Straight A Nursing

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 my new podcast devoted to PodQuizzes and some other really cool ways to help you study. Check out Study Sesh, our private members-only podcast at https://www.straightanursingstudent.com/study-sesh   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://www.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/