Different Ways Nurses Can Treat Hyperkalemia Hyperkalemia or elevated serum potassium levels are a common condition ailing patients in the hospital setting. Although, these conditions are widely treated by the use of kayexelate, it’s important to know the other treatment options nurses have when working with hyperkalemic patients. In this podcast Wasim and Marium discuss the different treatment options you have as a nurse. Kayexelate Kayexelate is the most common drug used for hyperkalemic patients, especially in the acute care setting. Although, this is usually the first drug of choice, it does come with it’s drawbacks. IV Insulin and D50 IV Insulin can be used to help correct elevate potassium levels. The insulin works by forcing serum potassium back into the cells, thus decreasing the availability of potassium in the blood stream. The Dextrose push, is required immediately after the administration of Insulin to help control hypoglycemia. Beta-Adrenergic Drugs Albuterol and other nebulizers also help reduce the amount of potassium in the blood stream. They too work by forcing potassium back into intracellular space. These can be given as regular breathing treatments. Sodium Bicarbonate Sodium Bicarb is usually given to patients with renal deficiencies. It too helps reduce the amount of free flowing potassium and can also help correct any acid/base imbalances. For more on this topic follow our page @RealistNurses. You can subscribe to our podcast by visiting our LINK in BIO. You can also: 🔹Find us on Instagram for more awesome nursing content! www.instagram.com/realistnurses 🔹Subscribe to get FREE alerts when full episodes are released! www.therealistrn.com/info 🔹Be up to date on our Weekly podcasts (new episode every THURSDAY) www.therealistrn.com/info 🔹We are also live on Spotify, Anchor, Google Podcasts, ITunes! Just search for The Realist RN. 🔹Like, Comment, and Subscribe for more awesome content from our channel! 🔹Thanks for tuning in!

How To Be More Effective During Codes   Code Blues are unwanted but are an inevitable part of healthcare. Clinicians everywhere are doing awesome work but at times, the adrenaline of the situation can lead to negative outcomes. Below are our TOP 5 TIPS you can use to help make codes and critical medical treatments more effective. 1️⃣𝙎𝙩𝙤𝙥 𝙔𝙚𝙡𝙡𝙞𝙣𝙜 Health care workers are constantly yelling in high-stress situations. Unfortunately, this usually creates a hostile environment in which efficiency plummets. Instead of yelling back and forth at each other focus on keeping everyone calm and highly effective throughout the code. Positioning of vital players in the code team is also important in reducing the amplitude at which a person speaks. 2️⃣𝘾𝙡𝙚𝙖𝙧𝙡𝙮 𝙄𝙙𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙞𝙛𝙮 𝘼 𝙇𝙚𝙖𝙙𝙚𝙧 In many code situations, there is usually a plethora of people. In this sea of people, a clear leader can sometimes be hard to distinguish. It’s important to clearly identify a leader when a patient codes. This leader should remain the same as long as their expertise is within the scope of practice. All new individuals should support the leader rather than looking to take over. 3️⃣𝙏𝙚𝙢𝙥𝙚𝙧 𝙔𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙀𝙜𝙤 There’s nothing more disastrous when someone can’t work within their own means. Understanding your skillset and practicing with modesty helps everyone around you, especially the patient. If you are tired or are unable to perform a task, be willing to state that you need help. It does not make you look bad if you are unable to perform a task. 4️⃣𝘿𝙤𝙣’𝙩 𝙈𝙖𝙠𝙚 𝙊𝙥𝙚𝙣 𝙀𝙣𝙙𝙚𝙙 𝙍𝙚𝙦𝙪𝙚𝙨𝙩𝙨 As a part of the code team, there may be instances in which you need help or need supplies. Clearly point out an individual to retrieve supplies for you or perform vital tasks. NEVER shout out something generally to the entire group. This may only cause further delays. 5️⃣𝙂𝙞𝙫𝙚 𝘾𝙤𝙣𝙨𝙩𝙧𝙪𝙘𝙩𝙞𝙫𝙚 𝙁𝙚𝙚𝙙𝙗𝙖𝙘𝙠 Giving constructive and positive feedback can not only help the situation at hand, but it can also help an individual perform better in the future. Debriefing after a code is a good time to give constructive feedback, or even while a task is being performed. Constantly, look to improve yourself and others around you, this vital trait can drastically improve patient outcomes! You can also:   🔹Find us on Instagram for more awesome nursing content! www.instagram.com/realistnurses   🔹Subscribe to get FREE alerts when full episodes are released! www.therealistrn.com/info   🔹Be up to date on our Weekly podcasts (new episode every THURSDAY) www.therealistrn.com/info   🔹We are also live on Spotify, Anchor, Google Podcasts, Itunes! Just search for The Realist RN.   🔹Like, Comment, and Subscribe for more awesome content from our channel!   🔹Thanks for tuning in!

How to Pass the NCLEX & Land your First Job   The NCLEX has always been the most dreaded and feared part of nursing school! Many new graduate nurses psyche themselves out while prepping for the exam and it can truly come back to haunt them in the future.  In this episode, we discuss the best test-taking strategies for NCLEX success.     Here are our TOP tips:  🔹 HIDE THE CLOCK  🔹 DON'T RAPIDLY GUESS  🔹 READ EACH QUESTION CAREFULLY  🔹TRUST YOUR GUT  🔹 DON'T CHANGE YOUR ANSWER   Listen to the podcast for an in-depth explanation of each tip!    In addition to these tips, we have included ways to get ahead in the interview process.    🔹 Address your cover letter to whom you will be interviewing with. If you don't know who, address it to the HIRING MANAGER or SUPERVISOR.   🔹 Introduce yourself to your Manager/Director prior to your interview, so they can put a face to your name.   🔹 Be open-minded about where you are interviewing, as a new graduate, being less picky is more beneficial to get your feet wet in the nursing world!   Tune in to get more details on the interviewing process and how you can get a leg up on your interviews!    You can also:    🔹Find us on Instagram for more awesome nursing content! www.instagram.com/realistnurses   🔹Subscribe to get FREE alerts when full episodes are released! www.therealistrn.com/info   🔹Weekly podcasts (new episode every THURSDAY) www.therealistrn.com/info   🔹We are also live on Spotify, Anchor, Google Podcasts, Itunes! Just search for The Realist RN.   🔹Like, Comment, and Subscribe for more awesome content from our channel!   Thanks for tuning in!

The Dark Side of Nursing   Healthcare workers are a big part of life for those coming to and departing this world. We work with patients from all walks of life and their families depend on us in their times of need.   In this Episode, Wasim and Marium share some stories of encounters they've had with patients during seemingly ordinary shifts. Inside are a few eerie, hair-raising accounts of how patients sometimes linger after death and how they can sometimes even predict their passing. So grab a blanket, tune-in, and have a listen to this post-Halloween edition of The Shift Report.   You can also:    🔹Find us on Instagram for more awesome nursing content! www.instagram.com/realistnurses   🔹Subscribe to get FREE alerts when full episodes are released! www.therealistrn.com/info   🔹Weekly podcasts (new episode every THURSDAY) www.therealistrn.com/info   🔹We are also live on Spotify, Anchor, Google Podcasts, Itunes! Just search for The Realist RN.   🔹Like, Comment, and Subscribe for more awesome content from our channel!   🔹Thanks for tuning in!

Nursing Abuse in the Workplace    1 out of every 5 American labor workers reports that they have suffered from some sort of abuse or workplace violence. Unfortunately, that statistic holds true for healthcare workers, who tirelessly care for their patients. In fact, the numbers are likely much larger in the health care sector.   Abuse towards nurses specifically, is a growing problem around the country.  Every day nurses are verbally abused, emotionally abused, and physically abused by patients and sometimes even other health care professionals. In this week’s episode, we discuss situations in which we dealt with workplace violence and/or abuse and how we handled those situations. We briefly discuss how to prevent workplace violence/abuse and how you can handle such situations as well.   🔹Find us on Instagram for more awesome nursing content! www.instagram.com/realistnurses   🔹Subscribe to get FREE alerts when full episodes are released! www.therealistrn.com/info   🔹Weekly podcasts (new episode every THURSDAY) www.therealistrn.com/info   🔹We are also live on Spotify, Anchor, Google Podcasts, Itunes! Just search for The Realist RN.   🔹Like, Comment, and Subscribe for more awesome content from our channel!   🔹Thanks for tuning in!

⚡️Dilemmas exist in all facets of life. Some of the biggest dilemmas come when human life and wellness are at risk. Due to this, healthcare workers are typically in the middle of it all!   ⚡️Wasim and Marium discuss dilemmas they have faced, how to handle them, and what you can do to navigate as a nurse!   🔹Subscribe to get FREE alerts when full episodes are released! www.therealistrn.com/info   🔹Weekly podcasts (new episode every THURSDAY) www.therealistrn.com/info   🔹We are also live on Spotify, Anchor, Google Podcasts, Itunes! Just search for The Realist RN.  🔹Like, Comment, and Subscribe for more awesome content from our channel!   🔹Thanks for tuning in!

Episode 2: Trusting yourself and your internal voice can save you in a lot of situations! As nurses in healthcare, we tend to dismiss our abilities and fall prey to the opinions of others. Which in turn can put us and our patients in compromising positions!   This week Wasim and Marium discuss a specific situation that got dicey and how YOU can avoid putting yourself in challenging situations!    Subscribe to our Channel for more awesome content! Or sign up for our FREE alerts! www.therealistrn.com/info   Weekly podcasts (new episode every THURSDAY) will be posted on our blog @ www.therealistrn.com/podcast   We are also live on Spotify, Google Podcasts, and Apple Podcasts! Just search for The Realist RN.   Like, Comment and Subscribe for more awesome content from our channel!    Thanks for tuning in!

Episode 2: Marium and Wasim discuss what makes preceptors effective, 3 tips that can improve your precepting technique, and how the nursing profession can improve as a whole when it comes to education and training.    Read Marium's  in-depth blog post @ HERE Weekly podcasts (new episode every THURSDAY) will be posted on our blog @ https://therealistrn.com/podcast/  We are also live on Spotify, Anchor, Google Podcasts! Just search for The Realist RN.   Check back on our website to read about upcoming podcasts and sign up for alerts @ https://therealistrn.com  Follow us on Instagram @ https://www.instagram.com/realistrn/  Like, Comment and Subscribe for more awesome content from our channel!     Thanks for tuning in!

Episode 2: Wasim discusses how proning can save lives and the science behind why it works. He also delves into his life as a patient (with COVID) and how it impacted his daily life. Join us every Thursday for a hot new topic in nursing and sign up for our free alerts whenever a new podcast goes live! @ https://therealistrn.com/podcast/ Prefer the written version of this topic? Read Wasim’s complete blog post @ https://therealistrn.com/proning/ Follow us on Instagram @ https://www.instagram.com/realistrn/ Prefer the Audio Only version? Find us on all platforms below.  Spotify Google Podcasts PocketCasts Breaker Anchor Like, Comment and Subscribe for more awesome content from our channel! Remember to always seek the advice of a physician before practicing or implementing any treatment modality discussed on this podcast! Safety first! Thanks for tuning in!

Episode 1: Marium discusses the ever-changing hospital setting during a pandemic, the challenges of TEAM NURSING, and how it impacted her nursing care. Tune in to find out why patient ratios were WILD and how she coped with new hurdles. How are patient ratios for you during this time? Leave feedback and insight into what has or hasn't worked for you! Read her in-depth blog post @ https://www.therealistrn.com/pros-cons-team-nursing/   Weekly podcasts (new episode every THURSDAY) will be posted on our blog @ https://www.therealistrn.com/podcast/   Check back on our website to read about upcoming podcasts and sign up for alerts @ https://www.therealistrn.com   Follow us on Instagram @ https://www.instagram.com/realistrn/   Like, Comment and Subscribe for more awesome content from our channel!    Thanks for tuning in!