Home Podcasts Straight A Nursing: Study for nursing school exams & NCLEX
Straight A Nursing: Study for nursing school exams & NCLEX

Straight A Nursing: Study for nursing school exams & NCLEX

Maureen Osuna, MSN, RN - Nursing school educator, author, and nursing student enthusiast. 543 Episodes Aug 20, 2026

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. Nurse Mo draws on more than 11 years of clinical experience to make nursing school less intimidating, focusing on key things a nursing student needs to know about disease conditions and providing tips for success.

Episodes

What is the Beers List of Medications? - ENCORE! #169
What is the Beers List of Medications? - ENCORE! #169 Aug 20, 2026 1866 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 you’ll see in the clinical setting Implications for your nursing practice. The
#507: MMM - This vs. That: 7 Nursing Concepts Students Always Mix Up
#507: MMM - This vs. That: 7 Nursing Concepts Students Always Mix Up Aug 17, 2026 666 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 confused nursing concepts. ___________________ ⁠Nursing School Survival Blueprint⁠ - Feeling overwhe
#506: Clinical Is Not a Test (Most of the Time)
#506: Clinical Is Not a Test (Most of the Time) Aug 13, 2026 2443 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 in. You'll learn: How to approach the moments that genuinely are evaluative Why your brain
#505: MMM - Your Quick Clinical Prep Routine
#505: MMM - Your Quick Clinical Prep Routine Aug 10, 2026 808 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 prepared and confident enough to learn. ___________________ ⁠Nursing School Survival Blueprint⁠ - Fe
Tips for Thriving in Pediatric Clinical - ENCORE! #360
Tips for Thriving in Pediatric Clinical - ENCORE! #360 Aug 6, 2026 2081 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 stage A quick way to estimate hypotension in children The importance of weight-based calcu
#504: PodQuiz - Respiratory Failure
#504: PodQuiz - Respiratory Failure Aug 3, 2026 629 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 like inside Study Sesh, my audio study tool for busy nursing students. 🧠 Ready to quiz yoursel
#503: Respiratory Failure - A Quick Guide for Nursing Students
#503: Respiratory Failure - A Quick Guide for Nursing Students Jul 30, 2026 1386 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 evaluate respiratory failure - Treatments for hypoxemic respiratory failure and hypercapnic respiratory
#502: MMM - The Logic Behind Cushing's Triad
#502: MMM - The Logic Behind Cushing's Triad Jul 27, 2026 537 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 overwhelmed or unsure how to approach nursing school? Download this free Blueprint to understand ex
Bulletproof Medication Administration - ENCORE! #76
Bulletproof Medication Administration - ENCORE! #76 Jul 23, 2026 1839 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 through the five rights of medication administration, and then keep going with six more that will take y
#501: PodQuiz - Sympathetic vs Parasympathetic Nervous Systems
#501: PodQuiz - Sympathetic vs Parasympathetic Nervous Systems Jul 20, 2026 676 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 students. If you need a brush-up on the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems before you
#500 - Sympathetic vs. Parasympathetic Nervous System - Your Secret Weapon for Pharm
#500 - Sympathetic vs. Parasympathetic Nervous System - Your Secret Weapon for Pharm Jul 16, 2026 2207 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 dominant, - how understanding this makes drug mechanisms predictable instead of mysterious. By the end, y
#499: MMM - JVD Made Simple
#499: MMM - JVD Made Simple Jul 13, 2026 478 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. ___________________ ⁠Nursing School Survival Blueprint⁠ - Feeling overwhelmed or unsure how to approach nursin

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