In episode 288, I mentioned the importance of having a growth mindset as one way to set yourself up for new grad success. In this special bonus episode, I’m expanding on this concept by bringing in Stephanie Griffeth, my nurse bestie and amazing nurse educator and coach. In this episode you’ll learn the number one mistake new grad nurses make and what to do instead. And spoiler alert…the mistake probably isn’t what you think! Got questions about being a new grad nurse? Get a free e-book I wrote with Nurse Steph here: The New Grad Q&A Guide Listen to episode 288 to hear 4 more ways to set yourself up for new grad success. Tune in from your podcast player, or from the Straight A Nursing website here. If this episode helped you, please take a moment to rate and review the show! This helps others find the podcast, which helps me help even more people :-)   _____________________________________ The information, including but not limited to, audio, video, text, and graphics contained on this website are for educational purposes only. No content on this website 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 website is intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.

A lumbar puncture is a procedure that involves the insertion of a needle into the space between two lumbar vertebrae to obtain a sample of CSF for evaluation. In this episode you’ll learn about the nursing implications for a patient undergoing a lumbar puncture, including: What conditions lumbar punctures are most often used to diagnose The normal qualities of CSF How a lumbar puncture is performed Contraindications for lumbar puncture Common and serious complications of lumbar puncture Preparing the patient for lumbar puncture Caring for the patient after the procedure Key things to teach the patient/family Read the article and view references here. Are you looking for an easier way to learn Med Surg? Enroll in Med Surg Solution and get lessons on 57 key topics as well as out-of-this-world study guides! If this episode helped you, please take a moment to rate and review the show! This helps others find the podcast, which helps me help even more people :-) _____________________________________ The information, including but not limited to, audio, video, text, and graphics contained on this website are for educational purposes only. No content on this website 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 website is intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.

The transition from student to new grad RN is a time of incredible transformation and growth. It is also a time of immense challenges. In this episode, I’m sharing five things you can do to set yourself up for new grad success. You’ll learn: Why “you’re doing great” is terrible feedback and what to ask for instead Why you’re not going to be competent after a few months and why this is actually where you’re supposed to be How to maximize being an advanced beginner, or even a novice nurse Your secret weapon when you don’t know what to do or how to do it How leaning into the rough bits makes you stronger An easy shift you can make in your self-talk that propels you into a much more powerful mindset Got questions about being a new grad nurse? Get a free e-book I wrote with my nurse bestie here: Get the New Grad Guide

In nursing school, I learned that digital clubbing was a key sign of COPD and I accepted this as gospel and moved on with my life. I used this information to answer exam questions on the topic and I always included assessing for it in my care plans for patients with COPD. But, like all things in nursing, there’s so much more to this story. In this episode you’ll learn why much of what you’ve been taught about digital clubbing is wrong, and what’s actually going on (spoiler alert…we don’t fully know!) In this episode, you’ll get answers to your burning questions: What is digital clubbing? What disease conditions are associated with digital clubbing? How is digital clubbing evaluated, measured and categorized? What is the pathophysiology of digital clubbing? Read the article and view references here. Are you looking for an easier way to learn Med Surg? Enroll in Med Surg Solution and get lessons on 57 key topics as well as out-of-this-world study guides! If this episode helped you, please take a moment to rate and review the show! This helps others find the podcast, which helps me help even more people :-) _____________________________________ The information, including but not limited to, audio, video, text, and graphics contained on this website are for educational purposes only. No content on this website 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 website is intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.

If you're a new grad nurse or soon-to-be new grad, then you probably have questions. A lot of them. I remember being exactly where you are right now, only I didn't have the benefit of a nurse mentor. I had to navigate new grad life on my own. Even with a robust residency program, it was still one of the toughest years of my life. So that's why I've teamed up with my nurse bestie, Steph, to answer the most common questions new grad nurses ask. We've pulled them together and answered them in a free e-book called The New Grad Q&A Guide. Get your New Grad Q&A Guide here