Nursing Podcast by NURSING.com (NRSNG) (NCLEX® Prep for Nurses and Nursing Students)

We can help if you decide to return or need help making the decision.  Visit us at https://NURSING.com   You were so close. One semester left. And then you failed. Your whole life plan just collapsed. I'm going to tell you what nobody else will: what actually happens next, how to handle student loans, and whether you should go back or walk away. We'll cover: • What happens to your student loans when you fail out • Your transcript and readmission options • The sunk cost fallacy (and why it's okay to quit) • How to decide if you should reapply or pivot to something else • What to do differently if you go back • How to deal with the shame and judgment • Why failing out doesn't make you a failure If you just failed out, are failing right now, or are terrified it might happen - this episode gives you the real talk you need to make your next decision. Resources mentioned: • Readmission strategy guides: NURSING.com/failed-out • Study strategy overhaul templates • Student loan management resources • Community of students who've been exactly where you are

VISIT NURSING.com for help with communication with preceptors: https://nursing.com   Being called stupid by your preceptor isn't "tough love" - it's verbal abuse. In this episode, I break down the exact difference between constructive criticism and verbal abuse so you know when to document and report. We'll cover: • The real difference between tough feedback and abuse • What verbal abuse actually looks like in clinical (eye rolls, public humiliation, constant criticism) • How to document every incident (and why this matters) • When and how to report to your clinical instructor • How to request a different preceptor • Why this damages your mental health and what to do about it If your preceptor is making you dread clinical, question your abilities, or avoid asking questions because you're afraid of being humiliated - this episode is for you. Resources mentioned: • Verbal abuse documentation templates: NURSING.com/verbal-abuse • How to report an abusive preceptor guide • Community support for students dealing with toxic preceptors

A Black student mistaken for housekeeping. A disabled student told to "reconsider her career choice." A trans student deliberately misgendered daily. When students report discrimination in nursing school, they're told they're "too sensitive" or "misinterpreting" the situation. Jon breaks down what discrimination actually looks like in nursing education, why it persists in a profession built on hierarchy and conformity, and exactly what to do if you're experiencing it. Includes specific steps for documenting incidents, understanding your legal rights under Title VI, Title IX, and ADA, and navigating a system that wasn't built to protect you. This episode covers racial discrimination, disability discrimination, LGBTQ discrimination in clinical settings, how to use legal language in reporting, federal protections for nursing students, and why nursing's "eat your young" culture enables discrimination to continue. Resources mentioned: Documentation templates and reporting guides available at NURSING.com   Keywords: nursing school discrimination, racial discrimination nursing, disability discrimination nursing students, LGBTQ discrimination healthcare, Title IX nursing school, nursing student rights, reporting discrimination nursing, toxic nursing culture, nursing diversity problem, nursing school retaliation

Get help at: https://nursing.com Episode 3: When Your Instructor Wants You to Fail You're prepared. You know your meds. You practice your skills. You do everything right. And somehow, you're still getting destroyed in evaluations. Your instructor tells you you're "not ready for this." That you're "not cut out for nursing." They find fault with everything you do. And you're starting to believe them. This isn't about having high standards. This is about an instructor who has decided you won't make it—and who is actively working to prove themselves right. In this episode, I'm giving you the exact strategy for surviving (and fighting back against) an instructor who's targeting you. You'll Learn: How to tell the difference between a tough instructor and one who's targeting you The 5 twisted reasons instructors target specific students The 8-step survival strategy that protects your grade and your future How to document bias in a way that actually holds up in appeals When to go to the program director vs. when you need a lawyer What to do if you're actually at risk of failing out Why instructor bias has nothing to do with your ability to be a nurse The reality: Sometimes the instructor has more power. Sometimes the program protects faculty over students. But you can survive this. You can fight back. And you WILL become a nurse. Resources mentioned: Visit NURSING.com for documentation templates, communication scripts for difficult instructors, grade appeal processes, and a community of students who've been through this and came out the other side. We tell you the truth about nursing education—including the ugly parts nobody else wants to talk about.   Keywords: nursing instructor problems, nursing school failure, clinical instructor bias, grade appeal, nursing student rights, toxic nursing instructor, nursing education bias, student nurse, nursing school survival, academic discrimination Connect with NURSING.com: 🌐 NURSING.com 📋 Download documentation templates 💬 Join the community of students who survived this #NursingStudent #NursingSchool #StudentNurse #ClinicalInstructor #NursingEducation #GradeAppeal #StudentRights #ToxicInstructor #NurseLife #FutureNurse #YouBelongInNursing  

The Nursing Brain Sheet That Actually Works (PLUS FREE DOWNLOAD) GET YOUR FREE DOWNLOAD AT: https://nursing.com/cheat-sheet It's 10am on your first clinical day. You've got four pages of notes you can't make sense of, vital signs written on your hand, and you just forgot to chart that your patient went to the bathroom. Meanwhile, that beautiful color-coded brain sheet your instructor gave you? Completely useless. The problem isn't you. It's that academic brain sheets are designed for perfect theoretical patients who don't exist. You need a brain sheet for chaos. For the real world. For keeping your patients alive and yourself sane. You'll Learn: The 3 reasons most brain sheets fail (and why instructors keep giving them to you anyway) The only 6 sections your brain sheet actually needs Why time-based organization is the difference between success and medication errors The "pro move" for end-of-shift documentation that protects you legally The 3 biggest mistakes students make with brain sheets (and how to avoid them) Why your instructor will hate your brain sheet—and why that's totally fine The truth: Your brain sheet isn't about making your instructor happy. It's about keeping your patients safe when you're managing four people who all need pain meds at the same time. Resources mentioned: Head to NURSING.com for downloadable brain sheet templates, videos showing exactly how to fill them out, and examples from real clinical shifts. We built an entire section on clinical organization skills because nobody teaches you this in nursing school—they just expect you to figure it out.   Keywords: nursing brain sheet, clinical organization, nursing student tips, clinical nursing, shift report, patient care organization, nursing documentation, med-surg clinical, student nurse, nursing school tips, clinical survival Connect with NURSING.com: 🌐 NURSING.com 📥 Download free brain sheet templates 📹 Watch step-by-step fill-out tutorials #NursingStudent #BrainSheet #ClinicalNursing #NursingSchool #StudentNurse #NursingTips #MedSurgNursing #NurseOrganization #ClinicalRotation #NursingDocumentation #FutureRN  

You're doing everything right in clinical, but your preceptor is setting you up to fail. They humiliate you in front of patients, refuse to let you practice skills, then write that you "lack initiative." When you report it, you're told to "build a better relationship" or "be more confident." This isn't about being tough. This is abuse. And it's happening in nursing programs everywhere. In this episode, I'm giving you the exact survival strategy for getting through a toxic preceptorship without tanking your grade—or your mental health. You'll Learn: How to tell the difference between a tough preceptor and an abusive one Why some preceptors specifically take students to bully them The 6-step documentation strategy that protects your grade When to fight for reassignment vs. when to just survive How to build evidence that actually holds up in grade appeals What to do when your instructor gaslights you about the abuse The hard truth: Sometimes the system protects the preceptor over you. But you can survive this. And you will become a nurse. Resources mentioned: Visit NURSING.com and search "clinical survival" for documentation templates, communication scripts for difficult preceptors, and a community of students going through the exact same thing. We're the resource that tells you the truth about nursing education—including the parts nobody else wants to talk about. Keywords: nursing student, clinical preceptor, toxic preceptor, abusive preceptor, nursing school survival, clinical instructor, nursing education, preceptorship problems, student nurse, nursing clinical   Connect with NURSING.com: 🌐 NURSING.com 📧 Search "clinical survival" for free resources #NursingStudent #NursingSchool #StudentNurse #ClinicalRotation #NursingEducation #PreceptorProblems #ToxicWorkplace #NurseLife #FutureNurse #RNtoBe  

View the full lesson here: https://academy.nursing.com/lesson/nursing-care-plan-ncp-for-pressure-ulcer-decubitus-ulcer-pressure-injury/?quiz-view=open   All right. Let's work through an example Nursing Care Plan for a patient with a pressure ulcer or pressure ulcers, right? Let's look at the hypothetical patient. Let's think just about what we might see on this specific patient regarding the pressure ulcers. So subjective data, if I have a patient with a big wound, whether it's on their sacrum or their shoulder or their leg, they're probably going to be pretty uncomfortable, right? They might actually have some pain, right? Or they could potentially have some tenderness over the area, especially over those bony prominences. So that's something to think about for sure. Then you might actually see it, right? We're actually gonna see the pressure ulcer. So depending on the stage, stage one to stage four, make sure you check out the lesson on pressure ulcers inside of the med surg integumentary course to know how to stage these pressure ulcers.

Find the full lesson here: https://academy.nursing.com/lesson/nursing-care-plan-ncp-for-encephalopathy/   This here is the nursing care plan for encephalopathy. So, the pathophysiology. Encephalopathy is a general term for disease of the brain tissue. It's a syndrome of brain dysfunction caused by damage to brain tissue and failure. This damage can be done by atrophy, lack of oxygen, edema, or toxins. So some nursing considerations, there are a few things that we want to consider when taking care of these patients, we want to consider putting them on seizure precautions. So we want these patients to be protected. The best way to do that is with seizure precautions. We want to do vital signs. We want to monitor their vitals.    We want to do frequent neuro checks and if available and if necessary, we would need to monitor their ICP. And we want to draw labs; more importantly, ammonia and finding levels to see if that is the root cause. The desired outcome for these patients is to treat or reverse the cause in order to restore proper brain function, it returns the patient to their usual baseline mental status. So when this patient comes in to you, this encephalopathic patient comes in to see you. There's going to be a few things that we see, but there's going to be some things that either them or their family tells us. Some of the subjective data that we see is that they are going to complain about mood or personality changes. 

I was so wrong . . . let me explain. I first created this shirt back in 2019 - at the time I was focused on the word "BEST". As in, "Be Your BEST Self".   However, going through 2021 and all the way through 2023 my depression began to grow - immensely. At a few points it absolutely has been debilitating. This is nothing new - I've battled depression, bipolar, and anxiety for many years - but this time - the cloud was much darker.   Nursing can be tough.  Find hope at NURSING.com   ❤️ Happy Nursing!   Jon Haws, RN

Find the full lesson here: https://academy.nursing.com/lesson/nursing-care-plan-ncp-for-abdominal-pain/   First, we're going to collect our data. Remember, our data is just our assessment, so subjective from the patient and objective from the nurse. A patient with abdominal pain, that's having symptoms, the subjective data for this patient is likely going to be the pain, maybe they have a decreased appetite, and how about some nausea? Those kinds of things are going to be all their subjective data.    For objective data, maybe they feel really restless. This is what the nurse is observing. Let's say we see on this patient, that the patient is having some guarding of the abdomen. Maybe some rebound tenderness when they're pushed down. Maybe we see, or assess the patient and realize they're constipated or have constant vomiting or diarrhea. These kinds of things will be our objective data.    My hypothetical patient for our care plan will say that they're having abdominal pain and it's from excessive vomiting. We have to analyze the information. This is going to help us to diagnose and prioritize. So what is the problem? Well, the problem is the pain and the problem is that they are having some excessive vomiting. So, what needs to be improved? What can we do to improve or what needs to be improved to help the patient, is going to be the pain, right, but more than that, we need to, for this patient, we need to fix the vomiting, so that can help fix the pain. What is our priority? So, our priority is going to be to stop the vomiting and to help that abdomen just not be so tender right, so stop that vomiting, which is going to help with the pain for this patient and relieve that pain.

Working as a nurse in the ICU, I cared for many patients who are burned into my mind and heart forever.   One of those patients was a young mom, in her early 40s with children in their early teens, who had suffered from cancer that had metastasized to her brain.   She was incredibly sick, and this cancer was extremely advanced.   One night as I cared for her, she was feeling exceptionally sick.   Just a couple hours into the shift, I was preparing her for bed. Her family stepped out and went home for the night. I could see that this night she was very upset - more so than other nights.   She was low on energy, she was sad, she looked weaker than normal.   Within moments of her family leaving for the night, she passed away quietly.   Nursing is hard, find hope at NURSING.com   ❤️ Happy Nursing! Jon Haws, RN

Them: "How can we help?"   Me: "I don't know . . ."   The hardest part is I honestly don't know what will help. [many of you know I struggle with depression, anxiety, bipolar, and OCD]     This is a conversation I've had countless times over the last year.  If only I had some sort of ailment that could be SEEN and FIXED . . . why can't it be a broken arm?  A simple cast would "fix" the problem in just a matter of weeks.    With mental health, you read the books, you do the checklists, you take the meds, you attend counseling . . . but at any moment . . . around any corner . . . there it is - ready to crush your hope and happiness.    Each time you start a new medication you feel hopeful . . . "this time it will work" And each time a new medication doesn't help, you feel a bit more hopeless . . . "maybe I am beyond repair.   Visit us at NURSING.com to rekindle your hope.   ❤️ Happy Nursing! Jon Haws, RN

I've been where you are.   During my first semester of nursing school, I walked into a room of 25 students who would be my cohort. As I scanned the faces, a chill ran down my spine. "I'm the only lucky one here," I thought. "Everyone else is so much more prepared. I hope no one discovers how dumb I am." This feeling didn't go away after graduation.   On my first day as a new grad nurse in the Neuro ICU of a large Trauma I hospital in Dallas, I was sweating, out of breath, and utterly convinced I'd slipped through the cracks in the hiring process.   I was certain all the other new nurses had gone to better schools, done better internships, and would survive orientation when I wouldn't. Visit NURSING.com to find the hope you need right now. ❤️ Happy Nursing! Jon Haws, RN

The power of four simple words - "You CAN do this" - transformed one nursing student's life from the depths of despair to professional success. This remarkable story of resilience and hope centers on Heather, whose journey illustrates the devastating impact of self-doubt and the life-changing effect of support in healthcare education. Her experience resonates deeply with countless nursing students who face similar struggles, making it a powerful testament to the importance of community and perseverance. Heather's journey began with her return from Iraq in 2008, where she developed PTSD, setting the stage for future challenges. As she pursued her nursing education, the weight of multiple pressures began to mount. She failed her medical-surgical nursing course by an agonizing 0.2%, while simultaneously grappling with a deteriorating marriage and overwhelming feelings of inadequacy as a parent. The combination of academic struggles and personal turmoil created a perfect storm that pushed her to contemplate suicide. Find hope at NURSING.com

I still remember the night before my first pharmacology exam. 3 AM. Energy drinks scattered across my desk. Hundreds of flashcards in disorganized piles. My eyes burning from staring at tiny drug names for hours. And the worst part? I knew nothing was sticking. Beta blockers, calcium channel blockers, ACE inhibitors, ARBs—the names swirled together in my mind like alphabet soup. The side effects lists seemed endless. The contraindications felt arbitrary. How was I supposed to memorize this much information? Maybe you've had that same moment. Maybe you're having it right now. Ready to master nursing pharm? Find all of our resources here: https://nursing.com/sock/

Struggling to stay on track in nursing school or NCLEX prep? This is the plan 300,000+ students have used to pass — with daily structure, Flash Notes™, SIMCLEX®, and a 200% guarantee. 👉 https://nursing.com/     You show up ready to learn. But your preceptor barely looks at you—or worse, tears you down. What do you do when the one person meant to guide you just… won't? In this episode, we talk about what it really feels like to be stuck with a toxic preceptor—and how to protect your confidence, your learning, and your future as a nurse. We'll cover: 5 red flags your preceptor is hurting more than helping How to still grow clinical judgment (without their help) What to say if you need to speak up—but don't want to be labeled a "problem" A tool that gives you the feedback they're not giving: Clinical Prep Cases 🎯 Start practicing today—no judgment, just growth: nursing.com/awful

Struggling to stay on track in nursing school or NCLEX prep? This is the plan 300,000+ students have used to pass — with daily structure, Flash Notes™, SIMCLEX®, and a 200% guarantee. 👉 https://nursing.com/     I almost walked away from nursing school. Not because I wasn't cut out for it. Not because I couldn't handle the material. But because I believed the soul-crushing lies that nearly broke me – the same lies that might be breaking you right now. In this raw, unfiltered episode, I share my personal journey through the darkest moments of nursing school – including the crippling anxiety that forced me to withdraw before my final semester. I reveal how the system is designed to make you feel inadequate, how the "unsafe" label is weaponized against passionate students, and why your struggles aren't signs of weakness but potential sources of strength. Through tears, brutal honesty, and hard-earned wisdom from helping over 500,000 nursing students, I expose the toxic traditions masquerading as "education" and offer the validation you've been desperately seeking: It's not just you. Everyone's crying in their car. Your C isn't making you dangerous. Your resilience is making you exceptional. The qualities making school hard might make you revolutionary at the bedside. This isn't just another pep talk. It's permission to reject the lies and embrace your truth – because nursing doesn't just need more nurses. It needs YOUR unique perspective. Ready to transform your nursing school experience? Visit nursing.com/lies for our FREE guide on overcoming these toxic myths, plus exclusive resources designed specifically for the way YOUR brain learns best. You aren't just capable of becoming a nurse. You're capable of transforming what nursing can be.

Struggling to stay on track in nursing school or NCLEX prep? This is the plan 300,000+ students have used to pass — with daily structure, Flash Notes™, SIMCLEX®, and a 200% guarantee. 👉 https://nursing.com/     Visit NURSING.com/different for exclusive resources designed specifically for nurses with learning differences. In this deeply personal episode, Jon Haws, RN and founder of NURSING.com, shares his never-before-told story of withdrawing from nursing school due to crippling anxiety—and how that same anxiety later became his clinical superpower. Jon reveals shocking statistics showing that over 50% of nursing students have learning differences like ADHD, dyslexia, or anxiety, and how traditional nursing education fails these students. Discover how these "different brains" aren't limitations, but unique advantages that healthcare desperately needs. Jon breaks down the specific strengths that come with ADHD, dyslexia, and anxiety in nursing practice, sharing real stories of nurses who've transformed their cognitive differences into clinical excellence. This isn't just a survival guide—it's a revolutionary manifesto for transforming nursing education and practice by embracing cognitive diversity. Whether you're struggling through nursing school or thriving in your career, Jon's vulnerable journey will inspire you to see your "different" brain as exactly what nursing needs. Ready to join the revolution? Visit NURSING.com/different for exclusive resources designed specifically for nurses with learning differences.

Struggling to stay on track in nursing school or NCLEX prep? This is the plan 300,000+ students have used to pass — with daily structure, Flash Notes™, SIMCLEX®, and a 200% guarantee. 👉 https://nursing.com/     SOCK method quiz/cheatsheets/resources at: https://nursing.com/sock   In this raw and revealing episode, Jon Haws, RN, shares his personal journey from pharmacology nightmare to nursing confidence. With vulnerability and humor, Jon recounts his 3 AM study sessions surrounded by scattered flashcards and energy drinks, feeling like a failure as he struggled to memorize endless drug facts that wouldn't stick. When a simple clinical question about Zofran administration left him frozen, Jon discovered a breakthrough approach that transformed his nursing education. Through heartfelt storytelling and evidence-based insights, Jon introduces the SOCK Method (Side Effects, Organs, Classes/Considerations/Cards, Know) - a framework that replaces overwhelming memorization with meaningful connections and clinical reasoning. This episode features Jon's signature blend of nursing wisdom, personal struggle, and practical solutions, including a weekly study plan and Nurse Blake-inspired humor that will have you laughing through your pharmacology tears. Whether you're currently drowning in drug cards or looking to strengthen your medication knowledge, Jon's compassionate guidance offers a lifeline for every nursing student who's ever wondered: "Is there something wrong with me?" Join the nursing family that's putting on their SOCKs and walking confidently toward pharmacology mastery.

Struggling to stay on track in nursing school or NCLEX prep? This is the plan 300,000+ students have used to pass — with daily structure, Flash Notes™, SIMCLEX®, and a 200% guarantee. 👉 https://nursing.com/     See if you might have imposter syndrome: https://nursing.com/imposter   In this deeply personal episode, Jon Haws, RN and founder of NURSING.com, opens up about the universal yet rarely discussed feeling of inadequacy that plagues nursing students everywhere. Drawing from his own journey from self-doubting student to ICU charge nurse, Jon reveals the startling truth: 92% of nursing students feel like "the dumbest person in class" at some point, with 42% experiencing these feelings daily. This isn't just commiseration—it's a thoughtful exploration of imposter syndrome in nursing education, backed by recent research showing how this psychological phenomenon specifically impacts healthcare students. Jon breaks down why nursing school creates the perfect storm for self-doubt and offers seven evidence-based strategies that helped him move from feeling like a fraud to embracing authentic practice. Whether you're questioning your place in nursing school, struggling with clinical anxiety, or simply wondering if you're the only one who feels lost in pathophysiology, this episode offers both validation and a practical pathway forward. Jon's vulnerable confessions and compassionate insights remind us that sometimes what feels like incompetence is actually the beginning of wisdom—and that your fears about harming patients might just be evidence that you're exactly the kind of nurse patients need. #NursingStudent #ImposterSyndrome #NursingEducation #NCLEX #NursingSchool #SelfDoubt #ProfessionalGrowth #MentalHealth