Straight A Nursing

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! ___________________ 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! Study Sesh - Change the way you study with this private podcast that includes dynamic audio formats that help you review and test your recall of important nursing concepts on-the-go. Free yourself from your desk with Study Sesh! Straight A Nursing App - Study on-the-go with the Straight A Nursing app! Review more than 5,000 flashcards covering a wide range of subjects incl

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 ___________________ 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! Study Sesh

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 medication, how it's administered (it's in nanograms!!!!) and what to watch out for (so many things!) ___________________ 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! Pharmacology Success Pack - Want to get a head start on pharmacology? Download the FREE Pharmacology Success Pack.  Fast Pharmacology - Learn pharmacology concepts in 5 minutes or less in this audio based program. Perfect for on-the-go review! Episode 43 - Review the basics of shock, including septic shock. Giapreza - Visit the manufacturer's websit

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 your heart is vital to your emotional survival as a nurse. The next step is learning to recognize compassion fatigue as a key component in burnout so that you can stave it off before it convinces you to throw in the towel and leave the profession (please don't go...we need you!) 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.  See you there! ___________________ 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 thr

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. Be sure to subscribe to never miss an episode! ___________________ 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! Med Surg Solution - Are you looking for a more effective way to learn Med Surg? Enroll in Med Surg Solution and get lessons on 57 key topics and out-of-this-world study guides.  Straight A Nursing App - Study on-the-go with the Straight A Nursing app! Review more than 5,000 flashcards covering a wide range of subjects including Fundamentals, Pediatrics, Med Surg, Mental Health, Maternal Newborn, and more! A

Nursing school teaches you a lot of things, but probably not some of the things you REALLY need to know. In this podcast episode we answer some burning questions posed by a nurse on Twitter who realized she didn't receive quite enough education to prepare her for the challenges of being a bedside nurse. ___________________ 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! Crucial Concepts Bootcamp - Start nursing school ahead of the game, or reset after a difficult first semester with my nursing school prep course, Crucial Concepts Bootcamp. Learn key foundation concepts, organization and time management, dosage calculations, and so much more. Clinical Success Pack - One of the best ways to fast-track your clinical learning is having the right tools. This pack includes report sheets, sheets to help

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 ___________________ 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! 20 Secrets E-Book - Get the FREE 20 Secrets of Successful Nursing Students E-Book and start nursing school feeling more confident and ready for anything! New Nursing Student Checklist – Get a step-by-step list of the key things to do before nursing school starts. Confident Calculations - Le

In short terms, shock is a syndrome of hypoperfusion and hypotension that leads to inadequate oxygen delivery to the tissues and impaired cellular metabolism that ultimately results in organ dysfunction/failure. In this episode we'll talk about: *what is shock *4 classifications of shock (hypovolemic, distributive, cardiogenic and obstructive) *Assessments and things to watch for *Stages of shock *General treatment of shock *Signs/symptoms and specific treatments for various types of shock ___________________ 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! Med Surg Solution - Are you looking for a more effective way to learn Med Surg? Enroll in Med Surg Solution and get lessons on 57 key topics and out-of-this-world study guides. Straight A

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? ___________________ 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 nur

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. ___________________ 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! Pharmacology Success Pack - Want to get a head start on pharmacology? Download the FREE Pharmacology Success Pack Fast Pharmacology - Learn pharmacology concepts in 5 minutes or less in this audio based program. Perfect for on-the-go review! Confident Calculations - Learn a foolproof method for performing dosage calculations so you can pass your nursing

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! ___________________ 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! Crucial Concepts Bootcamp - Start nursing school ahead of the game, or reset after a difficult first semester with my nursing school prep course, Crucial Concepts Bootcamp. Learn key foundation concepts, organization and time management, dosage calculations, and so much more. LATTE Method Template - Download the free LATTE Method Template so you can strea

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 ___________________ 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! Confident Calculations - Learn a foolproof method for performing dosage calculations so you can pass your nursing school math exams on the first try! Crucial Concepts Bootcamp - S

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! ___________________ 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! New Nursing Student Checklist - Get prepped and ready for your nursing school program! 20 Secrets of Successful Nursing Students – Learn key strategies that will help you be a successful nursing student with this FREE guide! Study Sesh - Change the way you study with this priva

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. ___________________ 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! Study Sesh - Change the way you study with this private podcast that includes dynamic audio formats that help you review and test your recall of important nursing concepts on-the-go. Free yourself from your desk with Study Sesh! Pharmacology Success Pack - Want to get a head start

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. Enjoy! ___________________ 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 l

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 ___________________ 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! Study Sesh - Change the way you study with this private podcast that includes dynamic audio formats that help you review and test your recall of important nursing concepts on-the-go. Free yourself from your desk with Study Sesh! Pharmacology Success Pack - Want to get a head start on ph

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. You can get back to studying in the new year with many great resources INCLUDING: Clinical Success Pack - One of the best ways to fast-track your clinical learning is having the right tools. This pack includes report sheets, sheets to help you plan your day, a clinical debrief form, and a patient safety cheat sheet.  Crucial Concepts Bootcamp - Start nursing school ahead of the game, or reset after a difficult first semester with my nursing school prep course, Crucial Concepts Bootcamp. Learn key foundation concepts, organization and time management, dosage calculations, and so much more. 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 your reca

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

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 ___________________ FREE CLASS - If all you've heard are nur

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. *DISCLAIMER: This is a fictitious patient and is not based in any way on actual events. ___________________ 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 s