LEVEL UP NURSE SQUAD All of the nurses at Level Up RN are here to help! Cathy Parkes started helping her fellow classmates back when she was in nursing school, tutoring so they could pass their exams and graduate. After she got her BSN and started working as an RN at Scripps Encinitas Hospital, she started this YouTube channel to help nursing students around the world. Since then she has built a team of top-notch dedicated nurses and nurse educators who are focused on improving nursing education and supporting career advancement for nurses everywhere. With flashcards, videos, courses, organiza
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1:2789 views · today · 1:27
In this episode of Ask Nurse Cathy, she answers a question from our community about treating a stage 2 pressure sore. Have a question you'd like Cathy to answer in a future episode? Leave it in the comments! Our Flashcards are available at
6:013K views · 2d ago · 6:01
Guest: Oral Anticoagulants
Cathy discusses warfarin (brand name Coumadin). She explains what warfarin is used to treat, warfarin's mode of action, key side effects of warfarin, laboratory monitoring that is necessary during warfarin therapy, and why patients are often put on heparin and warfarin at the same time in the hospital. Cathy also discusses nursing care and patient teaching when caring for a patient receiving warfarin.
Topics: Indications · Mode of Action · Side Effects · Nursing Care · Patient Teaching · Quiz Time!
3:023K views · 7d ago · 3:02
Can skills from a computer science career help you succeed in nursing? A viewer asked Cathy about the similarities between the two fields and the differences she experienced when transitioning from IT management to nursing.
6:412K views · 9d ago · 6:41
Cathy discusses heparin and enoxaparin, which are anticoagulants. She explains the route of administration for heparin and enoxaparin, what these medications are used to treat, and the mode of action of heparin. Cathy then discusses the key side effects of these medications, including a discussion of heparin induced thrombocytopenia (HIT). She explains monitoring of aPTT levels while a patient is taking heparin.
Topics: Routes & Indications · Mode of Action · Key Side Effects & Black Box Warning · Monitoring · Nursing Care & Patient Teaching · Quiz Time!
4:073K views · 16d ago · 4:07
Cathy discusses the medication atropine, which is an anticholinergic or antimuscarinic agent. She discusses what arrhythmias and conditions are treated by atropine, along with the mode of action of atropine. She also explains key side effects of atropine, along with important patient teaching to provide to a patient taking atropine. At the end of the video, Cathy provides a quiz to test your understanding of some of the key facts she presented in the video.
Topics: Indications · Mode of Action · Side Effects · Patient Teaching · Quiz Time!
4:071K views · 18d ago · 4:07
Did you know Cathy went to nursing school around age 40 after already earning a degree in engineering? Nursing was her second career! In this video, Cathy shares her personal experience going back to school as an older student, including The advantages of having more discipline and life experience Balancing nursing school with family and other responsibilities Managing school and work How her age and life experience helped during clinicals The importance of…
1:471K views · 21d ago · 1:47
Ask Nurse Cathy: How Can CNA Experience Help as a New Grad RN? What can you learn from working as a CNA before becoming a nurse? In this video, Cathy shares her experience working as a patient transporter and compares what she learned in that role with what her coworkers learned as CNAs. She explains how hands-on experience with patients, teamwork, and the healthcare environment can be valuable when transitioning into your first nursing job.
3:472K views · 23d ago · 3:47
Cathy discusses adenosine, which is an antiarrhythmic. She explains which types of arrhythmias adenosine is used to treat, adenosine's mode of action, and common side effects of adenosine. Cathy also explains important nursing care and patient teaching when caring for a patient who will receive adenosine. At the end of the video, she provides a quiz, so you can test your knowledge of some of the key facts from the video.
Topics: Indications · Mode of Action · Side Effects · Nursing Care · Quiz Time!
4:423K views · 1mo ago · 4:42
Guest: Class III Antiarrhythmics
In this video, Cathy discusses amiodarone, which is a Class III antiarrhythmic. She explains which arrhythmias amiodarone is used to treat, the mode of action of Class III antiarrhythmics, and key side effects of the drug class (including black box warnings). Cathy also discusses important monitoring that needs to be done through therapy, along with patient teaching for individuals who will be taking amiodarone ongoing for management of their arrhythmia.
Topics: Indications · Mode of Action · Side Effects · Patient Teaching · Quiz Time!
1:142K views · 1mo ago · 1:14
Guest: Ask Nurse Cathy
What is a 24-Hour Urine Collection? A 24-hour urine collection is a diagnostic test that requires urine to be collected over a full 24-hour period. But how does the collection actually work? Watch as Cathy answers what a 24-hour urine collection is, why it may be ordered, and how the collection is performed.
4:344K views · 1mo ago · 4:34
Cathy discusses sodium channel blockers, which are class I antiarrhythmics. Medications in this drug class include procainimide, lidocaine, and flecainide. Cathy discusses which arrhythmias are treated with sodium channel blockers, the mode of action of sodium channel blockers, and key adverse effects of medications in this drug class. In addition, she discusses important nursing care when a patient is administered a sodium channel blocker.
Topics: Indications · Mode of Action · Side Effects · Nursing Care · Quiz Time!
1:131K views · 1mo ago · 1:13
Ask Nurse Cathy - Why Toenail Care Gets Trickier as You Age! As we get older, cutting our own toenails can become more difficult and potentially riskier. Changes in flexibility, vision, and nail thickness can make safely trimming your toenails more challenging. Cathy explains why regular professional toenail care with a podiatrist may be a good option as you age.
4:013K views · 1mo ago · 4:01
Guest: Cardiac Glycosides
Cathy discusses digoxin, which is a cardiac glycoside. She explains what digoxin is used to treat, the mode of action of digoxin, and side effects of digoxin. Cathy also discusses nursing care and patient teaching when taking care of patient who is prescribed digoxin. At the end of the video, she provides a quiz so you can test your understanding of some of the key points from the video.
Topics: Indications & Mode of Action · Side Effects · Nursing Care · Quiz Time!
10:153K views · 1mo ago · 10:15
Guest: Inpatient Safety
Meris reviews the basics of inpatient safety, including fire safety (i.e., RACE, PASS), equipment malfunction, chemical exposure, tornadoes, and bomb threats. Be sure to stay until the end to test your knowledge of key facts provided in this video with our quiz questions!
Topics: Fire Safety: RACE · Fire Safety: PASS · Equipment Malfunction · Chemical Exposure · Tornado · Bomb Threat
6:214K views · 1mo ago · 6:21
Cathy discusses nonselective beta blockers such as propranolol, labetalol, and carvedilol. She explains indications for nonselective beta blockers, the mode of action of nonselective beta blockers, and key side effects of nonselective beta blockers. Cathy also discusses nursing care and patient teaching when caring for a patient taking a nonselective beta blocker.
Topics: Indications · Mode of Action · Contraindications · Side Effects · Nursing Care · Quiz Time!
8:553K views · 1mo ago · 8:55
Meris reviews the types of immunity (i.e., active natural, active artificial, passive natural, passive artificial), illnesses (i.e., acute and chronic), and risk factors (i.e., modifiable or nonmodifiable). Be sure to stay until the end to test your knowledge of key facts provided in this video with our quiz questions!
Topics: Types of Immunity · Active Immunity · Passive Immunity · Types of Illness · Quiz Time!
5:436K views · 1mo ago · 5:43
Cathy discusses beta 1 blockers, which include medications such as metoprolol and atenolol. She explains indications for beta 1 blockers, the mode of action of beta 1 blockers, and the difference between beta 1 blockers and nonselective beta blockers. Cathy also discusses key side effects of beta 1 blockers, along with nursing care and patient teaching when caring for a patient taking a beta 1 blocker.
Topics: Indications · Mode of Action · Side Effects · Nursing Care · Patient Teaching · Quiz Time!
8:285K views · 2mo ago · 8:28
Meris reviews the chain of infection (i.e., infectious agent, reservoir, portal of exit, mode of transmission, portal of entry, susceptible host) along with the stages of infection (i.e., incubation, prodromal, illness, and convalescence). Be sure to stay until the end to test your knowledge of key facts provided in this video with our quiz questions!
Topics: Chain of Infection · Stages of Infection · Quiz Time!
4:075K views · 2mo ago · 4:07
Cathy discusses clonidine, which is a centrally acting alpha 2 agonist. She discusses the difference between clonidine and clozapine, which look VERY similar. Cathy then explains the mode of action of clonidine and key side effects of clonidine. She then discusses nursing care and patient teaching when caring for a patient taking clonidine. At the end of the video, Cathy provides a quiz, so you can test your understanding of some of the key facts she presented in the video.
Topics: Indications · Mode of Action · Side Effects · Patient Teaching · Quiz Time!
4:126K views · 2mo ago · 4:12
In this video, Cathy discusses calcium channel blockers, which includes medications such as amlodipine, verapamil, nifedipine, and diltiazem. She explains what conditions are treated by calcium channel blockers, the mode of action of calcium channel blockers, and key side effects of calcium channel blockers. Cathy also discusses nursing care and patient teaching when caring for a patient taking a calcium channel blocker.
Topics: Indications · Mode of Action · Side Effects · Nursing Care · Patient Teaching · Quiz Time!
10:546K views · 2mo ago · 10:54
Guest: Patient Positions
Meris reviews the different types of patient positions. She covers the following positions: supine, prone, semi-Fowler's, Fowler's, high-Fowler's, lateral, modified left lateral recumbent (aka "Sims position"), trendelenburg, reverse trendelenburg, and lithotomy. Be sure to stay until the end to test your knowledge of key facts provided in this video!
Topics: Supine · Prone · Fowler's Positions · Lateral · Modified Left Lateral Recumbent · Trendelenburg & Reverse Trendelenburg
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