Best Nclex Study Hacks Podcasts (2025)

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Cardiac Assessment NCLEX Prep for Nursing Students: Murmurs, JVD, Heart Failure & Cardiac Pharmacology Explained 18:38

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1d ago18:38

18:38

etting Up for a High-Quality Cardiac Assessment Quiet, warm, well-lit environment is non-negotiable so you don’t miss subtle sounds. Standard position: supine with head of bed at about 30–45 degrees for blood pressure and jugular vein assessment. Use left lateral decubitus to bring the apex closer to the chest wall for a faint apical pulse or mitra…

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Cracking the ABG Code: ABG Interpretation For Nurses 12:50

2d ago12:50

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Why ABG interpretation feels like decoding secret language — and how to simplify it. 02:30 – Foundations of Acid-Base Balance CO₂ = acid (lungs control it) Bicarb = base (kidneys control it) The body maintains balance (homeostasis) through both systems. 06:00 – Respiratory Acidosis Cause: CO₂ retention (slow, shallow breathing) Examples: Opioid ove…

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Top 10 NCLEX Questions For Respiratory 13:48

3d ago13:48

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What You’ll Learn Assessment Mastery: Spot accessory-muscle use—the tell-tale elevated shoulders signal fatigue. Surfactant Secrets: The “dish-soap” analogy that keeps alveoli open. Pleural Effusion Clue: Why absent breath sounds—not crackles—confirm compression. Asthma Red Flag: A silent chest means airway closure and impending failure. Post-Op Pr…

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ABGs Simplified With 3 Tools And Why Nurses Care 14:40

3d ago14:40

14:40

Episode Notes What You’ll Learn The 5 ABG parts you must know cold Three proven interpretation methods (4-step, ROME, Tic-Tac-Toe) How to spot respiratory vs. metabolic problems fast Compensation (uncompensated, partial, full) and what it tells you about timing Nursing priorities for each imbalance (what to do now vs. what to fix next) Key ABG Comp…

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How the Respiratory System Works Explained For Nurses 15:43

3d ago15:43

15:43

EPISODE NOTES Episode Title: Respiratory System Made Simple: What Every Nurse Must Know Created by: Brooke Wallace – ICU Nurse, Organ Transplant Coordinator, Clinical Instructor, and Author Website: ThinkLikeANurse.org 🔹 What You’ll Learn Core respiratory anatomy nurses need to know cold Why the right main bronchus is the “danger zone” The 4 key st…

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10 Priority NCLEX Questions 14:47

4d ago14:47

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Episode Notes: What You’ll Learn: High Fowler’s vs. supine: Why positioning saves oxygenation in COPD The “below 60 rule” for Digoxin (and why bradycardia = danger) Normal newborn vitals that trick NCLEX students The hallmark sign of peritonitis after surgery Early compensation in hypovolemic shock: why tachycardia appears first Insulin teaching mi…

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7 Respiratory Meds For NCLEX - Nursing Priorities & NCLEX Traps 19:56

5d ago19:56

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Episode Notes Memory map: AIS-BPMA A — Albuterol (SABA, rescue): Give for acute wheeze/bronchospasm. Hold if HR ≥ 120. Assess lungs, O₂ sat, and heart rate. Can increase blood glucose; caution with digoxin. I — Ipratropium (anticholinergic): COPD maintenance med. Watch for dry mouth, constipation, urinary retention. Avoid with glaucoma or enlarged …

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5 Rapid Fire NCLEX Meds: Master Heart Failure Meds Fast 14:30

6d ago14:30

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📝 EPISODE NOTES 1. Furosemide (Lasix) Strategy: “Check the potassium and the weight!” Key Points: Focus on potassium (low levels = priority) and weight (for fluid status). Risk: Hypokalemia, dehydration, hypotension. Action: Monitor potassium levels, assess weight, check for signs of dehydration. 2. Carvedilol (Coreg) Strategy: “Pulse before pill!”…

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5 Heart Failure Meds You Must Know For NCLEX 13:58

6d ago13:58

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🧠 EPISODE NOTES 1. Furosemide (Lasix) – “The Diuretic Dynamo” Mnemonic: “Furosemide flushes fluid fast but watch for falling potassium.” Mechanism: Loop diuretic; blocks sodium & chloride reabsorption in the Loop of Henle. Watch for: Hypokalemia (↓ potassium → arrhythmia risk) Hypotension, dehydration, ototoxicity (with rapid IV push) Nursing actio…

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Understanding Preload, Afterload, and Contractility for Nurses 20:12

4d ago20:12

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Notes: Hemodynamics Overview: Hemodynamics refers to the real-time measure of blood flow to tissues and organs. It is critical for assessing how well the heart and circulatory system are functioning. The primary factors influencing hemodynamics are preload, afterload, and contractility. Cardiac Output (CO) & Cardiac Index (CI): Cardiac Output is th…

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Easy Hemodynamics For NCLEX- The Pump & Pipe Concept For Nurses 22:33

8d ago22:33

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Episode Notes: What is Hemodynamics? Hemodynamics refers to how blood flows through the body, with the heart acting as a pump, blood vessels as pipes, and blood as the carrier of oxygen to the body’s organs. The nurse's role: monitor blood flow and intervene to prevent complications. The Three Big Pieces of the Heart Pump Stroke Volume (SV): Amount…

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Hemodynamics For NCLEX - Advanced Cardiovascular System & How ICU Nurses Can Help 13:18

8d ago13:18

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Notes Hemodynamics is the key to understanding tissue perfusion and oxygen delivery. Cardiac output (CO) = Stroke volume (SV) × Heart rate (HR). Normal range: 4-8 L/min. Cardiac index (CI) normal range: 2.5-3.5 L/min/m². CI adjusts CO for body surface area (BSA). Stroke volume (SV) normal range: 60-100 mL/beat, influenced by preload, afterload, and…

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NCLEX Goldmine: High Alert Meds & The 6 Rights 12:44

8d ago12:44

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Episode Notes Topic: Medication Administration and Safety for nursing students Why It Matters: The pharmacological and parenteral therapies category makes up 12–18% of the NCLEX-RN, and safety principles appear throughout the exam. Safe med administration is the foundation of every pharmacology question — mastering it means mastering NCLEX logic. C…

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NCLEX Pharmacology Pneumonics You'll Actually Remember 16:42

8d ago16:42

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Episode Notes: Why pharmacology is the foundation of safe nursing practice The power of mnemonics for nursing students and new grads Breaking down ADME: absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion Using TRAMP for medication safety: time, route, amount, medication, patient Understanding HRD for antibiotic reactions Remembering SHAKE for amphoter…

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NCLEX Anticoagulants Made Simple: The Brick And Mortar Concept 13:58

9d ago13:58

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Episode Notes Platelets are the bricks; fibrin (clotting factors) is the mortar — together, they form a clot. Antiplatelets like Aspirin and Plavix stop platelets from sticking together (affect the bricks). Anticoagulants like Heparin and Warfarin slow or block clotting factors (affect the mortar). Heparin: rapid IV/SQ action, monitor aPTT (45–80 s…

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NCLEX Pharmacology - Lisinopril: Master the ACE Pneumonic 19:22

9d ago19:22

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Episode Notes: Drug: Lisinopril Class: ACE inhibitor (angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor) Mechanism: Blocks conversion of angiotensin one → angiotensin two, leading to vasodilation, reduced afterload, and decreased aldosterone secretion. Therapeutic Uses: Hypertension, heart failure, post-MI, diabetic nephropathy (renal protection). Contraindi…

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NCLEX Pharmacology - Aspirin: When A Little Pill Becomes A Big Problem 16:28

9d ago16:28

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Key Points to Know for NCLEX Mechanism: Irreversible COX-1 and COX-2 inhibition → decreases prostaglandin and thromboxane A2 production Dose Dependence: Low dose (81 mg) = cardioprotection Moderate (325–650 mg) = pain and fever High (3–6 g/day) = anti-inflammatory Irreversible platelet inhibition: lasts 7–10 days (platelet lifespan) Absolute contra…

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NCLEX Pharmacology - Metoprolol: Pearls, Pitfalls, and Power-Ups 17:51

11d ago17:51

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Episode Notes Mechanism of Action: Cardioselective beta-1 blocker that slows HR, reduces contractility, and lowers myocardial oxygen demand. Formulations: Tartrate (Lopressor) — Immediate release, given BID or IV for acute use. Succinate (Toprol XL) — Extended release, given once daily for chronic use, especially in heart failure. IV Administration…

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NCLEX Pharmacology - Metoprolol: Tartrate vs. Succinate — Know It, Don’t Blow It 13:29

11d ago13:29

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Key Takeaways for Nursing Students Two Forms, Two Purposes Metoprolol tartrate (immediate-release): short-acting, used for acute control (e.g., post-MI, hypertension crisis). Metoprolol succinate (extended-release): long-acting, used for chronic control (heart failure, hypertension, stable angina). Never crush succinate — it destroys the time-relea…

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NCLEX Pharmacology - Lasix: Are Your Ears Ringing 14:38

15d ago14:38

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Transcript Speaker 00:00 - 00:19 Welcome to Think Like a Nurse. This is the show created by Brooke Wallace. She's got 20 years as an ICU and organ transplant nurse. Plus she's a clinical instructor and published author. Yep. And our goal here is pretty straightforward. We take those really complex nursing topics, you know the ones, and try to make …

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NCLEX Pharmacology - Digoxin: Pharmacology for Nursing Students 16:04

21d ago16:04

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If you’ve ever seen a high-yield NCLEX question about digoxin, this episode is for you. In Think Like a Nurse, created by Brooke Wallace, a 20-year ICU and organ transplant nurse and published author, we make one of nursing’s most high-alert drugs simple to understand. Learn how this cardiac glycoside strengthens the heart, when to hold the dose, h…

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Top 6 Cardiac Meds You Need To Know: NCLEX Pharmacology & Critical Thinking Made Simple 16:34

23d ago16:34

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Episode: Top 6 Cardiac Meds — NCLEX Pharmacology & Critical Thinking In this episode, Nurse Brooke explores the six essential cardiac medications every nursing student and new grad must master: Aspirin, Atorvastatin, Metoprolol, Lisinopril, Furosemide, and Digoxin. You’ll learn: The mechanisms of action that drive nursing safety decisions When to h…