. J., Cornblath, D. R., Jacobs, B. C., & on behalf of the IGOS Consortium. (2019). Current treatment practice of Guillain-Barré syndrome. Neurology, 93(1), e59–e76. https://doi.org/10.1212/WNL.0000000000007719Wang, Y., Li, G., Yang, S., Gu, X., Li, X., Liu, M., Wu, X., Guan, Y., Press, R., Zhu, J., & Zhang, H.-L. (2015). Fasting Glucose Levels Correlate withDisease Severity of Guillain-Barré Syndrome. PLoS ONE, 10(12), e0145075. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0145075Yuki, N., & Hartung, H.-P. (2012). Guillain–Barré Syndrome. New England Journal of Medicine, 366(24), 2294–2304. https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMra1114525The post Key Elements of Guillain-Barré Syndrome appeared first on Straight A Nursing.

Twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome (TTTS) is a rare condition of pregnancy that affects identical twins and other multiple pregnancies when two or more fetuses share a placenta.

In this episode, Nurse Mo reviews:

Key terms associated with this condition
Pathophysiology of TTTS
The Quintero staging system
Complications of TTTS
Nursing implications using the Straight A Nursing LATTE method

Review polyhydramnios (episode 244) and oligohydramnios (episode 220), two complications that can accompany TTTS.

Download the FREE Straight A Nursing LATTE method template here.

Read the article on twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome and view references here.

The information, including but not limited to, audio, video, text, and graphics contained on this website are for educational purposes only. No content on this website 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 website is intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.

Twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome (TTTS) is a rare condition of pregnancy that affects identical twins and other multiple pregnancies when two or more fetuses share a placenta. Before we dive into this complex and interesting topic, let’s review a few key basics and terms:

Chorion – The outer membrane that aids in the formation of the placenta.
Amnion – The inner membrane that covers the fetus.
Monochorionic – When multiple fetuses share a placenta (ex: monochorionic twins). How placental circulation is dispersed between the two twins can vary from one pregnancy to another. When one twin is given more placental circulation, this can impact fetal growth and development. Complications are more likely to occur in monochorionic pregnancies. Monochorionic twins are always identical.
Dichorionic – The placenta is not shared (though later in pregnancy the two placentas can fuse and appear to be one). Dichorionic twins can be identical or fraternal twins.
Monoamniotic – A single yolk sac shared by more than one fetus (ex: monoamniotic twins).
Diamniotic – Each twin has a separate yolk sac.
Monozygotic – Twins derived from a single egg and single sperm (also called “identical twins”). About one third of monozygotic twins have two placentas and about two thirds share a placenta.
Dizygotic – Twins derived from two eggs and two sperm (also called “fraternal twins”). Each fetus has its own placenta and own sac.

Also, there are three types of twin pregnancies:

Dichorionic-diamniotic: No shared placenta, no shared sac. The twins can be fraternal or identical (you may hear this referred to as “di-di”).
Monochorionic-diamniotic: Shared placenta, separate sacs. The twins are identical.
Monochorionic-monoamniotic: Shared placenta, shared sac. The twins are identical. Note this is the rarest type and highest risk multiple pregnancy.

Pathophysiology of TTTS

When the placenta is not divided evenly between monochorionic twins, the one with the most blood flow from the placenta receives more nutrients and oxygen. The condition is associated with the presence of vascular anastomoses deep in the placenta which leads to altered blood flow. Anastomoses can be artery to vein (AV), vein to vein (VV) and artery to artery (AA).

Artery-to-vein anastomoses can lead to more blood flowing to one fetus. When this occurs, the donor twin experiences reduced blood flow, which leads to dehydration and less amniotic fluid. This triggers the RAAS pathway in the donor twin which results in oliguria and oligohydramnios.

Conversely, the recipient twin gets increased blood flow, more amniotic fluid and even hypertension. With hypervolemia, there’s more cardiac stretch, increased ANP and BNP, the RAAS pathway is inhibited, which leads to polyuria and polyhydramnios.

The condition usually develops between weeks 16-26 gestation and is evaluated using the Quintero staging system.

Stage 1: Blood flow is abnormal, resulting in one twin receiving more than the other, but the bladder of the donor twin is visible.
Stage 2: The bladder of the donor twin is no longer visible, but the Doppler assessment is not critically abnormal.
Stage 3: Critically abnormal Doppler waveforms are present. This could be an absence of blood flow through the umbilical artery at the end of the cardiac cycle, pulsatile flow in the umbilical vein, or there could be no flow or backward flow in the ductus venosus (a vein that runs through the liver).
Stage 4: Critically abnormal Doppler waveforms are present and the recipient shows sense of fluid overload such as ascites, pericardial effusion, pleural effusion, scalp edema or fetal hydrops.
Stage 5: Death of one or both twins.

Complications of TTTS

Twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome has a 80-90% risk of perinatal mortality if left untreated. With treatment, the survival rate for both twins is 50%, and the survival rate for one twin is up to 70%.

Additionally, there are short and long-term neurological complications in about three to fifteen percent of surviving children. This can include cerebral palsy, cerebral injury, blindness, deafness and neurodevelopmental impairment (NDI).

Potential complications for the donor twin include:

Small or absent bladder
Oligohydramnios
Growth restriction
Absent end diastolic flow in the umbilical artery
Vascular hypertrophy, which can lead to heart failure and arrhythmias

Potential complications for the recipient twin include:

Cardiomegaly and heart failure
Enlarged bladder
Polyhydramnios
Fetal ascites (abnormal fluid collection in the peritoneal cavity) and hydrops fetalis (an abnormal collection of fluid in two or more body cavities)
Diastolic dysfunction
Atrioventricular valve insufficiency
Pulmonary stenosis or atresia

Potential complications for mothers include:

Shortened cervix
Premature rupture of membranes
Preterm labor
Mirroring syndrome – a rare development of maternal edema in the presence of hydrops fetalis (also called “fetal hydrops”)
Increased prevalence of anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress, and other psychological issues

Now that you have a baseline understanding of TTTS, let’s dive into the nursing implications using the Straight A Nursing LATTE method.

L: How does the patient LOOK? What are the signs and symptoms of TTTS? Maternal signs and symptoms can include rapid weight gain, edema, sudden increase in fatigue, increased abdominal and back pressure, difficulty sleeping, increased uterine size and preterm contractions.

Ultrasound shows polyhydramnios in the recipient sac, oligohydramnios in the donor sac, discordant bladder sizes, and one fetus larger than the other.

At birth, the donor infant is typically smaller, pale and anemic while the recipient infant is larger, red and has hypertension. When the twins are of varying sizes, this is called “discordant” twins.

A: How do you ASSESS the patient?Nursing assessments are mainly geared toward fetal monitoring as well as some key maternal assessments:

Assess for maternal comfort – pain from contractions, increased pressure on the back or abdomen, difficulty breathing due to increased uterine size and pressure
Assess for cervical dilation and amniotic fluid leakage
Monitor CBC, CRP and ESR for signs of infection (especially after intervention)
Assess pH of any leaked fluids to determine if they are amniotic fluid
Monitor for signs of preeclampsia, which can occur in cases of maternal mirror syndrome. Watch for hypertension, vomiting, proteinuria, and increased edema (including pulmonary edema)
Monitor for signs of infection, including temperature, elevated heart rate and abnormal labs
Assess for any psychosocial needs such as social worker, spiritual care, community support and coping techniques

T: What TESTS will be conducted?* Screening ultrasounds are conducted every two weeks in monochorionic multiple pregnancies starting at 16 weeks. Key things the MD is looking for are amniotic fluid imbalances (oligohydramnios and polyhydramnios) and discordant fetal growth. * Doppler studies assess placental anastomoses as well the vessels evaluated in Quinterno staging (ductus venosus, umbilical artery, and umbilical vein) * Fetal echocardiogram may be conducted to determine the severity of heart failure in the recipient twin. * Fetal blood sampling to assess for fetal anemia. * After the birth, the twin(s) will undergo routine newborn assessments and be evaluated for any specific complication the child may have.

T: What TREATMENTS will be provided?Treatments for TTTS will vary depending on the stage.

Stage 1: Invasive treatment may not be needed if there are no symptoms and adequate cervical length is present. The twins will be monitored closely, which includes:

Weekly assessment of amniotic fluid
Fetal growth measurements every three to four weeks
Doppler blood flow studies are added at 16 weeks
Starting at 30 weeks, biophysical profile assessment is conducted weekly
Scheduled delivery at 34 to 37 weeks gestation in the absence of complications that may necessitate earlier delivery

Over 75% of those diagnosed in stage 1 may stay stable without invasive procedures.

In cases of Stage 1 TTTS where the mother is symptomatic, having preterm contractions, experiencing respiratory difficulty or has a short cervix due to polyhydramnios, the treatment is fetoscopic laser ablation (also called fetal laser photocoagulation). In some cases amnioreduction may be utilized to relieve pressure in the uterus and relieve the maternal symptoms.

Stage 2, 3 and 4: The intervention for TTTS is fetal laser photocoagulation of the placental anastomoses between 16 and 26 weeks (possibly beyond at some centers and studies are ongoing in this area). After 26 weeks, amnioreduction may be utilized as laser photocoagulation is more difficult at this time.

Stage 5: When one twin dies the other remains at risk for neurological impairment and death.

The surviving fetus will undergo additional testing including Doppler blood flow studies of the middle cerebral artery, fetal blood sampling (to assess for anemia), ultrasound examination every three to four weeks (to monitor development) and MRI (to detect intracranial injury).

In cases where the surviving twin has anemia, an in utero blood transfusion may be utilized.

What is fetal laser photocoagulation?In this procedure, a laser is inserted through a thin tube and guided into the uterus where it is used to ablate blood vessels of the placenta. The goal is to eliminate imbalanced blood flow and restore volume status between the fetuses. It is usually conducted as an outpatient procedure using local anesthesia. In cases where the fetus is beyond 24 weeks gestation, corticosteroids are administered to promote lung maturity in case of preterm birth.

In addition to preterm birth, other complications of this procedure include PROM, intraamniotic bleeding, inter-twin membrane rupture, TAPS (a condition where the donor has anemia and the recipient has polycythemia), and fetal demise.

Two other treatments for TTTSOther treatments for TTTS include amniotic septostomy and selective reduction.

Amniotic septostomy is a procedure where the intertwin membrane is perforated to allow for equalization of amniotic fluid volume. A potential serious complication of this procedure is the accidental creation of too large an opening, leading to umbilical cord entanglement.

Selective reduction may be considered in cases where both fetuses are at risk and one has significant complications with a low chance of survival.

E: How do you EDUCATE the patient/family about TTTS?Parents experiencing TTTS will need a lot of education about prognoses, treatments, and long-term complications. In addition to providing the appropriate education about assessments and interventions, other things to teach the patient are:

Delivery is recommended between 34 and 37 weeks, but depends on severity and any complications that are present
The incidence of preterm birth is high and the infant(s) will likely need to spend some time in the NICU while they continue to grow
Ensure the mother and her partner understand the signs of preterm labor and when to seek medical attention. These can include regular contractions that increase in frequency and intensity, a change in vaginal discharge, a constant backache, pelvic pressure, and PROM.
Educate the mother on the importance of attending all prenatal appointments (there will be many).
Help parents find resources and community support as needed.
Women with multiple pregnancies are advised to see their provider if they gain more than 7 pounds in one week, have a sudden increase in fatigue, have a sudden increase in abdominal pressure or lower back pressure.
Encourage the patient to add additional calories/protein throughout the day to support multiple fetuses.

The information, including but not limited to, audio, video, text, and graphics contained on this website are for educational purposes only. No content on this website 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 website is intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.

References:

Bamberg, C., & Hecher, K. (2019). Update on twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome. Best Practice & Research Clinical Obstetrics & Gynaecology, 58, 55–65. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bpobgyn.2018.12.011Bamberg, C., & Hecher, K. (2022). Twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome: Controversies in the diagnosis and management. Best Practice & Research Clinical Obstetrics & Gynaecology, 84, 143–154. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bpobgyn.2022.03.013Borse, V., & Shanks, A. L. (2022). Twin-To-Twin Transfusion Syndrome. In StatPearls. StatPearls Publishing. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK563133/Chasen. (2022). Twin pregnancy: Overview – UpToDate. https://www.uptodate.com/contents/twin-pregnancy-overview?search=twins&source=search_result&selectedTitle=1~150&usage_type=default&display_rank=1#H2025667378Children’s Minnesota. (n.d.). What is Hydrops Fetalis and What Causes It? Children’s Minnesota. Retrieved March 6, 2023, from http://www.childrensmn.org/services/care-specialties-departments/fetal-medicine/conditions-and-services/hydrops-fetalis/Cincinnati Children’s. (n.d.). Twin-Twin Transfusion Syndrome (TTTS). https://www.cincinnatichildrens.org/health/t/twin-twin-transfusion-syndromeClinicalKey for Nursing. (n.d.). Multiple pregnancy – ClinicalKey for Nursing. https://www-clinicalkey-com.kaiserpermanente.idm.oclc.org/nursing/#!/content/book/3-s2.0-B9780702031700000159?scrollTo=%23hl0000643Cruz-Martínez, R., Villalobos-Gómez, R., Gil-Pugliese, S., Gámez-Varela, A., López-Briones, H., Martínez-Rodríguez, M., & Barrios-Prieto, E. (2022). Management of atypical cases of twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome. Best Practice & Research Clinical Obstetrics & Gynaecology, 84, 155–165. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bpobgyn.2022.03.011Foundation, F. H. (2018, March 8). Understanding the Stages of a TTTS Diagnosis. Fetal Health Foundation. https://www.fetalhealthfoundation.org/front-page/understanding-the-stages-of-a-ttts-diagnosis/Habli. (n.d.). Twin-to-Twin Transfusion Syndrome: A Comprehensive Update – ClinicalKey for Nursing. https://www-clinicalkey-com.kaiserpermanente.idm.oclc.org/nursing/#!/content/journal/1-s2.0-S0095510809000050Jackson, K. M., & Mele, N. L. (2009). Twin-to-Twin Transfusion Syndrome: What Nurses Need to Know. Nursing for Women’s Health, 13(3), 224–233. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1751-486X.2009.01423.xMayo Clinic. (n.d.). Preterm labor – Symptoms and causes. Mayo Clinic. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/preterm-labor/symptoms-causes/syc-20376842Olarinoye, A. O., Olaomo, N. O., Adesina, K. T., Ezeoke, G. G., & Aboyeji, A. P. (2021). Comparative diagnosis of premature rupture of membrane by nitrazine test, urea, and creatinine estimation. International Journal of Health Sciences, 15(6), 16–22. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8589831/Papanna, R., & Bergh, E. (n.d.). Twin-twin transfusion syndrome: Management and outcome – UpToDate. Retrieved March 6, 2023, from https://www.uptodate.com/contents/twin-twin-transfusion-syndrome-management-and-outcome#H1936016371Perry, H., Duffy, J. M. N., Reed, K., Baschat, A., Deprest, J., Hecher, K., Lewi, L., Lopriore, E., Oepkes, D., Khalil, A., & Syndrome (CHOOSE), the I. C. toH. O. for T.-T. T. (2019). Core outcome set for research studies evaluating treatments for twin–twin transfusion syndrome. Ultrasound in Obstetrics & Gynecology, 54(2), 255–261. https://doi.org/10.1002/uog.20183Ren, L., Song, C., Xia, C., Wang, N., Yang, Y., & Yin, S. (2021). Pregnancy and parenting experiences of women with twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome: a qualitative study. BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth, 21(1), 595. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12884-021-04057-0Senat, M.-V., Bernard, J.-P., Loizeau, S., & Ville, Y. (2002). Management of single fetal death in twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome: a role for fetal blood sampling. Ultrasound in Obstetrics & Gynecology: The Official Journal of the International Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology, 20(4), 360–363. https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1469-0705.2002.00815.xSimpson, L. L. (2013). Twin-twin transfusion syndrome. American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, 208(1), 3–18. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajog.2012.10.880Spruijt, M. S., Lopriore, E., J. Steggerda, S., Slaghekke, F., & Van Klink, J. M. M. (2020). Twin-twin transfusion syndrome in the era of fetoscopic laser surgery: antenatal management, neonatal outcome and beyond. Expert Review of Hematology, 13(3), 259–267. https://doi.org/10.1080/17474086.2020.1720643Stagnati, V., Zanardini, C., Fichera, A., Pagani, G., Quintero, R. A., Bellocco, R., & Prefumo, F. (2017). Early prediction of twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome: systematic review and meta-analysis. Ultrasound in Obstetrics & Gynecology, 49(5), 573–582. https://doi.org/10.1002/uog.15989University of California San Francisco. (n.d.). Twin-To-Twin Transfusion Syndrome. Ucsfbenioffchildrens.Org. https://www.ucsfbenioffchildrens.org/Conditions/Twin to Twin Transfusion Syndrome TTTSYale Medicine. (n.d.). Twin-to-Twin Transfusion Syndrome. Yale Medicine. https://www.yalemedicine.org/conditions/twin-to-twin-transfusion-syndromeThe post Twin to Twin Transfusion Syndrome appeared first on Straight A Nursing.

In this episode Nurse Mo teaches the key things to know about bone marrow transplant (BMT), including:

Conditions treated with BMT
The function of bone marrow
The types of bone marrow transplants
Options for obtaining stem cells
The complications of BMT
Key assessments and assessment findings in a patient undergoing BMT
Tests utilized in bone marrow transplant
Treatments for a patient undergoing BMT
Important patient/family education

For an excellent summary of the neutropenic diet, check out this resource from Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.

Interested in saving a life? Register with Be The Match.

Download the FREE Straight A Nursing LATTE Method Template here.

Are you struggling in your Med Surg class? What if I told you that it’s not you at all…it’s likely the way it’s being taught! Enroll in Med Surg Solution to get simplified explanations and study guides for 57 key disease conditions.

Read the article “Bone Marrow Transplant Basics” and view references here.

The information, including but not limited to, audio, video, text, and graphics contained on this website are for educational purposes only. No content on this website 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 website is intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.

A bone marrow transplant (BMT) is a procedure that replaces damaged or “sick” bone marrow with healthy bone marrow so that the individual can produce healthy blood cells on their own. It is utilized to treat numerous conditions such as acute leukemia, multiple myeloma, aplastic anemia, Hodgkin’s and Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, immune deficiencies, sickle cell disease, and neuroblastoma.

What is the function of bone marrow?

Recall that bone marrow is the spongy and nutrient dense substance found in the center of most bones. It comes in two forms:

Red marrow has stem cells that can differentiate into platelets, red blood cells and white blood cells. It is typically found in long bones as well as hip bones, shoulder bones and skull bones.
Yellow marrow has stem cells that can differentiate into bone, cartilage or fat storage within the bone. It is typically found in the center of long bones.

What are the types of bone marrow transplants?

The bone marrow used for the transplant can be from a donor (allogeneic transplant) or it can come from the patient’s own bone marrow before it becomes damaged (autologous). You may also see BMT referred to as a stem cell transplant or a haematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT).

The key benefit of an allogeneic transplant is that the donor cells can provide an immune response to help fight off the diseased cells in the patient. The biggest risk with this type of transplant is graft-versus-host disease.

The key benefit of autologous transplant is there is no risk for graft-versus-host disease (GvHD), and there is no need to find a suitable match. The main risk for this type of transplant is that there is no donor immune system protection, so there is a greater chance of relapse.

A subtype of allogeneic transplant is the syngeneic transplant where the donor is an identical twin. The obvious key benefit of this type of transplant is that the twins are an exact match so there is a very low chance of GvHD. Additionally, the potential for the donor cells to grow within the patient (engraftment) is higher. However, since the donor immune system is nearly identical to the recipient’s immune system, the new cells may not recognize and fight off the cancer cells, leading to a higher incidence of relapse.

What are the options for obtaining stem cells?

Stem cells can be obtained from bone marrow, peripheral blood stem cells (PBSC) and umbilical cord blood.

To obtain stem cells from bone marrow, the donor is placed under anesthesia and bone marrow from the iliac crest is removed via needle aspiration. Peripheral blood cells are obtained via an IV catheter much in the same way that blood is donated.

In an allogeneic transplant, the donor is given medication to stimulate the production of stem cells for four to six days prior to the collection. The donor cells can be collected from the bone marrow or from the donor’s blood via an IV catheter, which is the most common method of collection.

The blood is then centrifuged to separate the stem cells from the other blood components. The blood components are returned to the donor, and the stem cells are utilized for the recipient.

Prior to the stem cell infusion, the recipient goes through a stage called “conditioning and treatment.” In this stage, the recipient undergoes high-dose chemotherapy (with or without radiation) to kill off cancer cells and to purposefully weaken the immune system so the body doesn’t reject the donor cells as readily.

In an autologous transplant, the patient is given medications that cause the body to produce and release more stem cells into the bloodstream. This is called “stem cell mobilization.” The patient then has their stem cells collected from either their bone marrow or the blood. The blood is processed through the centrifuge that removes the stem cells and the rest of the blood is returned to the patient.

In the “conditioning and treatment” stage, the patient undergoes high-dose chemotherapy (they may or may not also receive radiation) to kill off the remaining cancer cells while also killing off any blood-producing cells left in the patient’s bone marrow. When the patient is ready (about 17 days after chemotherapy), the frozen stem cells are thawed and reintroduced into the patient.

Benefits of obtaining stem cells from peripheral blood over the bone marrow is that cells obtained via peripheral blood tend to be more mature which can lead to earlier engraftment. Peripheral collection also does not require the donor to undergo a surgical procedure and anesthesia. The downsides to peripheral collection is that it can take multiple sessions over multiple days to get enough stem cells for transplant.

What about umbilical cord blood?

Umbilical cord blood can be utilized for stem cell donation by removing blood from the umbilical cord immediately after birth. The blood is tested, frozen and stored for potential later use. The benefits of this type of collection is that the cells are not differentiated so they can be used for donors who cannot find a compatible HLA match. It is also easy to obtain stem cells in this manner and does not put the child or the parent at risk.

A potential downside to this method is that genetic conditions could be transferred to the recipient and, since the cells are not differentiated at all, engraftment can take longer.

How is a match determined?

HLA matching utilizes PCR to look at DNA segments that encode the human leukocyte antigens to determine if they are similar enough for a quality match. If the quality of the match is low, the patient is at higher risk for developing graft-versus-host disease (GvHD), which is a serious and life-threatening complication.

Patients are most likely to match with a donor who is their same ethnicity, and an even greater likelihood when the potential donor is within their own family. In fact, a patient has about a 30% chance of finding a matched donor within their family, and there’s a 25% chance that a sibling will be a match.

What is engraftment?

Engraftment is essentially when the recipient’s body “takes on” the newly transplanted cells and they begin to grow in the bone marrow. In order for the stem cells to rescue the patient after his or her bone marrow has been depleted by high-dose chemotherapy/radiation, the stem cells must be able to survive and grow in the patient’s bone marrow. The average time to engraftment ranges from 14 to 21 days and can depend on the type and method of transplant as discussed above.

What are the complications of bone marrow transplant?

There are several serious complications that can occur with bone marrow transplant. These include:

Graft-versus-host disease (GvHD)
Infection
Mouth sores
Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea
Changes in taste or loss of taste
Malnourishment
Fluid volume overload
Engraftment syndrome – A condition characterized by fever, rash, diarrhea, pulmonary infiltrates and neurological symptoms after autologous stem cell transplant.
Veno-occlusive disease – This condition causes liver damage, hepatomegaly, jaundice, and ascites. When severe it can lead to multi-organ failure and death (the mortality rate is greater than 80%). It is more likely to occur in patients who are very young (less than 1 year old), who have prior liver or kidney disease, have advanced malignancy or who are on total parenteral nutrition (TPN). It is also more likely in those undergoing allogeneic transplant with unrelated donors, those with poorly matched donors, patients who received certain medications including cyclophosphamide, busulfan, methotrexate and cyclosporine, and in patients who have undergone multiple autologous transplants with poor prognosis.
Hemorrhagic cystitis – The manifestations can range from microscopic hematuria to significant hemorrhage and renal failure.
Hepatorenal syndrome – About 15% of patients who receive BMT experience renal failure, and this is often due to veno-occlusive disease.

Now that you have some foundation knowledge about bone marrow transplant, let’s dive into the nursing implications using the Straight A Nursing LATTE method.

L: How does the patient LOOK?If the patient has undergone an autologous transplant utilizing bone marrow aspiration, they will initially have pain and bruising at that site over the iliac crest.

Other signs and symptoms associated with bone marrow transplant are going to be closely related to those of chemotherapy and radiation since those treatment modalities are utilized for the conditioning stage. Common signs and symptoms include:

Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea
Fatigue
Mucositis (inflammation and or sores in the mouth)
Weight loss
Pancytopenia while the patient is waiting for engraftment to occur

Additionally, patients will exhibit signs and symptoms specific to any post-BMT complications they may experience. Due to the high number of potential complications, this list is extensive and will vary from patient to patient.

A: How do you ASSESS the patient who has undergone BMT?The main goal of your assessments will be to monitor your patient closely for complications and signs of deterioration. This includes:

Take vital signs frequently with a specific focus on the patient’s temperature as this is often a sign of infection. After bone marrow transplant, a patient is generally considered to have a fever when their temperature is above 38-degrees Celsius or 100.4-degrees Fahrenheit.
You’ll also monitor closely for signs of fluid overload. This includes taking daily weights, keeping strict count of all I/Os, monitoring for edema and auscultating lung sounds.
Monitor for signs of respiratory distress, which can be related to fluid overload or other complications such as GvHD or pneumonia. Assess respiratory rate, O2 saturation, lung sounds and work of breathing.
Monitor for the early signs of GvHD, which involves a burning, red rash that can occur anywhere including in the buccal mucosa.
Assess for pain related to bone marrow aspiration or complications such as mucositis, GvHD or veno-occlusive disease.
Assess your patient’s risk for falls. They may have an unsteady gait and be weak after the transplant due to deconditioning, weight loss, malnourishment, loss of muscle mass, potential neurotoxic medications and GvHD.
Because platelets are low in the initial post-BMT period, assess your patient’s bleeding risk and for signs of bleeding.
Monitor your patient for signs of Infection, keeping a very close eye on things like Foley catheters, urine clarity (or cloudiness) and central venous catheters.

T: What TESTS will be utilized for a patient undergoing BMT?Before transplant

Prior to consideration for a bone marrow transplant, the patient will undergo a bone marrow biopsy or bone marrow aspiration. This test allows the MD to see specific abnormalities in the quality or quantity of the blood components.
HLA matching (also called “tissue typing”) involves blood draws of both the patient and the donor. This is not necessary in an autologous transplant.
Other blood tests screen the patient for infectious disease such as hepatitis, HIV, cytomegalovirus (CMV), toxoplasmosis, herpes simplex virus and varicella zoster (there are others!).
Renal and hepatic function will be evaluated prior to transplant.
The patient will also undergo a pregnancy test if applicable.
Other tests include ferritin, ABO blood type, CBC with differential, coagulation studies and quantitative immunoglobulins.
Many of the chemotherapy medications utilized in the conditioning stage (such as busulfan) require close monitoring after the infusion is complete.
Pulmonary function test (PFT) to determine a baseline.
CT scan to evaluate the extent of disease.
PET scan shows how the organs and tissues of the body are functioning and can show cellular level metabolism changes of an organ or tissue.
Cardiac tests include EKG to evaluate heart rhythm and an echocardiogram provides information about heart and valve function.

After transplant:

Routine lab draws after transplant include CBC and CMP (which includes renal labs and liver enzymes). If the patient is receiving tacrolimus or cyclosporine, those levels will be evaluated routinely as well.
If infection is suspected, the patient will be “pan cultured.” This means we send every kind of culture we can obtain…blood, urine, wound, central line catheter tip, and sputum.
Chest X-ray may be utilized in cases when the patient is experiencing respiratory complications, fluid volume overload or suspected pneumonia or pneumonitis.
Pulmonary function tests (PFTs) are conducted after transplant when respiratory complications are of special risk or the patient exhibits signs of respiratory involvement.

T: What TREATMENTS will be provided? Before transplant:

Patients will receive immunosuppressants to help prevent graft-versus-host disease in allogeneic transplant.
Chemotherapy
Possibly radiation in conjunction with chemotherapy
Medications to address side effects of chemotherapy and radiation such as antiemetics.

After transplant:

To prevent GvHD, the patient will receive a medication that lessens the potential for rejection – tacrolimus or cyclosporine.
A colony-stimulating factor such as Granix (tbo-filgrastim) may be used to help shorten the time from neutropenia to engraftment and reduce the occurrence of neutropenic fever.
Antibiotics will be utilized in cases of infection and may even be used prophylactically. Remember, the patient is neutropenic and immunosuppressed so they are at extremely high risk for infection!
The patient will be prescribed a neutropenic diet to help prevent infection. This includes no fresh fruits or vegetables and bottled water only.
The patient may require PRBC and platelet transfusions. If the patient underwent an allogenic transplant, the RBCs must be “washed” prior to administration and may also need to be leukoreduced and CMV negative.
Specialized treatment aimed at specific complications as needed.

Another key consideration throughout the entire phase of treatment is to prevent infection. The key tenements of infection prevention include:

Maintain neutropenic precautions in a private, positive pressure room. All visitors and healthcare workers entering the room should wear the appropriate PPE. Other neutropenic precautions include no fresh flowers/plants in the room, no stagnant water, no ill visitors, no pet visits and the patient must wear a mask when outside the room.
Ensure everyone entering the room (and the patient) adhere to the strictest protocols for proper hand hygiene.
Provide excellent oral care (utilize soft brushes or sponges if the patient has mucositis or GvHD).
If the patient is neutropenic, avoid any trauma to the skin including enemas, IM injections, rectal temps and even Foley catheters and suppositories.
Maintain the integrity of central lines by changing dressings per protocol and as needed, scrubbing the hub vigorously with alcohol prior to use, flushing the lines routinely, and changing all IV tubings as scheduled.
Perform perineal care promptly to prevent UTI.
Perform catheter care per protocol (at least once per shift) and when soiled to prevent catheter-associated UTI (CAUTI).
Daily bathing with chlorhexidine (CHG) helps prevent infection. Note that this may be very irritating to the skin of someone with a radiation rash or GvHD so alternative methods of bathing are likely utilized in these cases.
Preserve skin integrity by keeping the patient clean and dry, and by repositioning the patient as needed to prevent pressure ulcers from developing.

Note that soiled linens/clothing and waste from patients who have recently received chemotherapy needs to be handled with care. This includes the appropriate PPE (chemo gloves or double gloves, gowns, and goggles/face shield if splashing is a potential risk). Dispose of all waste in an appropriate “chemo bin” and double flush the toilet after depositing waste.

In addition, patients and families may require a fair amount of psychosocial support during BMT. Provide opportunities for therapeutic communication and if the patient does not have a social worker assigned, advocate for a social work consult as well as spiritual care as appropriate. You can also provide resources for community support to patients and their families as these have been shown to decrease anxiety and stress related to bone marrow transplant.

E: How do you EDUCATE the patient/family?In addition to ensuring the patient and/or their family understand the medications, tests and treatments involved in their care, other things to include in your teaching plan are:

Infection prevention measures such as hand hygiene, the use of PPE, restriction of ill visitors, and restrictions on what the patient can have in the room (such as fresh flowers).
Neutropenic diet parameters to follow both in the hospital and at home. It’s probably best if the family avoids bringing in outside food while the patient is in the hospital. Neutropenic diet guidelines include:
- No raw or undercooked eggs, fish, shellfish, meats, poultry
- No deli, processed, cured or smoked meats
- No salad bars, potlucks, or buffet-style restaurants
- No leftovers older than 48 hours
- The patient may need to avoid most raw fruits and vegetables (sometimes bananas are allowed due to the thick skin on the fruit).
- Thoroughly wash all produce, even fruits that have thick skins.
- Practice safe food handling such as keeping a dedicated cutting board for meats. Plastic cutting boards are better than wood cutting boards as these are more difficult to clean and can harbor bacteria. Ensure food is refrigerated or frozen immediately after purchase and that leftovers are refrigerated or frozen within two hours of eating. For an excellent summary of the neutropenic diet, check out this resource from Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.
- No unpasteurized products including honey.

In closing, bone marrow transplant is a wonderful procedure that saves lives. Be The Match donor registry has connected more than 111,000 patients with blood stem cell donors. If you would like to get on the Be The Match registry through the National Marrow Donor Program, go to bethematch.org to get started. The process involves a simple cheek swab you can perform at home…then you just sit back and wait to hear if you’ve been matched. And, the good news is, you might just save a life.

The information, including but not limited to, audio, video, text, and graphics contained on this website are for educational purposes only. No content on this website 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 website is intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.

References:

American Cancer Society. (2019, November 22). Chemotherapy Safety. Chemotherapy. https://www.cancer.org/treatment/treatments-and-side-effects/treatment-types/chemotherapy/chemotherapy-safety.html#:~:text=And%20nurses%20and%20others%20who,of%20the%20bed%20or%20chair.Be The Match. (n.d.). Our Story / Support the Cause. Be The Match. https://bethematch.org/about-us/our-story/Bellm, L. A., Epstein, J. B., Rose-Ped, A., Martin, P., & Fuchs, H. J. (2000). Patient reports of complications of bone marrow transplantation. Supportive Care in Cancer, 8, 33–39. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1007/s005209900095BeTheMatch.org. (2018, July 6). Treatment before transplant. https://bethematch.org/patients-and-families/before-transplant/treatment-before-transplant/Bonifazi, F., Barbato, F., Ravaioli, F., Sessa, M., Defrancesco, I., Arpinati, M., Cavo, M., & Colecchia, A. (2020). Diagnosis and Treatment of VOD/SOS After Allogeneic Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation. Frontiers in Immunology, 11, 489. https://doi.org/10.3389/fimmu.2020.00489Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh. (n.d.). Blood and Marrow Transplant (BMT) and Cellular Therapies. Complications and Side Effects. Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh. https://www.chp.edu/our-services/blood-marrow-transplant-cellular-therapies/resources/complicationsCompston, J. (2002). Bone marrow and bone: a functional unit. Journal of Endocrinology, 173(3), 387–394. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1677/joe.0.1730387Dalle, J.-H., & Giralt, S. A. (2016). Hepatic Veno-Occlusive Disease after Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation: Risk Factors and Stratification, Prophylaxis, and Treatment. Biology of Blood and Marrow Transplantation, 22(3), 400–409. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bbmt.2015.09.024El-Zimaity, M., Saliba, R., Chan, K., Shahjahan, M., Carrasco, A., Khorshid, O., Caldera, H., Couriel, D., Giralt, S., Khouri, I., Ippoliti, C., Champlin, R., & de Lima, M. (2004). Hemorrhagic cystitis after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation: donor type matters. Blood, 103(12), 4674–4680. https://doi.org/10.1182/blood-2003-08-2815Fauer, A. J., Choi, S. W., & Friese, C. R. (2019). The Roles of Nurses in Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation for the Treatment of Leukemia in Older Adults. Seminars in Oncology Nursing, 35(6). https://doi.org/doi:10.1016/j.soncn.2019.150960Ferrara, J. L., Levine, J. E., Reddy, P., & Holler, E. (2009). Graft-versus-host disease. The Lancet, 373(9674), 1550–1561. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(09)60237-3Fink, J. C., Cooper, M. A., Burkhart, K. M., McDonald, G. B., & Zager, R. A. (1995). Marked enzymuria after bone marrow transplantation: a correlate of veno-occlusive disease-induced “hepatorenal syndrome”. Journal of the American Society of Nephrology, 6(6), 1655–1660. https://doi.org/10.1681/ASN.V661655Fortune, K., & Couriel, D. (2009). Tacrolimus in hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. Expert Opinion o Drug Metabolism and Toxicology, 5(7). https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1517/17425250903044959Henry Ford Health. (n.d.). Syngeneic. https://www.henryford.com/services/transplant/stem-cell/types-of-stem-cell-transplant-and-cellular-therapy/syngeneicIgnatavicius, D. D., Workman, L. M., Rebar, C. R., & Heimgartner, N. M. (2021). Medical Surgical Nursing: Concepts for Interprofessional Collaborative Care (tenth). Elsevier.Kollmuttathuliam, S., McKiernan, P., Siegel, D. S., Rowley, S. D., Biran, N., Vesole, D. H., Nyirenda, T., Pecora, A. L., Goldberg, S. L., Goy, A., & Donato, M. (2019). Engraftment Syndrome in the Setting of Autologous Stem Cell Transplantation for Multiple Myeloma-a Single Institution Review of over 600 Patients. Blood, 134, 4576. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1182/blood-2019-132052Lesko, L. (1994). Bone marrow transplantation: support of the patient and his/her family. Supportive Care in Cancer, 2, 35–49. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00355238Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. (n.d.-a). https://www.lls.org/treatment/types-treatment/stem-cell-transplantation/autologous-stem-cell-transplantation. https://www.lls.org/treatment/types-treatment/stem-cell-transplantation/autologous-stem-cell-transplantationLeukemia and Lymphoma Society. (n.d.-b). https://www.lls.org/treatment/types-treatment/stem-cell-transplantation/graft-versus-host-disease. https://www.lls.org/treatment/types-treatment/stem-cell-transplantation/graft-versus-host-diseaseLeukemia and Lymphoma Society. (n.d.-c). Stem Cell Treatment | Allogeneic Stem Cell Transplant | LLS. https://www.lls.org/treatment/types-treatment/stem-cell-transplantation/allogeneic-stem-cell-transplantationMayo Clinic. (n.d.). Bone marrow transplant. Mayo Clinic. https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/bone-marrow-transplant/about/pac-20384854Mendes, E. T., Ranzani, O. T., Marchi, A. P., da Silva, M. T., Filho, J. U. A., Alves, T., Guimarães, T., Levin, A. S., & Costa, S. F. (2016). Chlorhexidine bathing for the prevention of colonization and infection with multidrug-resistant microorganisms in a hematopoietic stem cell transplantation unit over a 9-year period. Medicine, 95(46), e5271. https://doi.org/10.1097/MD.0000000000005271National Library of Medicine. (n.d.). Bone Marrow Tests. Medline. https://medlineplus.gov/lab-tests/bone-marrow-tests/Peconic Bay Medical Center. (2020, October 7). Red Bone Marrow Vs. Yellow Bone Marrow. Peconic Bay Medical Center. https://www.pbmchealth.org/news-events/blog/red-bone-marrow-vs-yellow-bone-marrowPrzepiorka, D., Devine, S., Fay, J., Uberti, J., & Wingard, J. (1999). Practical considerations in the use of tacrolimus for allogeneic marrow transplantation. Bone Marrow Transplant, 24(10), 1053–1056. https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.bmt.1702032Schmit-Pokorny, K., & Eisenberg, S. (2020). Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation: A Manuel for Nursing Practice (third). Oncology Nursing Society.UC San Diego Health. (n.d.). Blood and Marrow Transplant (BMT) Process. UC San Diego Health Cancer Services. https://health.ucsd.edu/specialties/transplant/Pages/medications.aspx#:~:text=Preventing%20Rejection&text=After%20your%20transplant%20surgery%20you,Myfortic)%20or%20azathioprine%20(Imuran)University of California San Francisco. (n.d.). Autologous Transplant Guide: Blood Counts and Transfusions. Ucsfhealth.Org. https://www.ucsfhealth.org/Education/Autologous Transplant Guide Blood Counts and TransfusionsWarner, M. A., Welsby, I. J., Norris, P. J., Silliman, C. C., Armour, S., Wittwer, E. D., Santrach, P. J., Meade, L. A., Liedl, L., Nieuwenkamp, C. M., Douthit, B., Van Buskirk, C. M., Schulte, P. J., Carter, R. E., & Kor, D. J. (2017). Point-of-care washing of allogeneic red blood cells for the prevention of transfusion-related respiratory complications (WAR-PRC): a protocol for a multicenter randomised clinical trial in patients undergoing cardiac surgery. BMJ Open, 7(8). https://doi.org/http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2017-016398The post Bone Marrow Transplant Basics appeared first on Straight A Nursing.

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 course the American Heart Association guidelines for a wide range of cardiac complications, and also covers respiratory arrest and stroke emergencies.

Taking ACLS for the first time can be intimidating, so I created this episode to help ease you into it so you’ll know what to expect and get a little head-start on studying.

In this episode I’m sharing:

How the two days of the ACLS class are structured
The arrhythmias you’ll need to be able to identify quickly
What the “Mega-Code” simulation is like and why it’s not as scary as you think!
Tips on taking the written exam
How to prepare for your ACLS class
A brief review of the key algorithms
A brief review of pharmacology

Did you like the quiz questions at the end? Then you’ll love Study Sesh! This private podcast features over 90 PodQuiz episodes covering a wide range of topics….and more! Plus, it’s a great review for NCLEX! Sign up here!

The information, including but not limited to, audio, video, text, and graphics contained on this website are for educational purposes only. No content on this website 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 website is intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.

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’re not assessing your patient on a very consistent basis.

Now, I’m not saying you’re going to do a full head-to-toe or even a focused assessment every time you go in your patient’s room…but there are SO MANY things you can learn about your patient simply from intentionally observing them.

I call this the “doorway assessment” because much of it can be done from the doorway! Though, of course, you’ll intentionally observe your patient every single time you interact with them…but doorway assessment sounds kind of catchy, right?

In this episode I’m sharing the main things you can observe in an unobtrusive and consistent manner…hit play and I’ll see you there!

Are you looking for an easier way to learn Med Surg? Enroll in Med Surg Solution and get lessons on 57 key topics as well as out-of-this-world study guides!

Want a sneak peek into nursing school so you can be prepared and ready? Crucial Concepts Bootcamp teaches you core foundation concepts, medication math, organizational strategies, study tips and so much more. Get ready for nursing school and enroll in Crucial Concepts Bootcamp today!

The information, including but not limited to, audio, video, text, and graphics contained on this website are for educational purposes only. No content on this website 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 website is intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.

Huntington’s disease (HD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder that is caused by extra repeats of the cytosine-adenine-guanine (CAG) amino acid group in the huntingtin gene. This leads to neuron dysfunction and death, mainly in the basal ganglia and cerebral cortex. In this episode, you’ll learn the key things you need to know about Huntington’s disease:

Who is at risk for Huntington’s disease
Complications of Huntington’s
Signs and symptoms of Huntington’s
Tests that are likely to be ordered
Priority assessments and interventions
Key patient/family education

To learn more about the nonverbal pain scoring tools, check out: ANPS, CPOT, and PAINAID

Grab the FREE LATTE template here.

Read the article about nursing care for huntington’s disease and view references here.

Are you looking for an easier way to learn Med Surg? Enroll in Med Surg Solution and get lessons on 57 key topics as well as out-of-this-world study guides!

The information, including but not limited to, audio, video, text, and graphics contained on this website are for educational purposes only. No content on this website 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 website is intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.

Huntington’s disease (HD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder that is caused by extra repeats of the cytosine-adenine-guanine (CAG) trinucleotide in the huntingtin gene. This leads to neuron dysfunction and death, mainly in the basal ganglia and cerebral cortex. While HD typically becomes apparent in adulthood, juvenile onset is possible. HD affects 4.1 to 8.4 individuals per 100,000 in the US, and 2.7 per 100,000 worldwide.

Who is most at risk for HD?

Individuals most at risk for Huntington’s are those who have inherited the gene from one or both parents. If one parent has HD, there is a 50% chance of the child having the disease. The more repeats of the CAG amino acid group, the higher the risk of passing the disease on to a child. Further, the number of repeats may increase with each generation in a phenomenon called “anticipation.” With a higher number of repeats, onset is earlier and disease severity is greater.

Normal = 27-35 repeats
Adult onset = 50-50 repeats (usually)
Juvenile onset = 60+ repeats (usually)

Other risks for early onset of the disease include alcohol, tobacco and drug use.

What are the complications of Huntington’s Disease?

As a progressive neurodegenerative disorder, individuals with late-stage HD usually are bedbound, nonverbal and require total care with ADLs. Complications include:

Pneumonia as a result of immobility and aspiration (patients with advanced HD are likely to have dysphagia). Pneumonia is a common cause of death in patients with HD.
Malnutrition
Falls
Infection
Suicide and suicidal ideation – one study showed about 25% of patients with HD attempt suicide

Now it’s time to dive into Huntington’s disease using the Straight A Nursing LATTE method.

L: How does the patient with Huntington’s disease LOOK? What are their signs and symptoms?The signs and symptoms of HD can vary from person to person and throughout stages of the disease. The general categories are cognitive impairment, psychiatric disorders, and progressive motor dysfunction.

Cognitive impairment – Deficits in this area include forgetfulness, inattention, slow psychomotor response, altered perception of time, executive dysfunction, impaired emotion recognition, trouble with multitasking, and dementia. Cognitive symptoms typically start first and are the earliest signs of HD. Since mild cognitive impairment is often easily explained away, early diagnosis can be missed and is more likely if the individual is unaware of their HD risk.

Psychiatric disorders – Depression is common in patients with HD. Initially, patients often present with difficulty with impulse control and irritability. Over time the patient can progress to OCD behavior, apathy, anxiety, aggression and even psychosis. As with cognitive dysfunction, the psychiatric signs and symptoms typically are evident years before motor symptoms set in.

Progressive motor dysfunction – Motor dysfunction plays a key role in placing the patient at risk for falls and progressive disability. Is often initially seen in the extremities and can involve chorea (“dance-like” involuntary movements which includes finger/wrist movements called “piano fingers”), a jerky gait, tics, ataxia, and poor coordination. Pyramidal symptoms are also present and the patient will have a positive Babinski sign.

Motor dysfunction also affects the muscles of speech and swallowing leading to dysarthria and dysphagia. Over time the individual’s motor dysfunction progresses to hypokinesia, rigidity and contractures.

To see an example of chorea, check out this YouTube video.

The clinical course of Huntington’s diseaseThe clinical course of Huntington’s disease can be divided into three segments: presymptomatic, prodromal and manifest.

Presymptomatic: At this stage the patient has no symptoms and imaging may show some HD changes; treatment is not indicated at this stage.
Prodromal: At this stage, the patient may have some small motor and cognitive symptom as well as psychiatric symptoms such as depression; imaging will show evidence of HD and treatment is possibly indicated at this time.
Manifest: At this stage, the patient is exhibiting significant motor, cognitive and psychiatric s symptoms; treatment is indicated at this stage.

Stages of Huntington’s DiseaseThe stages of HD are early, middle and late. In early HD, patients are able to function independently but they may have some minor involuntary or uncoordinated movements, have some difficulty concentrating, be irritable, and suffer from depression.

In middle-stage HD, the individual will begin to lose independence and show more obvious chorea and have issues with balance and swallowing. They will also have trouble organizing and prioritizing information. At this stage, the patient will need assistance with ADLs.

In late-stage HD, the individual definitely requires assistance with all ADLs and is bedridden as well as nonverbal. The patient may exhibit significant chorea, but is more likely to experience rigidity, dystonia and bradykinesia at this time. The psychiatric manifestations are present but are often masked by the inability to communicate.

Note that in juvenile onset, the symptoms are similar as adults, but seizures can occur as well.

A: How do you ASSESS a patient with Huntington’s Disease?Assessment of the patient with HD will vary based on the individual’s unique clinical course and progression of the disease. In general, assessments for a patient with HD will often be closely correlated with patient safety as these patients are at high risk for falls, aspiration, infection and suicidal ideation.

Assess motor symptoms such as ROM, muscle strength, gait and for evidence of contractures.
Make note of changes in mood such as anxiety, anger, and depression.
As you interact with the patient, assess for cognitive dysfunction such as memory loss, inattention and executive dysfunction.
Ask the patient if they are thinking of harming themselves (remember they are at high risk for suicidal ideation!)
Assess the patient’s ability to swallow and consult a speech language pathologist as needed. A patient who has dysphagia may have slurred speech and will cough when sipping water.
Examine the skin carefully as patients with decreased mobility are at high risk for skin breakdown.
Weigh the patient and monitor for weight loss and decreased intake.
Assess for signs of dehydration secondary to decreased intake.
Assess for pain, using the appropriate pain scoring tool for the patient’s condition. For example, consider using the ANPS (Adult Nonverbal Pain Scale) for nonverbal adults. This pain scale looks at five elements and assigns each a number based on the severity of observable symptoms. These are face, activity (movement), guarding, physiology (vital signs), and respiratory.

Be sure to include family, friends and caregivers as they can provide key information on the patient’s condition.

T: What TESTS will be ordered?If the patient has a family history and symptoms of HD, no testing may be necessary in order for the MD to arrive at a diagnosis of Huntington’s disease. When tests are ordered, they can include:

Genetic testing to look at CAG repeats – this is the “Gold Standard” for diagnosis. If there are no CAG repeats, this could possibly mean there is another gene responsible for the patient’s signs and symptoms. Note that genetic testing can be conducted prenatally if one or both parents know they have HD.
Imaging studies (CT/MRI) may be utilized to evaluate the extent of cerebral atrophy. A typical HD patient will have convex shaped ventricles.
Other labs may be used to rule out other possible causes for the patient’s symptoms. For example, liver disease can cause ataxia and confusion, so the patient could have their LFTs evaluated.

T: What TREATMENTS are utilized in the care of a patient with HD?It’s important to understand that since Huntington’s is not curable, care is focused on palliation (comfort), reducing symptoms, and preventing complications.

Pharmacology – Antidepressants and antipsychotics may be utilized to lessen the burden of psychiatric symptoms. Antipsychotics and antidyskinetics are used to manage the motor symptoms of Huntington’s. Two medications specifically utilized for chorea are tetrabenazine and deutetrabenazine. And, of course, pain medication may be needed which can include NSAIDs, Tylenol and possibly opioids in severe cases.

Diet – Research shows that a Mediterranean style diet may delay onset of the disease or reduce symptom burden. This diet consists of fish, plant based foods, olive oil with low consumption of things like red meat, dairy and poultry.

Physical and occupational therapy – Both modalities can be utilized to improve physical functional capacity and promote independence with ADLs for as long as possible. PT and OT are also used to aid caregivers in learning how to provide safe care at home.

Speech language therapy – A licensed SLP may be consulted to assess the patient for dysphagia and to help the patient with both dysphagia and dysarthria. If the patient has dysphagia, the SLP will prescribe a specific texture to the patient’s diet such as chopped or pureed.

Potential future treatments for Huntington’s disease involve target therapy to inhibit expression of the huntingtin protein. Research is ongoing in this area.

E: How do you EDUCATE the patient and family? Genetic counseling* plays a key role in patient and family education and goes far beyond the blood test for genetic testing. Prior to undergoing genetic testing for HD, the individual may receive counseling to examine how a positive result could impact them and their family emotionally, functionally and financially. Less than 20% of individuals with a 50% risk of HD seek genetic counseling, which is unfortunate considering the long-term implications of the disease and the risk for passing it on to children. * Provide supportive care to the patient and family. Ensure the patient and family understand the increased risk for suicide and the burdens that the disease places on caregivers. Teach caregivers to seek respite care whenever possible and help them understand resources that are available to assist with finances and care (the family will likely have a social worker or case manager who will take the lead on this). * Teach caregivers all aspects of home care as they will be assisting with ADLs. The physical therapist can teach caregivers how to transfer patients safely and avoid injury. * Teach caregivers and patients the importance of eating upright to prevent aspiration and that the diet texture may be adjusted as the disease progresses. In later stages of the disease, the patient may not be able to swallow safely so teach caregivers how to administer enteral feeding and care for feeding tubes. * Teach caregivers to monitor skin for signs of breakdown and the importance of keeping skin clean and dry. * Teach caregivers and the patient fall prevention strategies such as changing position slowly, removing rugs, keeping pathways to the bathroom well-lit at night, installing grab bars, etc… * Encourage physical activity and adherence to physical and occupational therapy. * Teach infection prevention practices such as how and when to perform hand hygiene.

The information, including but not limited to, audio, video, text, and graphics contained on this website are for educational purposes only. No content on this website 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 website is intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.

References:

Ajitkumar, A., & De Jesus, O. (2022). Huntington Disease. In StatPearls. StatPearls Publishing. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK559166/Boguslavski, L. (2021, September 27). The ways diet can affect the progression and severity of Huntington’s disease – Science, Translated. https://sciencetranslated.org/the-ways-diet-can-affect-the-progression-and-severity-of-huntingtons-disease/Christodoulou, C. C., Demetriou, C. A., & Zamba-Papanicolaou, E. (2020). Dietary Intake, Mediterranean Diet Adherence and Caloric Intake in Huntington’s Disease: A Review. Nutrients, 12(10), 2946. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu12102946Gibson, J. S., Isaacs, D. A., Claassen, D. O., & Stovall, J. G. (2021). Lifetime neuropsychiatric symptoms in Huntington’s disease: Implications for psychiatric nursing. Archives of Psychiatric Nursing, 35(3), 284–289. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apnu.2021.03.006Huntington’s Disease Society of America. (2019, March 12). Huntington’s Disease Stages. https://hdsa.org/what-is-hd/huntingtons-disease-stages/Jankovic, J., Mazziotta, J., Pomeroy, S., & Newman, N. (n.d.). Bradley and Daroff’s Neurology in Clinical Practice (8th ed.). Elsevier. https://www.clinicalkey.com/nursing/#!/content/book/3-s2.0-B9780323642613000449?scrollTo=%23hl0001272Johnson, M. O., Frank, S., Mendlik, M., & Casarett, D. (2018). Utilization of Hospice Services in a Population of Patients With Huntington’s Disease. Journal of Pain and Symptom Management, 55(2), 440–443. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2017.09.004Jolly, A., & Kass, J. (n.d.). Huntington Disease – ClinicalKey for Nursing. file:///Users/maureenosuna/Zotero/storage/6VQQTK8H/nursing.htmlKumar, A., Kumar, V., Singh, K., Kumar, S., Kim, Y.-S., Lee, Y.-M., & Kim, J.-J. (2020). Therapeutic Advances for Huntington’s Disease. Brain Sciences, 10(1), 43. https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci10010043MedlinePlus. (n.d.). Huntington disease: MedlinePlus Genetics. https://medlineplus.gov/genetics/condition/huntington-disease/Tabrizi, S. J., Leavitt, B. R., Landwehrmeyer, G. B., Wild, E. J., Saft, C., Barker, R. A., Blair, N. F., Craufurd, D., Priller, J., Rickards, H., Rosser, A., Kordasiewicz, H. B., Czech, C., Swayze, E. E., Norris, D. A., Baumann, T., Gerlach, I., Schobel, S. A., Paz, E., … Lane, R. M. (2019). Targeting Huntingtin Expression in Patients with Huntington’s Disease. New England Journal of Medicine, 380(24), 2307–2316. https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMoa1900907UC Davis Health. (n.d.). Testing Issues in Huntington’s Disease. https://health.ucdavis.edu/huntingtons/genetic-testing.htmlWegman, D. A. (2005). Tool for pain assessment. Critical Care Nurse, 25(1), 14–15. https://doi.org/10.4037/ccn2005.25.1.14-aThe post Nursing Care for Huntington’s Disease appeared first on Straight A Nursing.

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 episode I’m bringing in Amanda from The Resume Rx. She’s answering key questions such as:

What the job offer process looks like
How to gracefully manage multiple offers
Red flags in a job offer
How to bring up the prospect of negotiating the offer
And more!

Get 15% off Amanda’s resume template bundle by using the promo code STRAIGHTA at The Resume Rx.

The information, including but not limited to, audio, video, text, and graphics contained on this website are for educational purposes only. No content on this website 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 website is intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.

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 help you feel more confident at the bedside.

What type of clinical situations warrant a vascular assessment
Tips for taking a proper blood pressure measurement
Pulse assessment, including a key tip on using the Doppler
General vascular assessment techniques including capillary refill, edema and pain
Neurovascular assessment
The 6 P’s of Ischemia
What the Allen test is and how to perform one
Bruits and thrills demystified!

If you enjoyed the PodQuiz at the end of the episode, then you’ll love Study Sesh! This private podcast features over 90 PodQuiz episodes covering a wide range of topics….and more! Sign up here!

Are you looking for an easier way to learn Med Surg? Enroll in Med Surg Solution and get lessons on 57 key topics as well as out-of-this-world study guides!

Want a sneak peek into nursing school so you can be prepared and ready? Crucial Concepts Bootcamp teaches you core foundation concepts, medication math, organizational strategies, study tips and so much more. Get ready for nursing school and enroll in Crucial Concepts Bootcamp today!

Learn more about cardiac assessment in Performing A Cardiac Assessment: Episode 250

Learn more about AVMs in AVMs A to Z: Episode 241

Read the article about performing a vascular assessment and view references here.

The information, including but not limited to, audio, video, text, and graphics contained on this website are for educational purposes only. No content on this website 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 website is intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.

If your nursing program provides a periop clinical experience, consider yourself very lucky! I really enjoyed my periop clinicals and learned a ton about this exciting area of nursing.

The three stages of periop are preoperative, operative and postoperative (PACU). Patients go through each of these stages every time they have a surgical procedure, and each stage has its own unique challenges and opportunities to learn something new.

In this episode, I’m sharing what my periop clinical experience was like and some tips on what you can expect in all three settings.

If you’d like to learn more about PACU nursing, check out episode 238 where I dive into what a day in the recovery unit is like.

Starting nursing school soon? Then you’ve probably heard the horror stories. See how Crucial Concepts Bootcamp has helped students feel more confident, joyful and ready for nursing school here.

The information, including but not limited to, audio, video, text, and graphics contained on this website are for educational purposes only. No content on this website 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 website is intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.

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 you should know about patients who’ve had a splenectomy, including:

Reasons someone would need a splenectomy
Overview of the spleen and its functions
Key assessments before and after surgery
Common tests utilized to evaluate the splenectomy patient
Treatments utilized in the care of an asplenic patient
Key patient education

Did you enjoy the PodQuiz at the end of the episode? Sign up for Study Sesh and change the way you study!

Are you struggling in your Med Surg class? What if I told you that it’s not you at all…it’s likely the way it’s being taught! Get Med Surg Solution to get simplified explanations and study guides for 57 key disease conditions.

Want a sneak peek into nursing school so you can be prepared and ready? Crucial Concepts Bootcamp teaches you core foundation concepts, medication math, organizational strategies, study tips and so much more. Get ready for nursing school and enroll in Crucial Concepts Bootcamp today!

Read the article on Splenectomy Nursing Basics and view references here.

Did you find this episode helpful? Then I’d love it if you’d rate and review the podcast! And if you’re not following the show, add it to your podcast library so you never miss an episode!
The information, including but not limited to, audio, video, text, and graphics contained on this website are for educational purposes only. No content on this website 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 website is intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.

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 using the Straight A Nursing DRRUGS framework including:

Why adenosine is kind of terrifying to give
How adenosine works and what we use it for
How adenisone is administered
When adenosine is contraindicated and how to monitor a patient receiving this medication
Important drug-drug interactions
Adverse effects of the medication

Read the article and view references for adenosine here.

Looking for more pharmacology episodes? You can find them here!

Get a head start on pharmacology with the Pharmacology Success Pack

Join my Facebook group, Thriving Nursing Students, and surround yourself with motivated and supportive nursing students!

The information, including but not limited to, audio, video, text, and graphics contained on this website are for educational purposes only. No content on this website 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 website is intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.

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:

Different types of external radiation therapy
Complications of external beam radiation
Signs and symptoms patients experience with radiation
Key assessments for a patient undergoing radiation therapy
Tests and treatments utilized during radiation therapy
Priority patient education

Read the article on external beam radiation therapy and view references here.

Looking for more oncology episodes? You can find them here.

Struggling with Med Surg? It’s not you! It’s the way your instructors are teaching it. Get focused, clear, effective lessons in Med Surg Solution. Learn more here.

The information, including but not limited to, audio, video, text, and graphics contained on this website are for educational purposes only. No content on this website 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 website is intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.

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 run the show, or if you’re going to get past this moment and continue on with the exam.

In this episode I’m sharing some strategies you can use to get your exam (and your confidence) back on track!

Read the article about conquering test anxiety here.

Want more test taking tips and strategies? Then you’ll love Module 7 in Crucial Concepts Bootcamp!

The information, including but not limited to, audio, video, text, and graphics contained on this website are for educational purposes only. No content on this website 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 website is intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.

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 sharing the ones you’re most likely to notice, including:

Vital signs differences
Differences in body composition and musculoskeletal changes
Changes to the integumentary system
Changes to sensory organs and neurological function
Changes to the respiratory and cardiovascular system
GI changes
And changes to the genitourinary system

Read the article on geriatric assessment and view references here.

Struggling with Med Surg? It’s not you! It’s the way your instructors are teaching it. Get focused, clear, effective lessons in Med Surg Solution. Learn more here!

The information, including but not limited to, audio, video, text, and graphics contained on this website are for educational purposes only. No content on this website 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 website is intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.

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, I’m sharing:

How a typical day flows
Tips for effective time management
What in the world is happening in handoff report
Some of the key players and their roles
The most important skill you can develop
One unpleasant truth (sorry!)
How to make the most of your clinical time

Links and resources mentioned in this episode:

Get prepped for nursing school with Crucial Concepts Bootcamp!

Learn how to use a brain sheet here.

Download a brain sheet here.

Learn how to use a run sheet and download one here.

Dive even deeper into the interdisciplinary team in Episode 120.

The information, including but not limited to, audio, video, text, and graphics contained on this website are for educational purposes only. No content on this website 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 website is intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.

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 while going to school?
Q3: How do I get everything done?
Q4: How do I study for Med Surg?
Q5: How do I learn from an instructor that just reads the PowerPoint slides word for word?

Links and resources mentioned in this episode:

Crucial Concepts Bootcamp: Get prepped for nursing school so you can start out feeling more confident from your very first day!

Med Surg Solution: Learn Med Surg topics in less time!

LATTE template: Use the LATTE method to guide your studying for Med Surg, pediatrics, maternal/newborn and mental health nursing!

Nursing School Planner: Get organized for nursing school with the first and best planner made JUST for nursing students!

Thriving Nursing Students: Join my Facebook group and surround yourself with motivated and supportive nursing students!

The information, including but not limited to, audio, video, text, and graphics contained on this website are for educational purposes only. No content on this website 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 website is intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.

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 spilling all the nursing school tea on each class and a bit about my own clinical experiences.

Helpful Resources:
Crucial Concepts Bootcamp: Imagine having a BFF who shares their best advice, tips and strategies with you while also teaching core foundation concepts that set you up for success. That’s exactly what you get in Bootcamp, an online program that has helped thousands of students crush nursing school!

Get organized! Get the nursing student planner that students say keep them organized and on top of their busy nursing school schedules!

Did you find this episode helpful? Then I’d love it if you’d rate and review the podcast! And if you’re not following the show, add it to your podcast library so you never miss an episode!

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 overview, I’m sharing some of the most important things to know about electrolytes.

Helpful Resources:

The QT interval – Learn about this critical ECG measurement.

Take a deep dive into acid-base balance.

Want to study on-the-go? Then Study Sesh might be the answer you’ve been looking for!

Did you find this episode helpful? Then I’d love it if you’d rate and review the podcast! And if you’re not following the show, add it to your podcast library so you never miss an episode!

____________________________________________________________

The information, including but not limited to, audio, video, text, and graphics contained on this website are for educational purposes only. No content on this website 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 website is intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.

Neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS) occurs when neonates who were exposed to drugs in the womb experience withdrawal after birth. These substances pass through the placenta into neonatal circulation, causing dependency and ultimately withdrawal symptoms in the newborn.

In this episode you will learn:

The complications of NAS
Signs and symptoms of withdrawal in neonates
Key assessments for an infant going through withdrawal
Tests and treatments
Important family education

Helpful Resources:

FNASS – See an example of the Finnegan Scale here

Want to study on-the-go? Then Study Sesh might be the answer you’ve been looking for!

Did you find this episode helpful? Then I’d love it if you’d rate and review the podcast! And if you’re not following the show, add it to your podcast library so you never miss an episode!

____________________________________________________________

The information, including but not limited to, audio, video, text, and graphics contained on this website are for educational purposes only. No content on this website 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 website is intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.

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 about the new ATI TEAS 7 exam!

Win an ATI TEAS comprehensive study package – ATI is giving away two TEAS comprehensive study packages! The first winner was announced Nov 22, 2022, and the second winner will be announced Dec 13, 2022. To enter head on over to my Instagram @straightanurse and look for the post titled ENTER HERE TO WIN – ATI GIVEAWAY #2. All details provided in this post…good luck!

Get a discount on ATI TEAS prep materials – Use code SAN15 to get 15% off ATI TEAS prep material or packages when you spend $50 or more at atitesting.com.

Promotion cannot be combined with any other offer. Promotion only available on ATI TEAS prep products, cannot be applied to TEAS testing fees or transcripts. Promotion cannot be applied to past purchases. Offer ends 5/31/2023.

Do better with ATI! – Learn how ATI can help you get into nursing school, thrive throughout your program, and pass the NCLEX at atitesting.com.

Take a FREE practice test for the ATI TEAS – Get a feel for what the TEAS is like with this free sample test!

Study for the TEAS on the go – Prepare for this crucial exam with the ATI TEAS Mobile App.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune condition in which the patient’s immune system attacks healthy cells inside the joints, leading to an inflammatory state. In this episode you’ll learn:

The pathophysiology of rheumatoid arthritis
Who’s most at risk, including modifiable and non-modifiable risk factors
Complications of the condition
Signs and symptoms of RA
Priority nursing assessments
Tests utilized in the diagnosis and evaluation of RA
Rheumatoid arthritis treatments, including pharmacology
Key patient education

Helpful Resources:
Get the full episode transcript and references here.

Want to study on-the-go? Then Study Sesh might be the answer you’ve been looking for!

Get organized! Get the nursing student planner that students say keep them organized and on top of their busy nursing school schedules!

Review corticosteroids and be super ready for your next exam or day at the bedside!

Learn about hydroxychloroquine in episode 103 using the Straight A Nursing DRRUGS framework.

____________________________________________________________

The information, including but not limited to, audio, video, text, and graphics contained on this website are for educational purposes only. No content on this website 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 website is intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.

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 changes coming for this important exam! In this bonus episode, which is #4 in our “Say Yes to Success” miniseries sponsored by ATI, I’m sharing five key things I learned about Next Gen NCLEX. >>>>Get a discount on ATI TEAS prep materials - Use code SAN15 to get 15% off ATI TEAS prep material or packages when you spend $50 or more at atitesting.com.Promotion cannot be combined with any other offer. Promotion only available on ATI TEAS prep products, cannot be applied to TEAS testing fees or transcripts. Promotion cannot be applied to past purchases. Offer ends 5/31/2023. >>>>Achieve your dreams with ATI! – Learn how ATI can help you get into nursing school with their comprehensive TEAS prep materials.____________________________________________________________The information, including but not limited to, audio, video, text, and graphics contained on this website are for educational purposes only. No content on this website 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 website is intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.

In this episode Nurse Mo talks about benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), a non-cancerous enlargement of the prostate gland that causes an obstruction to the outflow of urine. Tune in to learn the basics about this condition and the implications for your nursing practice. Click here for show notes and references: Episode 259 Show NotesDid you find this episode helpful? Then I’d love it if you'd rate and review the podcast! And if you’re not following the show, add it to your podcast library so you never miss an episode!

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 exams. Take a minute to follow the show so you don’t miss a single one of these bonus episodes! >>>>Get a discount on ATI TEAS prep materials - Use code SAN15 to get 15% off ATI TEAS prep material or packages when you spend $50 or more at atitesting.com.Promotion cannot be combined with any other offer. Promotion only available on ATI TEAS prep products, cannot be applied to TEAS testing fees or transcripts. Promotion cannot be applied to past purchases. Offer ends 5/31/2023. >>>>Prep for finals and your career with a FREE webinar from ATI - View the recording of this two-part webinar on resilience in nursing and preparing for finals here: https://atinursingblog.com/webinar-preparing-for-finals-career >>>>Achieve your dreams with ATI! – Learn how ATI can help you get into nursing school with their comprehensive TEAS prep materials.____________________________________________________________The information, including but not limited to, audio, video, text, and graphics contained on this website are for educational purposes only. No content on this website 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 website is intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.

In this episode Nurse Mo talks about the rare but very serious condition, Reye's syndrome. Tune in to learn what it is and the implications for your nursing practice. Click here for show notes and references: https://straightanursingstudent.com/episode257/Did you find this episode helpful? Then I’d love it if you'd rate and review the podcast! And if you’re not following the show, add it to your podcast library so you never miss an episode!

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 episode, I’m sharing three key things to know about the TEAS so you can be prepared and perform your best on this crucial exam!

The information I’m sharing comes straight from ATI, the creators of the TEAS exam and the sponsor of our “Say Yes to Success” series. Take a minute to follow the show so you don’t miss a single one of these bonus episodes!

Win an ATI TEAS comprehensive study package - ATI is giving away two TEAS comprehensive study packages! The first winner will be announced Nov 22, 2022, and the second winner announced Dec 13, 2022. To enter head on over to my Instagram @straightanurse and look for the posts titled ENTER HERE TO WIN - ATI GIVEAWAY #1 (posting on Nov 14, 2022) and ENTER HERE TO WIN - ATI GIVEAWAY #2 (posting on Nov 28, 2022). All details provided in those posts…good luck!

Get a discount on ATI TEAS prep materials - Use code SAN15 to get 15% off ATI TEAS prep material or packages when you spend $50 or more at atitesting.com.

Promotion cannot be combined with any other offer. Promotion only available on ATI TEAS prep products, cannot be applied to TEAS testing fees or transcripts. Promotion cannot be applied to past purchases. Offer ends 5/31/2023.

Do better with ATI! - Learn how ATI can help you get into nursing school, thrive throughout your program, and pass the NCLEX at atitesting.com.

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 bottom for links to all the other secrets, and a link to download them all in one handy guide.

Episode Resources:

Thriving Nursing Students: Join a Facebook group where we focus on thriving and loving nursing school!

Crucial Concepts Bootcamp: Get prepared for nursing school, learn dosage calculations, and so much more!

20 Secrets of Successful Nursing Students: Get all twenty secrets in one downloadable workbook with journaling prompts so you can approach nursing school with a success mindset. You’ve got this!

Secret #1 Secret #2 Secret #3 and #4 Secret #5 Secret #6 and #7 Secret #8 and #9 Secret #10, #11 and #12 Secret #13, #14, #15 and #16

RATE, REVIEW AND FOLLOW! If this episode helped you, please take a moment to rate and review the show! This helps others find the podcast, which helps me help even more people :-)

Click here, scroll to the bottom, then simply tap to rate with 5 stars and select, "write a review." I'd love to hear how the podcast has helped you!

If you're not following yet, what are you waiting for? It takes just a quick moment and the episodes show up like magic every Thursday. And, when I release a bonus episode, those show up, too! You'll never miss a thing! In Apple Podcasts, just click on the three little dots in the upper right corner here.

Know someone who would also love to study with me? Share the show or share specific episodes with your classmates...when we all work together, we all succeed! On Apple Podcasts, the SHARE link is in the same drop-down as the follow link. Spread the love!

Thanks for studying with me! Nurse Mo

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 assignments and in simulation lab. And yes, sometimes that feedback isn’t what we were hoping to hear and it can be really demoralizing if you let it.

But with the right mindset, you can accept even the harshest feedback without it blowing your confidence! In this episode I’m sharing some mindset tips and a new way to view feedback so that it helps you grow (even when it’s not what you want to hear).

I’m also sharing tips from ATI, the sponsor of our “Say Yes to Success” series which airs for five consecutive weeks. Take a minute to follow the show so you don’t miss a single episode!

Win an ATI TEAS comprehensive study package - ATI is giving away two TEAS comprehensive study packages! The first winner will be announced Nov 22, 2022, and the second winner announced Dec 13, 2022. To enter head on over to my Instagram @straightanurse and look for the posts titled ENTER HERE TO WIN - ATI GIVEAWAY #1 (posting on Nov 14, 2022) and ENTER HERE TO WIN - ATI GIVEAWAY #2 (posting on Nov 28, 2022). All details provided in those posts…good luck!

Get a discount on ATI TEAS prep materials - Use code SAN15 to get 15% off ATI TEAS prep material or packages when you spend $50 or more at atitesting.com.

Promotion cannot be combined with any other offer. Promotion only available on ATI TEAS prep products, cannot be applied to TEAS testing fees or transcripts. Promotion cannot be applied to past purchases. Offer ends 5/31/2023.

Do better with ATI! - Learn how ATI can help you get into nursing school, thrive throughout your program, and pass the NCLEX at atitesting.com.

Transfusing blood products is a high-risk procedure that requires careful attention to detail and excellent patient assessment skills. For this reason, any time you administer blood products you will be doing it with another RN to ensure all the safety checks have been conducted. Whether you’re a nurse wanting to boost your confidence in this area, or a student preparing for a blood transfusion check-off, this lesson is a great review of the key things you need to know. You’ll learn:

The different types of blood products ABO compatibility The steps for performing a blood transfusion The signs of a transfusion reaction What to do when a reaction occurs How to monitor your patient after the transfusion

Want to maximize your learning by reading this information, too? Check out the article and references for types of blood products here, and on blood transfusion basics here.

RATE, REVIEW AND FOLLOW! If this episode helped you, please take a moment to rate and review the show! This helps others find the podcast, which helps me help even more people :-)

Click here, scroll to the bottom, then simply tap to rate with 5 stars and select, "write a review." I'd love to hear how the podcast has helped you!

If you're not following yet, what are you waiting for? It takes just a quick moment and the episodes show up like magic every Thursday. And, when I release a bonus episode, those show up, too! You'll never miss a thing! In Apple Podcasts, just click on the three little dots in the upper right corner here.

Know someone who would also love to study with me? Share the show or share specific episodes with your classmates...when we all work together, we all succeed! On Apple Podcasts, the SHARE link is in the same drop-down as the follow link. Spread the love!

Thanks for studying with me! Nurse Mo

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 maternal circulation during the birthing process, resulting in cardiovascular collapse. In this episode, you’ll learn about the pathophysiology and how to care for patients with amniotic fluid embolism. Helpful links…

The post Nurse’s Guide to Amniotic Fluid Embolism: Episode 252 appeared first on Straight A Nursing.

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 maternal circulation during the birthing process, resulting in cardiovascular collapse. The pathophysiology of AFE is not fully understood, and used to be believed to be due to amniotic contents blocking…

The post Amniotic Fluid Embolism appeared first on Straight A Nursing.

Rhabdomyolysis is a condition in which skeletal muscle cells break down and leak their contents into the extracellular space and bloodstream. I usually saw this complex condition in the MICU due to patients who were “found down” and had been lying in one position, completely immobile, for extended periods of time.

In this episode you’ll learn:

The causes of rhabdomyolysis (there are a lot!) Pathophysiology Rhabdomyolysis complications Signs and symptoms of rhabdomyolysis Key assessments Lab tests used to diagnose and monitor the condition Treatments Important education components

This is a complex topic with a lot to know, so check out the downloadable study guide that goes along with this lesson. Learn how to get your Power Guide here.

Want to maximize your learning by reading this information, too? Check out the article and references here.

RATE, REVIEW AND FOLLOW! If this episode helped you, please take a moment to rate and review the show! This helps others find the podcast, which helps me help even more people :-)

Click here, scroll to the bottom, then simply tap to rate with 5 stars and select, "write a review." I'd love to hear how the podcast has helped you!

If you're not following yet, what are you waiting for? It takes just a quick moment and the episodes show up like magic every Thursday. And, when I release a bonus episode, those show up, too! You'll never miss a thing! In Apple Podcasts, just click on the three little dots in the upper right corner here.

Know someone who would also love to study with me? Share the show or share specific episodes with your classmates...when we all work together, we all succeed! On Apple Podcasts, the SHARE link is in the same drop-down as the follow link. Spread the love!

Thanks for studying with me! Nurse Mo

How confident are you in cardiac assessment? Learn the key components in this episode, including:

Knowing when it’s appropriate to go beyond the head-to-toe assessment and do a full-blown cardiac assessment Relevant vital signs and their significance Questions to ask the patient General observations to make How to conduct a chest pain assessment How to auscultate the heart, including which side of the stethoscope to actually use Normal and abnormal heart sounds How to assess for a pulse deficit

HELPFUL LINKS MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

To get a downloadable study guide that accompanies this lesson, sign up for Power Guides here.

Did you love the PodQuiz at the end? Then you’ll love Study Sesh, the podcast that helps you study on-the-go!

Read about cardiac assessment here, see images of digital clubbing and find additional links to various heart sounds.

Listen to S3 and S4 here.

RATE, REVIEW AND FOLLOW! If this episode helped you, please take a moment to rate and review the show! This helps others find the podcast, which helps me help even more people :-)

Click here, scroll to the bottom, then simply tap to rate with 5 stars and select, "write a review." I'd love to hear how the podcast has helped you!

If you're not following yet, what are you waiting for? It takes just a quick moment and the episodes show up like magic every Thursday. And, when I release a bonus episode, those show up, too! You'll never miss a thing! In Apple Podcasts, just click on the three little dots in the upper right corner here.

Know someone who would also love to study with me? Share the show or share specific episodes with your classmates...when we all work together, we all succeed! On Apple Podcasts, the SHARE link is in the same drop-down as the follow link. Spread the love!

Thanks for studying with me! Nurse Mo

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 of scholarships! Hit the play button to hear how she did it and get inspired to secure some nursing school scholarships for yourself!

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’ll learn:

The basics of lithium including drug class, routes of administration and regular dose Conditions lithium is used to treat Factors that contribute to lithium toxicity Signs and symptoms of lithium toxicity Key assessments and labs for a patient taking lithium Safe administration, including the key drug-drug interactions Patient education for lithium Common and severe side effects

Want to get a study guide that goes with this lesson? Check out Power Guides here.

Want to maximize your learning by reading this information, too? Check out the article and references.

RATE, REVIEW AND FOLLOW! If this episode helped you, please take a moment to rate and review the show! This helps others find the podcast, which helps me help even more people :-)

Click here, scroll to the bottom, then simply tap to rate with 5 stars and select, "write a review." I'd love to hear how the podcast has helped you!

If you're not following yet, what are you waiting for? It takes just a quick moment and the episodes show up like magic every Thursday. And, when I release a bonus episode, those show up, too! You'll never miss a thing! In Apple Podcasts, just click on the three little dots in the upper right corner here.

Know someone who would also love to study with me? Share the show or share specific episodes with your classmates...when we all work together, we all succeed! On Apple Podcasts, the SHARE link is in the same drop-down as the follow link. Spread the love!

Thanks for studying with me! Nurse Mo

Dialysis disequilibrium syndrome (DDS) is a serious and rare complication of dialysis that involves a range of neurological symptoms that are primarily considered to be a consequence of cerebral edema and increased intracranial pressure. Learn about the pathophysiology of DDS and how we prevent (and treat it) in this episode!

Get a downloadable study guide that goes along with this episode! Check out Power Guides here!

Review the very important concept of third spacing here.

Want to get notified when Med Surg Solution is ready? Sign up here.

Be the first to get notified when the Straight A Nursing app goes live!

Want to maximize your learning by reading this information, too? Check out the article and references here.

RATE, REVIEW AND FOLLOW! If this episode helped you, please take a moment to rate and review the show! This helps others find the podcast, which helps me help even more people :-)

Click here, scroll to the bottom, then simply tap to rate with 5 stars and select, "write a review." I'd love to hear how the podcast has helped you!

If you're not following yet, what are you waiting for? It takes just a quick moment and the episodes show up like magic every Thursday. And, when I release a bonus episode, those show up, too! You'll never miss a thing! In Apple Podcasts, just click on the three little dots in the upper right corner here.

Know someone who would also love to study with me? Share the show or share specific episodes with your classmates...when we all work together, we all succeed! On Apple Podcasts, the SHARE link is in the same drop-down as the follow link. Spread the love!

Thanks for studying with me!

Nurse Mo

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 in order to manage their health optimally. This concept of trauma informed care is gaining traction and being extensively studied in healthcare, education and public health. By providing trauma informed care, we bring the whole patient fully into their treatment plan and we cannot have patient-centered care without it.

Want to change the way you study? Learn more about Study Sesh!

Interested in learning more about trauma informed care? Start with these helpful links! https://www.traumainformedcare.chcs.org/

https://www.acesaware.org/

https://store.samhsa.gov/sites/default/files/d7/priv/sma14-4816.pdf

https://www.nature.com/articles/pr2015197#Sec12

https://www.nursefamilypartnership.org/about/

Read the article and view references here.

Be the first to get notified when the Straight A Nursing app goes live!

RATE, REVIEW AND FOLLOW! If this episode helped you, please take a moment to rate and review the show! This helps others find the podcast, which helps me help even more people :-)

Click here, scroll to the bottom, then simply tap to rate with 5 stars and select, "write a review." I'd love to hear how the podcast has helped you!

If you're not following yet, what are you waiting for? It takes just a quick moment and the episodes show up like magic every Thursday. And, when I release a bonus episode, those show up, too! You'll never miss a thing! In Apple Podcasts, just click on the three little dots in the upper right corner here.

Know someone who would also love to study with me? Share the show or share specific episodes with your classmates...when we all work together, we all succeed! On Apple Podcasts, the SHARE link is in the same drop-down as the follow link. Spread the love!

Thanks for studying with me!

Nurse Mo

What is Trauma Informed Care? When you first hear the term “trauma informed care” it may sound like we’re talking about caring for patients who are in the trauma ICU. But it’s actually a much deeper topic and affects so many more patients than you may realize. Trauma informed care is an approach to practice…

The post Trauma Informed Care appeared first on Straight A Nursing.

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!

Anemia can be tough! That’s why you should check out Power Guides and get a downloadable study guide that goes along with each episode delivered to your inbox every week!

Want to maximize your learning by reading this information, too? Check out the article and references here.

RATE, REVIEW AND FOLLOW! If this episode helped you, please take a moment to rate and review the show! This helps others find the podcast, which helps me help even more people :-)

Click here, scroll to the bottom, then simply tap to rate with 5 stars and select, "write a review." I'd love to hear how the podcast has helped you!

If you're not following yet, what are you waiting for? It takes just a quick moment and the episodes show up like magic every Thursday. And, when I release a bonus episode, those show up, too! You'll never miss a thing! In Apple Podcasts, just click on the three little dots in the upper right corner here.

Know someone who would also love to study with me? Share the show or share specific episodes with your classmates...when we all work together, we all succeed! On Apple Podcasts, the SHARE link is in the same drop-down as the follow link. Spread the love!

Thanks for studying with me!

Nurse Mo

Polyhydramnios is a condition in which there is too much amniotic fluid produced during pregnancy. In this episode you’ll learn the causes of polyhydramnios as well as the serious consequences that can occur.

Get a downloadable study guide that goes along with this episode! Check out Power Guides here!

Learn more about oligohydramnios here.

Want to maximize your learning by reading this information, too? Check out the article and references here.

RATE, REVIEW AND FOLLOW! If this episode helped you, please take a moment to rate and review the show! This helps others find the podcast, which helps me help even more people :-)

Click here, scroll to the bottom, then simply tap to rate with 5 stars and select, "write a review." I'd love to hear how the podcast has helped you!

If you're not following yet, what are you waiting for? It takes just a quick moment and the episodes show up like magic every Thursday. And, when I release a bonus episode, those show up, too! You'll never miss a thing! In Apple Podcasts, just click on the three little dots in the upper right corner here.

Know someone who would also love to study with me? Share the show or share specific episodes with your classmates...when we all work together, we all succeed! On Apple Podcasts, the SHARE link is in the same drop-down as the follow link. Spread the love!

Thanks for studying with me!

Nurse Mo

Sepsis is a life-threatening medical emergency that is caused by a massively overblown response to infection. Sepsis affects more than 1.7 million adults in the U.S. each year and is a leading cause of death in U.S. hospitals. In fact, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, one in three patients who die in the hospital have sepsis. Early recognition and treatment are necessary to improve patient outcomes.

Early goal directed therapy for sepsis was first introduced in 2001, and the Surviving Sepsis campaign was launched in 2002. Since then, guidelines for the management of sepsis have been developed and continually improved upon. These guidelines are often referred to as “the sepsis bundle.”

Want to maximize your learning by reading this information, too? Check out the article and references here.

Get a downloadable study guide that goes along with this episode! Check out Power Guides here!

RATE, REVIEW AND FOLLOW! If this episode helped you, please take a moment to rate and review the show! This helps others find the podcast, which helps me help even more people :-)

Click here, scroll to the bottom, then simply tap to rate with 5 stars and select, "write a review." I'd love to hear how the podcast has helped you!

If you're not following yet, what are you waiting for? It takes just a quick moment and the episodes show up like magic every Thursday. And, when I release a bonus episode, those show up, too! You'll never miss a thing! In Apple Podcasts, just click on the three little dots in the upper right corner here.

Know someone who would also love to study with me? Share the show or share specific episodes with your classmates...when we all work together, we all succeed! On Apple Podcasts, the SHARE link is in the same drop-down as the follow link. Spread the love!

Thanks for studying with me!

Nurse Mo

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 and inspiring hospice RN. Learn more about this beautiful specialty and check out Allie on her instagram at @nurse_allie (you won’t regret it!)

RATE, REVIEW AND FOLLOW! If this episode helped you, please take a moment to rate and review the show! This helps others find the podcast, which helps me help even more people :-)

Click here, scroll to the bottom, then simply tap to rate with 5 stars and select, "write a review." I'd love to hear how the podcast has helped you!

If you're not following yet, what are you waiting for? It takes just a quick moment and the episodes show up like magic every Thursday. And, when I release a bonus episode, those show up, too! You'll never miss a thing! In Apple Podcasts, just click on the three little dots in the upper right corner here.

Know someone who would also love to study with me? Share the show or share specific episodes with your classmates...when we all work together, we all succeed! On Apple Podcasts, the SHARE link is in the same drop-down as the follow link. Spread the love!

Thanks for studying with me!

Nurse Mo

An arteriovenous malformation (AVM) is an abnormal cluster of blood vessels that lack a capillary network, which results in both disrupted blood flow and disrupted oxygen delivery. In this episode I’m talking you through AVMs step-by-step so you can (finally) understand them!

Want to get a study guide that goes with this lesson? Check out Power Guides here.

Learn more about neurological assessment here.

Want to maximize your learning by reading this information, too? Check out the article and references here.

RATE, REVIEW AND FOLLOW! If this episode helped you, please take a moment to rate and review the show! This helps others find the podcast, which helps me help even more people :-)

Click here, scroll to the bottom, then simply tap to rate with 5 stars and select, "write a review." I'd love to hear how the podcast has helped you!

If you're not following yet, what are you waiting for? It takes just a quick moment and the episodes show up like magic every Thursday. And, when I release a bonus episode, those show up, too! You'll never miss a thing! In Apple Podcasts, just click on the three little dots in the upper right corner here.

Know someone who would also love to study with me? Share the show or share specific episodes with your classmates...when we all work together, we all succeed! On Apple Podcasts, the SHARE link is in the same drop-down as the follow link. Spread the love!

Thanks for studying with me!

Nurse Mo

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 mission to teach nurses about real estate investing at www.networthnurse.co

RATE, REVIEW AND FOLLOW! If this episode helped you, please take a moment to rate and review the show! This helps others find the podcast, which helps me help even more people :-)

Click here, scroll to the bottom, then simply tap to rate with 5 stars and select, "write a review." I'd love to hear how the podcast has helped you!

If you're not following yet, what are you waiting for? It takes just a quick moment and the episodes show up like magic every Thursday. And, when I release a bonus episode, those show up, too! You'll never miss a thing! In Apple Podcasts, just click on the three little dots in the upper right corner here.

Know someone who would also love to study with me? Share the show or share specific episodes with your classmates...when we all work together, we all succeed! On Apple Podcasts, the SHARE link is in the same drop-down as the follow link. Spread the love!

Thanks for studying with me!

Nurse Mo

This week on the podcast, we’re tackling postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS). It’s a disorder of the autonomic nervous system that has a wide range of symptoms. You’ll learn:

POTS pathophysiology The physiological causes of POTS Signs and symptoms of POTS Key assessments Tests utilized to diagnose the condition Treatments for POTS, including pharmacology and lifestyle modifications POTS education (there is a lot!)

Want to maximize your learning by reading this information, too? Check out the article and references here.

Study Sesh: Get the podcast that truly changes the way you study!

RATE, REVIEW AND FOLLOW! If this episode helped you, please take a moment to rate and review the show! This helps others find the podcast, which helps me help even more people :-)

Click here, scroll to the bottom, then simply tap to rate with 5 stars and select, "write a review." I'd love to hear how the podcast has helped you!

If you're not following yet, what are you waiting for? It takes just a quick moment and the episodes show up like magic every Thursday. And, when I release a bonus episode, those show up, too! You'll never miss a thing! In Apple Podcasts, just click on the three little dots in the upper right corner here.

Know someone who would also love to study with me? Share the show or share specific episodes with your classmates...when we all work together, we all succeed! On Apple Podcasts, the SHARE link is in the same drop-down as the follow link. Spread the love!

Thanks for studying with me!

Nurse Mo

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 to step away from that so I could step even more into this…podcasting and teaching online.

And I have to say, though I first was drawn to PACU for the flexible schedule it allowed me, I’ve really loved working in this environment. In this week’s episode, I’m taking you to work with me and talking through a typical day in the post anesthesia care unit. I’m so excited!!!

So if you’ve ever wondered…

What does Nurse Mo do when she’s not working on the podcast? What’s PACU nursing like? Can PACU be a career option for me?

Then this episode is FOR YOU! I had a lot of fun making this episode and I hope it inspires you to consider post anesthesia nursing. It’s fast-paced, highly variable, and yes…the schedule is pretty great!

Nursing School Thrive Guide: Get the book that’s like having your nursing school bestie by your side every step of the way. (#ad)

Going from ICU to PACU:There are so many differences in these two dynamic environments, and I share them with you here!

RATE, REVIEW AND FOLLOW! If this episode helped you, please take a moment to rate and review the show! This helps others find the podcast, which helps me help even more people :-)

Click here, scroll to the bottom, then simply tap to rate with 5 stars and select, "write a review." I'd love to hear how the podcast has helped you!

If you're not following yet, what are you waiting for? It takes just a quick moment and the episodes show up like magic every Thursday. And, when I release a bonus episode, those show up, too! You'll never miss a thing! In Apple Podcasts, just click on the three little dots in the upper right corner here.

Know someone who would also love to study with me? Share the show or share specific episodes with your classmates...when we all work together, we all succeed! On Apple Podcasts, the SHARE link is in the same drop-down as the follow link. Spread the love!

Thanks for studying with me!

Nurse Mo

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 was ARDS, and some were simply on a ventilator because of a neurological impairment. Needless to say, I got really good at respiratory assessments.

In this episode I’m sharing my best tips for conducting a respiratory assessment step-by-step.

Want to maximize your learning by reading this information, too? Check out the article and references.

Study Sesh: Get the podcast that truly changes the way you study!

RATE, REVIEW AND FOLLOW! If this episode helped you, please take a moment to rate and review the show! This helps others find the podcast, which helps me help even more people :-)

Click here, scroll to the bottom, then simply tap to rate with 5 stars and select, "write a review." I'd love to hear how the podcast has helped you!

If you're not following yet, what are you waiting for? It takes just a quick moment and the episodes show up like magic every Thursday. And, when I release a bonus episode, those show up, too! You'll never miss a thing! In Apple Podcasts, just click on the three little dots in the upper right corner here.

Know someone who would also love to study with me? Share the show or share specific episodes with your classmates...when we all work together, we all succeed! On Apple Podcasts, the SHARE link is in the same drop-down as the follow link. Spread the love!

Thanks for studying with me!

Nurse Mo

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, but I’m too embarrassed to ask.” And I hated how that made me feel… lost, incompetent, out of the loop, and unsure of myself.

You can imagine what feeling this way did to my confidence level. Yep…pretty low sometimes.

In this episode I’m diving into some common medical terms that students (and even experienced nurses) often feel a little unsure about…terms like:

Sensitivity vs specificity Hypoxia vs hypoxemia Crystalloid vs colloid And let’s not forget medical slang like “the gap,” “rainbows,” and “Christmas trees”

After listening to this episode, you’ll be absolutely fascinating at your next cocktail party and probably feel a lot more confident at the bedside, too!

Prep for nursing school with Crucial Concepts Bootcamp: Whether you’re starting nursing school or heading in to your second semester, CCB teaches you the strategies and foundation concepts you need to succeed.

Kali Dayton Interview: Learn about ICU delirium and the dangers of oversedation in this compelling interview.

Purewick: This is an external catheter that’s gaining quickly in popularity (you know, if there were a popularity contest amongst urine collection devices).

Oxygenation: Explore this foundation concept (especially if the concept of hypoxemia vs hypoxia is new to you!).

Atelectasis: Learn more about this respiratory condition (spoiler alert…it’s so much more than “crackles!”)

Drill these terms in by referring back to them in the article here.

RATE, REVIEW AND FOLLOW! If this episode helped you, please take a moment to rate and review the show! This helps others find the podcast, which helps me help even more people :-)

Click here, scroll to the bottom, then simply tap to rate with 5 stars and select, "write a review." I'd love to hear how the podcast has helped you!

If you're not following yet, what are you waiting for? It takes just a quick moment and the episodes show up like magic every Thursday. And, when I release a bonus episode, those show up, too! You'll never miss a thing! In Apple Podcasts, just click on the three little dots in the upper right corner here.

Know someone who would also love to study with me? Share the show or share specific episodes with your classmates...when we all work together, we all succeed! On Apple Podcasts, the SHARE link is in the same drop-down as the follow link. Spread the love!

Thanks for studying with me!

Nurse Mo

Nurse practitioners are advanced practice nurses that fulfill a variety of roles in the healthcare setting. Having an NP license enables a nurse to write orders, prescribe medications, diagnose health conditions and, in some states, can even operate independently without physician oversight.

I had the great pleasure of interviewing Latrina Walden, CEO and founder of Latrina Walden Exam Solutions. I hope this inspires you to pursue your dream of becoming an NP!

You can learn more about Latrina and her programs at www.latrinawaldenexamsolutions.com

Read the transcript from this interview here.

RATE, REVIEW AND FOLLOW! If this episode helped you, please take a moment to rate and review the show! This helps others find the podcast, which helps me help even more people :-)

Click here, scroll to the bottom, then simply tap to rate with 5 stars and select, "write a review." I'd love to hear how the podcast has helped you!

If you're not following yet, what are you waiting for? It takes just a quick moment and the episodes show up like magic every Thursday. And, when I release a bonus episode, those show up, too! You'll never miss a thing! In Apple Podcasts, just click on the three little dots in the upper right corner here.

Know someone who would also love to study with me? Share the show or share specific episodes with your classmates...when we all work together, we all succeed! On Apple Podcasts, the SHARE link is in the same drop-down as the follow link. Spread the love!

Thanks for studying with me!

Nurse Mo

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 episode I’m taking you through the key types of neuro assessments and some basic tips for practicing them with confidence. You’ll learn:

How and when to use the Glasgow Coma Scale The difference between somnolent and obtunded (and the other levels of consciousness, too!). Tips for cranial nerve assessment (spoiler alert…I still use a cheat sheet at the bedside!) The key components of a general neurological assessment for all of your patients An overview of the NIH Stroke Scale (yet another type of neuro assessment!) My pro tips for performing a neurological assessment And, which patients might be at higher risk for a neuro status change

So pop in those earbuds, lace up those walking shoes and let’s talk neuro!

Want to maximize your learning by reading this information, too? Check out the article and references.

Nursing School Thrive Guide: Get the book that’s like having your nursing school bestie by your side every step of the way.

RATE, REVIEW AND FOLLOW! If this episode helped you, please take a moment to rate and review the show! This helps others find the podcast, which helps me help even more people :-)

Click here, scroll to the bottom, then simply tap to rate with 5 stars and select, "write a review." I'd love to hear how the podcast has helped you!

If you're not following yet, what are you waiting for? It takes just a quick moment and the episodes show up like magic every Thursday. And, when I release a bonus episode, those show up, too! You'll never miss a thing! In Apple Podcasts, just click on the three little dots in the upper right corner here.

Know someone who would also love to study with me? Share the show or share specific episodes with your classmates...when we all work together, we all succeed! On Apple Podcasts, the SHARE link is in the same drop-down as the follow link. Spread the love!

Thanks for studying with me!

Nurse Mo

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 and listen to that episode as well.

In this episode you’ll learn:

How isoniazid works Why it’s especially useful in tuberculosis meningitis How isoniazid is administered and in what forms The most important factor when it comes to taking isoniazid Dietary considerations Signs of serious adverse effects and what to watch for And so much more!

Want to maximize your learning by reading this information, too? Check out the article and references here.

What UNIT CONVERSIONS do you need to know to safely administer medications? Grab the FREE Guide!

Get Organized for Nursing School! Don’t get overwhelmed….get organized in this self-paced 5-day challenge.

RATE, REVIEW AND FOLLOW! If this episode helped you, please take a moment to rate and review the show! This helps others find the podcast, which helps me help even more people :-)

Click here, scroll to the bottom, then simply tap to rate with 5 stars and select, "write a review." I'd love to hear how the podcast has helped you!

If you're not following yet, what are you waiting for? It takes just a quick moment and the episodes show up like magic every Thursday. And, when I release a bonus episode, those show up, too! You'll never miss a thing! In Apple Podcasts, just click on the three little dots in the upper right corner here.

Know someone who would also love to study with me? Share the show or share specific episodes with your classmates...when we all work together, we all succeed! On Apple Podcasts, the SHARE link is in the same drop-down as the follow link. Spread the love!

Thanks for studying with me!

Nurse Mo

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 around. Let’s see if we can dispel some of the most common myths about nursing school Straight A style!

In this bonus episode we’re talking myths about your instructors, failing out of school, the exams, your social life, your GPA and how hard certain classes are…so pop in those earbuds and let’s chat!

Prep for nursing school with Crucial Concepts Bootcamp: Whether you’re starting nursing school or heading in to your second semester, CCB teaches you the strategies and foundation concepts you need to succeed.

Boost productivity: Get more done in less time when you try my favorite productivity tool.

Nursing school planner: Get the planner that has nursing students raving!

Test anxiety: A little anxiety can be a good thing because it makes you more alert. But when it’s too much, your performance can definitely suffer. Learn how to combat test anxiety so you can be at your best.

RATE, REVIEW AND FOLLOW! If this episode helped you, please take a moment to rate and review the show! This helps others find the podcast, which helps me help even more people :-)

Click here, scroll to the bottom, then simply tap to rate with 5 stars and select, "write a review." I'd love to hear how the podcast has helped you!

If you're not following yet, what are you waiting for? It takes just a quick moment and the episodes show up like magic every Thursday. And, when I release a bonus episode, those show up, too! You'll never miss a thing! In Apple Podcasts, just click on the three little dots in the upper right corner here.

Know someone who would also love to study with me? Share the show or share specific episodes with your classmates...when we all work together, we all succeed! On Apple Podcasts, the SHARE link is in the same drop-down as the follow link. Spread the love!

Thanks for studying with me!

Nurse Mo

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!”

Ok, maybe that doesn’t make me a weirdo but it does make me a bit of a planner hoarder and every now and then I look back at those first few weeks of nursing school to remind myself of what you are going through as you start out on this journey.

And today in a special bonus episode, I’m pulling back the curtain and talking through exactly what my first two weeks were like!

Prep for nursing school with Crucial Concepts Bootcamp: Whether you’re starting nursing school or heading in to your second semester, CCB teaches you the strategies and foundation concepts you need to succeed.

Study groups: Find out why I decided study groups were a waste of time and how I studied with others in an effective and efficient way.

Nursing school planner: Get the planner that has nursing students raving!

“This planner is SO WONDERFUL! Cute covers to choose from and absolutely the most helpful planner I have ever had. This is my second year using this planner and I don’t know what I would do without it. I couldn’t wait to order my second one, and I seriously ordered it the first day it was released! Nurse Mo thought of everything a nursing student would need in a planner and much more! I love the extra study tips and pearls of wisdom throughout the pages. Shipping was quicker than estimated as well! Thank you!!” -Jessica

“This planner is PERFECT!!! I love everything about it. I can’t wait to order the tablet version for my ipad!” -Tiarra

“Love this planner so much already. It’s only the beginning of July and I already feel so much more organized! Can’t wait to fill it up completely! I love that there’s nursing tips on every page and some cheat sheets in the back! Loveeee!” -Danielle

RATE, REVIEW AND FOLLOW! If this episode helped you, please take a moment to rate and review the show! This helps others find the podcast, which helps me help even more people :-)

Click here, scroll to the bottom, then simply tap to rate with 5 stars and select, "write a review." I'd love to hear how the podcast has helped you!

If you're not following yet, what are you waiting for? It takes just a quick moment and the episodes show up like magic every Thursday. And, when I release a bonus episode, those show up, too! You'll never miss a thing! In Apple Podcasts, just click on the three little dots in the upper right corner here.

Know someone who would also love to study with me? Share the show or share specific episodes with your classmates...when we all work together, we all succeed! On Apple Podcasts, the SHARE link is in the same drop-down as the follow link. Spread the love!

Thanks for studying with me!

Nurse Mo

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.

In this bonus episode we’re breaking down the belief that grades are the end-all, be-all in nursing school. Sure, they’re important (have you seen those grading scales?) but they’re not the only way to measure your academic success.

Register for the FREE Workshop: Learn 5 key ways nursing students struggle and what you can do instead!

Prep for nursing school with Crucial Concepts Bootcamp: Whether you’re starting nursing school or heading in to your second semester, CCB teaches you the strategies and foundation concepts you need to succeed.

RATE, REVIEW AND FOLLOW! If this episode helped you, please take a moment to rate and review the show! This helps others find the podcast, which helps me help even more people :-)

Click here, scroll to the bottom, then simply tap to rate with 5 stars and select, "write a review." I'd love to hear how the podcast has helped you!

If you're not following yet, what are you waiting for? It takes just a quick moment and the episodes show up like magic every Thursday. And, when I release a bonus episode, those show up, too! You'll never miss a thing! In Apple Podcasts, just click on the three little dots in the upper right corner here.

Know someone who would also love to study with me? Share the show or share specific episodes with your classmates...when we all work together, we all succeed! On Apple Podcasts, the SHARE link is in the same drop-down as the follow link. Spread the love!

Thanks for studying with me!

Nurse Mo

First off, let me say that I 100% think most nursing school instructors are passionate about teaching and sincerely want their students to succeed.

With that said, you will occasionally get a teacher that you either think is a “bad teacher” or who just doesn’t teach in a way that resonates with you.

Some students may take this as an opportunity to give away their power and just resort to complaining and feeling resentful…but not you. The truth is, no one is perfect and the key is how you react when your instructor is “not so great.”

Register for the FREE Workshop: Learn 5 key ways nursing students struggle and what you can do instead!

Prep for nursing school with Crucial Concepts Bootcamp: Whether you’re starting nursing school or heading in to your second semester, CCB teaches you the strategies and foundation concepts you need to succeed.

RATE, REVIEW AND FOLLOW! If this episode helped you, please take a moment to rate and review the show! This helps others find the podcast, which helps me help even more people :-)

Click here, scroll to the bottom, then simply tap to rate with 5 stars and select, "write a review." I'd love to hear how the podcast has helped you!

If you're not following yet, what are you waiting for? It takes just a quick moment and the episodes show up like magic every Thursday. And, when I release a bonus episode, those show up, too! You'll never miss a thing! In Apple Podcasts, just click on the three little dots in the upper right corner here.

Know someone who would also love to study with me? Share the show or share specific episodes with your classmates...when we all work together, we all succeed! On Apple Podcasts, the SHARE link is in the same drop-down as the follow link. Spread the love!

Thanks for studying with me!

Nurse Mo

In this episode, I’m continuing to reveal the secrets of successful nursing students.

Helpful links: -Get all 20 Secrets of Successful Nursing Students in a free downloadable guide. -Take your nursing school prep to the next level with Crucial Concepts Bootcamp.

Want to maximize your preparation by reading this information, too? Check out the article here.

RATE, REVIEW AND FOLLOW! If this episode helped you, please take a moment to rate and review the show! This helps others find the podcast, which helps me help even more people :-)

Click here, scroll to the bottom, then simply tap to rate with 5 stars and select, "write a review." I'd love to hear how the podcast has helped you!

If you're not following yet, what are you waiting for? It takes just a quick moment and the episodes show up like magic every Thursday. And, when I release a bonus episode, those show up, too! You'll never miss a thing! In Apple Podcasts, just click on the three little dots in the upper right corner here.

Know someone who would also love to study with me? Share the show or share specific episodes with your classmates...when we all work together, we all succeed! On Apple Podcasts, the SHARE link is in the same drop-down as the follow link. Spread the love!

Thanks for studying with me!

Nurse Mo

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’s definitely a skill you’ll develop over time.

But what if you want black-belt level productivity skills starting today?

Then you, my friend, are in for a treat with this bonus episode! I’ll be sharing the technique that has helped me get more done in less time - The Pomodoro Technique.

What is the Pomodoro Technique Why this technique absolutely works (it’s science!) How do you use it? What apps I recommend (bonus, they are free!)

Register for the FREE Workshop: Learn 5 key ways nursing students struggle and what you can do instead!

Prep for nursing school with Crucial Concepts Bootcamp: Whether you’re starting nursing school or heading in to your second semester, CCB teaches you the strategies and foundation concepts you need to succeed.

20 Secrets of Successful Nursing Students: Learn what makes successful students successful in my free guide!

RATE, REVIEW AND FOLLOW! If this episode helped you, please take a moment to rate and review the show! This helps others find the podcast, which helps me help even more people :-)

Click here, scroll to the bottom, then simply tap to rate with 5 stars and select, "write a review." I'd love to hear how the podcast has helped you!

If you're not following yet, what are you waiting for? It takes just a quick moment and the episodes show up like magic every Thursday. And, when I release a bonus episode, those show up, too! You'll never miss a thing! In Apple Podcasts, just click on the three little dots in the upper right corner here.

Know someone who would also love to study with me? Share the show or share specific episodes with your classmates...when we all work together, we all succeed! On Apple Podcasts, the SHARE link is in the same drop-down as the follow link. Spread the love!

Thanks for studying with me!

Nurse Mo

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 much I’d REALLY be studying The realities of all those reading assignments The crucial class from my pre-reqs that made all the difference My super power would be organization The key factor that is critical to nursing school success

Register for the FREE Workshop: Learn 5 key ways nursing students struggle and what you can do instead!

Prep for nursing school with Crucial Concepts Bootcamp: Whether you’re starting nursing school or heading in to your second semester, CCB teaches you the strategies and foundation concepts you need to succeed.

RATE, REVIEW AND FOLLOW! If this episode helped you, please take a moment to rate and review the show! This helps others find the podcast, which helps me help even more people :-)

Click here, scroll to the bottom, then simply tap to rate with 5 stars and select, "write a review." I'd love to hear how the podcast has helped you!

If you're not following yet, what are you waiting for? It takes just a quick moment and the episodes show up like magic every Thursday. And, when I release a bonus episode, those show up, too! You'll never miss a thing! In Apple Podcasts, just click on the three little dots in the upper right corner here.

Know someone who would also love to study with me? Share the show or share specific episodes with your classmates...when we all work together, we all succeed! On Apple Podcasts, the SHARE link is in the same drop-down as the follow link. Spread the love!

Thanks for studying with me!

Nurse Mo

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 around you go to nursing school, too. And that’s because it really does impact those key areas of your life (relationships, work, everyday household chores and your TIME!).

So that’s why getting your partner on board is absolutely vital.

Register for the FREE Workshop and learn 5 key ways nursing students struggle and what you can do instead!

Prep for nursing school with Crucial Concepts Bootcamp. Whether you’re starting nursing school or heading in to your second semester, CCB teaches you the strategies and foundation concepts you need to succeed.

RATE, REVIEW AND FOLLOW!

Do you love the show? If this episode helped you, please take a moment to rate and review the show! This helps others find the podcast, which helps me help even more people :-)

Click here, scroll to the bottom, then simply tap to rate with 5 stars and select, "write a review." I'd love to hear how the podcast has helped you!

If you're not following yet, what are you waiting for? It takes just a quick moment and the episodes show up like magic every Thursday. And, when I release a bonus episode, those show up, too! You'll never miss a thing! In Apple Podcasts, just click on the three little dots in the upper right corner here.

Know someone who would also love to study with me? Share the show or share specific episodes with your classmates...when we all work together, we all succeed! On Apple Podcasts, the SHARE link is in the same drop-down as the follow link. Spread the love!

Thanks for studying with me!

Nurse Mo

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 through nursing school with ADHD.

And even if you don’t have ADHD, the tips in here are absolute gold for time management and organization, so be sure you don’t miss this one…it’s so good!

Thank you to everyone who shared their knowledge, insight, and experience. I learned so much, and I'm so grateful for you!

Helpful links:

-Develop a morning routine with these tips from episode 129. -Download the free LATTE Template. -Know when to memorize vs conceptualize with these tips. -Run sheets can help you have a more organized clinical shift.

One of the keys to success to thriving in nursing school with ADHD is excellent preparation and planning. My nursing school prep course Crucial Concepts Bootcamp can help you get the head start you need! Learn more here.

RATE, REVIEW AND FOLLOW! If this episode helped you, please take a moment to rate and review the show! This helps others find the podcast, which helps me help even more people :-)

Click here, scroll to the bottom, then simply tap to rate with 5 stars and select, "write a review." I'd love to hear how the podcast has helped you!

If you're not following yet, what are you waiting for? It takes just a quick moment and the episodes show up like magic every Thursday. And, when I release a bonus episode, those show up, too! You'll never miss a thing! In Apple Podcasts, just click on the three little dots in the upper right corner here.

Know someone who would also love to study with me? Share the show or share specific episodes with your classmates...when we all work together, we all succeed! On Apple Podcasts, the SHARE link is in the same drop-down as the follow link. Spread the love!

Thanks for studying with me!

Nurse Mo

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 what to do before school starts so you can be ahead of the game.

Grab a copy of the new nursing student checklist.

Want to take your prep even further? Check out my nursing school prep course Crucial Concepts Bootcamp. It’s helped thousands of students start their programs ahead of the game, and it can help you, too!

RATE, REVIEW AND FOLLOW! If this episode helped you, please take a moment to rate and review the show! This helps others find the podcast, which helps me help even more people :-)

Click here, scroll to the bottom, then simply tap to rate with 5 stars and select, "write a review." I'd love to hear how the podcast has helped you!

If you're not following yet, what are you waiting for? It takes just a quick moment and the episodes show up like magic every Thursday. And, when I release a bonus episode, those show up, too! You'll never miss a thing! In Apple Podcasts, just click on the three little dots in the upper right corner here.

Know someone who would also love to study with me? Share the show or share specific episodes with your classmates...when we all work together, we all succeed! On Apple Podcasts, the SHARE link is in the same drop-down as the follow link. Spread the love!

Thanks for studying with me!

Nurse Mo

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 this special bonus episode I’m sharing with you all the ways older nursing students have felt they’re at an advantage so you can focus on the positives and realize it’s not too late for you to follow your dream.

And yes, some students did say they felt they had a few disadvantages, so we’ll talk about what you can do to address them before classes start. Either way, I want you to know I believe in you and support you 100%!

Are you looking for a way to get prepared for nursing school? Then check out my nursing school prep course Crucial Concepts Bootcamp. It’s helped thousands of students start their programs ahead of the game, and it can help you, too!

RATE, REVIEW AND FOLLOW! If this episode helped you, please take a moment to rate and review the show! This helps others find the podcast, which helps me help even more people :-)

Click here, scroll to the bottom, then simply tap to rate with 5 stars and select, "write a review." I'd love to hear how the podcast has helped you!

If you're not following yet, what are you waiting for? It takes just a quick moment and the episodes show up like magic every Thursday. And, when I release a bonus episode, those show up, too! You'll never miss a thing! In Apple Podcasts, just click on the three little dots in the upper right corner here.

Know someone who would also love to study with me? Share the show or share specific episodes with your classmates...when we all work together, we all succeed! On Apple Podcasts, the SHARE link is in the same drop-down as the follow link. Spread the love!

Thanks for studying with me!

Nurse Mo

Bipolar disorder is a mental health condition characterized by alternating episodes of emotional highs and lows. The occurrence of these extreme mood swings is variable. Some individuals experience them multiple times per year while others have rare occurrences. Though a lifelong condition with no cure, bipolar disorder can be managed with proper treatment.

In this episode you’ll learn:

-Key terms associated with bipolar disorder -Types of bipolar disorder -Complications of this condition -Signs/symptoms of bipolar disorder -Key assessments and interventions -Medications used to treat bipolar disorder …and more!

Helpful Links: Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance website and crisis line.

If you are having thoughts of death or suicide, call 1-800-273-TALK or text DBSA to 741-741. If you need immediate assistance, call 911 or go to the nearest hospital emergency room.

Episode 135 - Neurology case study

Episode 31 - Trauma case study

Episode 142 - Electroconvulsive therapy

Read the episode transcript and see references here.

If you find this review of bipolar disorder helpful, you’ll love our other mental health topics here.

Change the way you study with Study Sesh. If you’re tired of sitting and staring at a screen or a book, it’s time to check out Study Sesh!

RATE, REVIEW AND FOLLOW! If this episode helped you, please take a moment to rate and review the show! This helps others find the podcast, which helps me help even more people :-)

Click here, scroll to the bottom, then simply tap to rate with 5 stars and select, "write a review." I'd love to hear how the podcast has helped you!

If you're not following yet, what are you waiting for? It takes just a quick moment and the episodes show up like magic every Thursday. And, when I release a bonus episode, those show up, too! You'll never miss a thing! In Apple Podcasts, just click on the three little dots in the upper right corner here.

Know someone who would also love to study with me? Share the show or share specific episodes with your classmates...when we all work together, we all succeed! On Apple Podcasts, the SHARE link is in the same drop-down as the follow link. Spread the love!

Thanks for studying with me!

Nurse Mo

The term oligohydramnios literally means “scant amniotic fluid” and is diagnosed when ultrasound reveals an amniotic fluid index (AFI) of less than 5 cm. In this episode you’ll learn:

The role of amniotic fluid The causes and complications of oligohydramnios Signs/symptoms of oligohydramnios Key nursing assessments and interventions Tests utilized to evaluate oligohydramnios Patient education

Helpful links:

Learn more about meconium aspiration syndrome in episode 212.

Learn more about placenta abnormalities in episode 92.

Get more maternal/newborn topics here.

Use audio to change the way you study with Study Sesh.

Want to maximize your learning by reading this information, too? Check out the article and references here.

RATE, REVIEW AND FOLLOW!

If this episode helped you, please take a moment to rate and review the show! This helps others find the podcast, which helps me help even more people :-)

Click here, scroll to the bottom, then simply tap to rate with 5 stars and select, "write a review." I'd love to hear how the podcast has helped you!

If you're not following yet, what are you waiting for? It takes just a quick moment and the episodes show up like magic every Thursday. And, when I release a bonus episode, those show up, too! You'll never miss a thing! In Apple Podcasts, just click on the three little dots in the upper right corner here.

Know someone who would also love to study with me? Share the show or share specific episodes with your classmates...when we all work together, we all succeed! On Apple Podcasts, the SHARE link is in the same drop-down as the follow link. Spread the love!

Thanks for studying with me!

Nurse Mo

Levothyroxine is synthetic thyroid hormone utilized mainly for the treatment of hypothyroidism. It’s one of the most common and straightforward drugs you’ll see, so this one should be pretty easy for you!

Want to change the way you study? Then it’s time to check out Study Sesh, the podcast that gets you up from your desk while using dynamic audio formats to learn and review.

For more articles on endocrine disorders, check out the list here.

Want to maximize your learning by reading this information, too? Check out the article and references here.

RATE, REVIEW AND FOLLOW!

If this episode helped you, please take a moment to rate and review the show! This helps others find the podcast, which helps me help even more people :-)

Click here, scroll to the bottom, then simply tap to rate with 5 stars and select, "write a review." I'd love to hear how the podcast has helped you!

If you're not following yet, what are you waiting for? It takes just a quick moment and the episodes show up like magic every Thursday. And, when I release a bonus episode, those show up, too! You'll never miss a thing! In Apple Podcasts, just click on the three little dots in the upper right corner here.

Know someone who would also love to study with me? Share the show or share specific episodes with your classmates...when we all work together, we all succeed! On Apple Podcasts, the SHARE link is in the same drop-down as the follow link. Spread the love!

Thanks for studying with me!

Nurse Mo

Tuberculosis is an airborne bacterial infection caused by an organism called myobacterium tuberculosis. It’s spread through the air from person to person such as when someone with pulmonary tuberculosis coughs or sneezes. In this episode, we’re diving into the key things to know about tuberculosis for your nursing school exams:

Tuberculosis pathophysiology and risk factors Signs/symptoms of tuberculosis Key assessments for tuberculosis Interventions, including pharmacology Patient teaching Details about the tuberculin skin test and what different levels of induration indicate

I hope this overview of tuberculosis helps you prepare for NCLEX, clinical and nursing school exams! Check out the article and references here to maximize your learning.

For more respiratory topics, click here.

HCA Healthcare: Are you a new grad nurse looking for an organization that supports your transition into practice? Then you’ll definitely want to check out HCA Healthcare’s robust nurse residency program.

Study Sesh: Are you tired of sitting at your desk staring at a book or a screen? Change the way you study with Study Sesh.

RATE, REVIEW AND FOLLOW! If this episode helped you, please take a moment to rate and review the show! This helps others find the podcast, which helps me help even more people :-)

Click here, scroll to the bottom, then simply tap to rate with 5 stars and select, "write a review." I'd love to hear how the podcast has helped you!

If you're not following yet, what are you waiting for? It takes just a quick moment and the episodes show up like magic every Thursday. And, when I release a bonus episode, those show up, too! You'll never miss a thing! In Apple Podcasts, just click on the three little dots in the upper right corner here.

Know someone who would also love to study with me? Share the show or share specific episodes with your classmates...when we all work together, we all succeed! On Apple Podcasts, the SHARE link is in the same drop-down as the follow link. Spread the love!

Thanks for studying with me!

Nurse Mo

This episode is generously sponsored by PicMonic and TrueLearn, two great tools to utilize as you prepare for the NCLEX! Picmonic is a dream come true for audio and visual learners while TrueLearn has over 900 practice questions to help you prepare. Use promo code STRAIGHTA for 20% off both products using the links below:

Picmonic: https://www.picmonic.com/insiderhookup/straighta TrueLearn: https://truelearn.referralrock.com/l/STRAIGHTA/

Download a free NCLEX study plan.

Have more NCLEX questions than what we talked about here? Visit the NCSBN website.

A Left Ventricular Assist Device (LVAD) is a mechanical pump that is surgically inserted to assist the left ventricle in pumping blood to the body. In this episode you’ll learn what an LVAD is, how it works and the basics for caring for patients with ventricular assist devices.

A big thank-you to HCA Healthcare for sponsoring this episode. You can learn more about HCA’s robust Nurse Residency Program here.

Important links: Demo video of obtaining a MAP using a Doppler.

Right-Sided vs Left-Sided Heart Failure: Episode 57.

UCSF guide about living with a VAD.

Read the episode transcript and see references here.

For more articles on cardiovascular nursing, check out the collection here.

Do you want to start nursing school prepared and ready to conquer? Then check out my nursing school prep course Crucial Concepts Bootcamp.

RATE, REVIEW AND FOLLOW!

If this episode helped you, please take a moment to rate and review the show! This helps others find the podcast, which helps me help even more people :-)

Click here, scroll to the bottom, then simply tap to rate with 5 stars and select, "write a review." I'd love to hear how the podcast has helped you!

If you're not following yet, what are you waiting for? It takes just a quick moment and the episodes show up like magic every Thursday. And, when I release a bonus episode, those show up, too! You'll never miss a thing! In Apple Podcasts, just click on the three little dots in the upper right corner here.

Know someone who would also love to study with me? Share the show or share specific episodes with your classmates...when we all work together, we all succeed! On Apple Podcasts, the SHARE link is in the same drop-down as the follow link. Spread the love!

Thanks for studying with me!

Nurse Mo

In this episode, I’m breaking down bisphosphonates, a class of drugs often used in the treatment of osteoporosis.

Want to get your hands on my Drug Names Tip Sheet? Download for free here.

Learn more about osteoporosis here.

Want to maximize your learning by reading this information, too? Check out the article and references here.

A big thank-you to HCA Healthcare for sponsoring this episode. You can learn more about HCA’s robust Nurse Residency Program here.

RATE, REVIEW AND FOLLOW!

If this episode helped you, please take a moment to rate and review the show! This helps others find the podcast, which helps me help even more people :-)

Click here, scroll to the bottom, then simply tap to rate with 5 stars and select, "write a review." I'd love to hear how the podcast has helped you!

If you're not following yet, what are you waiting for? It takes just a quick moment and the episodes show up like magic every Thursday. And, when I release a bonus episode, those show up, too! You'll never miss a thing! In Apple Podcasts, just click on the three little dots in the upper right corner here.

Know someone who would also love to study with me? Share the show or share specific episodes with your classmates...when we all work together, we all succeed! On Apple Podcasts, the SHARE link is in the same drop-down as the follow link. Spread the love!

Thanks for studying with me!

Nurse Mo

Successful nursing students are consistent, have systems, and they collaborate! Find out exactly what all this means in this episode…and, if you’d like ALL of my best tips for new nursing students, you can download the free guide “20 Secrets of Successful Nursing Students” here.

Other links mentioned in this episode: Test anxiety: Find out why it’s so common (and what to do about it) Crucial Concepts Bootcamp: Learn more about the only prep course that gets you ready for nursing school! Study groups: Find out how to create a study group that won’t waste your time.

Read the article here.

RATE, REVIEW AND FOLLOW!

If this episode helped you, please take a moment to rate and review the show! This helps others find the podcast, which helps me help even more people :-)

Click here, scroll to the bottom, then simply tap to rate with 5 stars and select, "write a review." I'd love to hear how the podcast has helped you!

If you're not following yet, what are you waiting for? It takes just a quick moment and the episodes show up like magic every Thursday. And, when I release a bonus episode, those show up, too! You'll never miss a thing! In Apple Podcasts, just click on the three little dots in the upper right corner here.

Know someone who would also love to study with me? Share the show or share specific episodes with your classmates...when we all work together, we all succeed! On Apple Podcasts, the SHARE link is in the same drop-down as the follow link. Spread the love!

Thanks for studying with me!

Nurse Mo

In this episode, I’m sharing five ways to stand out as the amazing new-grad nurse that you are! Plus, I am excited to have Andrea Gournier from The Resume Rx on this episode to share her best tips for making a standout resume and cover letter. You can learn more about Amanda’s services and resume templates here. Be sure to use promo code STRAIGHTA to get 20% off the template bundle we talk about in the episode!

A big thank-you to HCA Healthcare for sponsoring this episode. You can learn more about HCA’s robust Nurse Residency Program here.

Want to maximize your learning by reading this information, too? Check out the article and references here.

RATE, REVIEW AND FOLLOW!

If this episode helped you, please take a moment to rate and review the show! This helps others find the podcast, which helps me help even more people :-)

Click here, scroll to the bottom, then simply tap to rate with 5 stars and select, "write a review." I'd love to hear how the podcast has helped you!

If you're not following yet, what are you waiting for? It takes just a quick moment and the episodes show up like magic every Thursday. And, when I release a bonus episode, those show up, too! You'll never miss a thing! In Apple Podcasts, just click on the three little dots in the upper right corner here.

Know someone who would also love to study with me? Share the show or share specific episodes with your classmates...when we all work together, we all succeed! On Apple Podcasts, the SHARE link is in the same drop-down as the follow link. Spread the love!

Thanks for studying with me!

Nurse Mo

Meconium aspiration syndrome (MAS) occurs when the infant breathes in meconium either before, during or after labor. In this episode, we’ll be talking through the four pathophysiologies of MAS, who is at risk, and nursing implications using the Straight A Nursing LATTE method.

Want to maximize your learning by reading this information, too? Check out the article and references here.

If you’d like to learn more about pediatrics, come right this way!

RATE, REVIEW AND FOLLOW!

If this episode helped you, please take a moment to rate and review the show! This helps others find the podcast, which helps me help even more people :-)

Click here, scroll to the bottom, then simply tap to rate with 5 stars and select, "write a review." I'd love to hear how the podcast has helped you!

If you're not following yet, what are you waiting for? It takes just a quick moment and the episodes show up like magic every Thursday. And, when I release a bonus episode, those show up, too! You'll never miss a thing! In Apple Podcasts, just click on the three little dots in the upper right corner here.

Know someone who would also love to study with me? Share the show or share specific episodes with your classmates...when we all work together, we all succeed! On Apple Podcasts, the SHARE link is in the same drop-down as the follow link. Spread the love!

Thanks for studying with me!

Nurse Mo

Your first five shifts are a pivotal time for new grad nurses. Not only for your career, but settling into your new job as well. In this episode, I’m sharing with you the key things to focus on as you begin your first job as a nurse.

A big “thank you” to HCA Healthcare for sponsoring this episode. Click here to learn more about HCA Healthcare’s robust nurse residency program.

Want a fun Bingo card to keep track of your new-nurse accomplishments? Download it here.

Curious about the interdisciplinary team? Check out this episode.

Read the show notes here.

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If this episode helped you, please take a moment to rate and review the show! This helps others find the podcast, which helps me help even more people :-)

Click here, scroll to the bottom, then simply tap to rate with 5 stars and select, "write a review." I'd love to hear how the podcast has helped you!

If you're not following yet, what are you waiting for? It takes just a quick moment and the episodes show up like magic every Thursday. And, when I release a bonus episode, those show up, too! You'll never miss a thing! In Apple Podcasts, just click on the three little dots in the upper right corner here.

Know someone who would also love to study with me? Share the show or share specific episodes with your classmates...when we all work together, we all succeed! On Apple Podcasts, the SHARE link is in the same drop-down as the follow link. Spread the love!

Thanks for studying with me!

Nurse Mo

In this episode, I’m getting super personal and telling you about my own experience with PV. Of course, we’ll also be going through this myeloproliferative disorder using the Straight A Nursing LATTE method.

Loving the Latte Method? Download a free template here.

For references and to read this information, check out the online article here.

RATE, REVIEW AND FOLLOW!

If this episode helped you, please take a moment to rate and review the show! This helps others find the podcast, which helps me help even more people :-)

Click here, scroll to the bottom, then simply tap to rate with 5 stars and select, "write a review." I'd love to hear how the podcast has helped you!

If you're not following yet, what are you waiting for? It takes just a quick moment and the episodes show up like magic every Thursday. And, when I release a bonus episode, those show up, too! You'll never miss a thing! In Apple Podcasts, just click on the three little dots in the upper right corner here.

Know someone who would also love to study with me? Share the show or share specific episodes with your classmates...when we all work together, we all succeed! On Apple Podcasts, the SHARE link is in the same drop-down as the follow link. Spread the love!

Thanks for studying with me!

Nurse Mo

I get so many questions from students that are nearing graduation and wanted to share some of the most recent ones here with you in this Q&A. In this episode, we’ll talk about:

How to deal when everyone tells you that you have to start in Med/Surg but you really don’t want to Maximizing learning with limited clinical hours Demystifying what those first crucial few months will be like as a new RN How to manage multiple job offers with professionalism Tips on gaining confidence as a new nurse Advice for how to talk to patients with limited clinical experience Specific areas to focus on for NCLEX studying Choosing between the specialty you love and the general route most nursing schools advise Red flags to look for while interviewing How to keep a positive mindset when so many people are talking negatively about nursing right now

A big “thank you” to HCA Healthcare for sponsoring this episode. Click here to learn more about HCA Healthcare’s robust nurse residency program.

Check out the article here.

RATE, REVIEW AND FOLLOW!

If this episode helped you, please take a moment to rate and review the show! This helps others find the podcast, which helps me help even more people :-)

Click here, scroll to the bottom, then simply tap to rate with 5 stars and select, "write a review." I'd love to hear how the podcast has helped you!

If you're not following yet, what are you waiting for? It takes just a quick moment and the episodes show up like magic every Thursday. And, when I release a bonus episode, those show up, too! You'll never miss a thing! In Apple Podcasts, just click on the three little dots in the upper right corner here.

Know someone who would also love to study with me? Share the show or share specific episodes with your classmates...when we all work together, we all succeed! On Apple Podcasts, the SHARE link is in the same drop-down as the follow link. Spread the love!

Thanks for studying with me!

Nurse Mo

Mannitol is a common medication you are likely to see on nursing school exams, NCLEX, and in the clinical setting. Because it requires careful administration, assessment, and follow-up, you will most likely see it utilized in the critical care environment. In this episode, we’ll go through mannitol using the Straight A Nursing DRRUGS framework.

Want to maximize your learning by reading this information, too? Check out the article and references here.

Learn some of the most common root/suffix conventions used in pharmacology to make studying and understanding easier than ever! Grab the FREE pharmacology cheatsheet!

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If this episode helped you, please take a moment to rate and review the show! This helps others find the podcast, which helps me help even more people :-)

Click here, scroll to the bottom, then simply tap to rate with 5 stars and select, "write a review." I'd love to hear how the podcast has helped you!

If you're not following yet, what are you waiting for? It takes just a quick moment and the episodes show up like magic every Thursday. And, when I release a bonus episode, those show up, too! You'll never miss a thing! In Apple Podcasts, just click on the three little dots in the upper right corner here.

Know someone who would also love to study with me? Share the show or share specific episodes with your classmates...when we all work together, we all succeed! On Apple Podcasts, the SHARE link is in the same drop-down as the follow link. Spread the love!

Thanks for studying with me!

Nurse Mo

Many concepts you will learn in nursing school are related, but different enough that it can often be confusing to keep all the key elements distinct from one another. A great example of these are the two related-but-different conditions DI and SIADH.

Diabetes insipidus (DI) and syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone (SIADH) are essentially opposite of one another. It’s important you understand how to differentiate between the two in clinical and on your exams.

Are you starting nursing school soon? Get prepped with Crucial Concepts Bootcamp!

A big “thank you” to HCA Healthcare for sponsoring this episode. Click here to learn more about HCA Healthcare’s robust nurse residency program.

Want to maximize your learning by reading this information, too? Check out the article and references here.

RATE, REVIEW AND FOLLOW!

If this episode helped you, please take a moment to rate and review the show! This helps others find the podcast, which helps me help even more people :-)

Click here, scroll to the bottom, then simply tap to rate with 5 stars and select, "write a review." I'd love to hear how the podcast has helped you!

If you're not following yet, what are you waiting for? It takes just a quick moment and the episodes show up like magic every Thursday. And, when I release a bonus episode, those show up, too! You'll never miss a thing! In Apple Podcasts, just click on the three little dots in the upper right corner here.

Know someone who would also love to study with me? Share the show or share specific episodes with your classmates...when we all work together, we all succeed! On Apple Podcasts, the SHARE link is in the same drop-down as the follow link. Spread the love!

Thanks for studying with me!

Nurse Mo

Tetralogy of Fallot (ToF) is a cyanotic congenital heart disease characterized by four key defects - pulmonary stenosis, right ventricular hypertrophy, ventricular septal defect and overriding aorta.

In this episode we’ll talk through the physiological consequences of these defects, the complications of this condition, and then we’ll go through it from top to bottom using the Straight A Nursing LATTE Method.

Download the LATTE Method template here.

Want to maximize your learning by reading this information, too? Check out the article and references here.

RATE, REVIEW AND FOLLOW!

If this episode helped you, please take a moment to rate and review the show! This helps others find the podcast, which helps me help even more people :-)

Click here, scroll to the bottom, then simply tap to rate with 5 stars and select, "write a review." I'd love to hear how the podcast has helped you!

If you're not following yet, what are you waiting for? It takes just a quick moment and the episodes show up like magic every Thursday. And, when I release a bonus episode, those show up, too! You'll never miss a thing! In Apple Podcasts, just click on the three little dots in the upper right corner here.

Know someone who would also love to study with me? Share the show or share specific episodes with your classmates...when we all work together, we all succeed! On Apple Podcasts, the SHARE link is in the same drop-down as the follow link. Spread the love!

Thanks for studying with me!

Nurse Mo

If you are graduating from nursing school soon, you are undoubtedly starting to think about your first nursing job. For many of you, that will involve participating in a nurse residency program. In this episode, we’ll discuss what nurse residency programs are, why they are valuable, how they are structured, and what to look for when choosing one.

A big thank-you to HCA Healthcare for sponsoring this episode. HCA Healthcare provides new grad nurses opportunities to transition into practice with extra support through their nurse residency program. Learn more about their programs throughout the United States here.

Read the article and view references here.

Studying for the NCLEX soon? Maximize your studying with Study Sesh, my private podcast that uses PodQuizzes, Drills, Case Studies and more to truly change the way you study.

RATE, REVIEW AND FOLLOW!

If this episode helped you, please take a moment to rate and review the show! This helps others find the podcast, which helps me help even more people :-)

Click here, scroll to the bottom, then simply tap to rate with 5 stars and select, "write a review." I'd love to hear how the podcast has helped you!

If you're not following yet, what are you waiting for? It takes just a quick moment and the episodes show up like magic every Thursday. And, when I release a bonus episode, those show up, too! You'll never miss a thing! In Apple Podcasts, just click on the three little dots in the upper right corner here.

Know someone who would also love to study with me? Share the show or share specific episodes with your classmates...when we all work together, we all succeed! On Apple Podcasts, the SHARE link is in the same drop-down as the follow link. Spread the love!

Thanks for studying with me!

Nurse Mo

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) are two conditions along the same spectrum. In this episode we cover the basics of immunity, the progression of HIV to AIDS, signs and symptoms, assessments, tests, treatments and key patient education.

Starting nursing school soon? Get the New Nursing Student Checklist so you can be prepped and ready for your program!

Want to maximize your learning by reading this information, too? Check out the article and references here.

RATE, REVIEW AND FOLLOW!

If this episode helped you, please take a moment to rate and review the show! This helps others find the podcast, which helps me help even more people :-)

Click here, scroll to the bottom, then simply tap to rate with 5 stars and select, "write a review." I'd love to hear how the podcast has helped you!

If you're not following yet, what are you waiting for? It takes just a quick moment and the episodes show up like magic every Thursday. And, when I release a bonus episode, those show up, too! You'll never miss a thing! In Apple Podcasts, just click on the three little dots in the upper right corner here.

Know someone who would also love to study with me? Share the show or share specific episodes with your classmates...when we all work together, we all succeed! On Apple Podcasts, the SHARE link is in the same drop-down as the follow link. Spread the love!

Thanks for studying with me!

Nurse Mo

Osteoporosis is a complex, multifactorial disease of compromised bone strength and integrity. This episode covers the key things you need to know about osteoporosis for NCLEX and nursing school.

Key hormones involved in osteoporosis Types of osteoporosis Risk factors for osteoporosis Osteoporosis complications Signs and symptoms Tests and assessments Treatments Patient education for osteoporosis

A big “thank you” to HCA Healthcare for sponsoring this episode. Click here to learn more about HCA Healthcare’s robust nurse residency program.

Study Sesh - If you enjoyed using auditory recall as a way to review, then you’ll love Study Sesh!

Want to maximize your learning by reading this information, too? Check out the article and references here.

RATE, REVIEW AND FOLLOW!

If this episode helped you, please take a moment to rate and review the show! This helps others find the podcast, which helps me help even more people :-)

Click here, scroll to the bottom, then simply tap to rate with 5 stars and select, "write a review." I'd love to hear how the podcast has helped you!

If you're not following yet, what are you waiting for? It takes just a quick moment and the episodes show up like magic every Thursday. And, when I release a bonus episode, those show up, too! You'll never miss a thing! In Apple Podcasts, just click on the three little dots in the upper right corner here.

Know someone who would also love to study with me? Share the show or share specific episodes with your classmates...when we all work together, we all succeed! On Apple Podcasts, the SHARE link is in the same drop-down as the follow link. Spread the love!

Thanks for studying with me!

Nurse Mo

Allopurinol is often considered to be one of the top 100 most-prescribed medications in the U.S., so it will definitely be on your exams or something you’ll see in the clinical setting. In this episode, we’re going through all the things you need to know about allopurinol using the Straight A Nursing DRRUGS framework. See references for this lesson and get it in written format here.

For more pharmacology articles and podcast episodes, click here.

Follow me on instagram

Study Sesh features PodQuizzes and other forms of dynamic audio learning to free you from your desk. It truly does change the way you study!

RATE, REVIEW AND FOLLOW!

If this episode helped you, please take a moment to rate and review the show! This helps others find the podcast, which helps me help even more people :-)

Click here, scroll to the bottom, then simply tap to rate with 5 stars and select, "write a review." I'd love to hear how the podcast has helped you!

If you're not following yet, what are you waiting for? It takes just a quick moment and the episodes show up like magic every Thursday. And, when I release a bonus episode, those show up, too! You'll never miss a thing! In Apple Podcasts, just click on the three little dots in the upper right corner here.

Know someone who would also love to study with me? Share the show or share specific episodes with your classmates...when we all work together, we all succeed! On Apple Podcasts, the SHARE link is in the same drop-down as the follow link. Spread the love!

Thanks for studying with me!

Nurse Mo

Meningitis is a disease condition that typically affects pediatrics and young adults, so it is usually taught as part of a pediatrics course. However, it is important to note that it can occur at any age. In this episode we’ll be talking about the key types of meningitis and how they differ, namely viral and bacterial meningitis. See references for this lesson and get it in written format here.

A big THANK YOU to our sponsor, HCA Healthcare. Not only did they help make this episode possible, but they provide great nurse residency programs to support those entering the profession. HCA Healthcare is an equal opportunity employer. Learn more, explore openings and apply here: https://careers.hcahealthcare.com/residency

Helpful links to accompany this episode:

Follow me on instagram

Study Sesh features PodQuizzes and other forms of dynamic audio learning to free you from your desk. It truly does change the way you study!

To utilize the LATTE method with this and other conditions, download the template here.

RATE, REVIEW AND FOLLOW!

If this episode helped you, please take a moment to rate and review the show! This helps others find the podcast, which helps me help even more people :-)

Click here, scroll to the bottom, then simply tap to rate with 5 stars and select, "write a review." I'd love to hear how the podcast has helped you!

If you're not following yet, what are you waiting for? It takes just a quick moment and the episodes show up like magic every Thursday. And, when I release a bonus episode, those show up, too! You'll never miss a thing! In Apple Podcasts, just click on the three little dots in the upper right corner here.

Know someone who would also love to study with me? Share the show or share specific episodes with your classmates...when we all work together, we all succeed! On Apple Podcasts, the SHARE link is in the same drop-down as the follow link. Spread the love!

Thanks for studying with me!

Nurse Mo

To commemorate the 200th episode of the Straight A Nursing podcast, I asked my listeners what they wanted to learn and SO MANY of you said “oncology!” In this episode, we are diving into an oncological emergency, tumor lysis syndrome (TLS). See references for this lesson and get it in written format here.

In addition to it being our 200th episode, we’re also celebrating 4 million downloads! A giant, enormous, huge, monumental, gargantuan THANK YOU to you! I couldn’t have reached this enormous milestone without you!!

Helpful links to accompany this episode:

Follow me on instagram

Study Sesh features PodQuizzes and other forms of dynamic audio learning to free you from your desk. It truly does change the way you study!

Electrolytes Bundle: This study guide helps you understand how key electrolytes contribute to your patient's clinical condition (like Tumor Lysis Syndrome!).

RATE, REVIEW AND FOLLOW!

If this episode helped you, please take a moment to rate and review the show! This helps others find the podcast, which helps me help even more people :-)

Click here, scroll to the bottom, then simply tap to rate with 5 stars and select, "write a review." I'd love to hear how the podcast has helped you!

If you're not following yet, what are you waiting for? It takes just a quick moment and the episodes show up like magic every Thursday. And, when I release a bonus episode, those show up, too! You'll never miss a thing! In Apple Podcasts, just click on the three little dots in the upper right corner here.

Know someone who would also love to study with me? Share the show or share specific episodes with your classmates...when we all work together, we all succeed! On Apple Podcasts, the SHARE link is in the same drop-down as the follow link. Spread the love!

Thanks for studying with me!

Nurse Mo

Hyperglycemia is about so much more than simply diabetes (though, of course, there’s nothing simple about diabetes, either!). In this episode I’m talking you through the key things you need to know about hyperglycemia including the various causes. See references for this lesson and get it in written format here.

A big THANK YOU to our sponsor, HCA Healthcare. Not only did they help make this episode possible, but they provide great nurse residency programs to support those entering the profession. HCA Healthcare is an equal opportunity employer. Learn more, explore openings and apply here: https://careers.hcahealthcare.com/residency

Helpful links to accompany this episode:

Study Sesh features PodQuizzes and other forms of dynamic audio learning to free you from your desk. It truly does change the way you study!

Hypoglycemia: Check out this episode to get the full picture of blood glucose abnormalities.

Cushing’s Disease: See how Cushing’s disease contributes to hyperglycemia in this episode.

Diabetes: Learn more about diabetes in my 2nd-ever podcast episode!

Diabetes Pharmacology: Learn about medications used to treat diabetes in this episode.

RATE, REVIEW AND FOLLOW!

If this episode helped you, please take a moment to rate and review the show! This helps others find the podcast, which helps me help even more people :-)

Click here, scroll to the bottom, then simply tap to rate with 5 stars and select, "write a review." I'd love to hear how the podcast has helped you!

If you're not following yet, what are you waiting for? It takes just a quick moment and the episodes show up like magic every Thursday. And, when I release a bonus episode, those show up, too! You'll never miss a thing! In Apple Podcasts, just click on the three little dots in the upper right corner here.

Know someone who would also love to study with me? Share the show or share specific episodes with your classmates...when we all work together, we all succeed! On Apple Podcasts, the SHARE link is in the same drop-down as the follow link. Spread the love!

Thanks for studying with me!

Nurse Mo

UPDATE! I inadvertently stated dyskinesia to mean slow movements...I meant to say "involuntary movements." I will be updating the audio.

In this episode covering Parkinson’s Disease, we’re diving deep to give you a really thorough understanding of what you need to know for your nursing school exams. This content is based off the Parkinson’s lesson I’m creating for Beyond Bootcamp, so if you find it helpful, then you may want to check it out here.

See references for this lesson and get it in written format here.

Helpful links to accompany this episode:

Beyond Bootcamp takes you into the Med Surg topics students struggle with the most, so you don’t have to!

Study Sesh features PodQuizzes and other forms of dynamic audio learning to free you from your desk. It truly does change the way you study!

Beers List: Learn what the Beers List is and how it affects pharmacological treatment in the elderly.

RATE, REVIEW AND FOLLOW!

If this episode helped you, please take a moment to rate and review the show! This helps others find the podcast, which helps me help even more people :-)

Click here, scroll to the bottom, then simply tap to rate with 5 stars and select, "write a review." I'd love to hear how the podcast has helped you!

If you're not following yet, what are you waiting for? It takes just a quick moment and the episodes show up like magic every Thursday. And, when I release a bonus episode, those show up, too! You'll never miss a thing! In Apple Podcasts, just click on the three little dots in the upper right corner here.

Know someone who would also love to study with me? Share the show or share specific episodes with your classmates...when we all work together, we all succeed! On Apple Podcasts, the SHARE link is in the same drop-down as the follow link. Spread the love!

Thanks for studying with me!

Nurse Mo

In this episode, we are reviewing the key things you need to know about anorexia nervosa. If you struggle with an eating disorder, and hearing about this topic triggers you, please proceed with caution, or avoid altogether. Your mental health is more important than any nursing school exam.

If you or someone you care about suffers from an eating disorder, please reach out to the National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA) for a wealth of free resources, online chat, and a toll-free help line. If you are in crisis, text NEDA to 741741 and you’ll be connected with a trained volunteer at Crisis Text Line. Crisis Text Line utilizes text messaging to provide free 24/7 support to individuals who are struggling with mental health.

Get this lesson and the references in written format here.

A big THANK YOU to our sponsor, HCA Healthcare. Not only did they help make this episode possible, but they provide great nurse residency programs to support those entering the profession. HCA Healthcare is an equal opportunity employer. Learn more, explore openings and apply here.

Helpful links to accompany this episode:

Beyond Bootcamp takes you into the Med Surg topics students struggle with the most, so you don’t have to!

Study Sesh features PodQuizzes and other forms of dynamic audio learning to free you from your desk. It truly does change the way you study!

RATE, REVIEW AND FOLLOW!

If this episode helped you, please take a moment to rate and review the show! This helps others find the podcast, which helps me help even more people :-)

Click here, scroll to the bottom, then simply tap to rate with 5 stars and select, "write a review." I'd love to hear how the podcast has helped you!

If you're not following yet, what are you waiting for? It takes just a quick moment and the episodes show up like magic every Thursday. And, when I release a bonus episode, those show up, too! You'll never miss a thing! In Apple Podcasts, just click on the three little dots in the upper right corner here.

Know someone who would also love to study with me? Share the show or share specific episodes with your classmates...when we all work together, we all succeed! On Apple Podcasts, the SHARE link is in the same drop-down as the follow link. Spread the love!

Thanks for studying with me!

Nurse Mo

Students ask all the time about tips for being successful in nursing school. And while you can view a wide variety of articles on the Straight A Nursing Student website or here on the podcast, I wanted to cover my top 10 tips for new students all in one spot.

A big THANK YOU to our sponsor, HCA Healthcare. Not only did they help make this episode possible, but they provide great nurse residency programs to support those entering the profession. HCA Healthcare is an equal opportunity employer. Learn more, explore openings and apply here: https://careers.hcahealthcare.com/residency

Helpful links to accompany this episode:

How to use a planner: If you’ve never used a planner or aren’t sure how to tackle this for nursing school, check out this post where I go deep into how to do this step-by-step.

Make sure your study group doesn’t waste your time with these tips.

Crucial Concepts Bootcamp: Enroll in my nursing school prep course to learn time management, organization systems and key foundation concepts so you can thrive in nursing school.

Develop a morning routine: A morning routine can help you start your day more focused and ready for anything!

Read the accompanying article, Ten Tips for the New Nursing Student, here.

RATE, REVIEW AND FOLLOW!

If this episode helped you, please take a moment to rate and review the show! This helps others find the podcast, which helps me help even more people :-)

Click here, scroll to the bottom, then simply tap to rate with 5 stars and select, "write a review." I'd love to hear how the podcast has helped you!

If you're not following yet, what are you waiting for? It takes just a quick moment and the episodes show up like magic every Thursday. And, when I release a bonus episode, those show up, too! You'll never miss a thing! In Apple Podcasts, just click on the three little dots in the upper right corner here.

Know someone who would also love to study with me? Share the show or share specific episodes with your classmates...when we all work together, we all succeed! On Apple Podcasts, the SHARE link is in the same drop-down as the follow link. Spread the love!

Thanks for studying with me!

Nurse Mo

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a single-stranded RNA virus that is transmitted by respiratory droplets. It is highly transmissible and can be quite severe, especially when young children or neonates are affected.

In this episode, you’ll get an introduction to all the key elements of RSV using the Straight A Nursing LATTE method.

Latte Method Template: Use this template to create study guides focusing on the must-know information for nursing school.

Study Sesh Podcast: If you want to dramatically change the way you study and free yourself from your books and screens…you’ll want to check out Study Sesh!

Planner for Nursing Students: Part of being a successful student is excellent time management. This planner is designed specifically for your busy schedule to help you stay on top of everything you need to do.

Pediatric Respiratory Distress : Learn why pediatric respiratory distress is a really, really, really big deal.

Amiodarone is a common medication you’ll see used both acutely in the clinical setting and chronically for outpatient therapy. In this episode we are going through amiodarone using the Straight A Nursing DRRUGS framework.

5-Day Challenge: Join me for the “Don’t Get Overwhelmed, Get Organized” 5-Day Challenge to get ready for nursing school!

Crucial Concepts Bootcamp: This nursing school prep course teaches foundation concepts to help you start your program ahead and stay ahead.

Study Sesh Podcast: If you want to dramatically change the way you study and free yourself from your books and screens…you’ll want to check out Study Sesh!

Planner for Nursing Students: Part of being a successful student is excellent time management. This planner is designed specifically for your busy schedule to help you stay on top of everything you need to do.

QT Interval: Learn about this important, but often overlooked, EKG measurement.

Get this episode in blog format. All the links mentioned in this episode are in the blog post that accompanies this episode.

In my free guide, The 20 Secrets of Successful Nursing Students, one of the secrets is about maximizing your learning style. And while it’s useful to know your preferred learning style (or styles), you should probably be aware you’re going to be using most if not all of them in nursing school.

In this episode, I’m talking you through the key ways to maximize each of the main learning styles in nursing school - visual, auditory, kinesthetic and reading/writing.

Learning style assessment: If you’re not sure what your preferred learning style is, this is a great place to start!

5-Day Challenge: Join me for the “Don’t Get Overwhelmed, Get Organized” 5-Day Challenge to get ready for nursing school!

Crucial Concepts Bootcamp: This nursing school prep course teaches foundation concepts to help you start your program ahead and stay ahead.

Planner for Nursing Students: Part of being a successful student is excellent time management. This planner is designed specifically for your busy schedule to help you stay on top of everything you need to do.

Get this episode in blog format. All the links mentioned in this episode are in the blog post that accompanies this episode.

Even though angioedema can be really scary (for you and the patient), with a little knowledge ahead of time, you can recognize it early and know what to do for your patient. In this episode, I’m talking you through angioedema assessments and interventions using the Straight A Nursing LATTE Method.

Get this episode in blog format. All the links mentioned in this episode are in the blog post that accompanies this episode.

LATTE Method Template: Use this template to create study guides focusing on the must-know information for nursing school.

Crucial Concepts Bootcamp: This nursing school prep course teaches foundation concepts to help you start your program ahead and stay ahead.

Planner for Nursing Students: Part of being a successful student is excellent time management. This planner is designed specifically for your busy schedule to help you stay on top of everything you need to do.

One of the most common and important imbalances you will learn in nursing school is related to blood glucose levels. In this episode, you’ll learn about hypoglycemia using the Straight A Nursing Latte Method.

Get this episode in blog format. All the links mentioned in this episode are in the blog post that accompanies this episode.

LATTE Method Template: Use this template to create study guides focusing on the must-know information for nursing school.

Crucial Concepts Bootcamp: This nursing school prep course teaches foundation concepts to help you start your program ahead and stay ahead.

RATE, REVIEW AND FOLLOW!

If this episode helped you, please take a moment to rate and review the show! This helps others find the podcast, which helps me help even more people :-)

Click here, scroll to the bottom, then simply tap to rate with 5 stars and select, "write a review." I'd love to hear how the podcast has helped you!

If you're not following yet, what are you waiting for? It takes just a quick moment and the episodes show up like magic every Thursday. And, when I release a bonus episode, those show up, too! You'll never miss a thing! In Apple Podcasts, just click on the three little dots in the upper right corner here.

Know someone who would also love to study with me? Share the show or share specific episodes with your classmates...when we all work together, we all succeed! On Apple Podcasts, the SHARE link is in the same drop-down as the follow link. Spread the love!

Thanks for studying with me!

Nurse Mo

So many students are dreaming of becoming a nurse, but are also burdened with the extra load of managing a chronic illness. Is it possible to do both?

In this special bonus episode, I’m talking with Christina Brown, an amazing student who is thriving in nursing school while also managing complex conditions. She is truly an inspiration to anyone who faces additional challenges while in nursing school.

I hope you enjoy this one as much as I did and realize that YES, you can achieve your dream!

Get prepped for nursing school with my prep course Crucial Concepts Bootcamp. Crucial Concepts Bootcamp is the only preparatory program that teaches nursing students HOW to be successful, so that you can walk into your very first day feeling confident and ready to conquer. I'd love to see you there!

Looking for your new BFFs? Join the Thriving Nursing Students Facebook group!

In this episode, I’m breaking down the key things you need to know about endocarditis for clinical, nursing school exams, and the NCLEX.

Endocarditis is inflammation of the endocardium, which is the innermost layer of the heart and also includes the valves. It is often a result of infection, but can also be a complication of rheumatic fever and systemic lupus erythematosus. Join me to go through endocarditis using the Straight A Nursing LATTE method.

Get this episode in blog format All the links mentioned in this episode are in the blog post that accompanies this episode.

LATTE Method Template: Use this template to create study guides focusing on the must-know information for nursing school.

Crucial Concepts Bootcamp: This nursing school prep course teaches foundation concepts to help you start your program ahead and stay ahead.

Grab the Free Guide: Get the 20 Secrets of Successful Nursing Students and start nursing school feeling more confident and ready for anything!

Planner for Nursing Students: Part of being a successful student is excellent time management. This planner is designed specifically for your busy schedule to help you stay on top of everything you need to do.

As we continue our series of the secrets of successful nursing students, we’re diving in to secret #6 and #7. These two secrets are about:

maximizing study groups (so they don’t become social hour or wasted time) the number ONE personality trait that sets you up for nursing school success.

Get this episode in blog format All the links mentioned in this episode are in the blog post that accompanies this episode.

Crucial Concepts Bootcamp: This nursing school prep course teaches foundation concepts to help you start your program ahead and stay ahead.

Grab the Free Guide: Get all 20 Secrets of Successful Nursing Students and start nursing school feeling more confident and ready for anything!

Planner for Nursing Students: Part of being a successful student is excellent time management. This planner is designed specifically for your busy schedule to help you stay on top of everything you need to do.

Necrotizing fasciitis is easily one of the most terrifying and devastating conditions I’ve ever encountered in my 10+ years as a nurse. In this episode, we go through necrotizing fasciitis using the Straight A Nursing LATTE method.

Download the LATTE method template here.

Starting nursing school soon? Dial up the confidence and dial down the stress with Crucial Concepts Bootcamp. Michelle says, “I’m preparing to apply for nursing school and am really worried about passing dosage calculations. I signed up for Straight A Nursing Boot Camp and the scenarios for the Dosage Calculations module are HILARIOUS!!! They’re not dry and overwhelming like all the other practice problems I’ve seen. I’m now weirdly excited to learn more about dimensional analysis and for the first time, it has occurred to me that it might be possible to master this concept instead of just white-knuckling through it. Thank you, Nurse Mo!” Read the article and see references here.

To continue our series of the secrets of successful nursing students, Secret #5 is that successful students do not do all the reading for nursing school. But before you toss those textbooks, take a listen to see how you will use your books strategically and in a way that supports your learning (instead of just taking up so much of your precious study time).

If you’d like to see all 20 Secrets of Successful Nursing Students, download the free guide here.

Get the planner designed specifically for nursing students here. Kristen says, “ I'm OBSESSED with this planner! It's amazing for nursing school. My student affairs office suggested planning my studying exactly how this planner broke it all down! I love it and have seen a dramatic improvement in my organization.” Are you starting nursing school soon and want to do more than just survive? Thrive in nursing school with Crucial Concepts Bootcamp and see how it feels to start school with more confidence and less stress!

Read the article and see references here.

RATE, REVIEW AND FOLLOW!

If this episode helped you, please take a moment to rate and review the show! This helps others find the podcast, which helps me help even more people :-)

Click here, scroll to the bottom, then simply tap to rate with 5 stars and select, "write a review." I'd love to hear how the podcast has helped you!

If you're not following yet, what are you waiting for? It takes just a quick moment and the episodes show up like magic every Thursday. And, when I release a bonus episode, those show up, too! You'll never miss a thing! In Apple Podcasts, just click on the three little dots in the upper right corner here.

Know someone who would also love to study with me? Share the show or share specific episodes with your classmates...when we all work together, we all succeed! On Apple Podcasts, the SHARE link is in the same drop-down as the follow link. Spread the love!

Thanks for studying with me!

Nurse Mo

Gabapentin is one of the top 100 drugs prescribed in the US, so there’s a very good chance it will show up on NCLEX or your nursing school exams. In this episode, we go through the key things you need to know about this medication using the Straight A Nursing DRRUGS framework.

Did you love the PodQuiz at the end? Get more PodQuizzes with Study Sesh.

Read the article and see references here.

To continue the series of articles revealing the twenty secrets of successful nursing students, we’re tackling two secrets in this episode. Secret #3 is another tip about time management and Secret #4 will help you maximize your study time.

Review memorization tips and when to memorize vs conceptualize in Episode 159. If you’d like more tips on thriving in nursing school, download my free guide, The 20 Secrets of Successful Nursing Students.

Ready to get prepared for nursing school? My nursing school prep course Crucial Concepts Bootcamp has students raving! Ashley says, “I absolutely loved how confident I felt after using the Bootcamp content, I felt like I had a jump start on the content for my first semester. With how stressful the program is, the confidence was SO valuable. I would purchase this program over and over again. 1000% worth it!” View the blog post and references on this topic here.

RATE, REVIEW AND FOLLOW!

If this episode helped you, please take a moment to rate and review the show! This helps others find the podcast, which helps me help even more people :-)

Click here, scroll to the bottom, then simply tap to rate with 5 stars and select, "write a review." I'd love to hear how the podcast has helped you!

If you're not following yet, what are you waiting for? It takes just a quick moment and the episodes show up like magic every Thursday. And, when I release a bonus episode, those show up, too! You'll never miss a thing! In Apple Podcasts, just click on the three little dots in the upper right corner here.

Know someone who would also love to study with me? Share the show or share specific episodes with your classmates...when we all work together, we all succeed! On Apple Podcasts, the SHARE link is in the same drop-down as the follow link. Spread the love!

Thanks for studying with me!

Nurse Mo

In this episode, I’ll take you through my eight favorite online tools for nursing students that help set you up for success.

Get Google Drive with a free Google account: Google Drive.

Say goodbye to password frustrations with LastPass.

Take your notes for nursing school into digital format with GoodNotes and Notability.

Improve your writing with Grammarly

Start your online search for research articles with Google Scholar and PubMed.

Manage your bibliography and make writing scholarly papers easier with Zotero

Demystify APA formatting and scholarly writing with Purdue Owl APA.

Reclaim your focus and embark on powerful work sessions with the Focus Keeper App for iOS or Clockwork Tomato for Android.

View the blog post and references on this topic here.

RATE, REVIEW AND FOLLOW!

If this episode helped you, please take a moment to rate and review the show! This helps others find the podcast, which helps me help even more people :-)

Click here, scroll to the bottom, then simply tap to rate with 5 stars and select, "write a review." I'd love to hear how the podcast has helped you!

If you're not following yet, what are you waiting for? It takes just a quick moment and the episodes show up like magic every Thursday. And, when I release a bonus episode, those show up, too! You'll never miss a thing! In Apple Podcasts, just click on the three little dots in the upper right corner here.

Know someone who would also love to study with me? Share the show or share specific episodes with your classmates...when we all work together, we all succeed! On Apple Podcasts, the SHARE link is in the same drop-down as the follow link. Spread the love!

Thanks for studying with me!

Nurse Mo

In this episode, we’re talking all about safe administration of IV medications.

For more tips on safe medication administration, check out my free download Bulletproof Medication Administration resource sheet.

Crucial Concepts Bootcamp is the only prep course that teaches you how to be a successful nursing student. Lauren says, “I feel CCB is really preparing me for nursing school, so I won't be like a "deer in the headlights". It is really helping me to lower my anxiety levels as well! I love hearing all the insights and wisdom from Nurse Mo as well, since I really have no experience in the clinical setting yet!! So glad I came across this program!

View the blog post and references on this topic here.

If you’re like most nursing students, you’re a high-achieving individual with big goals and a dedication to doing your absolute best. Chances are, you were a star student in your prereqs, but in nursing school, you’re surrounded by other star students who are just as dedicated and driven as you are. Add to that the fact that many of your classes may be fully or partially online. How in the world do you stand out and make a good impression in this environment?

Well, the good news is, it’s entirely possible. Just follow the tips in this episode to shine like the bright star that you are!

Start nursing school prepared and ready to conquer! Check out my nursing school prep course, Crucial Concepts Bootcamp. Bootcamp student Megan says, “Hey all, my name is Megan! I’ve completed CCB, and am halfway through my ADN program! I just love Nurse Mo and ALL of her products! I only wish that I had found her before I started my program; now, I praise her to anyone who will listen! She makes concepts easy to understand and the little quizzes help reinforce the concepts. Also, nursing school is expensive and it can be a challenge to invest in other tools, but Nurse Mo’s products are so affordable and a sound investment!” View the blog post and references on this topic here.

RATE, REVIEW AND FOLLOW!

If this episode helped you, please take a moment to rate and review the show! This helps others find the podcast, which helps me help even more people :-)

Click here, scroll to the bottom, then simply tap to rate with 5 stars and select, "write a review." I'd love to hear how the podcast has helped you!

If you're not following yet, what are you waiting for? It takes just a quick moment and the episodes show up like magic every Thursday. And, when I release a bonus episode, those show up, too! You'll never miss a thing! In Apple Podcasts, just click on the three little dots in the upper right corner here.

Know someone who would also love to study with me? Share the show or share specific episodes with your classmates...when we all work together, we all succeed! On Apple Podcasts, the SHARE link is in the same drop-down as the follow link. Spread the love!

Thanks for studying with me!

Nurse Mo

To continue our series on the secrets of successful nursing students, in this episode we talk through secret #2 of successful nursing students. Hint...it’s all about time management!

Read the show notes here.

Get the planner made specifically for nursing students here.

Start nursing school prepared and ready to conquer! Check out my nursing school prep course, Crucial Concepts Bootcamp.

Want all 20 Secrets of Successful Nursing Students? Get the free guide here.

RATE, REVIEW AND FOLLOW!

If this episode helped you, please take a moment to rate and review the show! This helps others find the podcast, which helps me help even more people :-)

Click here, scroll to the bottom, then simply tap to rate with 5 stars and select, "write a review." I'd love to hear how the podcast has helped you!

If you're not following yet, what are you waiting for? It takes just a quick moment and the episodes show up like magic every Thursday. And, when I release a bonus episode, those show up, too! You'll never miss a thing! In Apple Podcasts, just click on the three little dots in the upper right corner here.

Know someone who would also love to study with me? Share the show or share specific episodes with your classmates...when we all work together, we all succeed! On Apple Podcasts, the SHARE link is in the same drop-down as the follow link. Spread the love!

Thanks for studying with me!

Nurse Mo

In this episode, we talk through the pathophysiology of burn injury and the basics of caring for these highly complex patients.

See what warrants a burn center referral on the AmeriBurn website.

Review the concept of third spacing in episode 113 and the basics of burns in Episode 149.

Did you love the PodQuiz at the end of this episode? Then you’ll absolutely flip for Study Sesh.

View the blog post and references on this topic here.

If you’re applying to nursing school (or even thinking about it), your head may be swimming with all the information out there about entrance exams and application requirements. Never fear, my friend, I’m here to clear up some of the confusion around one of the most commonly used entrance exams, the ATI TEAS.

In this episode, I’m talking with Tami Kelly from ATI about the exam and answering your most burning questions.

Read about the ATI TEAS exam and download the Straight A Nursing TEAS tracker here.

In this episode, I am joined by Kali Dayton, host of the Walking Home From The ICU podcast. Kali is a nurse practitioner who is passionate about reducing the incidence of acute delirium by decreasing sedation use in intubated patients. If you're also passionate about improving patient outcomes, and open to looking at critical care in a different way, you'll love hearing from Kali!

You can get more of Kali's wisdom on her podcast, Walking Home From The ICU, and through her blog here.

In this episode, we talk through the foundations of feeding tubes including why we use them, the different types, the various routes they take, and some general safety considerations. I even share with you the “real world” tips on inserting a nasogastric tube so you can feel so much more confident the first time you perform this important skill on a real patient.

**

Ready to get organized for nursing school? Grab your nursing school planner here.

Recently I asked the students in my Thriving Nursing Students Facebook group how COVID has affected clinical, their feelings toward clinical, and their outlook on their chosen profession.

The results were eye-opening, inspiring, and yes, heartbreaking at times. In this episode I’m discussing the general themes and offering some insight and advice that I hope helps you feel better about your clinical experience, even with it changing so much due to the pandemic.

Many of you have said you’re afraid you’ll be terrible nurses because your clinical hours have been so limited, and I just want you to know that you will NOT be terrible nurses. You are going to be some of the most resilient, resourceful and driven RNs to enter the workforce and I, for one, completely and totally believe in you.

Read the responses here: https://straightanursingstudent.com/covid-clinical-experience/

This episode covers the indications for inducing labor as well as the pharmacologic and mechanical methods commonly utilized.

Interested in L&D nursing but aren’t sure where to start? Check out Episode 134 to hear my interview with an L&D RN who started her career working on a maternal-newborn unit. If you’re unsure if you can hop right into a specialty as a new grad, I am here to say YES YOU CAN!

Read the article and get references here.

**

Ready to get organized for nursing school? Shop our planners here!

Does this podcast help you study while you do other things? Then you’ll love Study Sesh, which uses PodQuizzes and other auditory learning techniques to truly change the way you study. Get access to all episodes with one payment here.

Have you tried a PodQuiz before? If not, you are in for a treat! PodQuizzes are a great way to study using auditory learning that’s not just passive listening..it’s active and super engaged. Here’s how it works...I ask a question and then pause to give you time to think of and say the answer. Then, I tell you the answer. It’s essentially flashcards for your ears! And, the best part is...you can study while you exercise, fold the laundry, organize a closet or take the dog for a walk. In other words, you don't have to sit at your desk 24/7. Cue the confetti, folks!

To get MORE PodQuizzes, check out my members-only podcast, Study Sesh at https://www.straightanursingstudent.com/study-sesh

Use PROMO code SSOCTOBER21 to save $15 off your subscription to Study Sesh! Offer valid until end-of-day, October 17th, 2021.

This episode covers cardiac pharmacology...so get up from your desk, pop in those earbuds and let’s get to studying!

Nursing school success is about SO MUCH more than making the grade. It’s a complete mindset shift that helps you actually thrive, not just survive in nursing school.

In this episode, we’re talking about Secret #1 of the 20 Secrets of Successful Nursing Students. To get the whole set in a downloadable PDF, just go to https://straightanursing.ck.page/4d90f769dc.

Disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) is a consumption coagulopathy that can be devastating for your patient. In this episode, learn the pathophysiology of DIC, how to recognize it, and what we do to address it (hopefully before it results in life-threatening hemorrhage).

As a bonus, there are a few PodQuiz questions at the end to test your understanding. If you love quizzing in this way, then check out my private podcast, Study Sesh!

For show notes and references, view the article here.

In this episode, Nurse Mo shares key tips for how to prioritize nursing care in clinicals and on the job. View the show notes and links here: https://straightanursingstudent.com/episode172/

In this Bonus episode I talk with Chance Reaves, the founder of My Nursing Note.

Join in on the conversation as I ask Chance the things students should know about working effectively with an electronic medical record (EMR). Yes, it can initially be overwhelming, but with a few tips you can be navigating and charting like a pro in no time!

In this episode you'll learn the importance of the healthcare interdisciplinary team, who it entails, and the roles of everyone involved. Click here for show notes and links: https://straightanursingstudent.com/episode171/

In this episode, Nurse Mo talks you through what you need to know about cystic fibrosis nursing care using the Straight A Nursing LATTE method. Click here for show notes and links: https://straightanursingstudent.com/episode170/

In this episode, Nurse Mo talks about the Beers list of medications. What it is, why it exists and the implications for your nursing practice. Click here for show notes and references: https://straightanursingstudent.com/episode169/

In this podcast episode, Nurse Mo talks you step-by-step through kicking nursing school math anxiety to the curb. Click here for show notes and references: https://straightanursingstudent.com/episode168/

In this episode Nurse Mo talks you through reasons for an elevated lactate that have nothing to do with a systemic inflammatory response or sepsis. Click here for show notes and links: https://straightanursingstudent.com/episode167/

Get my best tips for thriving in your Med Surg course in this podcast episode. Grab the show notes and links here: https://straightanursingstudent.com/tips-to-study-med-surg/

In this extra-special bonus episode, I am talking with Kati Kleber from Fresh RN about ways students can reclaim their power and effectively deal with bullying instructors and RNs. Grab the show notes and links here: http://www.straightanursingstudent.com/interview-kati-kleber-bonus/

What if I told you there was one thing that students do that absolutely sets them up for failure? In this week's episode we talk about negative self talk, how it sabotages your success AND what you can do about it! Read the show notes and grab the links here: https://straightanursingstudent.com/episode165/

Feeling a little uncertain or nervous in clinical is absolutely normal...and it means you CARE about your education and your patients (go you!). But I know that students are always looking for ways to boost confidence, so I'm sharing my best tips in this week's episode. Click here for show notes and links: https://straightanursingstudent.com/episode164/

Ondansetron (brand name Zofran) is a very common medication you’ll see in the clinical setting, on your care plans, and sprinkled throughout nursing school exams. In this episode, we’ll go through ondansetron using the Straight A Nursing DRRUGS framework. Click here for show notes and links! https://straightanursingstudent.com/episode163/

In this episode I’m sharing with you the top ten topics to review before you start your program (or head back to class after a break). Click here for show notes and links. https://straightanursingstudent.com/episode162/

Are you a parent trying to figure out how to juggle nursing school AND all your responsibilities at home? In this bonus episode, I talk with Chelsea, a nursing student and mom of four amazing kids. As you can imagine, Chelsea had to come up with some pretty good systems and methods to keep her kids, life, and schoolwork on track.

Pop in those earbuds and let's talk about what it's like to go through nursing school as a parent, and hear some of Chelsea's best tips and advice for getting it all done!

In this episode we'll go through Alzheimer's Disease using the Straight A Nursing LATTE method. Click here for show notes and links: https://straightanursingstudent.com/episode161/

A situation you’ll need to be able to differentiate (in both clinical and on exams) is delirium vs dementia and how to care for those patients. We’ll talk about the nursing care of patients with dementia another time and focus on caring for patients with delirium in this episode.

Key topics covered:

Delirium vs dementia How to recognize delirium in your patient Complications of delirium Interventions for delirium

For text and references: https://straightanursingstudent.com/delirium-101/

Is sitting at your desk staring at your books and computer getting you down? Then head on over to Study Sesh, the private podcast that frees you from your desk and enables you to learn while getting on with your life! https://straightanursingstudent.com/study-sesh/

In my free guide, the 20 Secrets of Successful Nursing Students, secret #4 is this: successful students know what to memorize vs conceptualize. While some people may tell you to ONLY focus on learning concepts, they forget that you actually do need to memorize some things in nursing school. After all, the names of the cranial nerves aren’t concepts...they’re simply facts and yes, you MUST memorize them!

In this podcast episode we’ll talk about types of information to memorize vs conceptualize, and how memorizing the right things actually helps you understand concepts better! We’ll also discuss some key memory techniques to use in nursing school.

Want to memorize without staring at your notes or computer screen? Then head on over to Study Sesh, the private podcast that uses unique formats to drill drill drill that information into your brain! https://straightanursingstudent.com/study-sesh/

For text and references: https://straightanursingstudent.com/memorization-vs-conceptualization/

Want to know the other 19 secrets? Get my free guide, 20 Secrets of Successful Nursing Students here: https://straightanursing.ck.page/4d90f769dc

One of the most important functions you will perform in the postpartum period are the assessment of and interventions for the newborn. This episode covers APGAR scoring and key nursing interventions during that critical “I’m new here!” period.

Text version and references here: https://straightanursingstudent.com/apgar-scores/

Ready to change the way you study? Head on over to Study Sesh, my special private podcast that frees you from your desk so you can learn AND live your life! If you’ve loved the PodQuizzes, you’ll absolutely flip for Study Sesh! https://straightanursingstudent.com/study-sesh/

As you probably have surmised by now, pharmacology is not one-size-fits-all especially when we look at age-related considerations.

In this episode, we’ll talk through the pharmacologic differences in elderly patients: absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion, and some other important factors that come in to play.

Are you tired of studying at your desk, staring at books or a computer screen? Well then let’s change the way you study! Head on over to Study Sesh, my special private podcast that enables you to study while still living your life. Imagine how great it would be to go on a walk and come back physically refreshed AND knowing all the cranial nerves :-)

https://straightanursingstudent.com/study-sesh/

See the show notes and references on Geriatric Pharmacology here: https://straightanursingstudent.com/geriatric-pharmacology-basics/

With the Next Generation NCLEX possibly launching in 2023, students who are beginning nursing school in 2021 are understandably asking a lot of questions about the NCLEX and the potential new format they’ll be facing after graduation.

In this episode we’ll talk through:

What the NCLEX is How the NCLEX and adaptive testing work Current NCLEX question types Changes coming with the Next Generation format The core foundation principals the exam assesses as it determines if you are ready for practice!

For an example of case study questions: https://www.ncsbn.org/14172.htm

Other sample questions: https://www.ncsbn.org/NGN-Sample-Questions.pdf

NCLEX RN Test Plan from NCBSN: https://www.ncsbn.org/2019_RN_TestPlan-English.pdf

Want to change how you prep for NCLEX and nursing school exams? Head on over to Study Sesh, the podcast that utilizes audio to free you from your desk and computer while still enabling you to review and learn: https://straightanursingstudent.com/study-sesh/

Resources for this episode available here: https://straightanursingstudent.com/next-generation-nclex-overview/

Gallbladder disease is often due to gallstones (cholelithiasis) and inflammation (cholecystitis). In this podcast episode we’ll talk through some key things you need to know to take care of patients with these conditions, including:

Gallbladder A&P review (it’s quick, I promise!) What are gallstones anyway? What causes gallbladder inflammation? Nursing care using the Straight A Nursing LATTE method

Want to change the way you study? Check out Study Sesh, the audio-based study format that utilizes PodQuizzes, drills, case studies and more to train your brain to think like a nurse! https://straightanursingstudent.com/study-sesh

For references, visit the episode narrative here: https://straightanursingstudent.com/cholelithiasis-and-cholecystitis-nclex-review

A key concept you will start hearing about from almost the first day of nursing school is immobility. If your vision of being a nurse had to do with getting the sick people tucked in and snug in their beds, then you are in for a surprise. As great as it sounds to tuck our patients in and let them rest, it’s actually one of the worst things we can do.

Immobility is actually enemy #1 in nursing, and for so many reasons. After you listen to this episode, you’ll be getting everyone you can up and out of bed!

For all references utilized to create this amazing podcast episode, visit the blog article here: https://www.straightanursingstudent.com/dangers-of-immobility/

Are you a planner? Does checking things off a list give you a thrill? Then you’ll go crazy for our planners made just for nursing students. Check them out here: www.etsy.com/shop/straightanursing

Unless you come from a first-responder background, you’re most likely more than a little bit nervous at the thought of your first code blue. In this episode we’ll talk about what to expect when you push that little button that makes the big noise.

Memories of my first code blue Recognizing a code blue Responding to the code Being prepared BEFORE the code

For the current BLS and ALCS guidelines, visit the American Heart Association website.

Does getting organized for nursing school make your heart beat a little faster? Then you’ll love the planners we create just for nursing students. You can check them out and grab yours here: www.etsy.com/shop/straightanursing

Read the show notes here: https://www.straightanursingstudent.com/your-first-code-blue/

When we talk about sinus rhythms, we’re not just talking about “normal sinus rhythm.” We’re actually talking about the standard rhythms that originate in the sinus node…could be too fast, could be too slow and could be juuuuuuust right.

In this episode we’re breaking down:

The components of a “normal” sinus rhythm Sinus tachycardia characteristics, causes and treatment Sinus bradycardia characteristics, causes and treatment How to identify sinus rhythm with PACs What exactly is sinus arrhythmia and why it’s usually no big deal The differences between sinus block, sinus pause and sinus arrest

You’ll be excited to hear there’s a PodQuiz at the end of this episode. And if you LOVE PodQuizzes, you’ll love love love the new podcast I’m developing that is devoted to PodQuizzes and some other really cool ways to help you study. Be on the look out for Nursing School Study Sesh coming soon! To get notified when we go live, click here: https://straightanursing.ck.page/d2b9fc3599

Are you a “planner person?” Then you’ll go crazy for our planners made just for nursing students. Check them out here: www.etsy.com/shop/straightanursing

Read the show notes here: https://straightanursingstudent.com/sinus-rhythms/

One of the most common and often-prescribed drug classes is that of benzodiazepines. In this podcast episode we’re talking about:

How benzodiazepines work What conditions they are used for (there are a lot!) Abuse and tolerance Guidelines for safe administration Patient teaching

Plus, I share my completely goofy but totally effective method for remembering all the side effects.

Don’t miss out on your chance to get completely organized for nursing school with one of our amazing planners! www.etsy.com/shop/straightanursing

Read the show notes and references here: https://www.straightanursingstudent.com/benzodiazepines-simplified/

A student reached out to me a few weeks ago to ask “How do you leave your work at the hospital? What do you do when a patient touches your heart, but you have to leave and go home?”

In this podcast episode we’ll be diving into compassion fatigue, what causes it, the signs, and how to prevent it.

We’ve also got exciting things happening at Straight A Nursing! Maybe you noticed the fancy new intro music to go along with our fancy new website (www.straightanursingstudent.com). You can now more easily find podcast episodes by using the directory. Simply click on “DIRECTORY” in the main navigation to look for topics by specific subject.

Crucial Concepts Bootcamp is on sale right now, and if you’ve been eying it then this is a great time to enroll. The prices goes up on April 25th, 2021 and it will never be priced this low again! You can learn more about Bootcamp here (https://straightanursing.mykajabi.com/crucial-concepts).

It’s also planner time! Our planners go on sale twice a year, so be sure you check out the latest editions so you can get completely organized for nursing school (www.etsy.com/shop/straightanursing).

When we’re looking at burns, we’re going to be looking at four main factors. The type of burn, the amount of surface burned, the depth of the burn and the location of the burn. We’ll dive into each of those in this episode and even do a little practice estimating TBSA.

We’ve also got exciting things happening at Straight A Nursing! Maybe you noticed the snazzy new intro music to go along with our snazzy new website (www.straightanursingstudent.com).

Our spring sale for Crucial Concepts Bootcamp is happening right now through April 24! Save $8 using coupon code FUTURENURSE. You can learn more about Bootcamp here (https://straightanursing.mykajabi.com/crucial-concepts).

And, last but not least...our planners go on sale twice a year, so be sure you check out the latest editions so you can get completely organized for nursing school (www.etsy.com/shop/straightanursing).

For references utilized to create this episode, visit the blog post here (www.straightanursingstudent.com/basics-of-burns/).

When your patient has a sudden change in neurological status, it can be very scary for everyone involved. If your patient is having a stroke, their best chance for a positive outcome is TIMELY intervention. In today’s episode we’ll be talking through what happens when you call a stroke alert on your patient.

What are you doing to prepare for nursing school? Crucial Concepts Bootcamp teaches you foundation concepts including dosage calculations, medical terminology and how to tackle NCLEX style questions (and so much more): https://straightanursing.mykajabi.com/crucial-concepts

For references, visit this link: https://www.straightanursingstudent.com/stroke-alert/

So very many of you have written emails, reviews and social media messages telling me how you listen to the podcast while you're exercising, making dinner, driving to class or doing chores around the house. For a lot of you, my voice is one you hear often throughout your program and it makes me feel like I'm along with you on your journey. I am speaking deep from within my heart when I say I absolutely LOVE being your study buddy!!

Since we spend so much time together, I thought it would be fun for you to get to know me a little more...after all, if we're going to be making dinner together or folding the laundry, we should probably also be BFFs. I hope you enjoy this as much as I enjoyed making it for you.

Thanks so much for making the podcast a part of your life and helping us reach the HUGE milestone of 2 million downloads! You're the BEST!

If there’s one thing that gets nursing students and new nurses REALLY nervous (like voice shaking, sweat-on-the-forehead nervous), it’s calling the MD with a concern about your patient. You might be thinking, “What if I don’t know what to say?” or “What if they ask me a question I don't know the answer to?” or even “What if they yell at me, tell me to stop wasting their time, and hang up on me?”

Don’t worry, my friends! As usual, I have got your back :-) In this episode, we’ll be talking all about SBAR, a concise communication format used extensively in the clinical setting.

First, we’ll go over SBAR...what do all those letters represent? I’ll give you my best tips for what to do BEFORE you use SBAR And, we’ll see how it works in action with some SBAR scenarios

Want to see how to use SBAR to give end-of-shift report? Read about it here: https://www.straightanursingstudent.com/be-an-end-of-shift-report-rockstar/

Or listen to the Episode 7 here (or wherever you tune in to podcasts from): https://www.straightanursingstudent.com/shift-report/

Starting nursing school soon? Crucial Concepts Bootcamp can give you the leg up you need to start your program with confidence. https://straightanursing.mykajabi.com/crucial-concepts

See references and show notes here: https://www.straightanursingstudent.com/how-to-use-sbar-clinical-setting/

One of the first things you’ll learn in your OB class is what’s expected in a normal, uncomplicated, low-risk labor and delivery. Once you’ve got that down, it’s much easier to conceptualize the high-risk complex L&D issues (and yes, they do get complicated!)

Today we’re talking about:

The signs an individual is in labor Differentiating between true labor and false labor Physiological changes during labor (both parent and baby) The 6 Ps of labor The stages of labor

Want more Nurse Mo in your life? Get extra tips, cat pics and get to know me personally when you follow me on Instagram! @straightanurse

Read the show notes and see references here: https://www.straightanursingstudent.com/low-risk-labor-delivery/SHOW UPDATE: Please note that since recording this podcast I have learned that not all pregnant individuals are women and that by using terms like "mom" or "mother" I have left many of you out of the conversation, and for that I apologize. I have realized I have a knowledge gap in this area and am actively seeking to learn more so my language can be inclusive to all pregnant individuals. If this episode left you feeling like I don't see you, I want you to know that I do value you and your experience very much. I am deeply grateful to those who kindly suggested I seek more understanding in this area. As healthcare professionals, we can make such a huge impact when we seek to understand our patients, value their unique experiences and get to know them for who they are...not who we assume them to be. Again, my apologies for making assumptions and I look forward to using more inclusive language in future episodes. Warmly, Nurse Mo.

Today we’re taking a deep dive into angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors (otherwise known as ACE inhibitors). In this podcast episode you will learn:

The RAAS pathway (understanding this is crucial to understanding how and why ACE inhibitors work!) How to easily spot an ACE inhibitor What conditions ACE inhibitors are used to treat Adverse effects of ACE inhibitors...including one that can be life threatening!

Are you as obsessed about patient safety as I am? Learn how to BULLETPROOF your medication administration here: https://straightanursing.ck.page/41fbe4fe50

Are you looking for an awesome community to support you on your nursing school journey? Join my Facebook group, Thriving Nursing Students and instantly have more than 16K new friends :-) https://www.facebook.com/groups/thrivingnursingstudents

Read the show notes and see references here: https://www.straightanursingstudent.com/ace-inhibitors/

Nursing school is challenging, intense and even really frustrating at times. In this week’s podcast episode we’re talking about nursing school burnout, my friends:

All the reasons a nursing student might experience burnout...trust me, it’s not just you! How to recognize when you are on your way to burnout (and hopefully catch it before it gets too bad!) Tips to help you avoid it or even combat it once it hits.

Need a little extra encouragement? Visit www.futureme.org and write a letter to your future self to be delivered at a time when you anticipate needing a pep talk or reminder of why you are on this journey :-)

Starting nursing school soon? Get my FREE 20 Secrets of Successful Nursing Students guide here: https://straightanursing.ck.page/4d90f769dc

For references, visit this link: https://www.straightanursingstudent.com/nursing-school-burn-out/

Anaphylaxis is a life-threatening hypersensitivity reaction that occurs immediately (or shortly after) exposure to an antigen. Because it can quickly be fatal, it’s crucial that you understand how to recognize it and intervene immediately.

In this podcast episode we’ll talk through:

What happens in anaphylaxis and anaphylactic shock Why it is potentially fatal The signs/symptoms of anaphylaxis Nursing interventions for anaphylaxis, including medications How to monitor the patient

Want more Nurse Mo in your life? Follow me on Instagram (and see occasional pictures of my cat!) @straightanurse

See references here: https://www.straightanursingstudent.com/anaphylaxis

Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) can be a highly effective treatment for depression and bipolar disorder, though it is shrouded in suspicion as one of the most stigmatized therapies currently in use. In this podcast episode we’ll talk about ECT, why and how it is used and nursing interventions for patients undergoing this therapy.

For show notes & references: https://www.straightanursingstudent.com/electroconvulsive-therapy/

Looking for a foolproof way to organize your busy nursing school schedule? Our planners make it easy! Plus, with nursing facts for each and every week, it’s full of info to help you on your exams. Grab yours here: www.etsy.com/shop/straightanursing

Do you love “The Gram” as much as I do? Then follow me @straightanurse

Even though most nursing students LOVE clinical, there’s still often a lot of worry and uncertainty surrounding the experience. In this episode we’ll talk about some of the most common worries students have about clinicals and dispel them one by one. Links mentioned in this episode: Nursing diagnoses: https://www.straightanursingstudent.com/nursing-diagnosis/ Dealing with bullies: https://www.straightanursingstudent.com/dealing-with-nurse-jerks-and-bullies/ Clinical debrief form: https://www.straightanursingstudent.com/podcast80/ Want to see what Nurse Mo is up to in between podcast episodes? Follow me on Instagram @straightanurse Looking for your new BFFs? Join the Thriving Nursing Students Facebook group!

In this special bonus episode we’re exploring what it’s like to pursue a career as a CRNA. Join me as I interview Jenny Finnell, creator of the CRNA School Prep Academy...to learn more click here: https://crnaschoolprep.academy/?ref=9

In this episode Jenny shares her expertise in navigating the complex journey of becoming a CRNA, including:

What students can start doing NOW to prepare What the application process is like Where a nurse should work prior to applying to CRNA programs What CRNA school is like Financial considerations for CRNA school Where CRNAs work and what she loves most about her career!

Not ready to join the academy but want to explore the world of CRNA nursing? Then check out her Facebook group called I.C.U Dreaming About Anesthesia. See you there!

If I had to name the top three things that make me nervous at the bedside, pediatric respiratory distress would be at the top of that list. And for very good reason.

In this podcast episode I’ll talk you through all the reasons that pediatric respiratory distress is of special concern and what you (as the awesome nurse that you are) are going to do about it.

Blog post and references here: https://www.straightanursingstudent.com/pediatric-respiratory-distress/

Want more Straight A Nursing Pod-Quizzes? Sign up to be notified here.

Have you subscribed to the podcast, but still want more? Then follow me on Instagram @straightanurse

In this week’s episode I’m talking you through a potent medication used in the critical care setting to treat severe hypotension that has not responded to fluids. And that, my friends, is norepinephrine (brand name Levophed). Using the Straight A Nursing DRRUGS framework, we’ll dive into the need-to-know info so you can feel confident in clinical, on the job, or on your exams.

Looking for more of Nurse Mo? Check out my growing YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJK-mbh6udF6WNYdjJQ-LYA

The blog article about norepinephrine includes some practice dosage calculations...test your knowledge here: https://www.straightanursingstudent.com/norepinephrine/

In nursing school we learned the standard ECG measurements...the PR interval, the QRS, ST elevations, the rate...and that was about it! It wasn’t until I started working in the ICU that I learned about the QT interval and why it is probably one of the MOST important ECG measurements I can monitor.

In this podcast episode, I’ll talk you through what the QT interval represents, how to measure it, some common causes for prolongation and...of course, what you are going to do about it.

The QTc calculator mentioned in this episode can be found here: http://www.medcalc.com/qtc.html

Read the show notes here: https://www.straightanursingstudent.com/qt-interval/

Looking for more of Nurse Mo in between episodes? Follow me on Instagram @straightanurse

In this special bonus episode I interview Michael Smith from the Real Talk School of Nursing podcast. Michael is a wonderful student advocate who provides nursing students with a real-world perspective on nursing school through his podcast and hilarious Instagram memes (seriously, go check them out!)

In addition to mentoring students, Michael also works in the emergency room of a L1 trauma center. If you’re at all interested in ER nursing, then you’ll want to hear Michael’s advice for students and new nurses in that high-acuity and intense environment. He believes in you and so do I!

Enjoy!

Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is the most severe form of lung injury and happens to be prevalent as of late due to Covid-19. In this podcast episode we’ll talk about the pathophysiology of ARDS and then dive into the key need-to-know information using the Straight A Nursing LATTE method.

If you find this podcast helpful, we’d love for you to take the time to subscribe, rate and review! I read every single one of your comments and appreciate your feedback and support more than you know.

Looking for more of Nurse Mo in between episodes? Follow me on Instagram @straightanurse

Links mentioned in episode:

Chest X-ray showing ARDS: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acute_respiratory_distress_syndrome#/media/File:ARDSSevere.png

End-tidal CO2: https://www.straightanursingstudent.com/capnography-etco2/

Brief tutorial on the P/F ratio: https://www.straightanursingstudent.com/whats-a-pf-ratio-and-why-should-you-care/)

What is ECMO? https://www.straightanursingstudent.com/ecmo/)

Prone positioning: https://www.straightanursingstudent.com/prone-positioning/

Ventilator weaning: https://www.straightanursingstudent.com/ventilator-weaning/

For show notes and references, please visit the Straight A Nursing website: https://www.straightanursingstudent.com/acute-respiratory-distress-syndrome/

Students, even those who do well in other classes, often struggle with mental health nursing. Many times these students have no idea why they’re struggling, they just know this class can be especially difficult.

But guess what? When you understand WHY you could find a class challenging, you can go in there armed with appropriate tools to meet these challenges (and possibly even thrive despite them!). Whew!

Read the show notes here: https://www.straightanursingstudent.com/why-mental-health-nursing-is-challenging/

How strong is your organization game? Looking for a way to level up and have complete confidence that you’ll never miss an assignment, stay up too late finishing a project or forget an appointment? Then you’re ready to check out the Straight A Nursing planner at www.etsy.com/shop/straightanursing.Available in digital (for iPad/Tablet) or printable formats that come with easy instructions for printing at home or sending to an outside printer for assembly. Get yours today and see how amazing it feels to be in control of your busy nursing school schedule!

Follow along with a neuro case study featuring a fictional patient who suffers a CVA. We’ll talk through his medical history and key assessment findings then implement a plan of care that unfolds as you listen.

Read the show notes here: https://www.straightanursingstudent.com/neuro-case-study/

Are you looking for ways to prepare for nursing school or start next semester with new confidence? Crucial Concepts Bootcamp (https://straightanursing.mykajabi.com/crucial-concepts) is a self-paced course that teaches you HOW to be a successful nursing student.

Imagine walking into the first day of class already understanding things like nursing diagnoses, care plans and dosage calculations. Talk about starting off strong!Sign up for Crucial Concepts Bootcamp here: https://straightanursing.mykajabi.com/crucial-concepts

I know so many nursing students have questions about L&D nursing, what it’s like and how to get into such an exciting (and popular) field. So today I have a special treat for you! I’m interviewing Hannah, an RN who recently landed her dream job at a large hospital’s labor and delivery unit.

We’ll talk through what she loves about the job, the different roles of the L&D nurse, and the path she took to get there. Here’s a hint...it only took about two years and she never had a position she didn’t love!

Are you starting nursing school soon or looking for a total re-set? Crucial Concepts Bootcamp (https://straightanursing.mykajabi.com/crucial-concepts) is on sale through January 10th, 2021, using coupon code FUTURENURSE. This self-paced course teaches you HOW to be a successful nursing student, just like Hannah was!

In celebration of reaching ONE MILLION DOWNLOADS a few months ago, I invited my podcast listeners and nurse colleagues to call in with their best advice for new nurses and nursing students. I am so excited to share these inspiring and encouraging messages with you in this bonus episode!

To everyone who recorded a message, thank you SO MUCH! It takes all of us to grow and nurture our future colleagues and I can't begin to express the impact your words had on me. Thank you again from the bottom of my heart.

If you left a recording but it is not included, please know I did everything I could to get all the recordings included. Unfortunately a handful had technical issues that could not be overcome. You are all amazing and I appreciate your support and words of wisdom so very much!

In this episode, I’m revealing the core subjects you should review to prepare for pharmacology. After all, it’s one of the most challenging subjects for nursing students to master because it introduces a vast amount of new material.

However, the good news is, a lot of this material stems from foundation knowledge you already possess. A systematic review of some key concepts you learned in A&P can set you up for pharmacology success. So, pop in those earbuds and let’s see which subjects you should review to prepare for pharmacology.

Not in a position to take notes as you listen? No problem! Find the details here: https://www.straightanursingstudent.com/prepare-for-pharmacology/

Download my FREE pharmacology root/suffix cheatsheet: https://straightanursing.ck.page/6ed903cf3e

And, if you really want to get prepared for nursing school, enroll in Crucial Concepts Bootcamp so you can start your program waaaaay ahead of the game. This self-paced course teaches key concepts such as dosage calculations, study strategies, how to decipher NCLEX-style questions and so much more. Find out how you can get a free Med Surg study guide here: https://learn.straightanursingstudent.com/crucial-concepts

To all who have received acceptance letters and are starting nursing school soon...CONGRATULATIONS! I am so very excited and happy for you as you take this next big step on your journey to become a nurse.

In this episode I’ll talk you through some of the key things you can do before school even starts to get ready for nursing school, including which A&P topics to review.

And if you REALLY want to prepare in advance, enroll in Crucial Concepts Bootcamp so you can start your program waaaaay ahead of the game. This self-paced course teaches key concepts such as dosage calculations, study strategies, how to decipher NCLEX-style questions and so much more: https://straightanursing.mykajabi.com/crucial-concepts

Read the show notes here: https://www.straightanursingstudent.com/when-starting-nursing-school-soon/

Today we’re talking about one of my favorite topics….shopping for nursing school supplies! With the holidays coming up, it’s the perfect time to add some must-have items to your wish list.

It includes some bigger ticket items and things that fit beautifully in a stocking. Happy shopping!

Get the links to my favorites here: https://www.straightanursingstudent.com/nursing-school-supplies-2021/

Looking for more ways to prepare for nursing school? Crucial Concepts Bootcamp is the nursing school prep course that teaches you how to be a successful nursing student. https://learn.straightanursingstudent.com/crucial-concepts

Want even more good news? You can get a FREE Med Surg study guide when you enroll with our “social share” option!

The key to feeling confident (or at least less anxious) in clinical is knowing what to do should something really scary happen. In this episode, we’ll talk through the three main types of tracheostomy emergencies and how nurses can intervene.

Looking for a way to be the most organized nursing student you can possibly be? Check out the planner designed specifically for nursing students here: www.etsy.com/shop/straightanursing

Read the show notes here: https://www.straightanursingstudent.com/tracheostomy-emergencies/

This past year I've worked really hard to develop and follow a consistent morning routine. In this podcast episode, we’ll talk about the benefits of morning routines and how they can help make your life as a nurse or nursing student more balanced and organized and less chaotic and stressful. If your day typically starts in chaos, lacks focus or feels like a mad dash out the door, this episode is for you!

Looking for a way to be the most organized nursing student you can possibly be? Check out the planner designed specifically for nursing students here: www.etsy.com/shop/straightanursing

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 middle ear infection). Using the Straight A Nursing LATTE method, we’ll break down the key nursing assessments and interventions when it comes to taking care of kids with both acute and chronic infections.

Did you enjoy the PodQuiz questions at the end? Then you'll love Study Sesh, our private members-only podcast which lets you study on the go with PodQuizzes, drills, case studies and more. Check out Study Sesh at https://www.straightanursingstudent.com/study-sesh

Looking for peer support from others going through the same things you are? Join the most positive and helpful nursing student group on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/groups/thrivingnursingstudents/

Let’s talk through diltiazem, a common calcium channel blocker (CCB) using the Straight A Nursing acronym DRRUGS. You’ll see this medication used to treat hypertension, angina and tachycardic arrhythmias such as atrial fibrillation.

Want to go beyond the 5-Rights of Medication Administration and BULLETPROOF your medication administration? Grab your free guide https://straightanursing.ck.page/41fbe4fe50

Love PodQuizzes? You'll loooooove Study Sesh! This private members-only podcast helps you study on the go with PodQuizzes, drills, case studies and more. Check out Study Sesh here: https://www.straightanursingstudent.com/study-sesh/

Looking for a way to conquer your nursing school schedule? Check out the planners we design specifically for nursing students here: www.etsy.com/shop/straightanursing

Starting nursing school soon? Grab my FREE guide, the 20 Secrets of Successful Nursing Students https://straightanursing.ck.page/4d90f769dc

Read the show notes here: https://www.straightanursingstudent.com/diltiazem/

Even the most successful, rock-star nursing student has moments where they feel overwhelmed, burned out and depleted. And for good reason. Nursing school is HARD, and I want you to know that what you are feeling is absolutely normal and absolutely okay.

Listen to this very special podcast episode when you need a pep talk, when you feel like you just can’t go on, or any time you doubt your ability to get through nursing school.

I. Believe. In. You.

Looking for peer support from others going through the same things you are? Join the most positive and helpful nursing student group on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/groups/thrivingnursingstudents/

Intra-abdominal hypertension (IAH) is a progressive and potentially fatal condition that can initially present with subtle clinical signs that make it hard to detect. Learn the basics of IAH, what to watch for and some common approaches utilized to treat it.

Links mentioned in this episode:

Bulletproof Your Patient (Episode 94) https://www.straightanursingstudent.com/podcast94/

Third-Spacing (Episode 113) https://www.straightanursingstudent.com/episode113/

Limb Ischemia/Compartment Syndrome (Episode 119) https://www.straightanursingstudent.com/episode119/

20 Secrets of Successful Nursing Students https://straightanursing.ck.page/4d90f769dc

Want to be the most organized nursing student you can be? Check out our planners designed just for you! www.etsy.com/shop/straightanursing

Read the show notes here: https://www.straightanursingstudent.com/when-bellies-go-bad/

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 tubes, key assessments, what to watch for and what to do if things go wrong.

Ready to start planning for nursing school success? Get the 5-star rated nursing school planner that comes with easy instructions for having it printed and bound (with tabs!) www.etsy.com/shop/straightanursing

Read the show notes here: https://www.straightanursingstudent.com/chest-tube-management/

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

New to PodQuizzes? In this podcast format, I ask a question then pause, giving you time to answer. I then reveal the answer...they’re flashcards for your ears!

Did you LOVE studying this way? Then check out Study Sesh, our private members-only podcast at https://straightanursingstudent.com/study-sesh

If you love flashcards, then you’ll love the Straight A Nursing app! Get on the notification list here: https://straightanursing.ck.page/82facc6b25

Ready to start planning for nursing school success? Get the 5-star rated nursing school planner that comes with easy instructions for having it printed and bound (with tabs!) www.etsy.com/shop/straightanursing

Need a visual review? Read the show notes here: https://straightanursingstudent.com/electrolytes/

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 about pregnant adolescents is that the high-risk aspect goes far beyond the physical.

Looking for more resources for nursing school? Visit www.straightanursingstudent.com

Read the show notes here: https://www.straightanursingstudent.com/adolescent-pregnancy/

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 clinicals, too! In this podcast episode we’ll talk through this medication using the Straight A Nursing framework DRRUGS.

Looking to go beyond the Five Rights of medication administration with my Bulletproof guide? Grab yours here and take your medication administration practice to an even higher level: https://straightanursing.ck.page/fc69f2501b

Are you facing a dosage calculations exam that has you shaking in your Danskos? Enroll in Confident Calculations here: https://learn.straightanursingstudent.com/confident-calculations

Read the show notes here: https://www.straightanursingstudent.com/phenytoin/

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 delegation will show up on exams and your NCLEX! In this episode, learn the basics of delegation, what makes it safe (or unsafe) and the key components you need to consider each and every time.

Looking for a way to review for nursing school exams? We’re coming out with an app that can help you do just that! Get on the waitlist here: https://straightanursing.ck.page/25d7252015

Read the show notes here: https://www.straightanursingstudent.com/delegation/

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, compartment syndrome can result in tissue death and loss of the affected limb.

In this podcast episode, we’ll talk through the six Ps of compartment syndrome, how we assess patients and what the emergency treatment is for this serious condition.

Looking for a great Facebook group full of positive, supportive and encouraging nursing students? Join the Thriving Nursing Students Facebook group here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/thrivingnursingstudents

Read the show notes here: https://www.straightanursingstudent.com/compartment-syndrome/

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 of patients at this stage requires diligence, quick thinking, and an eye for spotting and preventing complications.

Today we’ll be chatting about taking care of patients in the post-anesthesia recovery period when they are potentially the most unstable, and then transitioning to talk about nursing care once the patient leaves PACU.

Want to learn more about PACU nursing? Check out this blog post where I discuss my transition from ICU to recovery room: https://www.straightanursingstudent.com/pacu-nursing/

Read the show notes here: https://www.straightanursingstudent.com/after-surgery/

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 talking about one of my favorite subjects...being organized and efficient in nursing school.

Looking for a way to stay on top of your busy schedule? Check out our planners here: https://www.etsy.com/shop/straightanursing

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 and excrete drugs varies greatly, making pediatric pharmacology a truly unique subject.

If you’re heading into your pediatric rotation or starting out as a new pediatric RN, then pop in those earbuds. I’ll talk you through the key things you need to know to utilize medications safely in this very special and vulnerable population.

Want to “bulletproof” your medication administration? Download my freebie here: https://straightanursing.ck.page/41fbe4fe50

Read the show notes here: https://www.straightanursingstudent.com/pediatricpharm/

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 way beyond insulin?

In this episode, we’ll talk about insulin and non-insulin treatments for diabetes mellitus.

Are you looking for a foolproof way to perform dosage calculations...even the tricky ones? Check out Dosage Calculations Bootcamp here: https://straightanursing.mykajabi.com/dosage-bootcamp

Read the show notes here: https://www.straightanursingstudent.com/insulin/

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

These clinical hours are absolutely precious. You definitely want to get as much out of each and every minute so you can make that transition from student to new-grad RN with relative ease. In this week’s podcast, I’ll talk you through my best tips for thriving in this cumulative clinical experience. Good luck! You’re going to do great!

Looking for the brain sheets and run sheets mentioned in this episode? They’re right here: https://www.straightanursingstudent.com/resources/brain-sheets/

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 patients as well.

So, pop in those earbuds and get outside for a walk...it’s beautiful out! Enjoy!

Starting nursing school soon? Enroll in Crucial Concepts Bootcamp, the only nursing school prep course that teaches you HOW to thrive in nursing school. Grab your spot right here: https://straightanursing.mykajabi.com/crucial-concepts

View the show notes here: https://www.straightanursingstudent.com/third-spacing/

While pulse oximetry tells you about your patient’s oxygenation status, capnography tells you about their ventilatory status. In fact, capnography can alert you to declines in respiratory function much faster than pulse oximetry, which makes it a wonderful tool in sedated patients or those recovering from surgery. In this podcast episode, learn the basics of capnography monitoring and how it helps keep patients safe.

Check out Episode 89 for more information about oxygenation, which is actually a complex concept for many students to master (but not you!). https://www.straightanursingstudent.com/podcast89/

Snag your spot in Crucial Concepts Bootcamp and prepare to achieve total nursing school mastery. https://straightanursing.mykajabi.com/crucial-concepts

Read the show notes here: https://www.straightanursingstudent.com/capnography-etco2/

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. In this podcast episode, I’ll talk about five easy things you can do before classes begin that will help you start your program with your best foot forward.

Click here to grab the blood flow cheatsheet!

Bloodflow Through Heart Download: https://www.straightanursingstudent.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Bloodflow-Through-Heart.jpg

Bloodflow Mnemonic Download: https://www.straightanursingstudent.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Bloodflow-Mnemonic.jpg Crucial Concepts Bootcamp is open for enrollment! This course arms you with the core concepts you need to achieve total nursing school mastery. https://learn.straightanursingstudent.com/crucial-concepts

Grab my Nursing School Thrive Guide on Amazon and see why it has an average 5-star review: https://www.amazon.com/Nursing-School-Thrive-Guide-Maureen-ebook/dp/B00M389ZX0 (#ad)

Wondering what supplies you need for nursing school? https://www.straightanursingstudent.com/what-does-a-nursing-student-need/

Nursing School Thrive Guide

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 pregnancy or delivery. These infections are toxoplasmosis, other (syphilis, listeria, varicella zoster, parvovirus), rubella, cytomegalovirus and herpes simplex virus. We’ll touch on the key details you need to know to prep for your NCLEX and your nursing school exams!

Show notes available here: https://www.straightanursingstudent.com/torch-infections/

Ready to be the most organized student in your class? Get the planner made just for nursing students here: www.etsy.com/shop/straightanursing

Do you LOVE the PodQuizzes at the end of some of our episodes? Then you’ll LOVE Study Sesh! It's our private members-only podcast, packed with PodQuizzes, drills, case studies and more. Check out Study Sesh here: https://www.straightanursingstudent.com/study-sesh/ Not an auditory learner? It's great that you know your learning style! Our flashcard app is coming out soon and we are soooo excited! Get on the waitlist here and be the first to know when we launch: https://straightanursing.ck.page/25d7252015

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 helium plus oxygen that creates a gas that is lower in density, thereby decreasing work of breathing and helping inhaled medications get into the more distal areas of the bronchial tree.

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View the show notes here: https://www.straightanursingstudent.com/asthma-heliox/

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Crucial Concepts Bootcamp is open for enrollment! This course arms you with the core concepts you need to achieve total nursing school mastery. https://straightanursing.mykajabi.com/crucial-concepts

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 sheets” to ensure that report is thorough and efficient. For this episode, you’re going to want to print out the downloadable PDF and follow along with me as we go through all the components of an effective brain sheet so you can feel confident in the clinical setting.

Download the report sheet for one patient here: https://www.straightanursingstudent.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/Brain-Yellow.pdf

Download the report sheet for multiple patients here: https://www.straightanursingstudent.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/Tele-Brain.pdf

Looking for a way to boost your nursing school success? Crucial Concepts Bootcamp teaches you the core, underlying concepts you need and is especially helpful for incoming students. All the juicy details are here: https://straightanursing.mykajabi.com/crucial-concepts

Ready to master dosage calculations in a step-by-step manner that will give you total confidence? Dosage Calculations Bootcamp is your new BFF! https://straightanursing.mykajabi.com/dosage-bootcamp

Listen to Episode 7: Giving End-of-Shift Report: (https://www.straightanursingstudent.com/shift-report/)

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, so careful monitoring and decisive action are key to keeping them safe. In this podcast episode, we’ll talk about the nursing care of patients with GI bleeds so that you can feel ready for anything.

Want to be the most organized student in your class? Get the planner made just for nursing students here: www.etsy.com/shop/straightanursing

Do you LOVE the PodQuizzes at the end of some of our episodes? Then you’ll LOVE Study Sesh! It's our private members-only podcast, packed with PodQuizzes, drills, case studies and more. Check out Study Sesh here: https://www.straightanursingstudent.com/study-sesh/ Not an auditory learner? It's great that you know your learning style! Our flashcard app is coming out soon and we are soooo excited! Get on the waitlist here and be the first to know when we launch: https://straightanursing.ck.page/25d7252015

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 of Pacific Islander descent (though it’s certainly not limited to this group). We’ll go through Kawasaki disease in peds patients using the Straight A Nursing LATTE method, which is the perfect way to learn the info most likely to be on your exams.

Show notes available here: (https://straightanursingstudent.com/kawasaki-disease/)

Looking for a way to get and stay organized in nursing school? Our planners were designed with your busy schedule in mind. Check them out here (www.etsy.com/shop/straightanursing) and see why they’ve got a 5-star rating!

In this podcast episode, we’ll talk about some interesting disease conditions that can often be recognized by the very distinct odors they produce. In addition, we’ll also talk through some tried-and-true strategies for dealing with foul odors in the clinical setting so you keep your patients (and yourself) comfortable.

Show notes available here: (https://straightanursingstudent.com/bad-smells-hospital/)

Our nursing student planners are available as printable PDF or digitally for your iPad/tablet. Grab yours here: www.etsy.com/shop/straightanursing

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. Even though you’re excited, you’re likely also a little bit nervous (maybe even scared!). These tips for new grad nurses will help you ease into your new role like a pro.

Show notes are available here: (https://straightanursingstudent.com/whats-nursing-school-graduation/)

Interested in creating a nursing portfolio? See my how-to here: (https://straightanursingstudent.com/the-nursing-portfolio/)

Got an interview coming up? Master these 20 questions and wow everyone on your interview panel (https://straightanursingstudent.com/interview-questions-for-your-first-nursing-job/)

Brain sheets are key to keeping you organized and efficient throughout your shift. Grab some free brain sheets here: (https://straightanursingstudent.com/resources/brain-sheets/).

Ready to gear up for your new job? What supplies do you really need? (https://straightanursingstudent.com/new-nurse-supplies/)

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

We’ll use the Straight A Nursing pharmacology framework, DRRUGS to make things nice and organized (and hopefully, easy to remember!)

Show notes available here: (https://straightanursingstudent.com/hydroxychloroquine/)

Craving a way to get uber-organized for nursing school? Our nursing student planners are right here and they are gorgeous! (www.etsy.com/shop/straightanursing).

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 to work with, there’s always going to be challenging interactions. With the right attitude and a commitment to setting boundaries and expectations, you can help shield yourself from taking it personally or getting emotionally wounded. If you are a new nurse or a nursing student, this one is especially for you!

Show notes are available here: (https://straightanursingstudent.com/difficult-patients-families/)

Shout out to Alwin who left such a great review about the planners!

Just ordered my second planner from Nurse Mo! Looking forward to another organized year!! This planner is really the best for nursing students! So motivating to be able to check those little to-do lists! Love it! -Alwin

Looking for the planner that Alwin is so in love with? It’s right here: (www.etsy.com/shop/straightanursing).

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 setting or on your exams.

Together, we’ll cover: -key ECG elements of each heart block-the many names for the second-degree blocks (why are there so many???)-causes of heart blocks-nursing assessments and interventions-an easy way to keep it all straight

Show notes are available here: (https://straightanursingstudent.com/heart-blocks-aka-a-relationship-in-trouble/)

Looking for tips on thriving in nursing school? Grab the Nursing School Thrive Guide here (https://amzn.to/2Rr9HGT) #ad

References:

Continuing Education Consortium. (2008). Basic cardiac monitoring course. Continuing Education Consortium.

Garcia, T., & Miller, G. (2004). Arrhythmia Recognition: The Art of Interpretation. Jones and Bartlett.

Nursing School Thrive Guide

Taking care of patients after a thyroidectomy involves very specific assessments and interventions if complications arise. In this podcast episode, we’re using the Straight A Nursing LATTE method to go through signs/symptoms after thyroidectomy, how you should assess the patient, what tests and treatments will be administered, and how you’ll educate the patient.

Read the show notes here: https://straightanursingstudent.com/thyroidectomy/

Ready to get organized for nursing school? Our planners are available in printable PDF format and digital format for your tablet. Both are available here: www.etsy.com/shop/straightanursing

Hungry for more thyroid learning? Check out Episode 61 on hypothyroidism (https://straightanursingstudent.com/hyperthyroidism-when-your-thyroid-just-wont-stop-episode-61/), and Episode 58 for hypothyroidism (https://straightanursingstudent.com/hypothyroidism-when-your-thyroid-just-cant-anymore/)

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 podcast episode, I talk you through what to expect as your patient (or the patient’s family) prepares for death, what nursing interventions will be needed, and how you can provide everyone involved with care that is as competent as it is compassionate.

Show notes are available here: https://straightanursingstudent.com/end-of-life-care/

Looking for the Straight A Nursing planners? Grab yours here: https://www.etsy.com/shop/straightanursing

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 the difference between each level of consciousness will help you chart accurately and communicate your patient’s condition with precision.

So, if you’ve ever wondered what the differences are between obtunded and stuporous, or lethargic and somnolent...pop your earbuds in and take a listen!

Show notes are available here: https://straightanursingstudent.com/levels-of-consciousness-decoded/

Looking for the Straight A Nursing planners? Grab yours here: https://www.etsy.com/shop/straightanursing

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. While this isn’t entirely true, it is a pretty common medication that you’ll see regularly in the clinical setting.

In this podcast episode, I’ll talk you through the must-know information about Albuterol so you can ensure it’s given safely and that your professors won’t be able to trick you with any of those challenging NCLEX-style exam questions.

Using the Straight A Nursing pharmacology framework “DRRUGS,” we’ll look at Albuterol in an organized and systematic manner (drug class, routes, regular dose range, uses, guidelines and side effects).

Show notes available here: https://straightanursingstudent.com/albuterolAre you a new student interested in starting the semester way ahead of the game? Then, you’ll love my Crucial Concepts Bootcamp (https://straightanursing.mykajabi.com/crucial-concepts)

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 error with my own practice, I finally settled on a solid start-of-shift routine that helped me start each day off as organized and methodical as possible. I found that on those days when I neglected my routine, I was much more frazzled, unfocused, and ended up wasting more time by trying to play catch up.

In this podcast episode, I share with you seven things to do at the beginning of your shift. Take a listen and then I invite you to devise your own start-of-shift routine so you can feel like the confident, organized nurse you are!

Show notes are here: https://straightanursingstudent.com/time-management/

Download a sample Run Sheet here: https://straightanursingstudent.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Run-Sheet-B.pdf

Are you a new student interested in starting the semester way ahead of the game? Then, you’ll love my Crucial Concepts Bootcamp (https://straightanursing.mykajabi.com/crucial-concepts)

In this podcast episode I'll talk you through the basics of hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis. Pop in those earbuds and learn all about key nursing assessments and interventions, how to monitor your patient for complications, what lab values you'll follow, how to keep your patient safe, and the nitty-gritty details you need for those dialysis NCLEX and nursing school exam questions.

Starting nursing school soon? Grab my free guide, the 20 Secrets of Successful Nursing Students here: https://straightanursing.ck.page/4d90f769dc

What does it mean to keep your patients safe? Is it keeping them from falling, avoiding medication errors, or preventing pressure-related injury? Yes, yes and definitely yes! And while you can’t cushion your patient with bubble wrap, you can take steps to do what I call “bulletproofing” your patient against harm.

In this podcast episode I share with you my best tips for creating an organized room and an environment that promotes safety, helps prevent errors and sets things up so anyone could take over for you without missing a beat.

As always, please defer to your facility's protocols as they will always trump my recommendations and advice. These are great guidelines, but every facility is different, so make sure you do your homework.

Looking for the Bulletproof Your Patient checklist? It's right here! (for those viewing on a podcast, player, grab it at https://straightanursingstudent.com/podcast94/)

Bulletproof Patient Checklist Download: https://straightanursingstudent.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Bulletproof-patient-2.pdf

Come join the Facebook group! We’d love to have you! (https://www.facebook.com/groups/thrivingnursingstudents/)

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 know this must be a really difficult time for you, so just know that I am absolutely rooting for you every step of the way. Even if you’re not currently struggling, you’ll get some great tips that can help you stay ahead of the game. In this podcast episode, I’ll talk you through:

Steps to take when you’re failing a course What to do if you’re failing in clinical or in clinical jeopardy How to survive skills check-offs My best tips for turning things around Advice for filing an appeal

Need a Nursing School Booster Shot? https://straightanursing.mykajabi.com/boostershot

Got test anxiety? I got you! https://straightanursingstudent.com/test-anxiety-in-nursing-school-episode-67/

Struggling to take effective notes in nursing school? https://straightanursingstudent.com/taking-notes/

NCLEX-style questions got you shaking in your Danskos? Decipher them with these strategies https://straightanursingstudent.com/nclex-strategies/

Not sure where to place your focus in nursing school? Try these tips: https://straightanursingstudent.com/focus-nursing-school/

Is your study group wasting your time? Turn that time-waster into a life-saver: https://straightanursingstudent.com/podcast74/

Looking for a way to learn and study disease conditions? Grab a LATTE! https://straightanursingstudent.com/latte-podcast/

Two placental disorders that you’ll need to be able to differentiate are placental abruption (also known as abruptio placentae) and placenta previa. In this podcast episode, we’ll talk through the key differences and nursing interventions so it all makes perfect sense. In this podcast you’ll learn:

What these two conditions are Classification criteria Key signs and symptoms for each

Risk factors for both conditions Medical and surgical treatments Nursing interventions for both How to differentiate between the two for your exams

Want a little more help understanding the key differences? Read the show notes and see the table we created here (https://straightanursingstudent.com/placental-abrution-vs-placenta-previa-nclex-review/).

Looking for your new BFFs? Join the Thriving Nursing Students Facebook group! (https://www.facebook.com/groups/thrivingnursingstudents/)

Are you working hard to put all the pieces together for your care plans? A key component you may be overlooking is the important role your patient’s electrolyte levels play in their overall clinical picture. Go beyond simply memorizing normal reference ranges and grab the Straight A Nursing Electrolytes Bundle https://straightanursingstudent.com/study-guides/electrolytes-bundle/

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

In this podcast episode, I’ll talk you through:

What Haldol is used for in the clinical setting The multiple ways Haldol can be given (and how we’re going to give it for acute agitation in the hospital) THE most important thing you need to know before you give Haldol and what to monitor afterwards. The very dangerous thing that could happen to your patient with Haldol administration Monitoring parameters Common side effects of Haldol

Plus, I’m sharing a sneak peak into my Pharmacology course and an acronym that can help you focus your studying when learning new medications.

Want to learn more about the QT interval? (https://straightanursingstudent.com/qt-interval/)

Want to see how I remember drug side effects? (https://straightanursingstudent.com/psychopharmacology-podcast/)

Want to “bulletproof” your medication administration? (https://straightanursing.ck.page/41fbe4fe50)

Looking for your new BFFs? Join the Thriving Nursing Students Facebook group! (https://www.facebook.com/groups/thrivingnursingstudents/)

Episode notes here: (https://straightanursingstudent.com/haldol/)

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 arrest. But the nurse’s real superpower is his or her ability to assess. It’s the watchful awareness of the nurse that catches subtle changes in patient condition that enable the team to intervene BEFORE the unthinkable happens.

In this podcast episode, I’m going to talk with you about the importance of those routine interactions and how they can provide you with a wealth of data about your patients. By assessing these five things with every patient contact, you can catch changes in patient condition even before your next head-to-toe assessment is due. When you develop a habit of using every patient interaction as an opportunity to assess, you become hypervigilant about your patient and begin to develop those rockstar assessment skills.

Show notes are here: https://straightanursingstudent.com/5-assessments/

Are you working hard to put all the pieces together for your care plans? A key component you may be overlooking is the important role your patient’s electrolyte levels play in their overall clinical picture. Go beyond simply memorizing normal reference ranges and grab the Straight A Nursing Electrolytes Bundle https://straightanursingstudent.com/study-guides/electrolytes-bundle/

A lot of nursing schools are changing to a concept-based curriculum where instead of teaching disorders in isolation, they teach concepts that have broader application. For example, instead of just teaching about asthma, these programs teach oxygenation as a concept and use asthma as an example for beginning students (and then more complex disorders such as ARDS for the advanced students). By learning about oxygenation as a concept, the consensus is that you’ll apply this knowledge more easily in clinical (and on exams) because you’ll have a better understanding of how it interrelates with the patient’s overall condition.

In this podcast episode Nurse Mo talks you through the basics of oxygenation and some related concepts. You will learn:

The difference between oxygenation and ventilation The difference between hypoxia and hypoxemia The difference between diffusion and perfusion Why hypoxia and hypoxemia do not always co-exist (though they often do!) How optimal oxygenation looks in a healthy patient vs how it looks in a patient with a respiratory disorder How the body compensates for chronic low oxygen levels The importance of airway patency Nursing interventions for patients having oxygenation challenges

And to drive the concept of oxygenation home, we’ll talk through three case studies using our fictitious patients, Bob, Sally and James. They are each in distress for very different reasons, but they’re all related to oxygenation. Enjoy!

Looking for episode notes? They’re right here: (https://straightanursingstudent.com/oxygenation-concepts/).

Loving this podcast? We’d love if you could rate and review wherever you get your podcast fix! And be sure to subscribe so you don’t miss an episode!

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!

Read more about vital signs: https://straightanursingstudent.com/vital-signs-tips/

Are you working hard to put all the pieces together for your care plans? A key component you may be overlooking is the important role your patient’s electrolyte levels play in their overall clinical picture. Go beyond simply memorizing normal reference ranges and grab the Straight A Nursing Electrolytes Bundle https://straightanursingstudent.com/study-guides/electrolytes-bundle/

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!

Read about post-op fever here: https://straightanursingstudent.com/post-op-fever/

Struggling to take epic nursing school notes? Why bother, when they’ve already been done for you? Check out our Med Surg Success Pack and spend more time learning and less time stressing: https://straightanursingstudent.com/study-guides/med-surg-success-pack/

Got a question about nursing school? Then ask your new friends in the Thriving Nursing Students Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/thrivingnursingstudents/

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 week’s episode.

Read more about skills check-offs here: https://straightanursingstudent.com/skills-checkoff/

Read more about simulation lab here: https://straightanursingstudent.com/nursing-school-sim-lab/

Struggling in your Med Surg course? Grab the Med Surg Success Pack here: https://straightanursingstudent.com/study-guides/med-surg-success-pack/

Join the Thriving Nursing Students Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/thrivingnursingstudents/

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!

Show notes are here: https://straightanursingstudent.com/do-you-have-the-right-attitude-for-nursing-school/

Organize your life while you're nursing school with a planner designed specifically for nursing students! Grab yours here: www.etsy.com/shop/straightanursing

Join the Thriving Nursing Students Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/thrivingnursingstudents/

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

Show notes and references can be found here: https://straightanursingstudent.com/focus-on-pharm-corticosteroids/

Get your nursing school life organized with a planner designed just for you! Grab yours here: www.etsy.com/shop/straightanursing

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

Show notes and references can be found here: https://straightanursingstudent.com/ventilator-basics-for-nursing-students/

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 this Excel file, edit to add any details relevant to your program and practice, practice, practice! You’ve got this!

Read more about doing a head-to-toe-assessment here: https://straightanursingstudent.com/our-first-guest-post-doing-a-head-to-toe-assessment/

Head-To-Toe-Assessment Download: https://straightanursingstudent.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/Head-To-Toe-Assessment.xlsx

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

Enjoy! References can be found here: https://straightanursingstudent.com/schizophrenia/

Stressed about starting nursing school? We've got a cure for that. Sign up for here: https://straightanursing.mykajabi.com/crucial-concepts

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

Of all these reasons, using a journal as a way to debrief after clinical is one of THE most valuable things you can do as a student or new nurse. Lucky you, I’ve developed a debrief form that you can download here.

Enjoy! Looking for the references? Here they are: https://straightanursingstudent.com/clinical-journal/.

Stressed about nursing school? We've got a cure for that. Sign up here: https://straightanursing.mykajabi.com/crucial-concepts

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

Enjoy! And, references can be found here: https://straightanursingstudent.com/hellp-syndrome/

Stressed about starting nursing school? We've got a cure for that. Sign up for here: https://straightanursing.mykajabi.com/crucial-concepts

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, how they work, what they do, what conditions they’re used for and how you’re going to monitor your patient. Some key information you’ll learn is:

How beta blockers work in the autonomic nervous system The types of beta receptors in the body Where beta blockers exert their influence and how this affects the patient Commonly used beta blockers and the many conditions they’re used to treat A closer look at metoprolol, including its formulations and dosages, how you’ll monitor the patient, and what key education you’ll need to provide.

References available here: https://straightanursingstudent.com/beta-blockers/

Starting nursing school or struggling to keep your head above water? Download the 20 Secrets of Successful Nursing Students here: https://straightanursing.ck.page/4d90f769dc

When looking at endocrine disorders, it’s often helpful to look at them in pairs whenever possible because often the symptoms will mirror one another. In this week’s episode we look at two endocrine conditions related to the adrenal glands: Cushing’s Disease and Addison’s Disease. In this episode we’ll cover:

Basics of Addison’s Disease (also known as adrenal insufficiency) The differences between primary and secondary adrenal insufficiency Signs, symptoms, tests and treatments for Addison’s Complications of Addison’s Disease, including Addisonian Crisis Basics of Cushing’s Disease (hypercortisolism) Complications of Cushing’s Disease Signs, symptoms, tests and treatments for Cushing's

References viewable here (https://straightanursingstudent.com/addisons-and-cushings-disease/).

Starting nursing school or struggling to keep your head above water? Download the 20 Secrets of Successful Nursing Students here: https://straightanursing.ck.page/4d90f769dc

In nursing school you’ve definitely learned the five rights of medication administration as a key component in keeping your patients safe. But if you want to go even further and truly understand all the factors that go into giving medication safely, then you’re in the right place my friend.

In this podcast episode, I’ll talk you through the five rights of medication administration that all nursing schools teach. Then, I’ll add on an additional six that will take your critical thinking skills to the next level.

By making these eleven guidelines a part of your routine, you will Bulletproof your medication administration practice. And who doesn’t love that?

Want to take this knowledge with you to clinical? Download my cheatsheet here: https://straightanursing.ck.page/41fbe4fe50

Do you know what unit conversations you need to master to safely administer medications? Grab our FREE Guide: https://straightanursing.ck.page/6194db0090

Read the show notes here: https://straightanursingstudent.com/5-rights/

Helping a patient through alcohol withdrawal is, hands down, one of the most challenging things you will encounter as a nurse. It requires patience, empathy, a strong backbone and high vigilance to keep both you and the patient safe.

In this podcast episode, you will learn:

The timeline of alcohol withdrawal The range of symptoms and when they occur Serious complications such as delerium tremens and Wernicke’s encephalopathy Nursing care of the patient following the LATTE method framework

If you, or someone you know, needs help with substance abuse, please reach out to SAMHSA via their national helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357) or through their website at https://www.samhsa.gov.

Read the show notes here: https://straightanursingstudent.com/alcohol-withdrawal/

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 to love them, so they MUST be incredibly helpful. And, the bigger the better. Right?

Wrong. In this podcast episode I’ll let you in on the key reasons why your study group might be wasting you time and detracting you from meeting your goals.

But don’t worry. I also provide tips for creating a study group environment that works.

Looking for more tips for success in nursing school? Get them here with my 5-star rated book, Nursing School Thrive Guide: https://straightanursingstudent.com/thrive-guide/

Read about this topic here: https://straightanursingstudent.com/study-groups/

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 ventricles. In this podcast episode, I’ll talk you through:

How a VSD affects physiology Review of the flow of blood through the heart Complications of a VSD, including Eisenmenger syndrome Symptoms a baby with VSD may have How a VSD is treated

Access the full show notes here https://straightanursingstudent.com/vsd/

As the main advocate for your patient’s safety, it’s important to understand that some medications can cause life-threatening conditions such as respiratory depression, bradycardia and even bleeding. And while not all medications have a reversal, some of them do...thank goodness! In this podcast episode, we’ll talk about some of the most common meds that, if overdone, may require emergent reversal.

Opioids Benzodiazepines Beta blockers Heparin Warfarin Factor Xa inhibitors

And, just as important as knowing what the reversal agents are, is knowing the risk that come with their administration. There’s a lot to unpack here, so grab your FREE Reversal Agents Cheat Sheet here: https://straightanursing.ck.page/3580f7ea00

For references, see the blog post on the Straight A Nursing website: https://straightanursingstudent.com/reversal-agents/

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 podcast episode we’ll talk about the basics of seizures, how they’re treated, and seizure nursing interventions to keep your patients safe.

This episode includes

Causes of seizure The different types of seizures Nursing interventions during and after the seizure Overview of “seizure precautions” Common seizure medications The difference between seizures and pseudoseizures

**Looking for the nursing student planners mentioned in this episode? Get yours here (https://www.etsy.com/shop/straightanursing)

For references, visit the blog post associated with this episode (https://straightanursingstudent.com/seizure-nursing-interventions)

In this podcast episode Nurse Mo talks you through the key components of atrial septal defects in infants.

Pathophysiology of ASD Signs/symptoms of ASD in infants How ASD is diagnosed ASD treatments and complications

To see references, check out the blog post here: https://straightanursingstudent.com/atrial-septal-defect-nursing

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 suffer from imposter syndrome.

In this podcast episode, Nurse Mo talks about imposter syndrome, why it's so common in nursing students and why it has absolutely nothing to do with how amazing you actually are.

Read the corresponding blog post about overcoming imposter syndrome in nursings school: https://straightanursingstudent.com/overcoming-imposter-syndrome-in-nursing-school/

Preeclampsia is a somewhat common but very dangerous condition that can cause serious, even fatal, consequences for mom and baby. In this podcast episode, you'll learn:

What is preeclampsia?What is eclampsia?How is preeclampsia diagnosed?What are the signs/symptoms of preeclampsia?How is it treated?What are the risk factors for preeclampsia?What are the complications?

For references, please visit the blog post associated with this episode: https://straightanursingstudent.com/preeclampsia-nursing-basics

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 promise! In this podcast episode, I explain all the reasons why you could have test anxiety in nursing school, even if you've never suffered from it before.

If you haven't snagged your FREE GUIDE "The 20 Secrets of Successful Nursing Students" get yours here! https://straightanursing.ck.page/4d90f769dc

For references, please visit the accompanying blog post here: https://straightanursingstudent.com/overcoming-nursing-school-test-anxiety

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 refresher for post-licensure nurses, too!

In this podcast episode, Nurse Mo takes you through pancreatitis nursing care using the Straight A Nursing LATTE method: how will the patient LOOK, how will you ASSESS the patient, what TESTS will be ordered, what TREATMENTS will be provided, and how will you EDUCATE the patient? The LATTE method is great because it really helps you focus on the important things you need to know for exams and clinical. Please take a moment to rate and review this podcast...I love reading your comments and hearing how this podcast helps you feel more prepared for nursing school!

For references, please see the accompanying blog post here (https://straightanursingstudent.com/pancreatitis-nursing-interventions-and-assessment)

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 dramatic! In this podcast episode, Nurse Mo takes you through a review of acid-base physiology and then brings it home with patient scenarios you're likely to see in the clinical setting.

In this episode we'll review:Common causes of acid-base imbalancesWays the body compensates and regulates pHRespiratory compensationRenal compensationFour patient scenarios

If you're in Advanced Med/Surg and want to practice ABGs, go through my step-by-step tutorial here (https://straightanursingstudent.com/abgs-easy-as-1-2-3/)

For references, see the accompanying blog post here (https://straightanursingstudent.com/understanding-acid-base-balance)

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 your patients, write care plans and do well on your nursing school exams.

The types of atelectasis...who knew there were so many? Who is at risk for atelectasis (it's a lot of folks!) How to assess for postoperative atelectasis Complications of postoperative atelectasis Atelectasis nursing interventions...what are you going to DO about it?

We'll even talk about ways to incorporate atelectasis treatment and prevention into your care plans, and if you'd like to read about it, you can check out the full blog post here: https://straightanursingstudent.com/atelectasis-care-plan-for-nursing-students/

Have you enrolled in our Crucial Concepts Bootcamp? Everything you need to know to be prepared and successful for nursing school, all in one place. Enrollment for Crucial Concepts Bootcamp is open three times per year to coincide with most nursing school programs. Get on the waitlist and join our next group of students when enrollment opens. We advise completing Bootcamp BEFORE your program starts. Check it out here: https://learn.straightanursingstudent.com/crucial-concepts

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 enough, each formulation has its own distinct method of administration. In this podcast episode, Nurse Mo talks you through how nitroglycerin is given and the nursing implications for each type.

Are you enjoying the podcast? Then please consider leaving a review and rating! It helps us appear more prominently in searches AND convinces other students to give it a try. Plus, I read each and every review and love getting your feedback!

Do you know what unit conversions you need to master to safely administer medications? Grab the FREE Guide here: https://straightanursing.ck.page/6194db0090

Read the blog post about how to administer nitroglycerin here: https://straightanursingstudent.com/nitroglycerin-might-be-the-coolest-drug-ever/

In this podcast episode I talk about the different types of angina, their causes, symptoms and options for treatment. This episode dovetails perfectly with Episode 60 (linked below) on Acute Coronary Syndrome, so if you haven't listened to that one yet...go back and listen to it...then come back here.

Are you a brand new nursing student that's nervous, excited, or even terrified? Then you will LOVE my Crucial Concepts Bootcamp!

Crucial Concepts Bootcamp is open three times per year to coincide with most nursing school programs. Get on the waitlist and join our next group of students when enrollment opens. I advise all students to get through the course BEFORE classes start. Click the link to learn more, view the curriculum and see how it can help you start your program with your very best foot forward.: https://straightanursing.mykajabi.com/crucial-concepts

I would LOVE to see you all there!

Acute Coronary Syndrome Podcast Episode 60: https://straightanursingstudent.com/acute-coronary-syndrome-podcast-episode-60/

Get the show notes here: https://straightanursingstudent.com/understanding-angina/

To continue our endocrine series, today we're talking about hyperthyroidism. Also known as Graves Disease, hyperthyroidism is a condition in which the thyroid produces too much hormone. Left untreated, it can lead to life-threatening complications.

In this podcast episode, Nurse Mo talks you through hyperthyroidism using the LATTE method...how will the patient LOOK, how will you ASSESS them, what TESTS will be ordered, what TREATMENTS will be provided, and how will you EDUCATE the patient? It's a tried-and-true method that helps you focus on what you need to know for your clinical and nursing school exams!

Thanks so much for listening, thanks so much for all the kind words, and best of luck in school!

Read more about hyperthyroidism in the blog post on the Straight A Nursing website: https://straightanursingstudent.com/hyperthyroidism-nursing-care/

This podcast episode is brought to you by Nursing School Thrive Guide, my 5-star rated book designed to help new nursing students kick $%# in nursing school! Get yours as a paperback, Kindle book or audiobook on Amazon today...and do more than just survive nursing school...THRIVE in nursing school! Grab yours here: https://amzn.to/2Mw9fb8 (#ad)

Looking for an awesome group of nursing students to hang out with online? Join my facebook group Thriving Nursing Students here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/thrivingnursingstudents/

Hope to see you there!

Nursing School Thrive Guide

Acute coronary syndrome is a medical emergency that requires prompt recognition and treatment. In this podcast episode, Nurse Mo breaks down the key information you need to understand this important topic so you can answer those tricky exam questions with ease!

If you're looking for show notes, the blog post related to this topic is live on the Straight A Nursing Website. https://straightanursingstudent.com/acute-coronary-syndrome-for-nurses/

Interested in dialing in your foundation knowledge of the cardiovascular system? Our premium notes at AMAZING and we offer the cardiovascular set for FREE! Check it out at: https://straightanursingstudent.com/cardiovascular-study-guide/

Thanks for listening and best of luck with school!

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 signs and symptoms of a DVT, how they are treated and how nurses play a key role in their prevention.

If you enjoy this podcast and find it a helpful way to review or study, please be so kind as to leave us a review and rating. This helps boost our rankings in the podcast searches and helps other listeners find the show! Plus, your feedback is invaluable to helping keep the topics relevant and the show as awesome as possible. Many thanks to all of you for making this podcast so successful...you're the best!!

Read more about DVTs: https://straightanursingstudent.com/dvt-nursing-interventions/

In this podcast episode Nurse Mo walks you through hypothyroidism using the Straight A Nursing LATTE method.

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 failure, how it's diagnosed, how it's treated, and how to differentiate between right-sided and left-sided failure. Basically, everything you need to know to do well in clinical and on your exams. GO YOU!

Looking for more help with cardiology? Download our free cardiovascular study guide here! For those of you accessing this podcast on your mobile device, the free study guide is at https://straightanursingstudent.com/cardiovascular-study-guide/

Does your nursing school schedule fill you with anxiety? Conquer it with our nursing student planner, which you can check out at https://straightanursingstudent.com/nursingschoolplanner/

Best of luck with school!

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a complex illness known as "the great imitator" because its signs/symptoms can mimic so many other diseases. Diagnosis is often a convoluted and lengthy pathway with many patients suffering for years before learning their joint pain, GI symptoms, hair loss and multitude of other symptoms are indeed SLE.

In this podcast episode, Nurse Mo breaks down lupus into easy-to-understand chunks that will help you care for these complex patients and crush your nursing school exams. Using Nurse Mo's signature LATTE method, you will learn:

What is lupus? What are the causes of lupus? What happens in the pathophysiology of lupus? What are the clinical manifestations of lupus? How is lupus diagnosed? How is lupus treated? What education is crucial for patients with lupus?

Looking for more guidance learning about immunity? Get our study guide here and here: https://straightanursingstudent.com/study-guides/med-surg-success-pack/

Thanks to everyone who has given this podcast such glowing reviews! Love the podcast? Rating and reviewing help the podcast show up in searches so I can help other nursing students...plus it really makes my day!

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 about the causes of hyperkalemia, the signs of this common condition, and what you are going to do to keep your patient's safe.

Looking for more resources to help you understand electrolytes? Get our electrolytes bundle here: https://straightanursingstudent.com/study-guides/electrolytes-bundle/!

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. And here's a hint...it's so much more than taking care of sick people in the hospital!

Tune in to episode 20 for my best advice for being a rockstar in your nursing school clinicals: https://straightanursingstudent.com/nursing-school-clinicals/

Get the show notes here: https://straightanursingstudent.com/nursing-school-clinicals-3/

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-busting drug as well? In this podcast episode, Nurse Mo talks about the five common uses for TPA and what you are going to monitor as you give this very potent (and potentially risky) medication.

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If there's one thing I get emails and questions about it's how on earth to manage everything efficiently in nursing school...at a close second are your questions about how to study, which is completely revealed here (https://amzn.to/2Rr9HGT #ad)!

But before we get started...confession time! I recently struggled with this problem myself. I'm in graduate school, I work full-time (typically three days in a row), manage this website, produce a podcast and now have a dining room full of the most beautiful planners ever to sell. To say I am busy is an understatement! And guess what happened? I kinda semi-bombed a quiz in my advanced physical assessment class. Why? Because I hadn't managed my time well in the weeks leading up to the quiz and I took it without really preparing. I just assumed I'd do fine even though I'm super busy and didn't actively plan for nursing school success. Major fail.

So, I decided I'd probably better take my own advice and follow my tried-and-true method for managing a ridiculous schedule. Here's how to do it:

Step 1: Gather all the syllabi for all your classes. I like to print mine out on color-coded paper (I love color-coding!). Open a spreadsheet and then take a look at all your syllabi...each one should have a full listing of everything you will be graded on this semester. Enter each item into your spreadsheet like this:

A few entries in my Master To Do List...brew the coffee!

As you go through all your tasks, you cross them off and let me tell you it FEELS AMAZING!!

Step 2: For day-to-day time management, you need to get all your to-do items into a planner/calendar of some kind. You have a few options for this:

Digital Only: If you are using a digital system only (like Google calendar for instance), you're going to need to go beyond just putting in your appointments and exams. You absolutely MUST put in all your items. Get 'em in there and attach alerts to them so you're not blindsided by having something due THAT DAY that you totally forgot about!

Paper Only: The only time a paper-only system works well is if you carry your planner with you everywhere. If you find that sometimes you're out and about with just your phone, you'll want to adopt more of a hybrid system (see below).

Hybrid System: This is the system that I recommend as it really is the best of both worlds. You've got your paper calendar as your main planner. It has your to-do lists and weekly schedule (basically the nitty-gritty of your life) but then you've also got your big events on the digital calendar...mainly I use this for appointments and times when I physically have to BE somewhere or do something at a set time. Plus, it's helpful to have these types of things on a digital calendar that you share with other people in your household (especially if you've got childcare to coordinate with your significant other!!).

Whatever system you use, get ALL your to-do items in there. All your exam dates, project due dates, quiz dates, discussion board posting dates, face-to-face class dates, online class dates, clinical days...EVERYTHING. I use red ink for all school-related items so that it always stands out (have I mentioned I'm a huge fan of color-coding?) :-)

Step 3: Get the rest of your life in your calendar. This would be your doctor's appointments, kids schedules, work schedule, etc. What you may find at this point is that you're going to need to be very stingy with your time if you're going to get everything done.

Now that you've got your due dates and appointments in your calendar, you need to start scheduling your time. So, as I fill in my calendar, I use the monthly view for the "big picture items" such as exams, clinical days, work days and project due dates. On the weekly view I get very detailed about how I am going to allocate my time. If I know I need to read a chapter for my physical assessment class, I block out that hour in my calendar.

Nursing School Thrive Guide

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 care is a job for the nurses aids or techs. Pause here while I insert a lot of really loud laughter...because to even think that for one tiny little second is hilarious. Like really? Do you know what nurses do? Nurses help people and one of the things we help people do is poop! Say it loud and say it proud, people!

In this podcast episode Nurse Mo talks about all things poop. When there's too much, when there's not enough, all the different shades (from grey to red to black) and what you are going to do about it.

If there's nothing else you learn from this podcast episode, it is to treat your patients with dignity. As you help them with this most basic function, do so in a way that preserves their pride, their comfort and their grace. That is your job as their advocate...never forget that.

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 school you learn how to assess them.

In this podcast episode, Nurse Mo covers all the cranial nerves, whether each is motor or sensory (or both), what the nerves do and how you assess their function. Piece of cake!

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'll be seeing in the clinical setting are antihypertensives.

So if you're struggling to remember beta blockers vs diuretics vs ace inhibitors. No worries! In this podcast episode we cover:

The drug classes: calcium channel blockers, ACE inhibitors, ARBs, vasodilators, diuretics and adrenergic blockers Common drug names found in each class Where in the body the drugs have their effect WHY the drugs work to reduce blood pressure (this is key!) What you, the amazing nurse, are going to watch for with each type

Do you know what unit conversions you need to master to safely administer medications? Grab the FREE Guide! https://straightanursing.ck.page/6194db0090

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 used for patients in septic shock or other forms of distributive shock. In this podcast episode Nurse Mo talks about the basics of this new medication, how it's administered (it's in nanograms!!!!) and what to watch out for (so many things!) Take a listen to learn more about Giapreza in septic shock.

And, if you'd like to visit the manufacturer's website, it's right here! (https://www.giapreza.com/)

Giapreza angiotensin II. (n.d.). Retrieved September 4, 2018, from https://www.giapreza.com/

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 to realize you aren't "feeling all your feelings" with every single tragedy you encounter.

The first step to getting a handle on compassion fatigue is knowing that partitioning off parts of yourself is vital to your emotional survival as a nurse. The next step is learning to recognize it as a key component in burnout so that you can stave it off before it comes on full force. And, if it does run you over like a freight train, knowing when and how to seek help is crucial to your longevity as a compassionate and effective clinician.

Looking for friendly support as you go through your pre-reqs and nursing school? Head on over to our growing Facebook group "Thriving Nursing Students" where we're focused on staying happy, healthy and stress-free (or as close to it as possible) while in nursing school. See you there!

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Let's talk about V/Q mismatching in a way that even Nurse Mo can understand ;-) V/Q mismatch was a difficult concept for me when I was a student and new nurse, so I tackled it the way I do most things I find challenging...by teaching it to others!

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 main types of V/Q mismatch and, of course, what you are going to do about it.

Read the show notes here: https://straightanursingstudent.com/whats-vq-mismatch/

Want to dive deep in to respiratory? Then you'll love the respiratory section in our Med Surg Success Pack!

I saw this post on Twitter and just knew I had to respond...so Ash and everyone else who has these burning questions...this one is for you!

Looking for more ways to survive nursing school? Get my 5-star rated book, Nursing School Thrive Guide. Available on Amazon as paperback, audiobook or Kindle book!

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Get yours here: https://amzn.to/2xNY5Zw

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Nursing School Thrive Guide

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 advice for transitioning from your pre-reqs to your nursing school program.

The importance of being flexible Why you NEED a consistent sleep schedule The benefits of saying "so long" to a competitive mindset Why being humble is better than being right How to accept criticism with grace

Are you looking for even more ways to make the transition a smooth one? Through my conversations with hundreds of nursing students, it is clear that dosage calculations are a HUGE challenge for many of you. So, I've created a Dosage Calculations Bootcamp just for you! Check it out here https://straightanursing.mykajabi.com/dosage-bootcamp

Let's chat about shock...you'll have a great time, I promise!

Read the post about the basics of shock here: https://straightanursingstudent.com/basics-of-shock-2/(opens in a new tab)

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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 course, this is an exaggeration...but if you've ever seen an experienced nurse manage his/her patients with apparent ease, you may have thought, "how on earth does s/he do it?"

In this podcast episode, we talk about how nurses get sh#% done through the effective use of smart time management, delegation and prioritizing. Awesome things we talk about include:

How do you know what your patient needs right now? How do you know what to do first when your patient needs several things all at once? You've got ten meds to give and only one IV line...which ones go in first? What can you delegate and to who should you delegate it? How do you start your shift to set yourself up for success?

This podcast episode was not brought to you by any fancy sponsors because who wants to listen to a bunch of commercials? We would, however, like to take this moment to let you know about our Crucial Concepts Bootcamp! To learn more about this online course geared toward pre-nursing students and students who have just been accepted into nursing school, check it out here (https://straightanursing.mykajabi.com/crucial-concepts). Now, isn't that better than a commercial for a meal delivery service or mail order bra? Just sayin' :-)

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Diuretics are used quite frequently in the clinical setting. In this podcast episode, we discuss the ins and outs of:

Loop diuretics Potassium-sparing diuretics Thiazide diuretics Specialty diuretics

In this brief overview, you'll learn the most common diuretics used in each of these classes, how they work, what you need to watch for and how you'll educate the patient.

Enjoy!

Holland, L. N. (2003). Core concepts in pharmacology. Upper Saddle River: Prentice Hall.

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 setting, and many times they are in acute distress requiring immediate and decisive intervention. Knowing what to watch for, how to intervene and how to safely care for these patients will help make you a more confident nurse. Enjoy!

This podcast episode is brought to you by the Straight A Nursing Planner. Are you a busy nursing student or pre-nursing student? If you've been feeling overwhelmed, stressed and unorganized, then check out our latest and greatest planner designed just for nursing students! (https://straightanursingstudent.com/nursingschoolplanner/)

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 care for it, what you can and can't infuse through it....AND it's knowing which fluids are best for your patient's current condition.

In this podcast episode we cover the basics of IV therapy including the following:

Peripheral IV lines Midline catheters PICC lines Central lines Tunneled lines Port-a-cath How to care for these lines, how to use them and what meds/fluids can go into each one

Get the accompanying study guide here: https://straightanursingstudent.com/downloads/intro-iv-therapy/

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 a solid game-plan to meet it head-on!

In this podcast episode we talk about the main sources of nursing school stress and some key strategies to help you mitigate them. So, get on your walking shoes, pop in your ear buds and let's get outside for some fresh air while you listen to our stress-busting episode!

And, if you are interested in MORE advice and tips on staying healthy, happy and less-stressed in nursing school, be sure to check out the Facebook group 'Happy Healthy Nursing Students." It's a great place to share tips, advice, motivation and ideas for combating stress, staying the course with healthy eating and making time for YOU during these very busy years.

Need to buy yourself some extra time so you can devote more attention to self-care? Then be sure to check out our premium study guides and resource materials. We recently heard from a student who stated, "My practice test results using Straight A Nursing have routinely been ‘leaps and bounds’ better than ANY & ALL scores I have recently received using Kaplan’s Test Prep, UWorld, or the multiple other popular NCLEX prep programs." WOW!

To access the FB group page: https://www.facebook.com/groups/HappyHealthyNursingStudents/

To check out our premium study guides: https://straightanursingstudent.com/nursing-notes/premium-study-guides/

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In this podcast episode we talk about the main medications used to prevent and treat blood clots.

Lovenox Heparin Coumadin Eliquis and other new-generation anticoagulants Brilinta and other platelet inhibitors TPA

In the clinical setting, you'll see anticoagulants used for a wide variety of patients, including those with acute myocardial infarction, pulmonary embolism, stroke and DVT.

For more study aids, resources and awesome nursing school tips, check out the website at www.straightanursingstudent.com

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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....the message our guest shares is worth it, I promise!

In nursing school you learn about being an advocate for your patient, and our guest (Eve) shares with you her views on what she calls "Warrior Advocacy" which is represented by a relentless pursuit of whatever is in the best interests of your patients AND your profession.

As new nurses (and nursing students), speaking up for your patients can be intimidating. With this podcast we hope to share some valuable insights into making advocacy less daunting so that you can confidently speak for those who cannot speak for themselves.

If you'd like to hear more from Eve, check out her twitter feed @browofjustice or visit her website at www.essentiallycalcium.com.

Enjoy!

NOTE: If you heard this podcast when you downloaded Episode 35, the fix is easy! Just delete episode 35 from your device, and re-download it. You should then receive the correct episode, which was about hemodynamic medications.

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. With this basic introduction to these powerful medications, you'll have a general understanding of why they are used and how they are administered.

Norepinephrine Vasopressin Neosynephrine Epinephrine Dobutamine Dopamine Milrinone

Looking for even more ways to rock nursing school? Check out the Nursing School Thrive Guide: https://straightanursingstudent.com/nursing-school-thrive-guide/

or our handy and delightful study guides for Med/Surg 1: https://straightanursingstudent.com/nursing-notes/premium-study-guides/

PLEASE NOTE: We are having technical issues, some of you may have received an interview podcast here instead of Hemodynamic Medications. We are working with our podcasting platform to correct this. If this occurs, delete the episode from your podcast feed and then re-load it...that should fix it!

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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 too many cookies, wear too many pajamas and feel joy in whatever way makes your heart sing. We'll be back to studying again in 2018 with many, many exciting things in store INCLUDING:

A Nursing School Bootcamp for all you new students Premium lecture-style podcasts A pre-printed planner that is going to knock your socks off and... Maybe even an app to help take your studying to the next level

May 2018 be your best year yet...I know it will be for all of us at Straight A Nursing! Thanks to all of you who keep this website going and sharing your successes via email, FB and Twitter...it really warms my heart to know I am helping nursing students around the world :-)

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-compromised patient is...the PF ratio! Check out some of the amazing things you'll learn:

What the P and F stand for; what is PaO2 and what is FiO2? Difference between PaO2 and SaO2 Optimal PaO2 ranges and levels of hypoxemia How to calculate the PF ratio and what the heck it means What the numbers tell us and how it applies to the overall clinical picture

For more information on ARDS, check out this post, this awesome podcast episode or this SUPER awesome reference sheet. (if your podcast platform does not support links, please visit the website for total linkage at www.straightanursingstudent.com)

Are you ready to plan for a stellar year? Then get the ONLY planner for nursing students by clicking this link right here!

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 intubated. If you are entering your advanced Med/Surg clinical rotation or are new to the ICU, this podcast will provide you with the basic knowledge you need to advocate for your patient and help guide them toward extubation.

The five main things to take into account when weaning your patient from the ventilator Goals for FiO2, PEEP and ventilator mode How the patient's neuro status comes into play How mechanical ventilation causes deconditioning in your patient How you and the interdisciplinary team can work together to optimize your patient for possible extubation General guidelines for conducting a spontaneous awakening trial and spontaneous breathing trial (SAT/SBT) Example of what a typical extubation is like and your role in the process Some things to watch for after extubation

Are you looking for even MORE resources to help you succeed in nursing school (or maybe even on the job?). Our premium study guides might just help!

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, putting it into practice can be quite complex. The patient problems you start out with at the beginning of your shift, are not always going to be the same problems you're dealing with a few hours in. As a nurse, your ability to adapt, reprioritize and reevaluate is the MOST ESSENTIAL thing you can do.

In this podcast, we go through a trauma case study that highlights this in detail. Follow along through four shifts as you take care of a young trauma victim with multiple problems, multiple changes in condition and multiple priorities to manage. It's a lot to juggle, so if you'd like to read about it instead, look for the blog post titled Trauma Nursing Case Study at www.straightanursingstudent.com.

*DISCLAIMER: This is a fictitious patient and is not based in any way on actual events.

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. That's it in a nutshell, folks! And that's where your head to toe assessment comes into play.

As one of the most important skills you will learn EVER, it's also one of the fist really big things you'll tackle in your fundamentals course. It can be overwhelming at first, so that's why we're going to break it down Straight A Nursing style.

In this podcast, we cover the basics of a head-to-toe assessment so that you can get in there and practice with confidence. Want to read about it too? Check out this amazing guest post!

Looking for even more ways to study? Check out our premium study guides...now bundled for your convenience! Just go to www.straightanursingstudent.com and click on STUDY GUIDES in the header. Enjoy!

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 about much at all. But once you start working, especially if you're in critical care, you'll be talking sodium AND phos all the live-long day. Well maybe not ALL day, but probably MOST days :-)

In this podcast we cover all the basics about these two very important electrolytes:

Na and Phos key roles in the body Misc "fun facts" about Na and Phos...things you never knew you needed to know! Hyponatremia, hypernatremia, hypophosphatemia and hyperphosphatemia signs and symptoms Causes of Na and Phos imbalances Nursing interventions for Na and Phos imbalances

A message for our podcast listeners: Looking for a way to get organized in nursing school? Visit our website for the ONLY planner designed just for nursing students. Check it out at www.straightanursingstudent.com and click on "SHOP" in the header.

Not into planning, but into preparing? Then the Nursing School Thrive Guide is for you. Check it out at our website or at Amazon and see why it's getting a 5-star average rating!

In this podcast episode, we go over the MOST important things you need to focus on in order to be successful in nursing school. If you're a first semester student or a struggling student, you might just be able to turn things around with the right focus.

We continue our electrolytes bonanza this week with magnesium and chloride. In this podcast episode we cover hypomagnesemia, hypermagnesemia, hypochloremia and hyperchloremia. And beyond just going over the normal lab ranges, we talk about all kinds of fun stuff:

the main roles of magnesium and chloride in the body how to recognize magnesium and chloride imbalances common causes of imbalances of these key electrolytes nursing interventions, assessment parameters and treatments for magnesium and chloride imbalances

Find more amazing resources at www.straightanursingstudent.com

Enjoy!

Understanding the important role that electrolytes play will separate you from the ho-hum nurse and catapult you into Awesome Nurse Status. If you're a student, you might think that it's simply a matter of knowing what the normal and abnormal values are...but that's just a teeny tiny part of it!

In this podcast, we talk about potassium and calcium:

important roles of potassium and calcium potassium and calcium "fun facts" (and yes...they ARE fun!) signs and symptoms of hypokalemia, hyperkalamia, hypocalcemia and hypercalcemia common causes of potassium and calcium imbalances assessment parameters, nursing interventions and how to treat

If you're finding this podcast on iTunes, Google Play or Stitcher...be sure to check out all the great resources at www.straightanursingstudent.com

Enjoy!

In Med/Surg 1, you learn the basics of stroke nursing and how rewarding and challenging it can be to care for these patients. And, because the human brain is an extraordinary thing, the manifestations of stroke and the nursing interventions are enough to make your head spin!

In this podcast we cover the basics of stroke, including:

Causes and pathophysiology Difference between ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke Stages of stroke Clinical manifestations of stroke Prevention Treatment of an evolving stroke Long-term treatment of a stroke patient

Enjoy!

Take auditory learning even further with Study Sesh, my private podcast that uses PodQuizzes, Drills, Case Studies and more to truly change the way you study. Learn more here: https://learn.straightanursingstudent.com/study-sesh

I get so many readers of the blog asking about nursing shift routines. How do you start your day? How do you stay organized? The key to getting and staying organized is having some consistent routines such as the ones outlined in this podcast:

Start of shift routine First assessment routine "Spot-check" routine End of shift routine

Armed with a few nursing shift routines, you will immediately reap the benefits of having a more organized approach to time management and your ever-changing priorities as an RN or student nurse.

Do you have a tried-and-true routine that keeps you organized? Share it in our Facebook group Thriving Nursing Students!

Take auditory learning even further with Study Sesh, my private podcast that uses PodQuizzes, Drills, Case Studies and more to truly change the way you study. Learn more here: https://learn.straightanursingstudent.com/study-sesh

Hey hey guys and gals! It's time for another PodQuiz and this one is a doozy! Maybe you've noticed that studying depression in nursing school is really tough...it's a complex topic that requires all your critical thinking skills. This PodQuiz covers some of the basics you'll need to know to rock that mental health exam and take really good care of patients with depression during your mental health clinical rotation (and anywhere else you might encounter them).

Major depressive disorder vs. dysthymia disorder Communication strategies Suicide NEED TO KNOW facts and interventions Drug therapies for depression SSRIs, MAOIs and more Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT)

If you've never done a PodQuiz, here's how it works. You'll hear a question...then a pause. This pause is so you can actually ANSWER the question! Then, you'll hear the answer. It is basically like doing flashcards for your ears. So cool, right?

So...grab your walking shoes, get the leash on Fido, and GET OUTSIDE while you study! No sitting at your desk...deal?

Take auditory learning even further with Study Sesh, my private podcast that uses PodQuizzes, Drills, Case Studies and more to truly change the way you study. Learn more here: https://learn.straightanursingstudent.com/study-sesh

And, when you DO get back to your desk, supplement your learning with mental health nursing notes available in the resources section of https:www.straightanursingstudent.com.

On a side note, nursing students suffering from depression is a really big problem. For resources and help, please reach out to your health care provider, your family and your friends. You can find support right here: http://www.dbsalliance.org

P.S. I care

Respiratory nursing interventions come into play all the time. After all, difficulties can present in many forms, but the end-game is all the same...your patient can't breathe as well as they should. And it can be scary for both the patient AND the nurse.

In this podcast we cover the most common ailments you need to know for Med/Surg I, including:

Asthma: clinical manifestations, diagnostics, treatment, medications, nursing interventions COPD: emphysema, bronchitis, complications, nursing interventions Pneumonia: pathophysiology, signs & symptoms, treatment, nursing interventions Atelectasis: manifestations, treatment

Ready to up your game? Learn when your patient needs intubation right here! (or simply check out Podcast Episode 18 if you're viewing this on your podcast app!)

Take auditory learning even further with Study Sesh, my private podcast that uses PodQuizzes, Drills, Case Studies and more to truly change the way you study. Learn more here: https://learn.straightanursingstudent.com/study-sesh

For more, visit us at:

web: https://www.straightanursingstudent.com

Twitter: @straightanurse

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/straightanursingstudent

Insta: straightanurse

Looking for tips on how to study in nursing school? In this podcast I share with you the study method that changed my life, made me a more efficient student, focused my studying, and helped me understand the nurse's role in caring for patients with both acute and chronic conditions.

If you are over-studying, spending hours of precious time developing concept maps and writing up case studies, then I am so excited to share the Straight A Nursing LATTE method with you. It is a systematic, organized way to focus your studying and the most streamlined, efficient, SMART and effective way to learn, review and retain complex information.

Listen to this podcast to see exactly how it works, and you can a free downloadable template here.

Take auditory learning even further with Study Sesh, my private podcast that uses PodQuizzes, Drills, Case Studies and more to truly change the way you study. Learn more here: https://learn.straightanursingstudent.com/study-sesh

This podcast covers my best advice for being a rockstar in your nursing school clinicals. If you're like me, you are VERY nervous about starting clinicals...whether it's your first semester or your last. Making sure you are prepped to do and BE your absolute best ensures you get the most out of this very valuable time.

Listen to this podcast to get my most USEFUL tips for rocking those nursing school clinicals!

Want even more tips? Check these out!

Looking for the book? It's right here! #ad

It's time for another PodQuiz! If you aren't familiar with this form of podcast, you are in for a treat! This is THE BEST WAY to study while also getting your life back on track. It's basically like doing flashcards, but instead of sitting and staring at your phone (or stack of index cards if you're "old-school") it's an auditory quiz! I ask a question and then pause, giving you time to answer...then I tell you the answer (and sometimes with some little extra 'real-world' tidbits thrown in for good measure).

In this PodQuiz we cover the oh-so-exciting topic of enteral feeding and some basics of NG tubes. And, on a side note, if you want to see what an NG tube looks like when it goes to the wrong spot...check out this post!

So here's the deal with PodQuizzes...you are supposed to GET UP and do something! Go for a walk, catch up on laundry, take the dog to the lake, run errands, plant flowers, paint the house...whatever it is, do something productive while you study. You'll be AMAZED at how more "together" you feel when you can catch up on much-needed chores, errands or exercise while also studying! No sitting at your desk! Honor system, ok?

Want MORE PodQuizzes? Then you will absolutely FLIP for Study Sesh, our private members-only podcast. Get all the details at https://learn.straightanursingstudent.com/study-sesh

In this podcast episode we talk about the basics of hyponatremia:

What is hyponatremia? Common causes The signs/symptoms of hyponatremia How it's treated

Read the article on hyponatremia here: https://www.straightanursingstudent.com/hyponatremia/

As usual, this podcast and blog are not intended to replace current evidence-based practice or your institutions policies and procedures. It is intended for educational purposes only.

Enjoy!

Take auditory learning even further with Study Sesh, my private podcast that uses PodQuizzes, Drills, Case Studies and more to truly change the way you study. Learn more here: https://learn.straightanursingstudent.com/study-sesh

Developing your nursing intuition and clinical judgment takes time, experience and exposure to LOTS of patients and many different situations. Learning which five assessments you'll need to get you there is key! Over time (and after you've assessed a lot of patients and dealt with multiple scenarios) you'll start to develop an intuition and be able to "sense" when your patients are in trouble. And it all starts right here with five basic (and easy) assessments.

Take auditory learning even further with Study Sesh, my private podcast that uses PodQuizzes, Drills, Case Studies and more to truly change the way you study. Learn more here: https://learn.straightanursingstudent.com/study-sesh

Let's review arrhythmia basics for nursing students. In this podcast episode, we'll talk through what causes them, how to identify them AND what you are going to do about them.

PACs Atrial Flutter Atrial Fibrillation SVT V-Tach V-Fib Idioventricular rhythms Pulseless rhythms

This episode is a great review if you're in Advanced Med/Surg, heading into your final semester preceptorship or starting out as a new nurse. For even more information about arrhythymias, check out this post or this one on heart blocks.

Take auditory learning even further with Study Sesh, my private podcast that uses PodQuizzes, Drills, Case Studies and more to truly change the way you study. Learn more here: https://learn.straightanursingstudent.com/study-sesh

In this PodQuiz we cover three very common pediatric nursing topics!

Peds nutrition (how many calories in an ounce of breast milk?) Peds assessment (at what age can you assess a radial pulse?) Peds psychosocial (how do you help a school-age child adapt to hospitalization?)

What's a PodQuiz? It's essentially flashcards for your ears! Nurse Mo asks a question, pauses while you answer, then states the answer...it's a fantastic way to study while you're on the go, exercising, commuting, folding laundry, making dinner, feeding the baby, getting your nails done....you get the idea.

Subscribe at iTunes, GooglePlay and Stitcher...and please rate & review if you like what you hear!

Did you LOVE studying this way? Then check out Study Sesh, our private members-only podcast at https://learn.straightanursingstudent.com/study-sesh

If you love flashcards, then you’ll love the Straight A Nursing app! Get on the notification list here: https://straightanursing.ck.page/25d7252015

For even more awesome resources, tips, tricks, study guides and more...visit www.straightanursingstudent.com.

Is psychopharmacology causing you mental distress? So many drugs, so many side effects...it's a LOT to keep track of! Lucky for you I came up with a goofy way to remember key facts about these complex medications...and now I'm sharing it with you in this week's podcast of psychopharmacology study tips.

In this episode we cover:

the atypical antidepressants traditional antidepressants atypical antipsychotics traditional antipsychotics mood stabilizers

anticonvulsants anxiolytics and more!

Plus...bonus...I sing goofy songs. TWICE! Anything to help you guys!

Read the article on psychopharmacology here: https://www.straightanursingstudent.com/psychopharmacology-the-easy-way/

Take auditory learning even further with Study Sesh, my private podcast that uses PodQuizzes, Drills, Case Studies and more to truly change the way you study. Learn more here: https://learn.straightanursingstudent.com/study-sesh

Want MORE Straight A Nursing resources?

Download the psychopharmacology study guide here! And get more notes and resources at www.straightanursingstudent.com! Ready to ROCK nursing school? Get my book Nursing School Thrive Guide on Amazon as a paperback, Kindle book or audio book. (#ad) Follow on Facebook at www.facebook.com/straightanursingstudent Join the Thriving Nursing Students Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/thrivingnursingstudents/ Stalk us on Instagram @straightanurse

In this PodQuiz, we have a LOAD of fun! You'll listen to a list of signs/symptoms and then try to name which diagnosis/disease they refer to. How fun is that? It's a great way to study for your comprehensive exit exam and NCLEX!

Ready to see how smart you are? Then give this PodQuiz a go!

Having a blast with PodQuizzes? Studying while driving, running, walking, doing laundry or otherwise getting your life back? Then check out Study Sesh, our private members-only podcast at https://learn.straightanursingstudent.com/study-sesh

If you love flashcards, then you’ll love the Straight A Nursing app! Get on the notification list here: https://straightanursing.ck.page/25d7252015

In this episode, we go through the basics of liver failure using my ingenious, wonderful, amazing LATTE method, which breaks down any patient condition into the "need to know" info.

L = How will the patient LOOK? A = How will you ASSESS the patient? T = What TESTS will be ordered? T = What TREATMENTS will be provided? E = How do you EDUCATE the patient/family?

Amazing, right? For more resources, visit www.straightanursingstudent.com. Download the LATTE Method template here: https://straightanursing.ck.page/b69ebb053d

Take auditory learning even further with Study Sesh, my private podcast that uses PodQuizzes, Drills, Case Studies and more to truly change the way you study. Learn more here: https://learn.straightanursingstudent.com/study-sesh

Think you know your nursing fundamentals? Listen to this Nursing Fundamentals Quiz and find out! In this episode, we cover:

Bowel elimination Ostomies Enemas Occult blood and pH testing Urinalysis Latex allergies Sterile field

What's a PodQuiz? It's essentially flashcards for your ears! Nurse Mo asks a question, pauses while you answer, then states the answer...it's a fantastic way to study while you're on the go, exercising, commuting, folding laundry, making dinner, feeding the baby, getting your nails done....you get the idea.

Did you LOVE studying this way? Then check out Study Sesh, our private members-only podcast at https://learn.straightanursingstudent.com/study-sesh

Subscribe to the Straight A Nursing podcast and please rate & review if you like what you hear!

For even more awesome resources, tips, tricks, study guides and more...visit www.straightanursingstudent.com.

Renal function is one of the most important AND most common things you'll keep an eye on as an RN...that's because so many things can cause it to take a dive: the meds we give, hypotension, contrast dye, decreased volume states, hemorrhage, dehydration, infection, crush injuries and on and on and on.

In this podcast, we go over some of the renal failure basics you'll need for Med/Surg I and your first semester clinical rotations. We'll cover:

renal anatomy overview & functions of the kidney basic diuretic info incontinence & the micturition reflex UTIs difference between pre-renal, intra-renal and post-renal failure glomerulonephritis (try saying that five times fast!) nephrotic syndrome pyelonephritis nursing care of a patient in renal failure

Review tons of great info at https://www.straightanursingstudent.com, including an in-depth post on renal failure basics right here!

Take auditory learning even further with Study Sesh, my private podcast that uses PodQuizzes, Drills, Case Studies and more to truly change the way you study. Learn more here: https://learn.straightanursingstudent.com/study-sesh

Want more Straight A Nursing in your life?

Stalk us on Twitter @straightanurse Drool over our pics on Instagram, follow @StraightANurse Like us and comment on Facebook at www.facebook.com/straightanursingstudent Join our FB group Thriving Nursing Students: https://www.facebook.com/groups/thrivingnursingstudents

If you find this podcast useful, please subscribe and review us! Thanks!

Hey there first semester students...are you stressing about your Fundamentals class or your skills check-offs? In this Fundamentals Quiz we go over some basics, including:

restraints and fall risk skin integrity oxygen administration and O2 sat monitoring respiratory assessment digestion and elimination

Our PodQuiz episodes are essentially flashcards for your ears...I read a question, then pause so you can answer it, then follow up with the answer. It's THE BEST way to study while still getting out and doing SOMETHING productive. I guarantee you'll love it!

Did you LOVE studying this way? Then check out Study Sesh, our private members-only podcast at https://learn.straightanursingstudent.com/study-sesh

Follow Straight A Nursing on social media! Instagram: @StraightANurse

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/straightanursingstudent

Thriving Nursing Students Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/thrivingnursingstudents

Pinterest: Straight A Nursing

Tons of free resources online at www.straightanursingstudent.com.

In this podcast we talk about giving a succinct, flawless and informative end-of-shift report. Sounds simple enough, right? It should be, but you'd be surprised how often a bad shift report can leave you with more questions than answers. But, if you follow these guidelines, you'll be someone that all the other nurses LOVE getting report from...and yes, you will be giving report as students, too!

An awesome shift report starts with your "brain sheet." This is a sheet of paper where you write down all the pertinent data you need to take excellent care of your patients. Here's what my brain sheet for the ICU looks like:

Isn't it the most beautiful thing you've ever seen?

Note that you would never use a brain sheet like this for Med/Surg or someplace where you have 4-5 patients...you'd never get through report before the end of your shift!

As you give report, you basically go through all the items on your brain sheet. I like to start with the patient's name, age, admit date, diagnosis, who the docs are, allergies, code status and any pertinent psychosocial stuff. It might sound like this: This is Jane McDoe, 46 year old female. Admitted on March 10th for a perforated diverticulum. Surgeon is Dr. Hodges, renal is consulting. She's allergic to penicillin and is a Full Code. Her daughter is Gertrude, but she lives in New Zealand and won't be here until tomorrow night. Next, you want to get into their pertinent past medical history and why they came into the hospital. It might go like so: She has a past medical history of chronic renal insufficiency, diverticulitis, DM2, HTN, smoker with 20 pack-year history and bipolar disorder. She presented to the ED with severe abdominal pain and lethargy. Now, you want to go through a brief story of what's happened to the patient since admission. Again, you'd only go into detail if the patient is in the critical care setting. If on a Med/Surg floor or something similar, just the highlights...surgery date or other significant milestones. She got a CT of the abdomen, was admitted and had surgery with Dr. Hodges that same day. She was hypertensive after surgery and unable to wean off vent. She came to ICU, stayed intubated overnight and self-extubated on the morning of the 11th. She was emergency reintubated and remained hypertensive...now on a Cardene gtt. Chem panel showed hyperkalemia and hyperphosphatemia in conjunction with minimal urine output and an increasing creatinine. Renal consulted and decided to start dialysis...a Quentin cath was placed and HD started. Once you're through your little snapshot of their hospital stay and significant events up to that point, you start your head-to-toe. Pain, temp, neuro, cardiac, respiratory, etc... You end with your recommendations and the plan for the patient. I like to include any upcoming lab draws or scheduled tasks so they don't get missed. And because you wrote everything down on your brain sheet, you won't forget a thing. Easy peasy!

Take a listen and see just how flawless and simple end-of-shift report can be.

What makes YOU nervous about clinicals (if you're a student) or your new role as an RN? Let us know in the comments below!

P.S. You can download those amazing brain sheets here!

Take auditory learning even further with Study Sesh, my private podcast that uses PodQuizzes, Drills, Case Studies and more to truly change the way you study. Learn more here: https://learn.straightanursingstudent.com/study-sesh

The first "PodQuiz" was so well-received that we're continuing it this week with a neuro assessment quiz.

In this PodQuiz, you'll get a chance to review neuro assessment (including all the cranial nerves), Alzheimers, Parkinsons, MS and Stroke. Not sure what a PodQuiz is? In a nutshell, it's a way to review and quiz yourself on material using audio...I ask a question, there's a pause while you answer, then I state the answer. It's like doing flashcards with your ears!

Did you LOVE studying this way? Then check out Study Sesh, our private members-only podcast at https://learn.straightanursingstudent.com/study-sesh

Managing ICP (intracranial pressure) is a complex balancing act. In this podcast you'll learn the basics of ICP monitoring and management, what to watch for, when to intervene and HOW to intervene.

Read about ICP Management here: https://straightanursingstudent.com/managing-icp/

Take auditory learning even further with Study Sesh, my private podcast that uses PodQuizzes, Drills, Case Studies and more to truly change the way you study. Learn more here: https://learn.straightanursingstudent.com/study-sesh

This episode debuts something I'm really excited about....if you've ready my book, Nursing School Thrive Guide, you know that I am a big fan of learning in a variety of ways. So...one of the things I did when I was a student was to record audio quizzes so I could basically quiz myself on topics while I went for a walk, did the laundry, cleaned house....whatever. It freed me from the prison of my desk and used a different part of my brain as well. Win-Win!

In this "Pod-quiz" episode, I quiz you on basic respiratory topics...from respiratory assessment to some common disorders including asthma, COPD, pneumonia and atelactasis. I hope you find it as helpful as I did.

Did you LOVE studying this way? Then check out Study Sesh, our private members-only podcast at https://learn.straightanursingstudent.com/study-sesh

Help us reach more students! Rate and review us on Apple Podcasts, share on social media and tell your classmates! Thanks!

In this episode we talk about the basics of ARDS - Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome. It is the most severe form of acute lung injury and is something we see pretty regularly in the MICU. Learn about the different stages that occur as ARDS develops, what you're going to assess and how the patient is going to be treated in this episode of the Straight A Nursing Podcast.

Also, if you're listening to these in order...I apologize...the "diabetes" post was posted too early, so when you listen to that one and hear that I've gotten better equipment, note that it won't be evident until we get to an episode on renal basics.

To subscribe, click on the iTunes link below OR search for "Straight A Nursing" on iTunes and then hit the SUBSCRIBE button...and be sure to leave a review to help us appear in the rankings so other students can find us and benefit, too! See more at www.straightanursingstudent.com!

For a handy reference sheet that you can print out...click here!

Take auditory learning even further with Study Sesh, my private podcast that uses PodQuizzes, Drills, Case Studies and more to truly change the way you study. Learn more here: https://learn.straightanursingstudent.com/study-sesh

Hands-down, diabetes is probably THE most common comorbidity you'll see in the hospital setting. Understanding the two "big daddy" diabetes complications should help you take care of these very sick patients. DKA (diabetic ketoacidosis) and HHS (hyperglycemic hyperosmolar syndrome) are deadly serious conditions that require a diligent RN and a solid grasp of the pathophysiology and treatment plans.

Subscribe to the podcast on iTunes...search for "Straight A Nursing" and click the SUBSCRIBE button! Leave a review to help us show up in the rankings so other students can find us, too!

Take auditory learning even further with Study Sesh, my private podcast that uses PodQuizzes, Drills, Case Studies and more to truly change the way you study. Learn more here: https://learn.straightanursingstudent.com/study-sesh

As a student nurse or even a brand new nurse, you may find that you are often perplexed if the situation your patient is facing is an actual emergency or not. In this episode we cover some basic scenarios that need to be evaluated quickly so that you can intervene appropriately and swiftly.

Take auditory learning even further with Study Sesh, my private podcast that uses PodQuizzes, Drills, Case Studies and more to truly change the way you study. Learn more here: https://learn.straightanursingstudent.com/study-sesh