ENCORE! #290: The #1 Mistake New Grad Nurses Make

ENCORE! #290: The #1 Mistake New Grad Nurses Make

Author: Maureen Osuna, MSN, RN - Nursing school educator, author, and nursing student enthusiast. October 21, 2025 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 educator, Stephanie Griffeth, to talk about the number one mistake new grad nurses make — and what to do instead. (Spoiler alert: It’s not about charting, IVs, or time management.) In this episode, you’ll learn: ✨ What this common mistake looks like in real-world practice 💬 How to shift your mindset from self-doubt to self-trust 🧠 The key to turning every shift (even the tough ones) into growth 💪 Practical ways to build confidence as you transition from student to nurse And because confidence is so important, you’re invited to check out a sneak peek inside Confident Nurse Academy 2.0 — a CE-approved roadmap for new and early-career nurses who want to finally feel calm, capable, and in control. 🎥 Watch the sneak peek video here You’ll see exactly how CNA helps you build clinical judgment, manage your shifts, and step into the confident nurse you’re meant to be. 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
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…
#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. ___…
#441: Principles of Nursing Ethics [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 30:02
If you’ve ever wondered what to do when a patient refuses treatment, when your personal values don’t match your patient’s decisions, or when you're stretched thin and trying to give equal care to everyone, this episode i…
#440: MMM - Reversal Agents and Antidotes You Should Know [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 7:27
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 common reversal agents and antidotes for high-impact medications. If you want to…
ENCORE! #175: Cardiac Pharmacology PodQuiz [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 28:35
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 175, which is…