NURSING.com Podcast — NCLEX Prep for Nursing Students

I've been where you are.

During my first semester of nursing school, I walked into a room of 25 students who would be my cohort. As I scanned the faces, a chill ran down my spine. "I'm the only lucky one here," I thought. "Everyone else is so much more prepared. I hope no one discovers how dumb I am." This feeling didn't go away after graduation.

On my first day as a new grad nurse in the Neuro ICU of a large Trauma I hospital in Dallas, I was sweating, out of breath, and utterly convinced I'd slipped through the cracks in the hiring process.

I was certain all the other new nurses had gone to better schools, done better internships, and would survive orientation when I wouldn't.

Visit NURSING.com to find the hope you need right now.

❤️ Happy Nursing!

Jon Haws, RN

The power of four simple words - "You CAN do this" - transformed one nursing student's life from the depths of despair to professional success. This remarkable story of resilience and hope centers on Heather, whose journey illustrates the devastating impact of self-doubt and the life-changing effect of support in healthcare education. Her experience resonates deeply with countless nursing students who face similar struggles, making it a powerful testament to the importance of community and perseverance.

Heather's journey began with her return from Iraq in 2008, where she developed PTSD, setting the stage for future challenges. As she pursued her nursing education, the weight of multiple pressures began to mount. She failed her medical-surgical nursing course by an agonizing 0.2%, while simultaneously grappling with a deteriorating marriage and overwhelming feelings of inadequacy as a parent. The combination of academic struggles and personal turmoil created a perfect storm that pushed her to contemplate suicide.

Find hope at NURSING.com

I still remember the night before my first pharmacology exam. 3 AM. Energy drinks scattered across my desk. Hundreds of flashcards in disorganized piles. My eyes burning from staring at tiny drug names for hours. And the worst part? I knew nothing was sticking. Beta blockers, calcium channel blockers, ACE inhibitors, ARBs—the names swirled together in my mind like alphabet soup. The side effects lists seemed endless. The contraindications felt arbitrary. How was I supposed to memorize this much information? Maybe you've had that same moment. Maybe you're having it right now.

Ready to master nursing pharm? Find all of our resources here: https://nursing.com/sock/

Struggling to stay on track in nursing school or NCLEX prep? This is the plan 300,000+ students have used to pass — with daily structure, Flash Notes™, SIMCLEX®, and a 200% guarantee.

👉 https://nursing.com/

You show up ready to learn. But your preceptor barely looks at you—or worse, tears you down. What do you do when the one person meant to guide you just… won't?

In this episode, we talk about what it really feels like to be stuck with a toxic preceptor—and how to protect your confidence, your learning, and your future as a nurse.

We'll cover:

• 5 red flags your preceptor is hurting more than helping

• How to still grow clinical judgment (without their help)

• What to say if you need to speak up—but don't want to be labeled a "problem"

• A tool that gives you the feedback they're not giving: Clinical Prep Cases

🎯 Start practicing today—no judgment, just growth: nursing.com/awful

Struggling to stay on track in nursing school or NCLEX prep? This is the plan 300,000+ students have used to pass — with daily structure, Flash Notes™, SIMCLEX®, and a 200% guarantee.

👉 https://nursing.com/

I almost walked away from nursing school.

Not because I wasn't cut out for it. Not because I couldn't handle the material. But because I believed the soul-crushing lies that nearly broke me – the same lies that might be breaking you right now.

In this raw, unfiltered episode, I share my personal journey through the darkest moments of nursing school – including the crippling anxiety that forced me to withdraw before my final semester. I reveal how the system is designed to make you feel inadequate, how the "unsafe" label is weaponized against passionate students, and why your struggles aren't signs of weakness but potential sources of strength.

Through tears, brutal honesty, and hard-earned wisdom from helping over 500,000 nursing students, I expose the toxic traditions masquerading as "education" and offer the validation you've been desperately seeking:

• It's not just you. Everyone's crying in their car.
• Your C isn't making you dangerous. Your resilience is making you exceptional.
• The qualities making school hard might make you revolutionary at the bedside.

This isn't just another pep talk. It's permission to reject the lies and embrace your truth – because nursing doesn't just need more nurses. It needs YOUR unique perspective.

Ready to transform your nursing school experience? Visit nursing.com/lies for our FREE guide on overcoming these toxic myths, plus exclusive resources designed specifically for the way YOUR brain learns best.

You aren't just capable of becoming a nurse. You're capable of transforming what nursing can be.

Struggling to stay on track in nursing school or NCLEX prep? This is the plan 300,000+ students have used to pass — with daily structure, Flash Notes™, SIMCLEX®, and a 200% guarantee.

👉 https://nursing.com/

Visit NURSING.com/different for exclusive resources designed specifically for nurses with learning differences.

In this deeply personal episode, Jon Haws, RN and founder of NURSING.com, shares his never-before-told story of withdrawing from nursing school due to crippling anxiety—and how that same anxiety later became his clinical superpower. Jon reveals shocking statistics showing that over 50% of nursing students have learning differences like ADHD, dyslexia, or anxiety, and how traditional nursing education fails these students.

Discover how these "different brains" aren't limitations, but unique advantages that healthcare desperately needs. Jon breaks down the specific strengths that come with ADHD, dyslexia, and anxiety in nursing practice, sharing real stories of nurses who've transformed their cognitive differences into clinical excellence.

This isn't just a survival guide—it's a revolutionary manifesto for transforming nursing education and practice by embracing cognitive diversity. Whether you're struggling through nursing school or thriving in your career, Jon's vulnerable journey will inspire you to see your "different" brain as exactly what nursing needs.

Ready to join the revolution? Visit NURSING.com/different for exclusive resources designed specifically for nurses with learning differences.

Struggling to stay on track in nursing school or NCLEX prep? This is the plan 300,000+ students have used to pass — with daily structure, Flash Notes™, SIMCLEX®, and a 200% guarantee.

👉 https://nursing.com/

SOCK method quiz/cheatsheets/resources at: https://nursing.com/sock

In this raw and revealing episode, Jon Haws, RN, shares his personal journey from pharmacology nightmare to nursing confidence. With vulnerability and humor, Jon recounts his 3 AM study sessions surrounded by scattered flashcards and energy drinks, feeling like a failure as he struggled to memorize endless drug facts that wouldn't stick.

When a simple clinical question about Zofran administration left him frozen, Jon discovered a breakthrough approach that transformed his nursing education. Through heartfelt storytelling and evidence-based insights, Jon introduces the SOCK Method (Side Effects, Organs, Classes/Considerations/Cards, Know) - a framework that replaces overwhelming memorization with meaningful connections and clinical reasoning.

This episode features Jon's signature blend of nursing wisdom, personal struggle, and practical solutions, including a weekly study plan and Nurse Blake-inspired humor that will have you laughing through your pharmacology tears. Whether you're currently drowning in drug cards or looking to strengthen your medication knowledge, Jon's compassionate guidance offers a lifeline for every nursing student who's ever wondered: "Is there something wrong with me?"

Join the nursing family that's putting on their SOCKs and walking confidently toward pharmacology mastery.

Struggling to stay on track in nursing school or NCLEX prep? This is the plan 300,000+ students have used to pass — with daily structure, Flash Notes™, SIMCLEX®, and a 200% guarantee.

👉 https://nursing.com/

See if you might have imposter syndrome: https://nursing.com/imposter

In this deeply personal episode, Jon Haws, RN and founder of NURSING.com, opens up about the universal yet rarely discussed feeling of inadequacy that plagues nursing students everywhere. Drawing from his own journey from self-doubting student to ICU charge nurse, Jon reveals the startling truth: 92% of nursing students feel like "the dumbest person in class" at some point, with 42% experiencing these feelings daily.

This isn't just commiseration—it's a thoughtful exploration of imposter syndrome in nursing education, backed by recent research showing how this psychological phenomenon specifically impacts healthcare students. Jon breaks down why nursing school creates the perfect storm for self-doubt and offers seven evidence-based strategies that helped him move from feeling like a fraud to embracing authentic practice.

Whether you're questioning your place in nursing school, struggling with clinical anxiety, or simply wondering if you're the only one who feels lost in pathophysiology, this episode offers both validation and a practical pathway forward. Jon's vulnerable confessions and compassionate insights remind us that sometimes what feels like incompetence is actually the beginning of wisdom—and that your fears about harming patients might just be evidence that you're exactly the kind of nurse patients need.

#NursingStudent #ImposterSyndrome #NursingEducation #NCLEX #NursingSchool #SelfDoubt #ProfessionalGrowth #MentalHealth

Is nursing still worth it, or is burnout making it impossible to stay in the profession? In this episode, Jon, gets real about the struggles nurses face, sharing his own story of quitting nursing school just 10 weeks before graduation. He breaks down the shocking statistics behind nursing burnout, why it might actually be PTSD, and the hard lessons he learned from hitting rock bottom.

But here's the truth—nursing can still be one of the most rewarding careers IF you take care of yourself. Jon shares six game-changing strategies to prevent burnout, the mindset shifts that saved his career, and why stepping away helped him come back stronger.

If you're questioning whether nursing is right for you—or if you're barely holding on—this episode is for you. Tune in for raw, honest insight into the challenges of nursing, why self-care is non-negotiable, and how to find your path without losing yourself.

• How burnout is wrecking nurses—and patients
• Why quitting nursing school was the best decision Jon ever made
• 6 anti-burnout strategies that actually work

If you're struggling, you're not alone. Listen now and take control of your nursing journey.

Read the blog post here: https://nursing.com/burnout

In this episode, I take you behind the scenes of my unexpected path—from stepping up as a charge nurse to creating a community of thousands of nursing students and professionals. I share how I started by posting my own notes and podcast episodes, only to realize how deeply my story resonated with others struggling through nursing school.

You'll hear how NRSNG rapidly grew, why I left my job in the NEURO ICU, and how I hired a passionate team to meet the skyrocketing demand for our resources. I also recount the exciting leap we made when we rebranded to Nursing.com in early 2020, unveiling an all-in-one platform dedicated to nurses at every stage of their journey.

Plus, I'll give you an inside look at the powerful sense of family and support that blossomed along the way—proving that together, we can change the culture of nursing for the better. Finally, I hint at what was just around the corner: the onset of COVID-19 and how it would impact our evolving mission. Don't miss this heartfelt reflection on building a community that's changing nursing education forever.

Happy Nursing!

-Jon, RN