In this Pediatrics episode, we walk through Chapter 7, which focuses on health promotion and the physiologic adaptation of the newborn during the transition to extrauterine life. We’ll review immediate newborn adjustments involving the respiratory and circulatory systems, along with thermoregulation, fluid and electrolyte balance, and the function of major body systems in the neonatal period. You’ll also hear an overview of newborn assessment, including Apgar scoring, gestational age assessment, vital signs, reflexes, and physical examination findings, as well as nursing interventions that support safe adaptation and family-centered care. This episode provides a detailed, exam-focused review to help nursing students understand normal newborn physiology and the nurse’s role in promoting healthy outcomes for both the newborn and family.

Source: All information in this podcast is based on Wong’s Essentials of Pediatric Nursing, Chapter 7  

In this Pediatrics episode, we walk through Chapter 6, which focuses on childhood communicable and infectious diseases and the nurse’s role in prevention, assessment, and management. We’ll review principles of infection control, including standard precautions, transmission-based precautions, and proper hand hygiene to reduce the spread of disease. You’ll also hear an overview of common pediatric infectious diseases, immunization schedules, vaccine administration, contraindications, and strategies to support families with vaccine education and safety. This episode provides a comprehensive, exam-focused review to help nursing students understand how infectious diseases affect children and how nurses promote protection and public health across pediatric care settings.

In this Pediatrics episode, we walk through Chapter 5, which focuses on the assessment and management of pain in infants, children, and adolescents. We’ll review how nurses assess pain using behavioral, self-report, and multidimensional pain scales, including age-appropriate tools such as FLACC, Wong-Baker FACES, numeric rating scales, and pain assessment methods for nonverbal and cognitively impaired children. You’ll also hear an overview of nonpharmacologic and pharmacologic pain management strategies, including comfort measures, distraction, family involvement, and the safe use of analgesic medications. This episode provides a comprehensive, exam-focused review to help nursing students understand how to effectively assess and manage pediatric pain across clinical settings.

Source: All information in this podcast is based on Wong’s Essentials of Pediatric Nursing, Chapter 5  

In this Pediatrics episode, we walk through Chapter 4, which focuses on effective communication and physical assessment techniques when caring for children and their families. We’ll review principles of therapeutic communication, interviewing strategies, and age-appropriate approaches for interacting with infants, children, and adolescents. You’ll also hear how nurses adapt assessment techniques based on developmental stage, cultural considerations, and family dynamics, including the use of play, observation, and anticipatory guidance. This episode provides a practical, exam-focused review to help nursing students build confidence in pediatric assessment and family-centered care.

Source: All information in this podcast is based on Wong’s Essentials of Pediatric Nursing, Chapter 4  

In this Pediatrics episode, we walk through Chapter 3, which focuses on how growth, development, and genetic factors influence child health promotion across the lifespan. We’ll review foundational concepts of growth and development, including developmental stages, patterns and principles of growth, and individual variations among children. You’ll also hear an overview of major developmental theories, such as Freud, Erikson, Piaget, and Kohlberg, along with the role of temperament, play, and self-concept in childhood development. This episode provides a thorough yet focused review to help nursing students understand how developmental and genetic influences shape pediatric care and clinical decision-making.

Source: All information in this podcast is based on Wong’s Essentials of Pediatric Nursing, Chapter 3  

In this Pediatrics episode, we walk through Chapter 2, which focuses on how social, cultural, religious, and family factors influence child health promotion and nursing care. We’ll review different definitions and structures of families, including nuclear, blended, single-parent, extended, and nontraditional families, and discuss how family dynamics affect a child’s health and development. You’ll also hear about key family theories, parenting styles, discipline strategies, and the nurse’s role in supporting families through stress, transitions, and crisis situations. This episode provides a clear, comprehensive review to help nursing students understand family-centered pediatric care and apply these concepts in both clinical practice and exams.

Source: All information in this podcast is based on Wong’s Essentials of Pediatric Nursing, Chapter 2  

In this Pediatrics episode, we walk through Chapter 1, which introduces the foundations of pediatric nursing and the unique principles that guide care for children and their families. We’ll review key concepts such as family-centered care, atraumatic care, health promotion, disease prevention, and the nurse’s role in advocacy and ethical decision-making. You’ll also hear how developmental stages, social factors, and health disparities shape pediatric care, along with how nurses support physical, emotional, and psychosocial well-being across childhood. It’s a clear, focused introduction to pediatric nursing that helps build a strong foundation for future chapters and clinical practice. 

Source: All information in this podcast is based on Wong’s Essentials of Pediatric Nursing

This Week 5 review covers a wide range of complications that can arise during pregnancy, with a focus on assessment, medical and nursing management, and discharge teaching. Guided by Professor Ureno’s materials, we’ll review high-risk concerns like preterm labor, PROM, chorioamnionitis, incompetent cervix, and multiple gestations. You’ll also get an overview of complex conditions such as hyperemesis gravidarum, cholestasis, hypertensive disorders (including preeclampsia and HELLP), diabetes, placenta abnormalities, and infections like STIs, TORCH, and Group B Strep. Medications like magnesium sulfate, corticosteroids, and insulin are discussed alongside nursing priorities and client education. This is your one-stop review for managing maternal complications and ensuring safe outcomes for both patient and baby.

🩺 For Anyone About to Start Core – Stuff That Actually Helped Me

Starting core can be overwhelming, so I wanted to share a list of things I got that I’ve actually used throughout the program. None of this is required.

Clinical Essentials

Hand sanitizer (always keep one on you) https://amzn.to/4rgy62X

Penlight (neuro checks, pupil assessments) https://amzn.to/4qzr0GE

Badge Setup

Student nurse badge (vertical) https://amzn.to/4qBMLFL

Badge reference cards (vertical) https://amzn.to/4qF5wbl

Student nurse badge (horizontal) https://amzn.to/4jZFIV2

Badge reference cards (horizontal) https://amzn.to/4sWxcdk

Clinical Tools

Foldable clipboard (absolute must for clinicals) https://amzn.to/4jUwvNy

Pen/pencil combo https://amzn.to/4k4ZcaY

Clinical report notepad https://amzn.to/3ZxaET2

Mini sharpies https://amzn.to/4bXP5Cq

Mini highlighters https://amzn.to/4pUp9LD

Stethoscope

Littmann stethoscope (used every semester) https://amzn.to/4reKtMR

Study Help

Level Up RN flashcards set (great for quick reviews)

https://amzn.to/4qJ3CXo

Everyone has different preferences, but these items stayed useful for me from the start of core through the program. Hope this helps make the transition a little smoother. Good luck, you’ve got this 💙🩺

In this episode, we review how to assess fetal well-being during labor using both noninvasive and invasive methods. Starting with Leopold maneuvers to determine fetal position, we then break down intermittent auscultation and continuous electronic fetal monitoring—including when to use each and how to interpret what you see and hear. You’ll learn how to classify fetal heart rate patterns, evaluate uterine contractions, and apply the right interventions for both reassuring and nonreassuring signs. We also cover internal fetal monitoring, including its benefits, risks, and nursing responsibilities. This episode is essential for anyone prepping for clinical decision-making in labor and delivery.

This episode focuses on pain management strategies during labor, based on ATI Chapter 12. We break down the different types of pain experienced in each stage of labor—from visceral and somatic pain to tissue trauma—and how anxiety and fear can affect labor progression. You’ll learn how to assess pain effectively using both verbal reports and nonverbal cues, and how to support patients with non-pharmacological methods like breathing, massage, positioning, and imagery. We also cover pharmacological options, including sedatives, opioids, epidurals, and spinal anesthesia—highlighting indications, side effects, and the nursing responsibilities that come with each. This is a critical review for keeping labor safe, supportive, and patient-centered.