Straight A Nursing

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.

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/