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© Copyright 2026 Ran Chen, EA, CFP®
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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] 48, Respiratory Medications](https://s3.castbox.fm/6c/22/20/27a4e236549d2077d2755aaf8d7aeb9d39_scaled_v1_400.jpg "Nursing Exam Prep [NCLEX-RN] 48, Respiratory Medications")
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 rescue inhalers (albuterol) from maintenance inhalers (corticosteroids).
• Administer a bronchodilator before an inhaled corticosteroid to maximize medication delivery.
• Monitor for tachycardia, tremors, and nervousness as key side effects of beta-2 agonists.
• Instruct patients to rinse their mouth after using inhaled corticosteroids to prevent oral candidiasis.
• Understand that leukotriene modifiers like montelukast are for long-term prevention, not acute attacks.
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 angioedema as a life-threatening emergency with ACE inhibitors (-pril drugs) and prioritize airway assessment.
• Always check apical pulse for one full minute before giving beta-blockers (-lol drugs) or digoxin, holding the dose if the heart rate is below 60 bpm.
• Identify signs of digoxin toxicity, which include gastrointestinal issues and classic visual disturbances like yellow-green halos.
• Understand that grapefruit juice should be avoided with calcium channel blockers to prevent severe hypotension.
• Differentiate between Warfarin (monitored by PT/INR with Vitamin K as the antidote) and Heparin (monitored by aPTT with protamine sulfate as the antidote).
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 convert patient weight from pounds to kilograms at the start of any weight-based dosage calculation.
• Use dimensional analysis as a systematic way to solve multi-step problems and prevent unit conversion errors.
• Carefully read medication labels to identify the final concentration after reconstitution, ignoring distractor information like the total powder amount.
• Calculate the total volume for infusion by adding the medication volume to the IV fluid volume before determining the flow rate.
• Pay close attention to time units, converting minutes to hours when the question asks for a rate in milliliters per hour.
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 the four principles of pharmacokinetics (ADME) to NCLEX-style patient scenarios involving organ dysfunction.
• The critical nursing interventions required for medications with a narrow therapeutic index, such as lithium or digoxin.
• How to differentiate between a manageable side effect and a life-threatening adverse effect to prioritize nursing actions.
• Why you must question standard medication dosages for clients with liver or kidney failure to prevent drug toxicity.
• A simple mnemonic, "Organ function dictates drug action," to connect patient assessment findings to medication safety.
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 importance of the two-nurse verification process for patient ID and blood compatibility.
• The correct procedure for initiating a blood transfusion, including the exclusive use of normal saline.
• How to differentiate between acute hemolytic, febrile, and allergic transfusion reactions.
• The absolute first nursing action for any suspected transfusion reaction is to stop the infusion immediately.
• The "Stop, Saline, Save" mnemonic for remembering the initial steps in managing a transfusion reaction.
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 infiltration (cool, swollen) from phlebitis (red, warm) and identify the correct initial nursing action for each.
• The priority order for selecting peripheral IV sites, starting with the non-dominant arm and most distal veins first.
• Key contraindications for IV site selection, such as avoiding an arm with a history of mastectomy or an AV fistula.
• The formula for calculating IV drip rates (volume × drop factor / time in minutes) and how to avoid common exam traps.
• Core differences between central lines, including PICCs, tunneled catheters, and implanted ports, and their primary uses.
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:
• Master the ROME mnemonic: Respiratory Opposite (pH and PaCO2 are inverse), Metabolic Equal (pH and HCO3 move together).
• Always analyze the pH first to determine if the primary condition is acidosis (below 7.35) or alkalosis (above 7.45).
• Respiratory acidosis is caused by hypoventilation (retaining CO2); the priority nursing action is always to improve ventilation.
• Metabolic acidosis is often due to DKA or diarrhea; watch for Kussmaul respirations as the body's attempt to compensate.
• Metabolic alkalosis is commonly caused by vomiting or NG suction; the priority is monitoring for hypokalemia and cardiac dysrhythmias.
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:
• Hypocalcemia and hypomagnesemia present with neuromuscular excitability, including positive Trousseau's and Chvostek's signs, tetany, and seizures.
• Hypercalcemia and hypermagnesemia cause neuromuscular depression, leading to muscle weakness, lethargy, and decreased deep tendon reflexes.
• Calcium has an inverse relationship with phosphorus; if one is high, the other is typically low, a common point of confusion on exams.
• The priority nursing intervention for severe hypermagnesemia is monitoring for respiratory depression and having the antidote, calcium gluconate, available.
• Common causes tested on the NCLEX include thyroidectomy for hypocalcemia, bone cancer for hypercalcemia, alcoholism for hypomagnesemia, and renal failure for hypermagnesemia.
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 the key ECG findings, peaked T waves in hyperkalemia versus flattened T-waves and U-waves in hypokalemia.
• Identify the most common causes of potassium imbalances, such as loop diuretics for hypokalemia and renal failure for hyperkalemia.
• Recall the cardinal safety rule of IV potassium administration which is to never push, always dilute, and infuse slowly.
• Prioritize the emergency nursing interventions for life-threatening hyperkalemia, including IV calcium gluconate and insulin with dextrose.
• Recognize common medication-related exam traps, such as confusing potassium-wasting diuretics like Furosemide with potassium-sparing diuretics like Spironolactone.
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:
• Sodium's primary role is regulating fluid balance and neurological function; imbalances manifest as critical neurological changes.
• Hyponatremia (low sodium) is often caused by water gain, as seen in SIADH, leading to cerebral edema with symptoms like confusion and seizures.
• Hypernatremia (high sodium) is typically caused by water loss, as seen in Diabetes Insipidus, causing brain cell shrinkage with symptoms like lethargy and agitation.
• The priority nursing action for severe sodium imbalances is ensuring patient safety, focusing on seizure precautions and frequent neurological assessments.
• A key exam concept is the danger of rapid correction. Remember: "Low to high, the pons will die; high to low, the brain will blow."
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:
• Isotonic solutions like 0.9% Normal Saline are used for fluid volume deficit and shock because they stay in the vascular space.
• Hypotonic solutions like 0.45% Normal Saline rehydrate cells and are used in conditions like DKA after initial stabilization.
• A critical NCLEX trap is that hypotonic solutions are strictly contraindicated in patients with increased intracranial pressure as they worsen cerebral edema.
• Hypertonic solutions like 3% Saline are used as an emergency treatment for cerebral edema because they pull fluid out of swollen brain cells.
• Always question an order for Lactated Ringer's in patients with renal failure or hyperkalemia, as its potassium content can be harmful.
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 identify the key components of a normal sinus rhythm: P wave, PR interval, and QRS complex duration.
• To recognize atrial fibrillation on an ECG and differentiate between stable and unstable patient management priorities.
• The critical first step in assessing a patient with ventricular tachycardia is always checking for a pulse.
• Why ventricular fibrillation is a pulseless rhythm that requires immediate defibrillation as the top priority action.
• A key mnemonic to remember the definitive treatment for V-fib: "If it's V-fib, you D-fib."
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 the ROME mnemonic (Respiratory Opposite, Metabolic Equal) to rapidly diagnose the primary acid-base imbalance.
• The three-step process for interpreting any ABG result: assess pH, identify the primary driver (PaCO2 or HCO3), and determine the level of compensation.
• How to differentiate between uncompensated, partially compensated, and fully compensated states and avoid common NCLEX traps related to normal-looking pH values.
• Why connecting ABG results to priority nursing interventions, such as improving ventilation in respiratory acidosis, is crucial for exam success.
• How to use PaO2 and PaCO2 values to identify acute respiratory failure as an immediate clinical priority.
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 identify critical lab values, such as hyperkalemia, that require immediate nursing intervention and provider notification.
• The direct link between abnormal sodium levels and the priority nursing action of implementing seizure precautions for patient safety.
• Why interpreting trends in lab values, like a post-operative drop in hemoglobin, is crucial for detecting complications like internal bleeding.
• The correct response to a supratherapeutic INR for a patient on warfarin, which includes holding the dose and contacting the provider.
• How the NCLEX tests clinical judgment by requiring you to connect a lab result to a specific risk and prioritize the most immediate, life-saving action.
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:
• Neurovascular assessment, using the "5 P's," is the absolute priority for patients with fractures or casts to detect compartment syndrome early.
• Muscle strength is graded on a 0-5 scale, and this grade directly determines the appropriate level of mobility assistance and safe handling techniques.
• For patients with joint replacements, preventing dislocation through specific positioning precautions is a key nursing responsibility tested on the exam.
• The mnemonic COAL (Cane Opposite Affected Leg) is a critical shortcut for questions about the correct use of mobility aids.
• Differentiating between active (patient-led) and passive (nurse-led) range of motion is essential for understanding care goals like preventing contractures versus building strength.
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 blanchable and non-blanchable erythema for identifying a Stage 1 pressure injury.
• How to differentiate pressure injury stages based on visible tissue, such as subcutaneous fat in Stage 3 versus exposed bone in Stage 4.
• How to use the REEDA mnemonic (Redness, Edema, Ecchymosis, Drainage, Approximation) to assess surgical incisions for signs of infection.
• Why a lower score on the Braden Scale indicates a higher risk for skin breakdown, guiding preventative nursing interventions.
• That skin tenting when assessing turgor is a key exam indicator for dehydration or fluid volume deficit.
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:
• Learn the critical difference between urinary retention and oliguria, and when to use a bladder scanner.
• Understand how to interpret intake and output records to identify fluid imbalance, recognizing the minimum acceptable output of 30 mL/hr.
• Apply the 'COCA' mnemonic (Color, Odor, Clarity, Amount) to accurately assess urine characteristics and identify signs of infection.
• Master the key nursing interventions to prevent Catheter-Associated Urinary Tract Infections (CAUTIs), a major patient safety topic on the NCLEX.
• Recognize creatinine as the most reliable indicator of kidney function and know the priority nursing actions for a patient with an elevated level.
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 correct sequence for abdominal assessment is Inspection, Auscultation, Percussion, and Palpation (IAPP), and why this order is critical.
• Auscultating before palpating is a common NCLEX trap; palpation can alter bowel sounds, leading to an incorrect assessment.
• To confirm absent bowel sounds, a nurse must listen for a full five minutes, a key detail tested on the exam.
• A rigid, board-like abdomen is a sign of peritonitis, an emergency requiring immediate provider notification.
• How to differentiate signs of an upper GI bleed (melena, coffee-ground emesis) from a lower GI bleed (hematochezia).
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 identify critical signs of respiratory distress, such as tripod positioning and accessory muscle use.
• The difference between adventitious lung sounds and how to prioritize stridor as a medical emergency.
• Common NCLEX traps involving pulse oximetry readings that can be misleading without clinical context.
• How to interpret basic arterial blood gases to determine the correct nursing intervention for acidosis or alkalosis.
• Applying the Airway, Breathing, Circulation framework to answer exam-style prioritization questions.
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 the S3 and S4 heart sounds and their significance in heart failure and hypertension.
• The correct procedure for assessing Jugular Venous Distension (JVD) and why patient positioning is a common exam trap.
• How to distinguish between the clinical presentations of right-sided versus left-sided heart failure for scenario-based questions.
• To identify priority assessment findings that signal acute cardiovascular compromise over chronic, stable conditions.
• A mental shortcut for prioritizing interventions: "Circulation Before Documentation," to focus on action over charting in critical situations.
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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