Straight A Nursing

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.

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. Use promo code SAN15 to save 15% on ATI TEAS prep materials* using this link. Achieve your dreams with ATI! – Learn how ATI can help you get into nursing school with their comprehensive TEAS prep materials. 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.  __________  The information, including but not limited to, audio, video, text, and graphics contained on this podcast are for educational purposes only. No content on this podcast is intended to guide nursing practice and does not supersede any individual healthcare

Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is a non-cancerous enlargement of the prostate gland that causes an obstruction to the outflow of urine. In this episode, you’ll learn the basics about this condition: * Who’s most at risk * The complications of BPH * Signs and symptoms * Key assessments for BPH * Common tests utilized in the evaluation of patients with BPH * BPH treatments, including medications and TURP surgery * Why TURP Syndrome happens, how it’s treated, and how we minimize the risk * Patient education for BPH including lifestyle modifications * Patient teaching after TURP procedure >>> 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! 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! Beers drugs - Check out episode 169 to learn more about drugs on the Bee

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! Use promo code SAN15 to save 15% on ATI TEAS prep materials* using this link. Achieve your dreams with ATI! – Learn how ATI can help you get into nursing school with their comprehensive TEAS prep materials. 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 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.  __________  The information, including but not limited to, audio, video, text, and graphics contained on this podcast are for educatio

Reye’s syndrome is a rare but very serious condition that involves acute encephalopathy, cerebral edema and fatty liver failure. The pathophysiology is not fully understood but what we do know points to mitochondrial injury secondary to viral illness and the use of aspirin in young children. In this episode you will learn: * Who is most affected by Reye’s syndrome * Complications of the condition * Signs and symptoms * Key assessments and diagnostic tests * Nursing interventions and other treatments * What to teach parents >>> 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! 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! New Nursing Student Checklist - Get a step-by-step list of the key things to do before nursing school starts. __________  The informatio

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! Get a discount on ATI TEAS prep materials* - Use code SAN15 to get 15% off ATI TEAS prep material or packages at ATI Testing. Achieve your dreams with ATI! – Learn how ATI can help you get into nursing school with their comprehensive TEAS prep materials. 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.  __________  The information, including but not limited to, audi

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! You can also listen to all the episodes in this series by using the links below or searching for the episode number in your favorite podcast app: Secret #1: Episode 174 Secret #2: Episode 181 Secret #3 and #4: Episode 185 Secret #5: Episode 187 Secret #6 and #7: Episode 189 Secret #8 and #9: Episode 193 Secret #10, #11 and #12: Episode 214 Secret #13, #14,

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! You can also listen to all the episodes in this series by using the links below or searching for the episode number in your favorite podcast app: Secret #1: Episode 174 Secret #2: Episode 181 Secret #3 and #4: Episode 185 Secret #5: Episode 187 Secret #6 and #7: Episode 189 Secret #8 and #

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 fi

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. Full Transcript - Read the article and view references FREE CLASS - If all you've heard are nursing school horror stories, then you need this class! Join me in this on-demand session where I dispel all those nursing school myths and show you that YES...you can thrive in nursing school without it taking over your life! Episode 173: Dive deeper and review the principles of DIC, which occurs in patients with amniotic fluid embolism. AFE Foundation: Discover helpful support resources for AFE. Study Sesh - Change the way you study with this private podcast that includes dynamic audio formats including podquizzes, case studies and drills that help you review and test y

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 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 t

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: 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 th

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! __________  The information, including but not limited to, audio, video, text, and graphics contained on this podcast are for educational purposes only. No content on this podcast is intended to guide nursing practice and does not supersede any individual healthcare provider's scope of practice or any nursing school curriculum. Additionally, no content on this podcast is intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Straight a Nursing is a proud member of the Airwave Media Network. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 maximize your learning by reading this information, too? Check out the article and references. Get a head start on pharmacology with the Pharmacology Success Pack Review key pharmacology concepts and over 80 drug classes, each in 5 minutes or less, in my audio-based program Fast Pharmacology. This program is perfect for use while you're in nursing school, studying for NCLEX, or wanting to gain confidence administering medications as a working nurse. Learn m

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! Review the very important concept of third spacing 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. 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 lo

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,

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! 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

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. 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 al

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. 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 he

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 epi