Mastering Pharmacology is one of the most complicated, overlooked, yet ESSENTIAL components of being a well-rounded, safe nurse. One of
Can I be honest? I had an amazing experience last month. It was one of those moments when you
I want to share with you four significant moments in my nursing career. These are moments that were “pivotal” to
7 tips to stay mentally sane during nursing school Caveat: some people (nurses) might not agree AT ALL with what
So You Want to Be a Nurse? Are you cut out to be a nurse? Wondering how hard is nursing
33 Nursing Report and Brain Sheet Templates I get it . . . I was there once too. Notes on
I talked to 5 current and previous nursing students and asked them what advice would they give to new nursing students . . . Here’s
Evaluate routinely, based on kind of restraint IE if it’s a violent restraint, q15 min at minimum Assess skin q30min, remove q2hr and provide ROM,
Are you a bedside nurse looking for a nursing job outside of the hospital, or maybe a new nurse that wants to look into all
Great reference for this: Common Breaks in Sterile Techniques, published by the AORN Journal Common breaks Not noticing compromised packaging Not noticing moisture on or
How to Deal with Nursing School Test Anxiety By Kati Kleber, BSN RN CCRN Learning how to deal with test anxiety is not fun.
See how to study for the NCLEX and what to do every day before test day The big day is almost here. One. More. Week.
Hand washing compliance is being met Trash is disposed of properly Staff is consistently wearing appropriate PPE
Definition Sterile gloves, mask, and other necessary sterile supplies Maintain sterile technique Follow appropriate protocol if sterile field is broken
AEIOU-TIPS Many patients experience Altered Mental Status (AMS). There are many factors that can contribute to an alteration in a patients mental status and
Varies depending upon facility. Can include: No fresh flowers or fruits Ill visitors are not permitted Many people institute or order “reverse isolation” however, per
Nursing school tests are very different from tests in different majors. Not only is there a lot of information to cover, but you’re also simultaneously
For example; if a patient is on contact isolation, we must educate the patient and family about the use of gowns, gloves, and hand washing,
Inform appropriate personnel Infection Control department Center for Disease Control Summary of Notifiable Infectious Diseases, CDC (last updated 2014)
You have studied, followed the words of your professors and read the holy nursing bible. You went to all the sermons and have tirelessly been
Airborne – isolation room, negative pressure room, must wear appropriate mask and additional PPE (gown, gloves) Measles Varicella Tuberculosis Droplet – isolation room, surgical mask
The SATA question is a struggle for a lot of nursing students. You may have had very little or no exposure to them prior to
All are welcome at NURSING.com!! The base knowledge required to become an RN or a PN is similar. What is different is how that knowledge
Whenever you’re providing care, ensure you’re keeping everything clean (or sterile, if required) Examples of situations… When you remove the cap from the spike on
Ahhh.. the dreaded last words of the nursing student… select all that apply. When these questions are seen on an exam, they evoke fear, anxiety
Apply principles of triage and evacuation procedures/protocols Check out Episode 059 for triage principles Know how to evacuate patients Horizontally before vertically Know what to
Want to know how to deal with test anxiety in nursing school? We can help you get past the stress and help you feel confident
Examples of equipment include frayed electrical cords, loose/missing parts, IV pumps that malfunction, exposed wiring All equipment must be inspected and signed off on before
Just wanted to let you know about a really cool resource that we just came out with to make quickly referencing just about any piece
Acknowledge and document practice error per policy For example, medication error, accidental needlestick, incorrect order entry, patient transferred to incorrect unit Evaluate response to error/event/occurrence
Examples include lighting, handrails, kitchen safety Apply knowledge of patient pathophysiology to home safety interventions Are they hard of hearing, have visual deficits? Do they
Never touch the device/implant Label things appropriately Follow protocol/policy/procedure specifically Ensure patient is in private room to prevent exposure to other patients and their loved
Follow procedures for handling biohazardous materials Ensure proper labeling is in place For example, linen used with a patient with chemotherapy Demonstrate safe handling techniques
It is obvious who you should see first if there is an airway, breathing or circulation problem, but what if the ABC’s are stable? Is
With all the demands and knowledge required for nursing it can be overwhelming to master all those skills! Great time management will be required for
Carpal tunnel, back injuries are common examples Encourage appropriate body mechanics and not merely treating pain when it occurs Proper posture is essential Encourage working
Nursing has many components involved. That is why time management in nursing is crucial. It is literally the glue that holds the skills we have
Nurses must participate so their role is known and appropriate Help to identify must-have equipment, potential issues or obstacles to providing care Have an emergency
Delegation is critical to being excellent with time management. In this podcast we discuss how to know when and how to delegate. We have created
Nurses frequently use a color-coding system to triage patients, as identified by the facility Example: Red: highest priority, life-threatening yet survivable injuries Yellow: medium priority,
Delegation is tricky subject in nursing school. While it’s presented in a black and white, very straightforward manner in the classroom… the way it plays
Important that only the sickest ones are in the facility Think patients on ventilators or respiratory support, on vasoactive medications, patients that would likely die
Nursing school requires an intense amount of work. To maintain the level of organization needed to stay on top of things you will need some
Do not blindly follow orders; practice with a questioning attitude Quote from Scrubs, the TV show Nurse (to doctor): “Doug wanted me to give him
One would think that communicating with physicians would be black and white… that it would be very fluid and easy, and come naturally to a
Do you have questions about NURSING.com (NRSNG Academy)? Wondering if it is right for you? Want to read some honest reviews from NRSNG Academy members?
You must check their appropriate ID before doing anything Medications: check name, birthday, and so forth Check patient’s armband (or other identifying device) if patient
Nursing school can be a bumpy ride, and to help you get through your journey we decided to cover time management on the podcast. If
If a patient is confused, impulsive, forgetful, or agitated, make sure they have a room close to the nurse’s station Do not put these patients
Can I be honest? I had an amazing experience last month. It was one of those moments when you are filled with thousands of
Many disease processes can put patients at an increased risk for seizures Brain injury or trauma Drugs, medication Withdrawing from alcohol or other drugs Fevers
Nursing school prepares you for a lot of theoretical situations. It gets you familiar with the basics, starting off very slow. You start with how
Dear Loved Ones of Nursing Students… What it Feels Like Going Through Nursing School So your loved one has decided to go to nursing school.
Read these 5 great books before you start nursing school! Test Success: Test-Taking Techniques for Beginning Student By: Patricia M. Nugent Becoming Nursey By:
Change positions Pillow support Active and passive range of motion Routine stretching of the shoulders, neck, arms, hands, fingers
Do you need a little bit of help with time management and organization during nursing school? This podcast episode will help. We will be releasing
Falls: initiate fall risk care plan if appropriate, make sure patient is safe to ambulate, initiate all fall precautions Electrical hazards Unsafe behavior from other
Typically, nursing students have a full week of classes and clinical Monday through Friday. I remember having the moment I woke up to the moment
Want more of this show? Subscribe in iTunes: HERE Subscribe in Google Play: HERE Read our massive post on EKG Interpretation for Nurses here: https://www.nrsng.com/interpret-ekgs-heart-rhythms/
Want more of this show? Subscribe in iTunes: HERE Subscribe in Google Play: HERE Read our massive post on EKG Interpretation for Nurses here: https://www.nrsng.com/interpret-ekgs-heart-rhythms/
The SATA Success Pyramid Learning how to answer SATA (select all that apply) questions is one of the most crucial skills to nursing school success.
“I mean, how hard is nursing school… really?” This is one of the first questions many people ponder as they decide to go to nursing
I was not sure what to expect in nursing school before I began. I thought that it was a very practical process. I pictured being
So what do you learn in nursing school? How to be a nurse?… No, not really. You would think that you would learn how to
Getting into nursing school is a terrifying experience . . . not to mention confusing. With all the prereqs, checklists, shots, and thousands of other
Can You Top These Nurses Week Gifts…. We asked some of our nursing friends on Reddit for examples of the absolute worst nurses week gifts
Really important, especially with first time parents Can be easily done incorrectly, not as straightforward as some anticipate Some facilities may have it as part
(This does not include medications) At home oxygen and supplies, CPAP’s, assistive devices, drains, tubes, and so forth. Make sure assistive devices are sized appropriately
Visual: can they see what’s in front of them while walking? Can they see that they are taking the appropriate medication? Hearing: can they hear
NURSING.com started innocent enough in 2014 . . . with a desire to share a message that nursing education has to change. I wanted to
Various factors can influence the likelihood that a patient will get injured Age and developmental stage: elderly as well patients that may physically be older,
Many facilities have various protocols on how to deal with various safety issues Falls Armed intruder Large patient influx/at capacity Infant abduction Weather issues Acts
What do you want to know about the NCLEX exam? After a 4 years of school, sleepless nights writing care plans, debt, no family time,
Important to ask about all allergies, not just medication allergies Some medications may have ingredients from different foods in their coating or capsules Must ask
How to get into nursing school That is probably all you’ve heard now that you have been considering nursing. And guess what I am going
Becoming a nurse is likely one of the most difficult, yet rewarding, goals you will ever achieve. Knowledgeable and compassionate nurses are widely respected in
Examples of necessary referrals include therapy services (physical, occupational, speech), wound care, nutritional services, and so forth Recognize the need for referrals and obtain necessary
So you are thinking about going to nursing school but you don’t know which school to even consider. There are a lot of things that
Caring for the HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) patient requires a deep knowledge of the disease process. The new nurse should have a basic understanding of
COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease) is a common respiratory disorder that affects more than 11 million people in the US. Sadly, there is no cure
We want to introduce you to a newly minted nurse, Sara RN. Sara just found out today she passed the NCLEX (yay!) with just 75
Nursing Education Needs to Change! There is a major flaw with humans . . . we are wholly susceptible to cognitive biases. What are cognitive biases?
Welcome to the Getting Into Nursing School Podcast. The goal of this podcast is to help aspiring nursing students navigate the labyrinth of nursing school
Let’s talk about antihypertensives . . . these are meds that you are going to be giving a LOT of, so it’s important to be
Participate in performance improvement/quality improvement process Utilize research and other references for performance improvement actions Report identified patient care issues and problems (utilize chain
Examples of necessary referrals include therapy services (physical, occupational, speech), wound care, nutritional services, and so forth Recognize the need for referrals and obtain necessary
Important to ask about all allergies, not just medication allergies Some medications may have ingredients from different foods in their coating or capsules Must ask
Many facilities have various protocols on how to deal with various safety issues Falls Armed intruder Large patient influx/at capacity Infant abduction Weather issues Acts
Various factors can influence the likelihood that a patient will get injured Age and developmental stage: elderly as well patients that may physically be older,
Visual: can they see what’s in front of them while walking? Can they see that they are taking the appropriate medication? Hearing: can they hear
(This does not include medications) At home oxygen and supplies, CPAP’s, assistive devices, drains, tubes, and so forth. Make sure assistive devices are sized appropriately
Call lights Adaptive call lights can be used for patients with poor dexterity Phones, or other technology
In this episode, I share a little bit about Increased ICP (intracranial pressure). The Friday Freebie for today is a 17 page PDF outline of
Know your state board of nursing Do not attempt to provide care outside of this scope – it is illegal Example: Texas Board of Nursing
Did you know Nursing is considered one of the most difficult undergraduate degrees (up there with Engineering and Physics)? Add to this the stress of
I want to share with you four significant moments in my nursing career. These are moments that were “pivotal” to my career, yet I felt
Today we cover EKG Interpretation for nurses. We’ve got a 4 page chart that helps going out in the Friday Freebies today. If you aren’t
Today we cover 50 of my favorite nursing quotes. If you aren’t aware, we email out a brand new cheatsheet, reference sheet, clinical tool, what-ever-you-wanna-call-it,
Nothing sends pure fear down the spine of a nursing student quit like NCLEX priority questions . . . you know what I’m talking about:
Today we talk Musculoskeletal System . . . yea! If you aren’t aware, we email out a brand new cheatsheet, reference sheet, clinical tool, what-ever-you-wanna-call-it,
psssst . . . I’ve got a little secret . . . You’re not the only one struggling through nursing school. We get hundreds of
Today we talk about the Newborn Assessment. We do have an OB/Peds course as part of the NRSNG Academy Membership If you aren’t aware, we
7 tips to stay mentally sane during nursing school Caveat: some people (nurses) might not agree AT ALL with what I say here . .
How I Made Over $70,000 My First Year as a Nurse One question I remember Googling all the time while I was in nursing
Substance abuse/diversion Improper care Staffing practices
Soooo . . . . starting next Friday we will be introducing the Friday Freebie Series of the NRSNG Podcast. In this series, I
Abuse and neglect Child, elderly, domestic Know your local reporting agencies (Child Protective Services) Communicable diseases Vaccine Adverse Event Reaction System (VAERS, vaers.hhs.gov) Report to
To be clinically appropriate medical interpreter, you must have appropriate credentials This is important because medical jargon is very different from fluency in a language,
Wow . . . what a fun show today. I was honored to sit down with Ben and Greg from the Real Talk Nursing Podcast.
Be able to know when something is outside of your comfort zone High risk, low frequency procedures Know your chain of command for both clinical
Most facilities have policies and procedures to properly secure valuables Ideally, valuables are given to family/friends to be taken home and secured If this is
Refusing treatment HCPOA disputes/living wills Mental illness and inability to sign own consents
This includes evidenced-based research, information technology, policies and procedures) Access data for client through online databases and journals Most hospitals have subscriptions to journals Professional
So you got into nursing school. Way to go! In a lot of ways nursing school is kinda like drinking from a fire hose .
Each facility may have a different process Identify inappropriate and/or unclear treatments or medications A nurse must administer treatments unless they believe they are inappropriate
Ever sit down in a bathroom stall to go to potty and the tissue is out? You pray for someone to come into the bathroom.
Sometimes nursing school clinical feels like you are constantly needing something quickly. And while you cannot carry everything on you, you should try to be
I will admit it. I started every semester with the best intentions: super organized, everything labeled, and calendar ready to be filled out with all
While there is a lot of information to know for nursing clinicals, there are a few basic tasks to master to look like a rock
Two members of our NRSNG Family recently sent us a hilarious picture that we just had to share . . . You see, what our
What is informed consent? Basically the patient is giving permission for treatment and acknowledging that they understand the risks and benefits of the procedure as
Two codes of ethics for nurses Last updated 2015 First developed in 1953 Last updated 2012 The American Nurses Association Code of Ethics The Code
Issues arise frequently that require the nurse to address them and ensure the problem has been resolved Examples Lab problems: unable to get serum sample,
CHILD ABUSE Child’s excessive knowledge of sex and abusive words Hair growth in various lengths Inconsistent stories from the child and parent/s Low self-esteem
Two areolas One vagina Two umbilical arteries, one umbilical vein
If it wasn’t documented, it wasn’t done! Nurses are responsible for documenting many things. Some of which include: Care plans Medications (many facilities
Report will look different in various areas of the hospital ED report is very short and concise Critical care report is very detailed Floor report
PAINS Period (menstrual: late, spotting, bleeding) Abdominal pain, dyspareunia (painful intercourse) Infection (abnormal vaginal discharge) Not feeling well, fever or chills String missing
It is no question that nursing school can be a little nerve racking. But what can be most unnerving part about it is going into
HELLP Hemolysis Elevated Liver function tests Low Platelet count
Keep your password of EHR’s protected and confidential Don’t talk about sensitive information in public areas Speak with patient about which members of their support
ALONE Amniocentesis L/S Ratio Oxytocin Test Non-Stress Test Estriol Level
Make sure the patient knows that their privacy is a priority to us It is one of their rights, it is not optional Intervene if
VEAL CHOP (OB Nursing Mnemonic) Variable – Cord Compression Early – Head Compression Accelerations – Okay Late – Placental Insufficiency I have to be
Positive troponins (NRSNG=0.035… check your institutions ranges) What is a troponin? Troponins are proteins that initiate contraction of muscle fibers. Troponin I is specific to
The nurse is at the bedside with the patient 24 hours/day and they typically feel most comfortable with their nursing staff. Therefore, if a problem
REEDA Redness Edema Ecchymosis Discharge, Drainage Approximation
Nursing staff Continual care provider, advocate, administer medications and orders placed by medical team, evaluate effectiveness, notify medical staff of concerns, facilitate collaboration of entire
This needs to be done daily to ensure we are facilitating the appropriate plan of care As other members of the health care team assess
DIG FAST Distractibility Indiscretion Grandiosity Flight of Ideas Activity Increase Sleep Deficit Talkative
Discuss treatment options with the health care team and make sure you understand them fully, then the physician (or support staff) will present to the
Care plans / clinical pathways must be initiated upon admission and are complete at discharge Complete an initial evaluation to assess their current situation, read
We are back with another in our series of episodes about critical thinking in nursing and how it applies to nursing care plans. In today’s
The patient and their support system must have all information related to the discharge process as early on as possible Location, contact information (and contact
Check the vowels: AEIOU Acid-Base Problems Electrolyte Problems Intoxications Overload of fluids Uremic Symptoms
Consider diagnosis, prescribed treatment recommendations, ability to remain compliant, patient’s understanding of situation, support system available, ability to utilize resources when questions or concerns arise,
Consider cost when setting up care/resources Is this sustainable? How does their insurance coverage, Medicare, or Medicaid factor in? Do so in a non-judgemental way
Why all the fuss about critical thinking? How does critical thinking actually work on the floor? This episodes uses real life examples to show you
“Help! I have fallen and I can’t get up!” “My leg is killing me!… Like I think I might die!” “I have to
ABCDEFGHI Airway Breathing Circulation Disability Examine Fahrenheit Get Vitals Head to Toe Assessment Intervention
Critical thinking can seem like such an abstract term that you don’t practically use. However, this could not be farther from the truth. Critical thinking
When you’re making care plans in nursing school, they seem so formal. It’s hard to imagine actually doing them and they seem like such empty
DIAPPERS Delirium Infection Atrophic Urethra- atrophy of the urethra Pharmaceuticals- blood pressure medication, antidepressants, diuretics, sleeping pills Psychologic Excess Urine Output Restricted Mobility Stool
Become familiar with your community’s resources that can be helpful to patients attempting to maintain independence Nursing homes, respite care, SNF, home health agencies, Meals
The 6 T’s: Tachycardia Tachypnea Tremors Toxic look Tiredness Temperature (fever)
NCSBN Delegation | ANA: Developing Delegation Skills You will be responsible for delegating tasks to others; nursing assistants, other nurses, and so forth Not all
Morphine – causes vasodilation resulting in decreased BP Aminophylline – relaxes airways to make breathing easier Digitalis – improve heart function in pulmonary edema
Ever wonder what a nursing care plan is good for except kindling for your fire? Me too. That is why I am super
POOPER SCOOP (Promotion) Position Output Offer Fluids Privacy Exercise Report Results (Evaluation) Size (Amount) Consistency Occult Blood Odor Peristalsis
Ahhhh.. chicken and waffles. They don’t sound like they should go together, but they do. They so do. Apart they are delicious, but together.. they
PERRLA Pupils Equally Round and Reactive to Light and Accommodate
Welcome to our brand new . . . hot off the presses podcast. This podcast is designed to provide you with a step-by-step outline for
It is the nurse’s job and part of the law (Client Self-Determination Act) to assess for existing advanced directives and integrate them into the patient’s
Advocating – help the patient and their support system understand the clinical picture and identified treatment options, identify their wants/needs, support the patient, speak on
Today, I am excited to have Nurse Beth who runs the blog NurseCode.com and also Ask Nurse Beth on AllNurses.com share with you some tips
ABCD’s Asymmetry- is the mole irregular in shape? Border- is the border irregular, notched, or poorly defined? Color- does the color vary (for example, between
MONATAS Morphine Oxygen Nitrates (Nitroglycerin) Aspirin (ASA) Thrombolytics Anticoagulants Stool Softeners
I have a RIGHT to CAMP if you LEFT off the AC Right Coronary Artery Marginal artery Posterior intraventricular artery Left Anterior ventricular artery
Everything about dosage calculations and dimensional analysis . . . with practice One of the most stressful parts of nursing school is nursing
Right sided: HEAD Hepatomegaly Edema (Bipedal) Ascites Distended Neck Vein Left Sided: CHOP Cough Hemoptysis Orthopnea Pulmonary Congestion (crackles/rales)
RAT BED Early Hypoxia: Restlessness Anxiety Tachycardia / Tachypnea Late Hypoxia: Bradycardia Extreme Restlessness Dyspnea
So . . . I guess this episode is just about 8 minutes of a few thoughts on my mind. Mostly though, I just want
APE To Man Aortic Pulmonic Erbs points Tricuspid Mitral
So all my floor and ICU nurses . . . Ever get a report from ED that sounded something like this: “Older female, came in
In this episode Kati, Susan, and I talk about the role of confidence and self doubt in nursing. This is a career field FULL of
The 6 P’s Pulmonary Bronchial Constriction Possible Foreign Body Pulmonary Embolus (PE) Pneumothorax Pump Failure Pneumonia
So You Want to Be a Nurse? Are you cut out to be a nurse? Wondering how hard is nursing school? What are the nursing
Today we have a guest post about nursing clinicals from Sam Akers RN who writes at Scrubed.com. I invited Sam to share some tips for
The 5 P’s Pain Paresthesia Paralysis Pulse Pallor (Paleness)
We hear from students all the time that their nursing program is cutting the pharmacology course . . . This drives me CRAZY! Pharmacology is