Straight A Nursing: Study for nursing school exams & NCLEX
by Maureen Osuna, MSN, RN - Nursing school educator, author, and nursing student enthusiast.
In this show, Maureen Osuna, MSN, RN (Nurse Mo) breaks down a wide range of nursing school concepts so they’re easy to understand. Each episode aims to help nursing students improve their study techniques, pass nursing school exams, and feel more confident in clinical. If you’re nervous about nursing school, not “getting it” in lecture, or feeling overwhelmed with all the information you have to learn, this podcast will help you optimize your study time so you can learn more with less stress. While nursing school is challenging, it doesn’t have to be impossible. When concepts are explained in a way that “just makes sense”, nursing students have better recall on exams, feel more confident working with patients in clinical, and are better prepared for NCLEX. Nurse Mo understands the struggles nursing students face and draws on more than 11 years of clinical experience to make nursing school less intimidating. Each episode removes the “fluff” and focuses on the key things a
Episodes
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The Nurse’s Guide to Gallstones - ENCORE! #155
Review the nursing care for patients with cholecystitis (gallbladder inflammation) and cholelithiasis (gallstones). Plus, there's a short podquiz toward the end! In this episode you will learn: Gallbladder A&P review (it’s quick, I promise!) What is a gallstone? Gallstone disease risk factors...
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#525: MMM - Vasopressors, Part Two: Dopamine and Dobutamine
Dopamine and dobutamine are easy to mix up, especially for nursing students. Hit play, and by the end of this episode you'll have a much clearer picture of how they each work and are administered, and importantly, how to avoid mixing them up. Check out episode #517 for another quick breakdown of...
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#524: 15 Drugs To Know For Clinicals, Exams and NCLEX
Has learning pharmacology ever made you want to throw your pharm flashcards or your reference drug guide across the room? Instead of trying to memorize every single possible thing you can about a drug, start by focusing on the most important things that affect your nursing judgement and…
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#523: MMM - Fluid Shifts Explained
Hit play to tackle a concept that helps explain a whole lot of things in nursing, from edema and ascites to pleural effusions and pulmonary edema. You guessed it - it's fluid shifts. ___________________ Nursing School Survival Blueprint - Feeling overwhelmed or unsure how to approach nursing...
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Let’s Breakdown Tetralogy of Fallot - ENCORE! #206
Review the nursing basics for Tetralogy of Fallot (ToF), a cyanotic congenital heart disease. It is characterized by four key defects which together, allow oxygen-poor blood to be pumped out into systemic circulation leading to hypercyanotic episodes called “tet spells.” In this episode you will...
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#522: PodQuiz - Prone Positioning
Test your knowledge of prone positioning nursing care with this quick set of audio flashcards. Dive right in or brush up on your nursing knowledge of prone positioning first, in episode #521: Prone Positioning Basics - Preventing Complications in ARDS. These mini-reviews are a great way to study…
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#521: Prone Positioning Basics: Preventing Complications in ARDS Patients
Prone positioning can be so intimidating when you're a nursing student or a brand-new ICU nurse. In this episode, I'm covering the basics and potential complications of prone positioning so you actually understand why we do it, rather than just feeling like you’re trying to keep up. Imagine…
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#520: MMM - Compartment Syndrome: Risk Factors and Early Signs
By the time pulses disappear in compartment syndrome, real damage has already happened. In the episode, I'm talking about the window before that, because that's where you actually have a chance to catch it before the patient suffers serious consequences. Hit play to review who is most at risk…
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Components of the BMP - ENCORE! #303
The Basic Metabolic Panel (BMP) is one of the most common lab tests ordered for your patients. This episode breaks down the 8 components of the BMP, which are sodium, potassium, calcium, chloride, carbon dioxide, glucose, BUN and creatinine. You can read the article "The BMP Decoded" here. Get...
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#519: MMM - Three Types of Hyponatremia
Your patient has low sodium, what should you assess before you react to that sodium value and why? The answer to this trips up a lot of students and new nurses. You should assess volume status before reacting to a sodium value, because hyponatremia actually breaks down into three different...
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#518: Noncardiogenic Pulmonary Edema for Nursing Students
Picture this: You're a nurse in the PACU and are receiving a patient who is a 34 year old male with a past medical history of obesity and loud snoring reported by his spouse. Although he does not have diagnosed obstructive sleep apnea, you suspect it. He was given general anesthesia with some...
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#517: MMM - Vasopressors, Part One: Norepinephrine and Epinephrine
Vasopressors such as norepinephrine and epinephrine intimidate a lot of new nurses. In this episode I'm breaking down norepinephrine and epinephrine, including how they work and are administered, and importantly, how to avoid mixing them up when it counts. If you're in pharmacology and found this...
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Malignant Hyperthermia for Nursing Students - ENCORE! #302
Malignant hyperthermia (MH) is a hypermetabolic crisis that is fatal if left untreated. It occurs in individuals with a specific genetic condition when they are exposed to certain anesthetic gasses or the medication succinylcholine. By the end of this episode you'll have a thorough understanding…
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#516: MMM - Applying to Nursing School? Don't Underestimate The Entrance Exam
If you're applying to nursing school, your GPA probably feels like the whole application. And yes, your GPA is important, but it's only one piece of your application. Most competitive nursing programs are weighing several other factors right alongside your GPA, and the entrance exam is the one…
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#515: Cardiogenic Pulmonary Edema
A patient is stable going into surgery and comes out of anesthesia fine. Twenty minutes later in the PACU, she's gasping for air, her neck veins are bulging, and she's coughing up pink, frothy sputum. Yikes! What just happened? And why did it happen so fast? In this episode, I'm breaking down...
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#514: MMM - MRI vs. MRA and CT vs. CTA: Which Scan Does What?
Do you know the differences between a MRI, MRA, CT and CTA scan? By the end of this episode you'll understand the purpose and nursing considerations of each of these scans, and you'll be a better nurse for it. ___________________ Nursing School Survival Blueprint - Feeling overwhelmed or unsure...
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Parkinson's Disease for Nursing Students - ENCORE! #198
This encore episode features a brief update to discuss some new medications that are currently being utilized to treat Parkinson's disease. By the end of this episode you'll have a thorough understanding of what you need to know about Parkinson's for your nursing school exams and NCLEX. Read the...
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#513: MMM - SIRS vs. Sepsis vs. Septic Shock
This is a quick review of SIRS vs sepsis vs septic shock, including what distinguishes each from the next, the earliest clinical signs of this whole progression (hint: it's not hypotension), and why knowing these things matters. ___________________ Nursing School Survival Blueprint - Feeling...
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#512: Your First Clinical Day: What to Actually Expect
Heading into clinical? Ease your nerves by building a mental map of a typical clinical day. Hit play and I'll show you what I mean as I walk you through how I used to run a typical shift in clinical, from start to finish. Have you grabbed the Nursing School Survival Blueprint yet? If you're…
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#511: MMM - Your First Rapid Response as a New Nurse
New nurses, have you called your first rapid response yet? The scariest part of your first rapid response usually isn't the clinical situation in front of you. It's the moment you have to decide whether you should even call it. If you're nervous about calling a rapid response, I've got a reframe...
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Reye’s Syndrome Basics for Nursing Students - ENCORE! #257
Reye’s syndrome is a rare but very serious condition that involves acute encephalopathy, cerebral edema and fatty liver failure. The pathophysiology is not fully understood but what we do know points to mitochondrial injury secondary to viral illness and the use of aspirin in young children. In...
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#510: PodQuiz - Acute Kidney Injury (AKI)
Test your knowledge of AKI with this quick set of audio flashcards. Dive right in or brush up on your nursing knowledge of AKI first, in episode #509: Acute Kidney Injury for Nursing Students: Causes, Symptoms, Labs & Treatment. These mini-reviews are a great way to study on the go, and they give...
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#509: Acute Kidney Injury for Nursing Students: Causes, Symptoms, Labs & Treatment
Acute kidney injury is one of the most common complications seen in hospitalized patients, yet it's a topic that often leaves nursing students overwhelmed by lab values and terminology. In this episode, I'm breaking down the three types of AKI and showing you how to recognize the clues that help...
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#508: MMM - Your First Code Blue
New nurses, this one's for you! We're talking about what that first code actually feels like, why the calm you see in other nurses doesn’t mean you’re not cut out for this, and why your contribution matters even when you're not the one leading. If you're a new nurse and this moment is still ahead...
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What is the Beers List of Medications? - ENCORE! #169
The Beers Criteria, or Beers list, is a list of medications which are considered to be potentially harmful medications for individuals over 65 years old due to risks or side effects that outweigh the benefits. In this episode, you'll learn: Beers criteria Why this list matters Key medications...
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#507: MMM - This vs. That: 7 Nursing Concepts Students Always Mix Up
Nursing is full of terms that sound similar, look similar, and sometimes even seem interchangeable. But understanding the differences between these concepts can make a huge difference in your clinical judgment. Hit play for a rapid-fire round of "This vs. That" and we'll clear up seven commonly...
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#506: Clinical Is Not a Test (Most of the Time)
If you're just heading in to clinical or are still feeling a bit overwhelmed at the end of every shift, this episode is for you. In this episode, I'm sharing how you can reframe your clinical experience to go from just trying to survive, to walking out of every shift sharper than when you walked...
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#505: MMM - Your Quick Clinical Prep Routine
Next time you get your patient assignment, skip the panic-prep session and instead, try the five-minute clinical prep routine I'm breaking down in this episode. By the end of this episode, you'll know how to focus your clinical prep on what actually matters so you can walk into clinical feeling...
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Tips for Thriving in Pediatric Clinical - ENCORE! #360
It's really helpful to know a few specific things in advance of your pediatric clinicals so you can make the most of your experience from the start. In this episode, I'm sharing my top 6 pediatric clinical tips, including: How to customize your plan of care based on the child’s developmental…
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#504: PodQuiz - Respiratory Failure
Test your knowledge of respiratory failure with this quick set of audio flashcards. Dive right in or brush up on your nursing knowledge of respiratory failure first, in episode #503: Respiratory Failure. These mini-reviews are a great way to study on the go, and they give you a taste of what it’s...
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#503: Respiratory Failure - A Quick Guide for Nursing Students
Respiratory failure occurs when the respiratory system can no longer adequately meet the oxygen demands of the body, remove carbon dioxide effectively, or both. In this episode you'll learn: - Types and causes of respiratory failure - Signs & symptoms of respiratory failure - Tests used to…
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#502: MMM - The Logic Behind Cushing's Triad
Cushing's Triad is one of those concepts that nursing students often memorize for an exam but don't always understand. Hit play to change that, because once you understand the "why," it's actually a much easier concept to remember. ___________________ Nursing School Survival Blueprint - Feeling...
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Bulletproof Medication Administration - ENCORE! #76
All nursing schools teach you the five rights of medication administration as a key component in keeping your patients safe, but if you want to take it further to understand all the factors that go into giving medication safely, this episode is for you. In this podcast episode, I’ll talk you...
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#501: PodQuiz - Sympathetic vs Parasympathetic Nervous Systems
It’s PodQuiz Monday! Test your knowledge from a recent episode with a quick set of audio flashcards designed to reinforce what you learned. These mini-reviews are a great way to study on the go, and they give you a taste of what it’s like inside Study Sesh, my audio study tool for busy nursing...
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#500 - Sympathetic vs. Parasympathetic Nervous System - Your Secret Weapon for Pharm
In this episode, I break down the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems in a way that goes way beyond the vocabulary test version. You'll learn: - what triggers each system - which neurotransmitters and receptors are involved - what happens to each major body system when one is…
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#499: MMM - JVD Made Simple
You might be wondering, what in the world is JVD? It's another of those terms that nursing students hear all the time and plan to look up later. First, JVD stands for jugular venous distention. Second, hit play and I'll tell you all about JVD and why you should never stop noticing it....
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Is it a STEMI or a NSTEMI? - ENCORE! #318
It's a great day to review the differences between STEMI & NSTEMI! In this episode, we'll review: The key differences between STEMI and NSTEMI How to recognize a STEMI on the ECG What “contiguous leads” actually means Signs and symptoms of myocardial infarction Tests utilize to diagnose and...
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#498: MMM - Three causes of acute confusion in elderly patients
Acute confusion is often one of the first signs something is wrong. The sooner you identify the cause, the sooner your patient can get the treatment they need. Hit play to review 3 common causes to keep an eye out for. ___________________ Nursing School Survival Blueprint - Feeling overwhelmed…
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#497: How to Start Nursing School the Right Way
Most nursing students spend months anxiously waiting for school to start. Then day one arrives and they're completely reactive, overwhelmed, behind, and wondering why nobody told them what to expect. This, my friend, is a quick path to nursing school burnout and I definitely don’t want that for...
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#496: MMM - What ETCO₂ Is Really Measuring
A common misconception is that ETCO₂ measures oxygen. It doesn't. Hit play to find out what ETCO₂ does measure, how it works, and why it's so valuable. ___________________ Nursing School Survival Blueprint - Feeling overwhelmed or unsure how to approach nursing school? Download this free...
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Pain Essentials for Nursing - ENCORE! #309
Understanding the key foundational concepts of pain is crucial as a nurse and I've got you covered in this episode. Press play to gain a deeper understanding of pain and pain management for nursing, including: types of pain pain scales pain interventions nonpharmacologic pain therapies...
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#495: MMM - Care Plan Pharmacology
As a clinical instructor, I noticed that many new nursing students struggle with care plan pharmacology. In this episode, I'm addressing the key things your clinical instructor wants to see as your fill out your med worksheets. ___________________ Nursing School Survival Blueprint - Feeling...
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#494: 6 First Semester Nursing School Mistakes
Over the years I've seen students struggle and students thrive, and what becomes clear pretty quickly is the students who struggle tend to repeat the same handful of mistakes. And the sneaky part? Most of them won’t feel like mistakes when you’re making them. It’s not that you're not smart…
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#493: MMM - Why we Avoid Blood Pressures & IVs on the Mastectomy Side
You've picked up the blood pressure cuff and your patient says "Wait! Not that arm! I had a mastectomy." You swiftly go for the other arm, but let's talk about WHY we avoid taking blood pressures, starting IVs, and doing veni-punctures on the side of a mastectomy. ___________________ Nursing...
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Know These 8 Labs Before Your First Day of Clinical - ENCORE! #329
Want to start clinicals with more confidence? Walking in, already knowing these 8 common labs inside and out will definitely give you an edge when it comes to interpreting your patients lab results and understanding important components of their care plan. Still nervous about starting clinicals?...
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#492: MMM - Why Low Albumin Causes Edema
If you've ever wondered why your patients with low albumin also have edema, hit play and I'll explain. You'll see that the "why" behind this connection makes total sense and it will stick with you forever. This is a quick episode that covers what albumin is and does in the body, what happens when...
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#491: The Overstudying Trap
If you can relate to feeling like your mind has blanked while you're taking your nursing school exams despite studying all weekend going through your notes, rewatching lectures, and rewriting your study guides, I'd bet that you've fallen in to something I call the overstudying trap. It's one of…
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#490: MMM - BUN:Cr ratio
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 breaking down the BUN-to-creatinine ratio and why nurses look at them together. See you there! ___________________ Nursing School Survival Blueprint - Feeling overwhelmed…
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ENCORE! #267: 7 Things to Know Before Starting Clinicals
Every other week I republish one of my most popular or impactful episodes from my backlog of over 450 episodes. This week I'm throwing it back to episode 267 and talking about what to know before you start clinicals. These tips are exactly the things I’d make sure you understood before your first...
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#489: PodQuiz - Perfusion
It’s PodQuiz Monday! Test your knowledge from last week’s episode with a quick set of audio flashcards designed to reinforce what you learned. These mini-reviews are a great way to study on the go, and they give you a taste of what it’s like inside Study Sesh, my audio study tool for busy nursing...
About this show
In this show, Maureen Osuna, MSN, RN (Nurse Mo) breaks down a wide range of nursing school concepts so they’re easy to understand. Each episode aims to help nursing students improve their study techniques, pass nursing school exams, and feel more confident in clinical. If you’re nervous about nursing school, not “getting it” in lecture, or feeling overwhelmed with all the information you have to learn, this podcast will help you optimize your study time so you can learn more with less stress.
While nursing school is challenging, it doesn’t have to be impossible. When concepts are explained in a way that “just makes sense”, nursing students have better recall on exams, feel more confident working with patients in clinical, and are better prepared for NCLEX.
Nurse Mo understands the struggles nursing students face and draws on more than 11 years of clinical experience to make nursing school less intimidating. Each episode removes the “fluff” and focuses on the key things a
Hosted by
Maureen Osuna, MSN, RN - Nursing school educator, author, and nursing student enthusiast.