Straight A Nursing

Every other week I'm republishing one of my most popular or impactful episodes and adding an update, new insight, or context that will help you benefit from it even more. This week I'm highlighting Episode 143, which is all about anaphylaxis. This is an important concept to understand since it almost always shows up in sim lab or nursing school exams. Plus, if it does happen to one of your patients, it can be incredibly scary, so quick recognition and action are vital! Anaphylaxis is a life-threatening hypersensitivity reaction that occurs immediately (or shortly after) exposure to an antigen. Because it can quickly be fatal, it’s crucial that you understand how to recognize it and intervene immediately. In this podcast episode we’ll talk through: What happens in anaphylaxis and anaphylactic shock Why it is potentially fatal The signs/symptoms of anaphylaxis Nursing interventions for anaphylaxis, including medications How to monitor the patient ___________________ ⁠Full Transcript⁠ -

Let's start your week strong with a quick tip you can incorporate right away. In this Mo's Monday Minute shortie episode, I'm talking about something that affects all nurses on a pretty regular basis. And that is working with difficult or challenging patients. But with the right mindset and approach, you’d be surprised how often you can turn things around. Listen in for my best tips! ___________________ 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 of Successful Nursing Students – Learn key strategies that will help you be a successful nursing student with this FREE guide! All Straight A Nursing Resources - Check out everything Straight A Nursing has to offer, including free resources and online courses to help you succeed!

#407: Postoperative Pediatric Airway Emergencies Pediatric airway emergencies in the postoperative setting are high-impact events that can quickly escalate to cardiac arrest, so it’s vital you recognize and act on them immediately. In this episode, you’ll review: Unique features of the pediatric airway  Risk factors for postoperative respiratory complications in children Performing a focused pediatric respiratory assessment Signs of respiratory distress in children Common postoperative respiratory complications including desaturation, upper airway obstruction, laryngospasm, bronchospasm, and oversedation/loss of ventilation ___________________ Full Transcript - Read the article and view references Episode 140 - Listen to episode 140 for an overview of pediatric respiratory distress. 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 c

Let's start your week strong with a quick tip you can incorporate right away. In this Mo's Monday Minute shortie episode, I'm sharing a cool tip that can help you nail your Foley insertions on the first try.  ___________________ 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 of Successful Nursing Students – Learn key strategies that will help you be a successful nursing student with this FREE guide! All Straight A Nursing Resources - Check out everything Straight A Nursing has to offer, including free resources and online courses to help you succeed!

Every other week I'm republishing one of my most popular or impactful episodes and adding an update, new insight, or context that will help you benefit from it even more. This week I'm highlighting Episode 287, which is one of my all-time favorite episodes. And that’s because it completely debunks some things I (and many students) are taught in nursing school. I learned a ton creating this episode, still re-listen to it on occasion, and hope you find it just as valuable, too! In nursing school, I learned that digital clubbing was a key sign of COPD and I accepted this as gospel and moved on with my life. I used this information to answer exam questions on the topic and I always included assessing for it in my care plans for patients with COPD. But, like all things in nursing, there’s so much more to this story. In this episode you’ll learn why much of what you’ve been taught about digital clubbing is wrong, and what’s actually going on (spoiler alert…we don’t fully know!) In this episode, you’ll get answe

Let's start your week strong with a quick tip you can incorporate right away. In this Mo's Monday Minute shortie episode, I'm talking about what to do when you get a blood pressure reading you aren’t expecting. Maybe it’s too high, maybe it’s too low…but overall, the result just doesn’t make sense. ___________________ 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 of Successful Nursing Students – Learn key strategies that will help you be a successful nursing student with this FREE guide! All Straight A Nursing Resources - Check out everything Straight A Nursing has to offer, including free resources and online courses to help you succeed!

Postpartum hemorrhage is one of the top five causes of maternal mortality—and when it happens, nurses are often the ones who recognize it and initiate prompt treatment. In this episode, we’re diving into how to recognize and respond to this high-risk situation with confidence. You’ll learn the pathophysiology behind postpartum hemorrhage as well as the major causes so you can know who’s most at risk. And, we’ll use the LATTE method to break it down like a pro. If you’re heading into your OB clinical or prepping for exams, this is an episode you won't want to miss!

Let's start your week strong with a quick tip you can incorporate right away. In this Mo's Monday Minute shortie episode, I'm talking about how to quickly set yourself up for success when you check 3 things at the beginning of your shift. ___________________ 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 of Successful Nursing Students – Learn key strategies that will help you be a successful nursing student with this FREE guide! All Straight A Nursing Resources - Check out everything Straight A Nursing has to offer, including free resources and online courses to help you succeed!

Every other week I'm republishing one of my most popular or impactful episodes and adding an update, new insight, or context that will help you benefit from it even more. This week I'm highlighting Episode 167, which discusses non-sepsis reasons for an elevated lactate. It’s an important reminder not to get tunnel vision and think that every elevated lactate level means the patient has an overwhelming infection. In fact, some of these reasons may surprise you! 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!  Med Sur

Let's start your week strong with a quick tip you can incorporate right away. In this Mo's Monday Minute shortie episode, I'm talking about  what to do when your patient is having premature ventricular contractions (PVCs). We’ll talk about key assessments, when to get worried, and important nursing interventions. ___________________ 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 of Successful Nursing Students – Learn key strategies that will help you be a successful nursing student with this FREE guide! All Straight A Nursing Resources - Check out everything Straight A Nursing has to offer, including free resources and online courses to help you succeed!

There’s nothing like that moment when your patient starts having periods of obstructive apnea and you realize…YOU are the airway. In this episode, I’m walking you through the key things you need to know so you can feel more confident (and hopefully a bit less terrified) managing soft tissue obstructions. Hit play on this episode and I’ll talk you through the signs of obstruction, optimal positioning, and the proper use of airway adjuncts like the OPA and NPA. If airway management has ever made you a little nervous, this episode is for you. ___________________ 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 including podquizzes, case studies a

Let's start your week strong with a quick tip you can incorporate right away. In this Mo's Monday Minute shortie episode, I'm talking about the vital sign that is most often assessed incorrectly. You don't want to this miss this episode, the vital sign in question is also one of the most important indicators of early clinical deterioration. 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 of Successful Nursing Students – Learn key strategies that will help you be a successful nursing student with this FREE guide! All Straight A Nursing Resources - Check out everything Straight A Nursing has to offer, including free resources and online courses to help you succeed!

Every other week I'm republishing one of my most popular or impactful episodes and adding an update, new insight, or context that will help you benefit from it even more. This week I'm highlighting Episode 65, which is all about acid-base balance. Acid-base balance is one of those things that occur "behind-the-scenes" with all of your patients. But when this balance is off, it can be pretty dramatic! Tune in to this encore episode for a review of acid-base balance and some patient scenarios to give you some practice thinking through acid-base problems...it's more than just analyzing the ABG! Full Transcript - Read the article and view references ABGS Tutorial - If you're in Advanced Med/Surg and want to practice ABGs, go through my step-by-step tutorial. 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 you

Let's start your week strong with a quick tip you can incorporate right away. In this Mo's Monday Minute shortie episode, I'm sharing tips on how to tell if a child needs emergent attention. 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 of Successful Nursing Students – Learn key strategies that will help you be a successful nursing student with this FREE guide! All Straight A Nursing Resources - Check out everything Straight A Nursing has to offer, including free resources and online courses to help you succeed!

If your mind refuses to turn off when it’s time to rest, there’s a good chance you’re a nurse or nursing student. In this episode, I’m diving into the power of brain dumping: a simple, no-pressure practice that helps you clear mental clutter, reduce stress, and get the kind of rest you actually need. Whether you’re a nursing student drowning in deadlines or a nurse who’s been running on fumes, this is for you. You’ll learn what brain dumping is, why it works, how it helps your sleep and focus, and how to try it for yourself. I’ll even guide you through a 2-minute brain dump during the episode—so if you’re ready to stop the mental spiraling and make room for some peace, let’s do it. ___________________ 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 y

Let's start your week strong with a quick tip you can incorporate right away. In this Mo's Monday Minute shortie episode, I'm sharing how I'm sharing how I save time and still do thorough head-to-toe assessments. 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 of Successful Nursing Students – Learn key strategies that will help you be a successful nursing student with this FREE guide! All Straight A Nursing Resources - Check out everything Straight A Nursing has to offer, including free resources and online courses to help you succeed!

Every other week I'm republishing one of my most popular or impactful episodes and adding an update, new insight, or context that will help you benefit from it even more. This week I'm highlighting Episode 153, which is all about what to do in your first code blue. For the current BLS and ALCS guidelines, visit the American Heart Association website. 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, Pediat

Let's start your week strong with a quick tip you can incorporate right away. In this Mo's Monday Minute shortie episode, I'm sharing about how to develop and trust an important aspect of being a nurse: your nursing judgement. 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 of Successful Nursing Students – Learn key strategies that will help you be a successful nursing student with this FREE guide! All Straight A Nursing Resources - Check out everything Straight A Nursing has to offer, including free resources and online courses to help you succeed!

In this episode, we delve into a simulated emergency scenario to refresh and reinforce Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) skills. The setting involves Mr. Williams, a 63-year-old with multiple comorbidities, who presents to the ER with heart palpitations that escalate into a much more severe condition. The episode covers the progression of his condition and escalation of care that includes things like synchronized cardioversion, defibrillation and medications. If you are nervous about your ACLS certification, want to refresh your memory, or simply want to understand what’s happening during a code, you definitely want to hit play on this episode! ___________________ Full Transcript - Read the article and view references Tips for your first code blue - Not sure you’ll survive your first code? Boost your confidence with these tips! Review pacemakers - Get a concise but effective overview of pacemakers in this episode. FREE CLASS - If all you've heard are nursing school horror stories, then you need this class

Let's start your week strong with a quick tip you can incorporate right away. In this Mo's Monday Minute shortie episode, I'm sharing my best tips for taking vitals on a child. 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 of Successful Nursing Students – Learn key strategies that will help you be a successful nursing student with this FREE guide! All Straight A Nursing Resources - Check out everything Straight A Nursing has to offer, including free resources and online courses to help you succeed!