#435: Two Cardiac Labs - BNP and Troponin

#435: Two Cardiac Labs - BNP and Troponin

Author: Maureen Osuna, MSN, RN - Nursing school educator, author, and nursing student enthusiast. September 11, 2025 Duration: 18:45
This episode dives into two of the most common cardiac labs you’ll see in both clinical and classroom settings: BNP and troponin. Hit play on this episode and you’ll learn: What BNP and troponin measure How to recognize normal vs abnormal values What it means when they’re elevated Clinical examples of how nurses use these labs to guide care Whether you’re prepping for your med-surg exam, starting clinicals, or just trying to give better SBAR, this episode will help you confidently interpret these two essential cardiac labs. ___________________ Full Transcript - Read the article and view references FREE CLASS - If all you've heard are nursing school horror stories, then you need this class! Join me in this on-demand session where I dispel all those nursing school myths and show you that YES...you can thrive in nursing school without it taking over your life! Study Sesh - Change the way you study with this private podcast that includes dynamic audio formats including podquizzes, case studies and drills that help you review and test your recall of important nursing concepts on-the-go. Free yourself from your desk with Study Sesh!  Med Surg Solution - Are you looking for a more effective way to learn Med Surg? Enroll in Med Surg Solution and get lessons on 57 key topics and out-of-this-world study guides.  Crucial Concepts Bootcamp - Start nursing school ahead of the game, or reset after a difficult first semester with my nursing school prep course, Crucial Concepts Bootcamp. Learn key foundation concepts, organization and time management, dosage calculations, and so much more. Dosage Calculations Guide - Kick math anxiety to the curb and learn the basics of how to set up and perform dosage calculations using dimensional analysis with this FREE guide. Includes 10 free practice questions! Straight A Nursing App - Study on-the-go with the Straight A Nursing app! Review more than 5,000 flashcards covering a wide range of subjects including Fundamentals, Pediatrics, Med Surg, Mental Health, Maternal Newborn, and more! Available for free in the Apple App Store and Google Play Store. Pharmacology Success Pack - Want to get a head start on pharmacology? Download the FREE Pharmacology Success Pack.  Clinical Success Pack - One of the best ways to fast-track your clinical learning is having the right tools. This FREE pack includes report sheets, sheets to help you plan your day, a clinical debrief form, and a patient safety cheat sheet.  20 Secrets of Successful Nursing Students – Learn key strategies that will help you be a successful nursing student with this FREE guide! New Nursing Student Checklist - Get prepped and ready for your nursing school program with this free checklist! 💕Did you love this episode? Please take a moment to follow or subscribe to the show so you never miss an episode! ___________________ The information, including but not limited to, audio, video, text, and graphics contained on this podcast are for educational purposes only. No content on this podcast is intended to guide nursing practice and does not supersede any individual healthcare provider's scope of practice or any nursing school curriculum. Additionally, no content on this podcast is intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Straight A Nursing is a proud member of the Airwave Media Network. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Maureen Osuna, known to many as Nurse Mo, brings her experience as a nursing school educator and her genuine enthusiasm for student success to every episode of Straight A Nursing: Study for nursing school exams & NCLEX. She understands that feeling of sitting in a lecture where the concepts just aren't clicking, or the overwhelm that comes from a mountain of complex material. That's precisely where this podcast steps in. Maureen dedicates each session to breaking down those challenging nursing school topics-from pharmacology to pathophysiology-into clear, manageable explanations that actually stick. You'll hear practical strategies for studying more effectively, not just harder, with the direct goal of performing better on your course exams and ultimately, the NCLEX. It's about building a foundation of real understanding that translates directly to clinical confidence, so you can move from anxiety to assurance at the bedside. Tune in for a supportive, expert-guided resource that feels like having a knowledgeable mentor right in your ear, helping you navigate the demanding journey of nursing education one clear concept at a time.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

Straight A Nursing: Study for nursing school exams & NCLEX
Podcast Episodes
#452: MMM - COPD 50-50 Club [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 7:37
Let's start your week strong with a quick tip you can incorporate right away. In this Mo's Monday Minute shortie episode, I'm talking about the 50-50 Club in COPD patients and how to know when you need to quickly interve…
ENCORE! #64: Atelectasis Nursing Interventions [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 25:15
Every other week I'm republishing one of my most popular or impactful episodes and adding an update, new insight, or context that will help you benefit from it even more. This week I'm highlighting Episode 64: Atelectasi…
#451: MMM - IV Infiltration vs. Extravasation—Know the Difference [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 7:21
Let's start your week strong with a quick tip you can incorporate right away. In this Mo's Monday Minute shortie episode, I'm clearing up something that confuses a lot of nursing students: the difference between IV infil…
#450:  Oxygen Toxicity [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 22:39
Oxygen is one of those therapies that nurses use every single day with almost every single patient. But did you know too much oxygen can actually cause harm? In this episode, you’ll learn: What oxygen toxicity is and how…
#449: MMM - Why Sodium and Potassium Labs Matter Before Giving Lasix [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 7:57
Let's start your week strong with a quick tip you can incorporate right away. In this Mo's Monday Minute shortie episode, I'm talking about labs and lasix. Tune in to review why you should always check sodium and potassi…
ENCORE! #148: Calling a Stroke Alert [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 23:26
Every other week I'm republishing one of my most popular or impactful episodes and adding an update, new insight, or context that will help you benefit from it even more. This week I'm highlighting Episode 148, where I w…
#448: MMM - The Fastest Way to Remember Preload vs. Afterload [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 6:27
Let's start your week strong with a quick tip you can incorporate right away. In this Mo's Monday Minute shortie episode, I'm talking about pre-load vs. after-load. This concept can be tricky and often trips students up,…
#447: Defibrillation 101 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 23:01
If you’ve ever watched a medical drama or spent any amount of time in the clinical setting, you’ve seen a crash cart and have a general idea of what defibrillation is. In this lesson, we’ll dive deeper into defibrillatio…
#446: MMM - 3 Things To Do at The Start of Your Shift [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 13:42
Let's start your week strong with a quick tip you can incorporate right away. In this Mo's Monday Minute shortie episode, I'm talking about starting your shift off on the right foot by doing three things. _______________…