Straight A Nursing

This special episode is part of a nursing podcast PodCrawl to celebrate Nurses Week and increase awareness about the different types of shock. This episode covers distributive shock, and you can find episodes about hypovolemic shock, obstructive and cardiogenic shock in the links down below. And, you might even discover a new nursing podcast to binge! In this episode you’ll learn:  The basics about hemodynamics, including the factors that affect blood pressure The hemodynamics of distributive shock Key things to know about each subtype of distributive shock - anaphylactic shock, neurogenic shock and septic shock  Check out the other nursing podcasts participating in this PodCrawl to learn more about shock: Critical Care Scenarios Nurse Dose Podcast The Q Word Podcast Rapid Response RN Podcast Up My Nursing Game Podcast __________________ Full Transcript - Read the article and view references  Hypovolemic Shock - Learn about hypovolemic shock in this episode featuring the hosts from the Q-Word podc

Children can have a wide range of gastrointestinal disorders, and exams will require you to be able to differentiate between each one. In this episode, I’m providing a high level overview of common pediatric GI disorders: Gastroesophageal reflux disease Hirschsprung disease Intussusception Hypertrophic pyloric stenosis Biliary atresia Meckel’s diverticulum Short bowel syndrome Plus, there’s a PodQuiz at the end…so make sure you listen all the way through! ___________________ 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 - If you liked the PodQuiz at the end of this episode, you'll LOVE Study Sesh! Change the way you study with this private podcast that includes dynamic audio formats that help you review and test your rec

Clostridioides difficile, formerly known as Clostridium difficile, is an anaerobic, spore-forming bacillus that causes a serious bacterial infection in the colon. While healthcare-associated infections have declined in recent years, C. diff remains one of the most common healthcare associated infections in the United States. Learn more about C. diff infection (CDI) in this episode, including: Pathophysiology of CDI Who is most at risk for CDI Complications of CDI Signs and symptoms, and when to suspect your patient has C. diff Important assessments for a patient with CDI Tests utilized to diagnose a patient or evaluate complications Key treatments for CDI, including an explanation of enhanced or “special” contact precautions The main things to teach your patient and their visitors about CDI ___________________ 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

I’m sharing one of my favorites from the Rapid Response RN podcast with you in this special bonus episode! If you haven’t started listening to this podcast yet, you are going to LOVE Sarah! Her podcast helps nurses boost their confidence when responding to emergencies. New episodes drop every Friday, so make sure you are following the Rapid Response RN show, too! ___________________ Rapid Response and Rescue Class - Take your assessment and emergency response skills to the next level with this training from Sarah Lorenzini, the Rapid Response RN! 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

Dysphagia is a condition in which the individual has difficulty swallowing. Proper swallowing relies on a complex coordination involving more than 30 nerves and muscles. When even one of these elements fails to work properly, dysphagia can result.  In this episode, you’ll learn:  The four stages of swallowing…more complex than we realize! Causes of dysphagia Signs and symptoms of dysphagia (AKA: important things to watch for!) Complications of dysphagia Bedside swallow evaluations Diagnostic tests for dysphagia Modified diet textures Safety around feeding and aspiration prevention ___________________ 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

If you’re learning about advanced Med Surg concepts or even working in the clinical setting, you’ve no doubt heard of pulmonary embolism. But did you know it goes beyond impaired gas exchange? Hit play on this episode to learn how a pulmonary embolism can impair cardiac function, potentially leading to devastating consequences. In this episode, you’ll review foundation concepts to help you understand this connection: Cardiopulmonary circulation Pulmonary embolism pathophysiology The factors that contribute to blood pressure ___________________ Full Transcript - Read the article and view references (put the link where it says FULL TRANSCRIPT) 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 Soluti

If you’ve ever thought that CRNA school might be in your future, the time to start preparing is now…even if you’re not in nursing school yet! In this episode, I’m joined by Jenny Finnell, CRNA and CEO of CRNA School Prep Academy. Not only is Jenny a great mentor, but she’s also extremely knowledgeable about what it takes to get into a CRNA program.  Hit play on this episode to get some of your questions about the path to CRNA school, such as:  How do you know if CRNA school is the right career path for you? What sorts of things does a CRNA do? When is the ideal time to start prepping for CRNA school? What are the educational requirements? What GPA is competitive for CRNA school? (spoiler alert, you don’t need a 4.0 GPA!) What type of work experience do you need before you apply? How do you stand out as an applicant? What is the #1 key to gaining CRNA school acceptance? ___________________ Get Jenny’s Free Guide - In this guide, Jenny lays out the eight key steps to getting into a CRNA program. It com

Dextro transposition of the great arteries (D TGA) is a congenital cyanotic heart defect in which the pulmonary artery and the aorta are transposed. In this lesson, you’ll review normal cardiopulmonary circulation (which is essential to understanding this condition) and learn:  How the abnormal anatomy of D TGA affects physiology Why you actually want the child with D TGA to have another congenital heart defect Signs and symptoms of D TGA How the condition is diagnosed Risk factors for developing this congenital heart defect Treatments for D TGA ___________________ Full Transcript - Read the article and view references A-List Newsletter - Get on the “A-List” and get a notification each Thursday about the current episode, Nurse Mo’s Tip of the Week, product recommendations to make your nurse life better, and more! Review Atrial Septal Defects - Review this congenital heart condition in Episode 70 of the Straight A Nursing podcast. Review Ventricular Septal Defects - Review this congenital heart conditio

Air embolism is a rare, but potentially fatal, event that occurs when a bolus of air enters the vascular space. The risks and consequences depend on which type of air embolism has occurred - venous or arterial. In this episode, you’ll learn: The differences between venous and arterial air embolism Causes and risk factors for air embolism Signs and symptoms of venous and arterial air embolism Tests conducted when air embolism is suspected How patients with air embolism are treated Nursing interventions to prevent air embolism ___________________ Full Transcript - Read the article and view references. A-List Newsletter - Get on the “A-List” and get a notification each Thursday about the current episode, Nurse Mo’s Tip of the Week, product recommendations to make your nurse life better, and more! 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

Nursing school exam questions place you into a clinical scenario where you have to make decisions based on the information provided. Many times these scenarios are robust and full of a lot of details such as vital signs, past medical history, and the patient’s signs and symptoms. When you have a complex scenario such as this, it is called a case study. Case studies can be challenging for students for a variety of reasons:  They can be lengthy They contain a lot of information, much of it numerical data They often contain distractors or irrelevant information They may contain abbreviations or terms you don’t understand You might not be sure what to do with all the information provided The key to conquering case studies is to use a systematic approach that you follow every single time. Hit play on this episode to learn the step-by-step approach that will have you approaching case studies with a lot more confidence! ___________________ Get the Guide “Conquering Case Studies” - Get a step-by-step guide to c

I've got something new and exciting to share with you! With over 330 episodes, I know it can sometimes be a little overwhelming to find exactly what you need...especially if you're new here. That's why I created the Playlist Prescription. Just fill out this quick form to get a FREE customized playlist of episodes on the topics you need help with the most, sent right to your inbox. Easy! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Local anesthetics are medications that block nerve impulses so that pain signals aren’t transmitted to the brain. The result is that the anesthetized area is numb and pain is controlled.  Just because local anesthetics are “local” doesn’t mean systemic toxicity can’t occur. Local anesthetic systemic toxicity (LAST) occurs when local anesthetics extend into the system at toxic levels. It most typically occurs due to the physician accidentally injecting the medication into the intravascular space. However, it can also be from locally administered overdose, which leads to systemic toxicity.  Hit play on this episode to dive into local anesthetic systemic toxicity so you can understand which of your patients are at highest risk and what to watch for! ___________________ Full Transcript - Read the article and view references. A-List Newsletter - Get on the “A-List” and get a notification each Thursday about the current episode, Nurse Mo’s Tip of the Week, product recommendations to make your nurse life better, and

When the heart rate is irregular or too slow, cardiac output is compromised. A pacemaker may be utilized to support the heart’s electrical system, stabilize arrhythmias, and ensure the heart pumps at a rate that supports tissue perfusion throughout the body.  A pacemaker may be indicated in patients with arrhythmias such as sick sinus syndrome (also known as sinus node dysfunction), symptomatic bradycardia, or high-grade heart blocks. Other indications include post myocardial infarction, heart failure, congenital heart defects, and temporarily after some cardiac surgeries. This episode answers some key questions you have about pacemakers including:  What do all these terms mean? Capture? Sensing? Output? What’s the difference between failure to sense and oversensing? What is failure to capture? What’s the difference between electrical capture and mechanical capture? What are the different types of pacemakers? What do the letters in the pacemaker settings mean? What are some common pacing modes? How do

Prioritizing patient care is often difficult for students in nursing school or even new nurses. And while novice nurses thrive when they utilize to-do lists, prioritization is so much more than making a task list and following it throughout your shift. It’s actually a constantly fluctuating component of your workflow that must take multiple factors (and multiple patients) into consideration.  The good news is, most of the time you can answer prioritization questions on nursing school exams and prioritize your nursing care at the bedside by following two key frameworks - the ABCs and Maslow’s hierarchy of needs.  Click play on this episode to learn how to work this into your practice and go through some scenarios designed to help you “think like a nurse!” ___________________ 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 y

Even though nursing is THE most trusted profession, you may be surprised to learn that academic misconduct occurs at the same rate amongst nursing students as it does other academic disciplines. One reason for this is that cheating goes beyond just getting “extra help” on an exam, and students may not recognize other aspects of academic dishonesty as actual cheating.  The reason cheating is such a big deal in nursing school is that it’s not just the student who suffers. Ultimately, patient safety is at stake.  In this special bonus episode brought to you by ATI, we’re exploring the concept of academic integrity, what counts as “cheating” and how both the student (and their future patients) are put at risk.  A big thank you to our sponsor, ATI! ATI is a leader in nursing education, dedicated to empowering nursing students and educators with innovative solutions for success on exams and in their careers. From the ATI TEAS to comprehensive NCLEX preparation and ongoing professional development, ATI Nursing offer

Did you know appendicitis is one of the most common gastrointestinal conditions you’ll see in the clinical setting? It’s also highly likely to show up on nursing school exams! In this episode you’ll learn:  Why symptoms can vary so much from person to person What we now know about the appendix (turns out, it’s not totally useless!) The classic presentation of a patient with appendicitis How to assess for rebound tenderness Where McBurney’s point is located Why pain medication might be held initially  Which tests are utilized for a patient with appendicitis and why this is different in children The treatments for appendicitis What to teach your patient/family after an appendectomy Hit play on this episode and share it with a classmate or colleague if you found it helpful!  ___________________ 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 nur

As a nursing student or nurse, you’ll learn about hundreds of drugs over the span of your career but the ones you’ll know really well are the ones you use on a consistent basis. If you’re just starting out and aren’t sure which drugs to focus on, this list of one dozen common drugs will come in handy in a wide variety of acute care settings.  This episode covers some of the key things to know about: Diphenhydramine Furosemide Hydralazine Gabapentin Levothyroxine Lisinopril Metformin Metoprolol Morphine Prednisone Simvastatin Warfarin Know someone who would also love to review these drugs? Just hit that share button! ___________________ 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! Pharmacology Success Pack - Want to get a head

Something you’ll learn quickly (if you haven’t already) is that the medical field is full of terms named after people…Beck’s triad, Kernig’s sign, McBurney’s point and Ortolani maneuver are just a few! Unfortunately, you just need to memorize what these are, so I’ve pulled together some common ones to know in this episode.  Hit play on this episode and soon you’ll be “talking the talk” just like a pro! There's a podquiz at the end so you can test yourself! ___________________ 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

Your first few clinical shifts in nursing school can feel really overwhelming, especially if you’re heading in without a lot of background knowledge. But, something as simple as understanding some key lab tests will help you interpret your patient’s result and understand important components of their plan of care.  In this episode I’m breaking down eight key labs to know before your first clinical day in nursing school:  Hemoglobin Hematocrit WBCs Platelets Sodium Potassium Creatinine Glucose So hit play on this episode and start clinicals with more confidence and the knowledge you need to create an effective plan of care. If you found it helpful, spread the love and share with a classmate or colleague…we’re all in this together! ___________________ 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...yo

Did you know that more than 60% of adverse events in the clinical setting have been attributed to poor communication? To help ensure patient safety, SBAR is utilized as a standardized communication format but it can be difficult to know how to use it effectively when you’re a new nurse or nursing student.  I’m breaking down SBAR for you in this episode so you can finally have a clear understanding of how all the components fit together and use it with confidence. In this episode, you’ll learn: Why SBAR is utilized What the different components of SBAR mean Situations in which you would use SBAR How to get the MD’s attention so they take your concerns seriously Examples of SBAR communication Pro tips for calling the MD How to use SBAR for handoff report ___________________ 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