Clostridioides difficile, formerly known as Clostridium difficile, is an anaerobic, spore-forming bacillus that causes a serious bacterial infection in the colon. While healthcare-associated infections have declined in recent years, C. diff remains one of the most common healthcare associated infections in the United States. Learn more about C. diff infection (CDI) in this episode, including:

• Pathophysiology of CDI
• Who is most at risk for CDI
• Complications of CDI
• Signs and symptoms, and when to suspect your patient has C. diff
• Important assessments for a patient with CDI
• Tests utilized to diagnose a patient or evaluate complications
• Key treatments for CDI, including an explanation of enhanced or “special” contact precautions
• The main things to teach your patient and their visitors about CDI

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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 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. 

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The information, including but not limited to, audio, video, text, and graphics contained on this podcast are for educational purposes only. No content on this podcast is intended to guide nursing practice and does not supersede any individual healthcare provider's scope of practice or any nursing school curriculum. Additionally, no content on this podcast is intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.

Straight a Nursing is a proud member of the Airwave Media Network.

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I’m sharing one of my favorites from the Rapid Response RN podcast with you in this special bonus episode! If you haven’t started listening to this podcast yet, you are going to LOVE Sarah! Her podcast helps nurses boost their confidence when responding to emergencies. New episodes drop every Friday, so make sure you are following the Rapid Response RN show, too!

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Rapid Response and Rescue Class - Take your assessment and emergency response skills to the next level with this training from Sarah Lorenzini, the Rapid Response RN!

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!

Fast Pharmacology - Learn pharmacology concepts in 5 minutes or less in this audio based program. Perfect for on-the-go review!

💕Did you love this episode? Please take a moment to follow or subscribe to the show so you never miss an episode!

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The information, including but not limited to, audio, video, text, and graphics contained on this podcast are for educational purposes only. No content on this podcast is intended to guide nursing practice and does not supersede any individual healthcare provider's scope of practice or any nursing school curriculum. Additionally, no content on this podcast is intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.

Straight a Nursing is a proud member of the Airwave Media Network.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dysphagia is a condition in which the individual has difficulty swallowing. Proper swallowing relies on a complex coordination involving more than 30 nerves and muscles. When even one of these elements fails to work properly, dysphagia can result. 

In this episode, you’ll learn: 

• The four stages of swallowing…more complex than we realize!
• Causes of dysphagia
• Signs and symptoms of dysphagia (AKA: important things to watch for!)
• Complications of dysphagia
• Bedside swallow evaluations
• Diagnostic tests for dysphagia
• Modified diet textures
• Safety around feeding and aspiration prevention

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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 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.

💕Did you love this episode? Please take a moment to follow or subscribe to the show so you never miss an episode!

___________________

The information, including but not limited to, audio, video, text, and graphics contained on this podcast are for educational purposes only. No content on this podcast is intended to guide nursing practice and does not supersede any individual healthcare provider's scope of practice or any nursing school curriculum. Additionally, no content on this podcast is intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.

Straight a Nursing is a proud member of the Airwave Media Network.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

If you’re learning about advanced Med Surg concepts or even working in the clinical setting, you’ve no doubt heard of pulmonary embolism. But did you know it goes beyond impaired gas exchange? Hit play on this episode to learn how a pulmonary embolism can impair cardiac function, potentially leading to devastating consequences.

In this episode, you’ll review foundation concepts to help you understand this connection:

• Cardiopulmonary circulation
• Pulmonary embolism pathophysiology
• The factors that contribute to blood pressure

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Full Transcript - Read the article and view references (put the link where it says FULL TRANSCRIPT)

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. Include if we’re talking about MSS

💕Did you love this episode? Please take a moment to follow or subscribe to the show so you never miss an episode!

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The information, including but not limited to, audio, video, text, and graphics contained on this podcast are for educational purposes only. No content on this podcast is intended to guide nursing practice and does not supersede any individual healthcare provider's scope of practice or any nursing school curriculum. Additionally, no content on this podcast is intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.

Straight a Nursing is a proud member of the Airwave Media Network.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

If you’ve ever thought that CRNA school might be in your future, the time to start preparing is now…even if you’re not in nursing school yet! In this episode, I’m joined by Jenny Finnell, CRNA and CEO of CRNA School Prep Academy. Not only is Jenny a great mentor, but she’s also extremely knowledgeable about what it takes to get into a CRNA program. 

Hit play on this episode to get some of your questions about the path to CRNA school, such as: 

• How do you know if CRNA school is the right career path for you?
• What sorts of things does a CRNA do?
• When is the ideal time to start prepping for CRNA school?
• What are the educational requirements?
• What GPA is competitive for CRNA school? (spoiler alert, you don’t need a 4.0 GPA!)
• What type of work experience do you need before you apply?
• How do you stand out as an applicant?
• What is the #1 key to gaining CRNA school acceptance?

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Get Jenny’s Free Guide - In this guide, Jenny lays out the eight key steps to getting into a CRNA program. It completely takes the mystery out of becoming a CRNA!

A-List Newsletter - Get on the “A-List” and get a notification each Thursday about the current episode, Nurse Mo’s Tip of the Week, product recommendations to make your nurse life better, and more!

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!

Crucial Concepts Bootcamp - Start nursing school ahead of the game, or reset after a difficult first semester with my nursing school prep course, Crucial Concepts Bootcamp. Learn key foundation concepts, organization and time management, dosage calculations, and so much more.

Fast Pharmacology - Learn pharmacology concepts in 5 minutes or less in this audio based program. Perfect for on-the-go review!

💕Did you love this episode? Please take a moment to follow or subscribe to the show so you never miss an episode!

___________________

The information, including but not limited to, audio, video, text, and graphics contained on this podcast are for educational purposes only. No content on this podcast is intended to guide nursing practice and does not supersede any individual healthcare provider's scope of practice or any nursing school curriculum. Additionally, no content on this podcast is intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.

Straight a Nursing is a proud member of the Airwave Media Network.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dextro transposition of the great arteries (D TGA) is a congenital cyanotic heart defect in which the pulmonary artery and the aorta are transposed. In this lesson, you’ll review normal cardiopulmonary circulation (which is essential to understanding this condition) and learn: 

• How the abnormal anatomy of D TGA affects physiology
• Why you actually want the child with D TGA to have another congenital heart defect
• Signs and symptoms of D TGA
• How the condition is diagnosed
• Risk factors for developing this congenital heart defect
• Treatments for D TGA

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Full Transcript - Read the article and view references

A-List Newsletter - Get on the “A-List” and get a notification each Thursday about the current episode, Nurse Mo’s Tip of the Week, product recommendations to make your nurse life better, and more!

Review Atrial Septal Defects - Review this congenital heart condition in Episode 70 of the Straight A Nursing podcast.

Review Ventricular Septal Defects - Review this congenital heart condition in Episode 73 of the Straight A Nursing podcast.

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 - Did you love the PodQuiz at the end? 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! 

Confident Calculations - Learn a foolproof method for performing dosage calculations so you can pass your nursing school math exams on the first try!

💕Did you love this episode? Please take a moment to follow or subscribe to the show so you never miss an episode!

___________________

The information, including but not limited to, audio, video, text, and graphics contained on this podcast are for educational purposes only. No content on this podcast is intended to guide nursing practice and does not supersede any individual healthcare provider's scope of practice or any nursing school curriculum. Additionally, no content on this podcast is intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.

Straight a Nursing is a proud member of the Airwave Media Network.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Air embolism is a rare, but potentially fatal, event that occurs when a bolus of air enters the vascular space. The risks and consequences depend on which type of air embolism has occurred - venous or arterial.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• The differences between venous and arterial air embolism
• Causes and risk factors for air embolism
• Signs and symptoms of venous and arterial air embolism
• Tests conducted when air embolism is suspected
• How patients with air embolism are treated
• Nursing interventions to prevent air embolism

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Full Transcript - Read the article and view references.

A-List Newsletter - Get on the “A-List” and get a notification each Thursday about the current episode, Nurse Mo’s Tip of the Week, product recommendations to make your nurse life better, and more!

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 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. 

Prevent central line infections - Learn how nurses prevent central line infections in Episode 258.

V/Q Mismatch - Learn about ventilation perfusion mismatch in Episode 46.

💕Did you love this episode? Please take a moment to follow or subscribe to the show so you never miss an episode!

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The information, including but not limited to, audio, video, text, and graphics contained on this podcast are for educational purposes only. No content on this podcast is intended to guide nursing practice and does not supersede any individual healthcare provider's scope of practice or any nursing school curriculum. Additionally, no content on this podcast is intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.

Straight a Nursing is a proud member of the Airwave Media Network.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Nursing school exam questions place you into a clinical scenario where you have to make decisions based on the information provided. Many times these scenarios are robust and full of a lot of details such as vital signs, past medical history, and the patient’s signs and symptoms. When you have a complex scenario such as this, it is called a case study.

Case studies can be challenging for students for a variety of reasons: 

• They can be lengthy
• They contain a lot of information, much of it numerical data
• They often contain distractors or irrelevant information
• They may contain abbreviations or terms you don’t understand
• You might not be sure what to do with all the information provided

The key to conquering case studies is to use a systematic approach that you follow every single time. Hit play on this episode to learn the step-by-step approach that will have you approaching case studies with a lot more confidence!

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Get the Guide “Conquering Case Studies” - Get a step-by-step guide to conquering case studies, including examples!

A-List Newsletter - Get on the “A-List” and get a notification each Thursday about the current episode, Nurse Mo’s Tip of the Week, product recommendations to make your nurse life better, and more!

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!

Confident Calculations - Learn a foolproof method for performing dosage calculations so you can pass your nursing school math exams on the first try!

Crucial Concepts Bootcamp - Start nursing school ahead of the game, or reset after a difficult first semester with my nursing school prep course, Crucial Concepts Bootcamp. Learn key foundation concepts, organization and time management, dosage calculations, and so much more.

💕Did you love this episode? Please take a moment to follow or subscribe to the show so you never miss an episode!

___________________

The information, including but not limited to, audio, video, text, and graphics contained on this podcast are for educational purposes only. No content on this podcast is intended to guide nursing practice and does not supersede any individual healthcare provider's scope of practice or any nursing school curriculum. Additionally, no content on this podcast is intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.

Straight a Nursing is a proud member of the Airwave Media Network.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

I've got something new and exciting to share with you!

With over 330 episodes, I know it can sometimes be a little overwhelming to find exactly what you need...especially if you're new here. That's why I created the Playlist Prescription.

Just fill out this quick form to get a FREE customized playlist of episodes on the topics you need help with the most, sent right to your inbox. Easy!

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Local anesthetics are medications that block nerve impulses so that pain signals aren’t transmitted to the brain. The result is that the anesthetized area is numb and pain is controlled. 

Just because local anesthetics are “local” doesn’t mean systemic toxicity can’t occur. Local anesthetic systemic toxicity (LAST) occurs when local anesthetics extend into the system at toxic levels. It most typically occurs due to the physician accidentally injecting the medication into the intravascular space. However, it can also be from locally administered overdose, which leads to systemic toxicity. 

Hit play on this episode to dive into local anesthetic systemic toxicity so you can understand which of your patients are at highest risk and what to watch for!

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Full Transcript - Read the article and view references.

A-List Newsletter - Get on the “A-List” and get a notification each Thursday about the current episode, Nurse Mo’s Tip of the Week, product recommendations to make your nurse life better, and more!

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!

Pharmacology Success Pack - Want to get a head start on pharmacology? Download the FREE Pharmacology Success Pack.

Fast Pharmacology - Learn pharmacology concepts in 5 minutes or less in this audio based program. Perfect for on-the-go review!

💕Did you love this episode? Please take a moment to follow or subscribe to the show so you never miss an episode!

___________________

The information, including but not limited to, audio, video, text, and graphics contained on this podcast are for educational purposes only. No content on this podcast is intended to guide nursing practice and does not supersede any individual healthcare provider's scope of practice or any nursing school curriculum. Additionally, no content on this podcast is intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.

Straight a Nursing is a proud member of the Airwave Media Network.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When the heart rate is irregular or too slow, cardiac output is compromised. A pacemaker may be utilized to support the heart’s electrical system, stabilize arrhythmias, and ensure the heart pumps at a rate that supports tissue perfusion throughout the body. 

A pacemaker may be indicated in patients with arrhythmias such as sick sinus syndrome (also known as sinus node dysfunction), symptomatic bradycardia, or high-grade heart blocks. Other indications include post myocardial infarction, heart failure, congenital heart defects, and temporarily after some cardiac surgeries.

This episode answers some key questions you have about pacemakers including: 

• What do all these terms mean? Capture? Sensing? Output?
• What’s the difference between failure to sense and oversensing?
• What is failure to capture?
• What’s the difference between electrical capture and mechanical capture?
• What are the different types of pacemakers?
• What do the letters in the pacemaker settings mean?
• What are some common pacing modes?
• How do I troubleshoot common temporary pacemaker problems?
• What is an ICD?

Hit play on this episode to learn some basics about pacemakers, so you can feel more confident caring for patients utilizing this very common device!

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Full Transcript - Read the article and view references.

A-List Newsletter - Get on the “A-List” and get a notification each Thursday about the current episode, Nurse Mo’s Tip of the Week, product recommendations to make your nurse life better, and more!

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 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.

💕Did you love this episode? Please take a moment to follow or subscribe to the show so you never miss an episode!

___________________

The information, including but not limited to, audio, video, text, and graphics contained on this podcast are for educational purposes only. No content on this podcast is intended to guide nursing practice and does not supersede any individual healthcare provider's scope of practice or any nursing school curriculum. Additionally, no content on this podcast is intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.

Straight a Nursing is a proud member of the Airwave Media Network.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices