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© Copyright 2026 Ran Chen, EA, CFP®
Description
Nursing & Healthcare Exam Prep is a daily podcast designed to help future nurses and healthcare professionals pass their licensing and admission exams with clarity and confidence.
Built and operated by OpenExamPrep, this podcast breaks down major nursing and healthcare exams into focused, easy-to-digest episodes covering NCLEX-RN, NCLEX-PN, CNA certification, and ATI TEAS, across national exam standards and applicable state-level requirements. Each episode targets one key concept, common exam trap, or high-frequency test topic—making it ideal for studying during commutes, workouts, or short study sessions.
Created by Ran Chen, EA, CFP®, a financial professional and exam specialist who has personally passed multiple professional licensing exams, Nursing & Healthcare Exam Prep was developed from firsthand experience with how challenging—and often poorly structured—exam preparation can be. The goal is simple: make nursing and healthcare exam prep clearer, more accessible, and more effective through structured explanations and modern learning tools. Whether you’re preparing for the NCLEX-RN, NCLEX-PN, CNA, or ATI TEAS, just starting your healthcare education journey, or reviewing before test day, this podcast is designed to guide you step by step—one concept at a time.
Free practice tools, AI-powered explanations, and additional exam prep resources are available at: https://open-exam-prep.com/
Built and operated by OpenExamPrep, this podcast breaks down major nursing and healthcare exams into focused, easy-to-digest episodes covering NCLEX-RN, NCLEX-PN, CNA certification, and ATI TEAS, across national exam standards and applicable state-level requirements. Each episode targets one key concept, common exam trap, or high-frequency test topic—making it ideal for studying during commutes, workouts, or short study sessions.
Created by Ran Chen, EA, CFP®, a financial professional and exam specialist who has personally passed multiple professional licensing exams, Nursing & Healthcare Exam Prep was developed from firsthand experience with how challenging—and often poorly structured—exam preparation can be. The goal is simple: make nursing and healthcare exam prep clearer, more accessible, and more effective through structured explanations and modern learning tools. Whether you’re preparing for the NCLEX-RN, NCLEX-PN, CNA, or ATI TEAS, just starting your healthcare education journey, or reviewing before test day, this podcast is designed to guide you step by step—one concept at a time.
Free practice tools, AI-powered explanations, and additional exam prep resources are available at: https://open-exam-prep.com/
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![Nursing Exam Prep [NCLEX-RN] 85, Pediatric Infectious Diseases](https://s3.castbox.fm/6c/22/20/27a4e236549d2077d2755aaf8d7aeb9d39_scaled_v1_400.jpg "Nursing Exam Prep [NCLEX-RN] 85, Pediatric Infectious Diseases")
This podcast is made by Ran Chen, who holds an EA license, Insurance and Securities licenses (Series 6, 63, 65), and the CFP® designation. He is passionate about opening access to high-quality exam preparation resources and helping learners prepare more effectively for professional certification exams.
In this episode you will learn:
• How to differentiate between measles (rubeola) and chickenpox (varicella) rashes based on description and distribution.
• The critical isolation precautions using the mnemonic 'MTV is on the Air' for measles, TB, and varicella.
• To recognize key complications for diseases like mumps, including orchitis and meningitis.
• Specific, testable return-to-school criteria for chickenpox (all lesions crusted) and pertussis (5 days of antibiotics).
• The absolute contraindication of giving live vaccines like MMR and varicella to severely immunocompromised patients.
For more free exam prep tools, practice questions, and AI-powered explanations, visit https://open-exam-prep.com/ or Youtube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@Open-exam-prep
This podcast is made by Ran Chen, who holds an EA license, Insurance and Securities licenses (Series 6, 63, 65), and the CFP® designation. He is passionate about opening access to high-quality exam preparation resources and helping learners prepare more effectively for professional certification exams.
In this episode you will learn:
• How to assess dehydration in an infant by identifying critical signs like sunken fontanelles and the absence of tears.
• To recognize the classic presentation of pyloric stenosis: projectile, non-bilious vomiting and a palpable olive-shaped mass.
• The hallmark signs of intussusception, including intermittent colicky pain, knee-to-chest guarding, and currant jelly-like stools.
• Why a sudden relief of pain in a child with suspected appendicitis is a medical emergency signaling a rupture.
• To identify priority nursing interventions for pediatric GI emergencies, such as preparing for an air enema or managing fluid resuscitation.
For more free exam prep tools, practice questions, and AI-powered explanations, visit https://open-exam-prep.com/ or Youtube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@Open-exam-prep
This podcast is made by Ran Chen, who holds an EA license, Insurance and Securities licenses (Series 6, 63, 65), and the CFP® designation. He is passionate about opening access to high-quality exam preparation resources and helping learners prepare more effectively for professional certification exams.
In this episode you will learn:
• How to differentiate between Croup (viral, barking cough) and Epiglottitis (bacterial, drooling), and why one is a medical emergency.
• The absolute contraindication of using a tongue depressor in a child with suspected Epiglottitis.
• Why nasal suctioning is the priority nursing intervention for an infant with Bronchiolitis (RSV), especially before feeding.
• The correct order of medication administration during an acute pediatric asthma attack, prioritizing bronchodilators over corticosteroids.
• How to identify early and subtle signs of pediatric respiratory distress, such as tachypnea and nasal flaring, which are tested before late signs like cyanosis.
For more free exam prep tools, practice questions, and AI-powered explanations, visit https://open-exam-prep.com/ or Youtube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@Open-exam-prep
This podcast is made by Ran Chen, who holds an EA license, Insurance and Securities licenses (Series 6, 63, 65), and the CFP® designation. He is passionate about opening access to high-quality exam preparation resources and helping learners prepare more effectively for professional certification exams.
In this episode you will learn:
• How to apply Erikson's psychosocial stages to answer NCLEX questions on patient care.
• Identifying age-appropriate communication techniques, from offering toddlers choices to ensuring adolescent privacy.
• Recognizing developmental red flags versus normal findings, such as stranger anxiety in an infant.
• The importance of safety interventions tailored to each developmental stage's unique risks.
• Using the progression of play (Solitary, Parallel, Associative, Cooperative) to select appropriate toys and activities.
For more free exam prep tools, practice questions, and AI-powered explanations, visit https://open-exam-prep.com/ or Youtube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@Open-exam-prep
This podcast is made by Ran Chen, who holds an EA license, Insurance and Securities licenses (Series 6, 63, 65), and the CFP® designation. He is passionate about opening access to high-quality exam preparation resources and helping learners prepare more effectively for professional certification exams.
In this episode you will learn:
• Recognize the timeline of postoperative complications using the "5 Ws" mnemonic (Wind, Water, Wound, Walking, Wonder Drug).
• Prioritize airway and breathing; atelectasis is the most common complication in the first 48 hours, signaled by diminished breath sounds and low-grade fever.
• Identify subtle signs of hemorrhage and shock, such as restlessness and tachycardia, which often appear before a significant drop in blood pressure.
• Differentiate between wound dehiscence and evisceration, understanding the critical first action for evisceration is to cover the wound with a sterile, saline-soaked dressing.
• Anticipate paralytic ileus in abdominal surgery patients by assessing for absent bowel sounds and abdominal distention, and know that early ambulation is a key preventative measure.
For more free exam prep tools, practice questions, and AI-powered explanations, visit https://open-exam-prep.com/ or Youtube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@Open-exam-prep
This podcast is made by Ran Chen, who holds an EA license, Insurance and Securities licenses (Series 6, 63, 65), and the CFP® designation. He is passionate about opening access to high-quality exam preparation resources and helping learners prepare more effectively for professional certification exams.
In this episode you will learn:
• The nurse's primary role in informed consent is to witness the signature, not explain the procedural risks.
• The "surgical time-out" to verify patient, procedure, and site is the top safety priority before any incision.
• Maintaining a patent airway is always the number one nursing priority for a patient in the PACU.
• Differentiate between the sterile scrub nurse working in the surgical field and the non-sterile circulating nurse managing the room.
• Use the mnemonic "Wind, Water, Walk, Wound" to recall the timeline and common types of postoperative complications.
For more free exam prep tools, practice questions, and AI-powered explanations, visit https://open-exam-prep.com/ or Youtube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@Open-exam-prep
This podcast is made by Ran Chen, who holds an EA license, Insurance and Securities licenses (Series 6, 63, 65), and the CFP® designation. He is passionate about opening access to high-quality exam preparation resources and helping learners prepare more effectively for professional certification exams.
In this episode you will learn:
• How to differentiate key ventilator modes like Assist-Control (AC) and its risk for respiratory alkalosis versus Synchronized Intermittent Mandatory Ventilation (SIMV) used for weaning.
• Why increasing PEEP improves oxygenation but requires an immediate blood pressure assessment due to the risk of hypotension from decreased cardiac output.
• The critical components of the Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia (VAP) bundle, including head-of-bed elevation, sedation vacations, and meticulous oral care.
• How to use the DOPE mnemonic to rapidly troubleshoot ventilator alarms, distinguishing between high-pressure alarms caused by obstructions and low-pressure alarms caused by leaks.
• The absolute priority nursing action for any unresolved ventilator alarm in a deteriorating patient is to disconnect and manually ventilate with an Ambu bag.
For more free exam prep tools, practice questions, and AI-powered explanations, visit https://open-exam-prep.com/ or Youtube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@Open-exam-prep
This podcast is made by Ran Chen, who holds an EA license, Insurance and Securities licenses (Series 6, 63, 65), and the CFP® designation. He is passionate about opening access to high-quality exam preparation resources and helping learners prepare more effectively for professional certification exams.
In this episode you will learn:
• How to differentiate sepsis from septic shock based on the key finding of refractory hypotension.
• The critical, tested sequence of the Hour-1 Bundle: obtaining blood cultures BEFORE administering antibiotics.
• Why a serum lactate level is a crucial indicator of tissue hypoperfusion and the body's response to treatment.
• To prioritize vasopressors, like norepinephrine, when a patient's blood pressure fails to respond to initial fluid resuscitation.
• How to use the qSOFA score (Respiration, Altered Mentation, Systolic BP) for rapid bedside identification of patients at high risk for poor outcomes.
For more free exam prep tools, practice questions, and AI-powered explanations, visit https://open-exam-prep.com/ or Youtube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@Open-exam-prep
This podcast is made by Ran Chen, who holds an EA license, Insurance and Securities licenses (Series 6, 63, 65), and the CFP® designation. He is passionate about opening access to high-quality exam preparation resources and helping learners prepare more effectively for professional certification exams.
In this episode you will learn:
• Differentiate shock by its core problem: Pump (Cardiogenic), Pipe (Distributive), Tank (Hypovolemic), or Block (Obstructive).
• Recognize that while hypotension is common, early shock signs include tachycardia, tachypnea, and altered mental status.
• Understand the critical difference in fluid resuscitation; aggressive fluids are vital in hypovolemic and distributive shock but are harmful in cardiogenic shock.
• Identify distributive shock (like sepsis) by massive vasodilation leading to relative hypovolemia and a low systemic vascular resistance.
• Prioritize interventions for obstructive shock that relieve the physical obstruction, such as a pericardiocentesis for cardiac tamponade.
For more free exam prep tools, practice questions, and AI-powered explanations, visit https://open-exam-prep.com/ or Youtube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@Open-exam-prep
This podcast is made by Ran Chen, who holds an EA license, Insurance and Securities licenses (Series 6, 63, 65), and the CFP® designation. He is passionate about opening access to high-quality exam preparation resources and helping learners prepare more effectively for professional certification exams.
In this episode you will learn:
• Quickly calculate Total Body Surface Area (TBSA) for adult patients using the Rule of Nines.
• Apply the Parkland formula for fluid resuscitation, paying close attention to the critical timing rule.
• Identify the signs of a life-threatening inhalation injury and prioritize airway management above all else.
• Differentiate between superficial, partial-thickness, and full-thickness burns as it applies to exam questions.
• Understand that infection prevention is a paramount long-term goal in burn patient care.
For more free exam prep tools, practice questions, and AI-powered explanations, visit https://open-exam-prep.com/ or Youtube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@Open-exam-prep
This podcast is made by Ran Chen, who holds an EA license, Insurance and Securities licenses (Series 6, 63, 65), and the CFP® designation. He is passionate about opening access to high-quality exam preparation resources and helping learners prepare more effectively for professional certification exams.
In this episode you will learn:
• How to prioritize the recognition and prevention of critical postoperative complications such as venous thromboembolism (VTE) and hip dislocation.
• The key differences in nursing precautions for patients with anterior versus posterior surgical approaches to hip replacement.
• The nurse's essential role in preoperative assessment, focusing on screening for infections and managing anticoagulant medications.
• How to apply principles of effective pain management, including the strategy of administering analgesics prior to physical therapy.
• Core patient education points for a successful recovery, including understanding weight-bearing status and identifying signs of infection that require reporting.
For more free exam prep tools, practice questions, and AI-powered explanations, visit https://open-exam-prep.com/ or Youtube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@Open-exam-prep
This podcast is made by Ran Chen, who holds an EA license, Insurance and Securities licenses (Series 6, 63, 65), and the CFP® designation. He is passionate about opening access to high-quality exam preparation resources and helping learners prepare more effectively for professional certification exams.
In this episode you will learn:
• How to use the "5 Ps" mnemonic for neurovascular assessment as the top priority for any fracture patient.
• To identify the earliest sign of compartment syndrome, which is pain out of proportion to the injury, not pulselessness.
• The key sign that distinguishes Fat Embolism Syndrome from a PE is a petechial rash on the chest and axilla.
• The absolute safety rule for traction weights is that they must hang freely and never be removed without a provider's order.
• How the NCLEX traps test-takers by forcing them to choose between administering pain medication and performing a critical assessment first.
For more free exam prep tools, practice questions, and AI-powered explanations, visit https://open-exam-prep.com/ or Youtube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@Open-exam-prep
This podcast is made by Ran Chen, who holds an EA license, Insurance and Securities licenses (Series 6, 63, 65), and the CFP® designation. He is passionate about opening access to high-quality exam preparation resources and helping learners prepare more effectively for professional certification exams.
In this episode you will learn:
• The immediate priority for any suspected spinal cord injury is always airway management and cervical spine stabilization.
• Injuries at or above C4 cause respiratory arrest due to diaphragm paralysis; remember the mnemonic "C3, 4, 5 keeps the diaphragm alive."
• Autonomic dysreflexia is a medical emergency in injuries at T6 or above; the first nursing action is to sit the patient upright to lower blood pressure.
• The most common cause of autonomic dysreflexia is a noxious stimulus below the injury, typically a distended bladder or bowel.
• Differentiate between spinal shock (temporary loss of reflexes below the injury) and neurogenic shock (hemodynamic instability with hypotension and bradycardia).
For more free exam prep tools, practice questions, and AI-powered explanations, visit https://open-exam-prep.com/ or Youtube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@Open-exam-prep
This podcast is made by Ran Chen, who holds an EA license, Insurance and Securities licenses (Series 6, 63, 65), and the CFP® designation. He is passionate about opening access to high-quality exam preparation resources and helping learners prepare more effectively for professional certification exams.
In this episode you will learn:
• The critical difference between primary and secondary brain injury and why the NCLEX focuses on prevention of secondary injury.
• How to interpret the Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) in exam scenarios, recognizing that a small drop in score signifies a neurological emergency.
• To identify the subtle, earliest signs of increased intracranial pressure (ICP), such as restlessness, before the onset of late signs like Cushing's Triad.
• Key nursing interventions to manage ICP, including patient positioning (HOB at 30 degrees, midline head) and preventing the Valsalva maneuver.
• Common NCLEX traps in TBI care, such as improper suctioning techniques and the contraindication of hypotonic fluids.
For more free exam prep tools, practice questions, and AI-powered explanations, visit https://open-exam-prep.com/ or Youtube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@Open-exam-prep
This podcast is made by Ran Chen, who holds an EA license, Insurance and Securities licenses (Series 6, 63, 65), and the CFP® designation. He is passionate about opening access to high-quality exam preparation resources and helping learners prepare more effectively for professional certification exams.
In this episode you will learn:
• How to prioritize patient safety and airway management as the absolute first steps during a seizure.
• To recognize status epilepticus as a medical emergency requiring immediate IV benzodiazepine administration.
• The essential nursing assessments and interventions required during the postictal phase of a seizure.
• Key exam facts for phenytoin, including its therapeutic range and the signs of toxicity and side effects.
• A simple mnemonic, "SAFE SIDE," to recall crucial seizure precautions for hospitalized patients.
For more free exam prep tools, practice questions, and AI-powered explanations, visit https://open-exam-prep.com/ or Youtube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@Open-exam-prep
This podcast is made by Ran Chen, who holds an EA license, Insurance and Securities licenses (Series 6, 63, 65), and the CFP® designation. He is passionate about opening access to high-quality exam preparation resources and helping learners prepare more effectively for professional certification exams.
In this episode you will learn:
• The critical distinction between an HIV diagnosis and an AIDS diagnosis based on a CD4 count below 200 or the presence of an opportunistic infection.
• The inverse relationship between viral load and CD4 count and how it is used to monitor the effectiveness of antiretroviral therapy (ART).
• Why medication adherence is the most critical nursing focus for patients on ART to prevent drug resistance and treatment failure.
• How to identify hallmark AIDS-defining opportunistic infections like Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia (PCP) and Kaposi's sarcoma.
• How the NCLEX tests your knowledge of transmission routes, focusing on patient education and dispelling common myths about casual contact.
For more free exam prep tools, practice questions, and AI-powered explanations, visit https://open-exam-prep.com/ or Youtube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@Open-exam-prep
This podcast is made by Ran Chen, who holds an EA license, Insurance and Securities licenses (Series 6, 63, 65), and the CFP® designation. He is passionate about opening access to high-quality exam preparation resources and helping learners prepare more effectively for professional certification exams.
In this episode you will learn:
• Always use proper PPE: double chemotherapy gloves, a non-permeable gown, and face shield when handling chemo drugs.
• Extravasation of a vesicant is a medical emergency; the priority action is to immediately stop the infusion.
• Myelosuppression presents as Neutropenia, Anemia, and Bleeding risk (thrombocytopenia); remember the acronym NAB.
• A low-grade fever (e.g., 100.4°F or 38°C) in a neutropenic patient is a critical sign of infection requiring immediate intervention.
• Patient education must focus on infection prevention, bleeding precautions, and managing side effects like mucositis and nausea.
For more free exam prep tools, practice questions, and AI-powered explanations, visit https://open-exam-prep.com/ or Youtube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@Open-exam-prep
This podcast is made by Ran Chen, who holds an EA license, Insurance and Securities licenses (Series 6, 63, 65), and the CFP® designation. He is passionate about opening access to high-quality exam preparation resources and helping learners prepare more effectively for professional certification exams.
In this episode you will learn:
• How to distinguish between cancer staging (TNM system) for spread and grading for cellular abnormality.
• Why neutropenic fever (temperature >100.4°F, ANC <500) in a chemotherapy patient is a medical emergency requiring immediate action.
• The correct way to manage localized skin reactions from radiation therapy, emphasizing gentle, water-based skincare.
• How to recognize Tumor Lysis Syndrome (TLS) as an oncologic emergency and monitor for life-threatening hyperkalemia.
• A mnemonic to recall TLS electrolyte changes: PUNCH (Phosphate up, Uric acid up, Na+ down, Ca++ down, Hyperkalemia).
For more free exam prep tools, practice questions, and AI-powered explanations, visit https://open-exam-prep.com/ or Youtube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@Open-exam-prep
This podcast is made by Ran Chen, who holds an EA license, Insurance and Securities licenses (Series 6, 63, 65), and the CFP® designation. He is passionate about opening access to high-quality exam preparation resources and helping learners prepare more effectively for professional certification exams.
In this episode you will learn:
• The key differences between Crohn's disease (transmural, skip lesions) and Ulcerative Colitis (mucosal, continuous) for the NCLEX.
• How to identify classic clinical signs, such as fistulas in Crohn's and severe bloody diarrhea in Ulcerative Colitis.
• Nursing priorities for pharmacological agents, including steroid use for flares and infection risk with immunomodulators.
• The correct nutritional plan for an acute IBD flare, emphasizing a low-residue, high-protein, high-calorie diet.
• The critical distinction in surgical outcomes, where a colectomy is curative for Ulcerative Colitis but not for Crohn's disease.
For more free exam prep tools, practice questions, and AI-powered explanations, visit https://open-exam-prep.com/ or Youtube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@Open-exam-prep
This podcast is made by Ran Chen, who holds an EA license, Insurance and Securities licenses (Series 6, 63, 65), and the CFP® designation. He is passionate about opening access to high-quality exam preparation resources and helping learners prepare more effectively for professional certification exams.
In this episode you will learn:
• Cirrhosis causes portal hypertension, leading to life-threatening esophageal varices that are an immediate airway and bleeding priority.
• Managing ascites involves daily weights, measuring abdominal girth, and monitoring for respiratory distress, not rapid fluid administration.
• Hepatic encephalopathy is a neurologic complication from high ammonia levels, presenting with confusion and a classic flapping tremor called asterixis.
• The primary treatment for hepatic encephalopathy is lactulose, and its effectiveness is measured by achieving two to three soft stools per day.
• A key exam trap is diet; while protein was once restricted, the modern focus is on providing adequate protein while managing high ammonia with medication.
For more free exam prep tools, practice questions, and AI-powered explanations, visit https://open-exam-prep.com/ or Youtube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@Open-exam-prep
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