Episodes

  • Nursing Exam Prep [NCLEX-RN] 79, Mechanical Ventilation

    Nursing Exam Prep [NCLEX-RN] 79, Mechanical Ventilation
    Apr 1 2026
    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 key ventilator modes like Assist-Control (AC) and its risk for respiratory alkalosis versus Synchronized Intermittent Mandatory Ventilation (SIMV) used for weaning. • Why increasing PEEP improves oxygenation but requires an immediate blood pressure assessment due to the risk of hypotension from decreased cardiac output. • The critical components of the Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia (VAP) bundle, including head-of-bed elevation, sedation vacations, and meticulous oral care. • How to use the DOPE mnemonic to rapidly troubleshoot ventilator alarms, distinguishing between high-pressure alarms caused by obstructions and low-pressure alarms caused by leaks. • The absolute priority nursing action for any unresolved ventilator alarm in a deteriorating patient is to disconnect and manually ventilate with an Ambu bag. 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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    4 mins
  • Nursing Exam Prep [NCLEX-RN] 78, Sepsis and Septic Shock

    Nursing Exam Prep [NCLEX-RN] 78, Sepsis and Septic Shock
    Mar 31 2026
    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 sepsis from septic shock based on the key finding of refractory hypotension. • The critical, tested sequence of the Hour-1 Bundle: obtaining blood cultures BEFORE administering antibiotics. • Why a serum lactate level is a crucial indicator of tissue hypoperfusion and the body's response to treatment. • To prioritize vasopressors, like norepinephrine, when a patient's blood pressure fails to respond to initial fluid resuscitation. • How to use the qSOFA score (Respiration, Altered Mentation, Systolic BP) for rapid bedside identification of patients at high risk for poor outcomes. 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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    4 mins
  • Nursing Exam Prep [NCLEX-RN] 77, Shock States

    Nursing Exam Prep [NCLEX-RN] 77, Shock States
    Mar 30 2026
    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 shock by its core problem: Pump (Cardiogenic), Pipe (Distributive), Tank (Hypovolemic), or Block (Obstructive). • Recognize that while hypotension is common, early shock signs include tachycardia, tachypnea, and altered mental status. • Understand the critical difference in fluid resuscitation; aggressive fluids are vital in hypovolemic and distributive shock but are harmful in cardiogenic shock. • Identify distributive shock (like sepsis) by massive vasodilation leading to relative hypovolemia and a low systemic vascular resistance. • Prioritize interventions for obstructive shock that relieve the physical obstruction, such as a pericardiocentesis for cardiac tamponade. 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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    4 mins
  • Nursing Exam Prep [NCLEX-RN] 76, Burns

    Nursing Exam Prep [NCLEX-RN] 76, Burns
    Mar 29 2026
    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: • Quickly calculate Total Body Surface Area (TBSA) for adult patients using the Rule of Nines. • Apply the Parkland formula for fluid resuscitation, paying close attention to the critical timing rule. • Identify the signs of a life-threatening inhalation injury and prioritize airway management above all else. • Differentiate between superficial, partial-thickness, and full-thickness burns as it applies to exam questions. • Understand that infection prevention is a paramount long-term goal in burn patient care. 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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    4 mins
  • Nursing Exam Prep [NCLEX-RN] 75, Joint Replacement Surgery

    Nursing Exam Prep [NCLEX-RN] 75, Joint Replacement Surgery
    Mar 28 2026
    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 prioritize the recognition and prevention of critical postoperative complications such as venous thromboembolism (VTE) and hip dislocation. • The key differences in nursing precautions for patients with anterior versus posterior surgical approaches to hip replacement. • The nurse's essential role in preoperative assessment, focusing on screening for infections and managing anticoagulant medications. • How to apply principles of effective pain management, including the strategy of administering analgesics prior to physical therapy. • Core patient education points for a successful recovery, including understanding weight-bearing status and identifying signs of infection that require reporting. 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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    3 mins
  • Nursing Exam Prep [NCLEX-RN] 74, Fractures and Orthopedic Trauma

    Nursing Exam Prep [NCLEX-RN] 74, Fractures and Orthopedic Trauma
    Mar 27 2026
    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 use the "5 Ps" mnemonic for neurovascular assessment as the top priority for any fracture patient. • To identify the earliest sign of compartment syndrome, which is pain out of proportion to the injury, not pulselessness. • The key sign that distinguishes Fat Embolism Syndrome from a PE is a petechial rash on the chest and axilla. • The absolute safety rule for traction weights is that they must hang freely and never be removed without a provider's order. • How the NCLEX traps test-takers by forcing them to choose between administering pain medication and performing a critical assessment first. 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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    4 mins
  • Nursing Exam Prep [NCLEX-RN] 73, Spinal Cord Injury

    Nursing Exam Prep [NCLEX-RN] 73, Spinal Cord Injury
    Mar 26 2026
    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 immediate priority for any suspected spinal cord injury is always airway management and cervical spine stabilization. • Injuries at or above C4 cause respiratory arrest due to diaphragm paralysis; remember the mnemonic "C3, 4, 5 keeps the diaphragm alive." • Autonomic dysreflexia is a medical emergency in injuries at T6 or above; the first nursing action is to sit the patient upright to lower blood pressure. • The most common cause of autonomic dysreflexia is a noxious stimulus below the injury, typically a distended bladder or bowel. • Differentiate between spinal shock (temporary loss of reflexes below the injury) and neurogenic shock (hemodynamic instability with hypotension and bradycardia). 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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    4 mins
  • Nursing Exam Prep [NCLEX-RN] 72, Traumatic Brain Injury

    Nursing Exam Prep [NCLEX-RN] 72, Traumatic Brain Injury
    Mar 25 2026
    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 primary and secondary brain injury and why the NCLEX focuses on prevention of secondary injury. • How to interpret the Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) in exam scenarios, recognizing that a small drop in score signifies a neurological emergency. • To identify the subtle, earliest signs of increased intracranial pressure (ICP), such as restlessness, before the onset of late signs like Cushing's Triad. • Key nursing interventions to manage ICP, including patient positioning (HOB at 30 degrees, midline head) and preventing the Valsalva maneuver. • Common NCLEX traps in TBI care, such as improper suctioning techniques and the contraindication of hypotonic fluids. 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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    4 mins