Nurse Sarah (RegisteredNurseRN.com)

Nursing Student: Meds that CHANGE Urine Color 🟠Orange/Reddish-Orange: Phenazopyridine (UTI) Rifampin (TB) Sulfasalazine (RA or IBD) 🟩Green: Propofol (anesthetic) 🔵🟩Blue-green: Indomethacin (NSAID) Amitriptyline (Tricyclic antidepressant) 🟫Brown: Metronidazole (antibiotic) 🟡🟫 Yellow-brown: Nitrofurantoin (antibiotic) ⚫🟫🔵🟩Brown, black, green, blue: Methocarbamol (muscle relaxant) 🟡Neon Yellow: Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin) *Usually harmless, always rule out blood, dehydration, & liver problems. #nursingschool #nclex #nursingstudent

Adult Numbers to MEMORIZE (Nursing School) Urine = >0.5 mL/kg/hr (~30 mL/hr) Hypoglycemia = <70 mg/dL Bradycardia = <60 bpm Tachycardia = >100 bpm Hypotension: SBP <90 or MAP <65 HTN Crisis: SBP >180 and/or DBP >120 Bradypnea = <12 breaths/min Tachypnea = >20 breaths/min Hypoxia = <95% (COPD <88%) Hypokalemia = <3.5 mEq/L Hyperkalemia = >5 mEq/L Hyponatremia = <135 mEq/L Hypernatremia = >145 mEq/L Ranges vary by context, orders, & protocols #nursingschool #nursing #nurse #nclex

Nursing Students: Endocrine terms to MEMORIZE! Goiter: enlarged thyroid gland Hyperthyroidism: excess thyroid hormone Hypothyroidism: insufficient thyroid hormone Hyperparathyroidism: excess parathyroid hormone Hypopituitarism: Reduced/low pituitary hormone production Hyperglycemia: high blood glucose Hypoglycemia: low blood glucose Diabetes Mellitus: disease that impairs blood sugar regulation Cushing Syndrome: Excess cortisol exposure Addison Disease: Adrenal hormone deficiency Acromegaly: Too much growth hormone Diabetes Insipidus: excessive dilute urination #nursingschool #nursing #nclex #endocrine #anatomy #education #study #nursingnotes #medicalterminology

Median healthcare salaries in the U.S. (2026) per the Bureau of Labor Statistics: Radiation Therapist $105,310 Dental Hygienist $98,100 Registered Nurse $97,550 LPN / LVN $64,400 Respiratory Therapist $82,280 Physician / Surgeon $275,930 Medical Assistant $45,690 Phlebotomist $45,230 Radiologic & MRI Technologist $81,390 Physician Assistant $135,880 Nurse Practitioner $132,300 Occupational Therapist $100,330 Dental Assistant $48,070 Physical Therapist $102,760 EMT/Paramedic $48,150 #salary #healthcare #nursing #nurse #emt #income #nursingschool

Nursing Students: MEMORIZE These Urine Terms! Proteinuria: Protein in the urine Albuminuria: Albumin in the urine Glycosuria: Glucose in the urine Hematuria: Blood in the urine Pyuria: Pus / WBCs in the urine Crystalluria: Crystals in the urine Oliguria: Abnormally low urine output Anuria: Near absence of urine production Polyuria: Excessive urine production Nocturia: Waking during sleep to urinate Dysuria: Painful or difficult urination Incontinence: Involuntary leakage of urine #nursing #nurse #nclex #nursingschool #nursingstudent

Nursing Students: MEMORIZE These Anatomy Numbers! Adult bone count = 206 Newborn bone count = ~270 Pairs of ribs = 12 Heart chambers = 4 Heart valves = 4 Right lung = 3 lobes Left lung = 2 lobes Adult teeth = 32 Primary teeth in kids = 20 Chromosome pairs = 23 Cranial nerves = 12 pairs Save this for Health Assessment! #nursingschool #nursing #nurse #nclex #anatomy #nursesarah #nursingstudent

Respiratory Nursing Terms to Know for Nursing School & NCLEX: Hypoxemia: low oxygen level in the blood Hypoxia: low oxygen in tissues Hypercapnia: high carbon dioxide in the blood Apnea: breathing stops Tachypnea: rapid breathing (>20 breaths per minute in adults) Bradypnea: slow breathing (<12 breaths per minute in adults) Eupnea: breathing is regular (12-20 breaths per minute in adults) Atelectasis: lung tissue is collapsed or not expanding Orthopnea: difficulty breathing while lying flat Kussmaul: deep, rapid, labored breathing #nursing #nurse #nursesarah #nursingschool #rn #lpn #study #education

Nursing Students: MEMORIZE These 4 Types of Wound Drainage Serous = CLEAR Clear or pale yellow fluid made primarily of blood plasma Serosanguineous = PINK Thin, watery, light pink fluid containing serum & blood Sanguineous = RED Drainage consisting of primarily of blood Purulent = PUS Thick, yellow, green, or brown drainage that usually indicates infection TIP: Always monitor the amount, color, consistency, and odor of any drainage! SAVE for your next nursing exam! #nursingschool #NursingStudent

I'm starting a new side hustle making wooden birds after reading about the Kelly Clarkson fiasco...

Nurse salary update (2026) from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (U.S. median salary): Nursing Assistant Salary (CNA): $20.13 per hour; $41,870 per year Licensed Practical Nurse Salary: $30.96 per hour; $64,400 per year Registered Nurse Salary: $46.90 per hour, $97,550 per year Nurse Practitioner Salary: 63.61 per hour; 132,300 per year Nurse Midwife Salary: $64.44 per hour; $134,040 per year Nurse Anesthetist Salary (CRNA): $113.75 per hour; 236,590 per year #salary #income #nurse #nursing #nursesalary #nursingschool

Memorize this for Nursing School: ECG/EKG Waveforms *P Wave = atria contract (atria depolarize) *QRS complex = ventricles contract (ventricles depolarize) --atrial repolarization occurs too but hidden in QRS *T wave = ventricles relax (ventricles repolarize) Remember: Depolarization = CONTRACTION REpolarization = RElaxation #nursing #nursingschool #nurse #ecg #ekg

Antibiotic Classes for Nursing School & NCLEX: Nitroimidazoles = 🚫 ALCOHOL Macrolides = ↑ QT interval (Torsades) Sulfonamides = Stevens-Johnson syndrome & ↑ K+ Aminoglycosides = Kidney/Ear TOXIC Penicillins = allergy Cephalosporins = c. diff & allergy, cross-react w/ PCN Tetracyclines = 🚫 antacids/iron/calcium, photosensitive, 🚫 kids/pregnancy Fluoroquinolones = tendon rupture Vancomycin = infusion reaction (give SLOW) Lincosamides = c.diff risk Linezolid = serotonin syndrome #nursing #nurse #nclex #pharmacology #nursingschool #nursesarah

It's very normal to feel overwhelmed while in nursing school. But a few years from now, you'll look back and be so happy you stuck with it. Don't give up! You're almost there 💜 #nursingschool #nursingstudent

Nursing Student KNOW These 5 Antidotes for Nursing School 1. Warfarin = Vitamin K (warfarin toxicity) 2. Heparin = Protamine sulfate (Heparin toxicity) 3. Opioids = Naloxone (opioid toxicity) 4. Benzodiazepines = Flumazenil (benzo toxicity) 5. Acetaminophen = Acetylcysteine (Tylenol overdose) Save this for your next pharmacology exam! #nursingschool #nursingstudent #nclex

4 "NEVER Do This" Med Rules for Nursing Students -NEVER give potassium IV PUSH -NEVER mix long-acting insulin with any other insulin -NEVER hang blood with any fluid other than 0.9% Normal Saline -NEVER crush time-released or enteric-coated meds #nursing #nursingschool #nurse #nclex #study

DON'T Confuse These Nursing Anatomy Terms! Pronation = palms DOWN Supination = palms UP -Think of the "up" in sUPination Plantarflexion: toes DOWN -feet PLANTED on the floor Dorsiflexion: toes UP toward shin Flexion: DECREASE joint angle (bending) Extension: INCREASE joint angle (straight out) Abduction: AWAY from midline Adduction: TOWARD the midline -ADDing to the body SAVE this for your next anatomy exam! #nursing #nursingschool #nurse #nclex

4 Ostomies Every Nursing Student Must Know! 1. Ileostomy (Ileum) -Output: continuous liquid -Risks: dehydration, electrolyte imbalance, blockage, skin breakdown 2. Jejunostomy (Jejunum) -Main use: feeding via j-tube (rarely fecal diversion) -Risk: skin breakdown 3.Colostomy (Colon) Output: liquid to formed (more solid near rectum) Bowel training: descending/sigmoid can be irrigated 4. Urostomy (Urinary Tract) -Output: continuous urine -Risks: UTI, skin breakdown #nursing #nclex #nursingschool #nurse

5 Cardiac Meds You Gotta Know in Nursing School 1. Digoxin: apical pulse for 1 FULL minute (hold if <60), ↓ K+ = toxicity risk 2. Lisinopril: ACE inhibitor, DRY cough, high K+, angioedema (airway emergency) 3. Nitroglycerin: ↓ BP, treats chest pain, do NOT give with ED meds (sildenafil) 4. Furosemide: Loop diuretic, easy bathroom access (void A LOT), ↓ K+ (may require supplementation), watch I&O's/BP 5. Metoprolol: Beta blocker, ↓ HR & BP, masks tachycardia during hypoglycemia #nursing #nursingschool #nurse #nclex

Don't Confuse These Fowler's Positions in Nursing School Low Fowler's: head of bed 15-30° -sleeping for some patients Semi-Fowler's: HOB 30-45° -Tube feedings to help prevent aspiration Fowler's: HOB 45-60° -Eating, drinking, easier breathing High-Fowler's: HOB 60-90° -NG tube insertion MEMORIZE the HOB ANGLES! Note: Some sources group low and semi-Fowler's together (semi-Fowler's = 15-45°). #nursing #nurse #nclex #nursingschool #nursingstudent

4 Things You MUST-KNOW about Opioids on Pharmacology Exams 1. Check respiratory rate, blood pressure, & level of consciousness -↓ RR, ↓ BP, ↓ LOC, & pinpoint pupils = TOO MUCH opioid 2. Opioid toxicity = give antidote (NALOXONE) 3. Assess pt's bowel movements...can cause constipation! -Stool softeners are helpful to take while taking opioids 4. Know which meds are opioids: Fentanyl (highly potent), Morphine, Tramadol (don't let the name fool you), Oxycodone, Hydromorphone etc. #nursingschool #nursing #nurse #nclex #pharmacology