ENCORE! #267: 7 Things to Know Before Starting Clinicals

ENCORE! #267: 7 Things to Know Before Starting Clinicals

Author: Maureen Osuna, MSN, RN - Nursing school educator, author, and nursing student enthusiast. May 28, 2026 Duration: 47:46
Every other week I republish one of my most popular or impactful episodes from my backlog of over 450 episodes. This week I'm throwing it back to episode 267 and talking about what to know before you start clinicals. These tips are exactly the things I’d make sure you understood before your first clinical day if I was your clinical instructor. ___________________ ⁠Nursing School Survival Blueprint⁠ - Nursing school gets easier when you have a system. This free Blueprint walks you through the key shifts that separate struggling students from thriving ones — download it and start applying them this week. 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. 💕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
#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. _______________…
ENCORE! #292: What is Nurse Shock? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 44:19
I remember being a brand-new nurse and thinking my biggest challenge would be learning critical-care pathophysiology. Spoiler alert: it wasn’t. What really caught me off guard was “nurse shock.” It's an intense, disorien…
#445: MMM - Color-Coding Made Simple [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 8:11
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 highlighting when note-taking and giving you a simple five-color system that act…
#444: What is a Bubble Study? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 23:03
Have you ever heard of injecting bubbles into someone’s vein on purpose? Sounds wild, right? But that’s exactly what a bubble study (AKA an “agitated saline study”) does. And it’s actually a safe and effective way to det…
ENCORE! #290: The #1 Mistake New Grad Nurses Make [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 31:52
You’ve survived nursing school, passed the NCLEX, and landed your first job, but being a new grad nurse comes with its own unique set of challenges. In this encore episode, I’m joined by my nurse bestie and incredible ed…
#443: MMM - Three Red Flags in a Post-Op Patient [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 8:56
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 three big red flags you never want to miss in a post-op patient. These are quick…
ENCORE! #398: Mock Code Blue [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 39:42
In this Encore episode, I'm talking about something that can rattle even the most experienced nurses. Your heart races, adrenaline spikes, and every second counts. In this episode, we’re walking through a mock code blue…
ENCORE! #277: The Doorway Assessment [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 27:30
On mobile? Listen with your favorite podcast player here. 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 ev…
#442: MMM - Why a Low Hemoglobin Doesn’t Always Mean Bleeding [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 5:59
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 hemoglobin and why a low value doesn’t always mean your patient is bleeding. ___…