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Nursing & Healthcare Exam Prep

Ran Chen, EA, CFP®

Nursing & Healthcare Exam Prep is a daily podcast designed to help future nurses and healthcare professionals pass their licensing and admission exams with clarity and confidence.

Built and operated by OpenExamPrep, this podcast breaks down major nursing and healthcare exams into focused, easy-to-digest episodes covering NCLEX-RN, NCLEX-PN, CNA certification, and ATI TEAS, across national exam standards and applicable state-level requirements. Each episode targets one key concept, common exam trap, or high-frequency test topic—making it ideal for studying during commutes, workouts, or short study sessions.

Created by Ran Chen, EA, CFP®, a financial professional and exam specialist who has personally passed multiple professional licensing exams, Nursing & Healthcare Exam Prep was developed from firsthand experience with how challenging—and often poorly structured—exam preparation can be. The goal is simple: make nursing and healthcare exam prep clearer, more accessible, and more effective through structured explanations and modern learning tools. Whether you’re preparing for the NCLEX-RN, NCLEX-PN, CNA, or ATI TEAS, just starting your healthcare education journey, or reviewing before test day, this podcast is designed to guide you step by step—one concept at a time.

Free practice tools, AI-powered explanations, and additional exam prep resources are available at: https://open-exam-prep.com/

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  • Yesterday · 2 min

    NHA CCMA Exam Prep 94, Cardiac Conduction and EKG Fundamentals

    This podcast is made by Ran Chen, who holds an EA license, Insurance and Securities licenses (Series 6, 63, 65), and the CFP® designation. He is passionate about opening access to high-quality exam preparation resources and helping learners prepare more effectively for professional certification exams. In this episode you will learn: - The precise electrical pathway of the heart, from the SA node to the Purkinje fibers. - How the P wave, QRS complex, and T wave on an EKG correspond to atrial depolarization, ventricular depolarization, and ventricular repolarization. - The critical distinction between the medical assistant's role of performing a quality EKG and the provider's role of interpreting the results. - How to identify common exam traps that test your scope of practice by asking you to diagnose cardiac conditions. - A simple mnemonic—Send A Big Pulse—to easily recall the order of the cardiac conduction system. For more free exam prep tools, practice questions, and AI-powered explanations, visit https://open-exam-prep.com/ or YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@Open-exam-prep

  • Friday · 3 min

    NHA CCMA Exam Prep 93, CLIA-Waived Testing Quality Control and Errors

    This podcast is made by Ran Chen, who holds an EA license, Insurance and Securities licenses (Series 6, 63, 65), and the CFP® designation. He is passionate about opening access to high-quality exam preparation resources and helping learners prepare more effectively for professional certification exams. In this episode you will learn: - Why the term 'CLIA-waived' is a common exam trap and the absolute importance of following manufacturer's instructions. - The correct procedure for using and documenting quality control materials when opening new test kits or lot numbers. - Critical steps for corrective action, including stopping all patient testing, when a quality control run is invalid. - The foundational rule of never reporting patient results if quality control measures have failed. - The I-C-D-A mnemonic (Instructions, Controls, Document, Act) to recall the proper quality control workflow during the exam. For more free exam prep tools, practice questions, and AI-powered explanations, visit https://open-exam-prep.com/ or YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@Open-exam-prep

  • Thursday · 3 min

    NHA CCMA Exam Prep 92, Pregnancy Strep and Rapid Diagnostic Tests

    This podcast is made by Ran Chen, who holds an EA license, Insurance and Securities licenses (Series 6, 63, 65), and the CFP® designation. He is passionate about opening access to high-quality exam preparation resources and helping learners prepare more effectively for professional certification exams. In this episode you will learn: - To always confirm a valid provider's order before performing any CLIA-waived test. - Why specimen quality is critical, such as using a first-morning void for a urine pregnancy test or proper swabbing technique for a rapid strep test. - The importance of adhering to the exact timing window specified by the test kit manufacturer to prevent invalid results. - That a visible control line is mandatory for a test to be valid; if it's absent, the test must be repeated. - A CCMA's role is to document results and notify the provider, not to interpret the results for the patient. For more free exam prep tools, practice questions, and AI-powered explanations, visit https://open-exam-prep.com/ or YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@Open-exam-prep

  • Wednesday · 3 min

    NHA CCMA Exam Prep 91, Point-of-Care Glucose Testing

    This podcast is made by Ran Chen, who holds an EA license, Insurance and Securities licenses (Series 6, 63, 65), and the CFP® designation. He is passionate about opening access to high-quality exam preparation resources and helping learners prepare more effectively for professional certification exams. In this episode you will learn: - The critical first step of using two identifiers for patient verification and how it's tested. - Why ensuring an alcohol-cleansed site is completely dry is a common exam question. - How to correctly respond to out-of-range quality control tests before patient use. - The immediate action required for a critical glucose value, which is a major safety topic on the exam. - Key elements of proper documentation and troubleshooting common glucometer errors. For more free exam prep tools, practice questions, and AI-powered explanations, visit https://open-exam-prep.com/ or YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@Open-exam-prep

  • Tuesday · 2 min

    NHA CCMA Exam Prep 90, Urine Collection and Urinalysis Basics

    This podcast is made by Ran Chen, who holds an EA license, Insurance and Securities licenses (Series 6, 63, 65), and the CFP® designation. He is passionate about opening access to high-quality exam preparation resources and helping learners prepare more effectively for professional certification exams. In this episode you will learn: - The most critical instruction for a 24-hour urine collection is to discard the first morning specimen before starting the clock. - A clean-catch midstream collection requires specific cleansing and collecting the middle portion of the urine stream to avoid contamination. - Each pad on a urinalysis reagent strip has a precise read time; incorrect timing leads to inaccurate, clinically invalid results. - Urine specimens must be refrigerated or tested within one hour of collection to prevent bacterial overgrowth and chemical changes. - Reportable urinalysis findings like positive nitrites, leukocyte esterase, glucose, or ketones must be promptly communicated to the provider. For more free exam prep tools, practice questions, and AI-powered explanations, visit https://open-exam-prep.com/ or YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@Open-exam-prep

  • Monday · 4 min

    NHA CCMA Exam Prep 89, Specimen Storage Transport and Rejection

    This podcast is made by Ran Chen, who holds an EA license, Insurance and Securities licenses (Series 6, 63, 65), and the CFP® designation. He is passionate about opening access to high-quality exam preparation resources and helping learners prepare more effectively for professional certification exams. In this episode you will learn: - How to properly handle and transport temperature-sensitive (ammonia) and light-sensitive (bilirubin) specimens. - The most common causes of specimen rejection, including hemolysis, insufficient quantity (QNS), and clotting. - Why using the wrong collection tube invalidates test results and is a critical error on the exam. - A memorable phrase, 'QUIT Your CLAMS,' to recall the top reasons for specimen rejection. - The correct procedure for documenting a rejected specimen and professionally communicating the need for a recollection. For more free exam prep tools, practice questions, and AI-powered explanations, visit https://open-exam-prep.com/ or YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@Open-exam-prep

  • November 1 · 3 min

    NHA CCMA Exam Prep 88, Centrifugation Aliquoting and Processing

    This podcast is made by Ran Chen, who holds an EA license, Insurance and Securities licenses (Series 6, 63, 65), and the CFP® designation. He is passionate about opening access to high-quality exam preparation resources and helping learners prepare more effectively for professional certification exams. In this episode you will learn: - Why serum tubes must clot for 30-60 minutes before centrifugation to prevent fibrin interference. - The critical importance of balancing the centrifuge with an equally weighted tube to ensure safety and sample integrity. - How to correctly label an aliquot tube with all required patient and specimen identifiers before transferring the sample. - The proper technique for aliquoting using a pipette to avoid remixing cellular components with serum or plasma. - Key safety precautions to minimize aerosol production when opening specimen tubes. For more free exam prep tools, practice questions, and AI-powered explanations, visit https://open-exam-prep.com/ or YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@Open-exam-prep

  • October 31 · 3 min

    NHA CCMA Exam Prep 87, Bedside Labeling and Chain of Custody

    This podcast is made by Ran Chen, who holds an EA license, Insurance and Securities licenses (Series 6, 63, 65), and the CFP® designation. He is passionate about opening access to high-quality exam preparation resources and helping learners prepare more effectively for professional certification exams. In this episode you will learn: - To always label specimens immediately at the bedside in the patient's presence and to never pre-label tubes before collection. - That a specimen label must include at least two patient identifiers, the date and time of collection, and the collector's initials. - That any error found on a specimen label requires the specimen to be discarded and a complete redraw to be performed. - That chain of custody is a legal process requiring photo ID verification, tamper-evident seals, and meticulous documentation of every handoff. - That a broken seal or an unattended specimen invalidates the chain of custody and represents an incorrect action on an exam question. For more free exam prep tools, practice questions, and AI-powered explanations, visit https://open-exam-prep.com/ or YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@Open-exam-prep

  • October 30 · 3 min

    NHA CCMA Exam Prep 86, Blood Cultures and Sterile Collection

    This podcast is made by Ran Chen, who holds an EA license, Insurance and Securities licenses (Series 6, 63, 65), and the CFP® designation. He is passionate about opening access to high-quality exam preparation resources and helping learners prepare more effectively for professional certification exams. In this episode you will learn: - The critical importance of a 30-second friction scrub with chlorhexidine and complete air-drying to prevent contamination. - Why the aerobic bottle must be filled first when using a butterfly needle—a common exam trap. - How to correctly handle insufficient blood volumes to avoid false-negative results. - The non-negotiable procedure for labeling blood culture specimens at the patient's bedside to ensure patient safety. - A memorable mental shortcut, "Air goes in Aerobic," to recall the correct order of draw based on the collection device. For more free exam prep tools, practice questions, and AI-powered explanations, visit https://open-exam-prep.com/ or YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@Open-exam-prep

  • October 29 · 2 min

    NHA CCMA Exam Prep 85, Pediatric and Infant Specimen Collection

    This podcast is made by Ran Chen, who holds an EA license, Insurance and Securities licenses (Series 6, 63, 65), and the CFP® designation. He is passionate about opening access to high-quality exam preparation resources and helping learners prepare more effectively for professional certification exams. In this episode you will learn: - Master the correct heel puncture sites—medial and lateral plantar surfaces—to avoid hitting the calcaneus bone. - Memorize the maximum puncture depth for infants (2.0 mm) and the proper heel warming technique (3-5 minutes). - Understand the critical steps for newborn screening collection, including wiping the first drop and completely saturating the filter paper circles to prevent specimen rejection. - Recognize the risk of iatrogenic anemia from excessive blood draws in infants, a key safety concept on the exam. - Utilize parents and caregivers for both patient identification and comfort, a vital safety and procedural step. For more free exam prep tools, practice questions, and AI-powered explanations, visit https://open-exam-prep.com/ or YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@Open-exam-prep

  • October 28 · 3 min

    NHA CCMA Exam Prep 84, Capillary Puncture Technique and Order of Draw

    This podcast is made by Ran Chen, who holds an EA license, Insurance and Securities licenses (Series 6, 63, 65), and the CFP® designation. He is passionate about opening access to high-quality exam preparation resources and helping learners prepare more effectively for professional certification exams. In this episode you will learn: - The correct capillary puncture sites for infants (heel) versus adults (finger) to avoid common exam errors. - Why you must always wipe away the first drop of blood to prevent contamination from tissue fluid. - The critical capillary order of draw is different from venipuncture, prioritizing EDTA tubes to prevent platelet clumping. - How to use the mnemonic "Every Little Goat Sings" to remember the capillary draw order: EDTA, Light Green/Green, Gray, and Serum tubes. - Why squeezing or "milking" the puncture site is a major error that leads to hemolysis and inaccurate test results. For more free exam prep tools, practice questions, and AI-powered explanations, visit https://open-exam-prep.com/ or YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@Open-exam-prep

  • October 27 · 4 min

    NHA CCMA Exam Prep 83, Difficult Draws and Unsuccessful Attempts

    This podcast is made by Ran Chen, who holds an EA license, Insurance and Securities licenses (Series 6, 63, 65), and the CFP® designation. He is passionate about opening access to high-quality exam preparation resources and helping learners prepare more effectively for professional certification exams. In this episode you will learn: - How to identify and manage difficult veins such as small, rolling, sclerosed, or deep veins on the NHA CCMA exam. - Key interventions for difficult draws, including the use of warm compresses and proper patient positioning to improve vein prominence. - When to select a winged infusion set (butterfly needle) for patients with fragile or small veins, a common exam scenario. - The critical two-attempt rule for venipuncture and the appropriate steps to take after unsuccessful attempts. - How to make specimen-priority decisions in challenging situations by considering clinical urgency over the standard order of draw. For more free exam prep tools, practice questions, and AI-powered explanations, visit https://open-exam-prep.com/ or YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@Open-exam-prep

  • October 26 · 3 min

    NHA CCMA Exam Prep 82, Venipuncture Complications and Patient Reactions

    This podcast is made by Ran Chen, who holds an EA license, Insurance and Securities licenses (Series 6, 63, 65), and the CFP® designation. He is passionate about opening access to high-quality exam preparation resources and helping learners prepare more effectively for professional certification exams. In this episode you will learn: - The immediate action for a hematoma is to stop the draw, remove the tourniquet and needle, and apply firm pressure. - For syncope or seizures, the top priority is patient safety, requiring you to stop the procedure and protect the patient from injury. - A patient's report of sharp, electric-like pain indicates a nerve hit, which necessitates immediate needle withdrawal and documentation. - Bright red, pulsating blood signifies an arterial puncture, requiring at least five minutes of firm pressure and escalation. - The mnemonic "STOP PAD" (Stop, Tourniquet off, Out with needle, Protect, Apply pressure, Document) outlines the critical sequence for managing venipuncture complications. For more free exam prep tools, practice questions, and AI-powered explanations, visit https://open-exam-prep.com/ or YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@Open-exam-prep

  • October 25 · 2 min

    NHA CCMA Exam Prep 81, Tube Filling Mixing and Specimen Integrity

    This podcast is made by Ran Chen, who holds an EA license, Insurance and Securities licenses (Series 6, 63, 65), and the CFP® designation. He is passionate about opening access to high-quality exam preparation resources and helping learners prepare more effectively for professional certification exams. In this episode you will learn: - The critical 9:1 blood-to-anticoagulant ratio in light blue (sodium citrate) tubes and why underfilling leads to rejected specimens for coagulation studies. - The difference between gentle inversion (8-10 times for most additive tubes) and vigorous shaking, which causes hemolysis. - The requirement for serum tubes (SST) to clot completely, typically for 30-60 minutes, before centrifugation to ensure proper serum separation. - How to identify and prevent hemolysis, a common reason for specimen rejection, which turns serum or plasma a pink or reddish color. - How to recognize other compromised specimens, such as lipemic (cloudy) or icteric (dark yellow) samples, and understand the importance of proper documentation. For more free exam prep tools, practice questions, and AI-powered explanations, visit https://open-exam-prep.com/ or YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@Open-exam-prep

  • October 24 · 3 min

    NHA CCMA Exam Prep 80, Order of Draw Tube Colors and Additives

    This podcast is made by Ran Chen, who holds an EA license, Insurance and Securities licenses (Series 6, 63, 65), and the CFP® designation. He is passionate about opening access to high-quality exam preparation resources and helping learners prepare more effectively for professional certification exams. In this episode you will learn: - The correct CLSI-aligned order of draw is Blood Cultures, Light Blue, Serum (Red/Gold), Green, Lavender/Pink, and Gray. - Additive cross-contamination is the primary reason for the specific draw order, and exam questions often test the consequences of an incorrect sequence. - EDTA from lavender tubes can falsely decrease calcium and increase potassium levels if it contaminates a serum or heparin tube drawn after it. - Light blue (sodium citrate) tubes for coagulation studies require a full draw to maintain the critical 9:1 blood-to-additive ratio; underfilled tubes lead to inaccurate results. - Gray top tubes contain sodium fluoride, a glycolytic inhibitor, which is essential for preventing the breakdown of glucose in samples for testing. For more free exam prep tools, practice questions, and AI-powered explanations, visit https://open-exam-prep.com/ or YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@Open-exam-prep

  • October 23 · 3 min

    NHA CCMA Exam Prep 79, Standard Venipuncture Procedure

    This podcast is made by Ran Chen, who holds an EA license, Insurance and Securities licenses (Series 6, 63, 65), and the CFP® designation. He is passionate about opening access to high-quality exam preparation resources and helping learners prepare more effectively for professional certification exams. In this episode you will learn: - The tourniquet must not be applied for more than one minute to avoid hemoconcentration. - The correct needle insertion angle for routine venipuncture is between 15 and 30 degrees. - The proper release sequence is: release tourniquet, remove tube, apply gauze, then withdraw the needle. - The needle's safety device must be activated immediately after withdrawal and before disposal. - Specimen tubes must be labeled at the patient's bedside after the draw with at least two patient identifiers. For more free exam prep tools, practice questions, and AI-powered explanations, visit https://open-exam-prep.com/ or YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@Open-exam-prep

  • October 22 · 3 min

    NHA CCMA Exam Prep 78, Needles Tubes Holders and Collection Equipment

    This podcast is made by Ran Chen, who holds an EA license, Insurance and Securities licenses (Series 6, 63, 65), and the CFP® designation. He is passionate about opening access to high-quality exam preparation resources and helping learners prepare more effectively for professional certification exams. In this episode you will learn: - The inverse relationship of needle gauges: a smaller gauge number (e.g., 21g) indicates a larger needle bore than a larger number (e.g., 23g). - When drawing a coagulation test (light-blue top) first with a butterfly needle, you must use a discard tube to ensure the correct blood-to-additive ratio. - Syringes are used for fragile or collapsing veins because they allow manual control of vacuum pressure. - Always check the expiration date on collection tubes, as expired tubes may have a lost vacuum or degraded additives, leading to inaccurate results. - Immediately activate the needle's safety feature after withdrawal and dispose of the entire unit in a sharps container to prevent needlestick injuries. For more free exam prep tools, practice questions, and AI-powered explanations, visit https://open-exam-prep.com/ or YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@Open-exam-prep

  • October 21 · 3 min

    NHA CCMA Exam Prep 77, Vein Anatomy and Venipuncture Site Selection

    This podcast is made by Ran Chen, who holds an EA license, Insurance and Securities licenses (Series 6, 63, 65), and the CFP® designation. He is passionate about opening access to high-quality exam preparation resources and helping learners prepare more effectively for professional certification exams. In this episode you will learn: - To prioritize the median cubital vein, followed by the cephalic, and use the basilic vein only as a last resort due to its proximity to nerves and arteries. - That palpation, feeling for a bouncy and soft vein, is a more reliable selection method than sight alone. - Why you must never perform a venipuncture on the same side as a patient's mastectomy to avoid the risk of lymphedema. - To recognize absolute contraindications for venipuncture, including AV fistulas, drawing above an IV line, hematomas, and edematous areas. - The importance of following provider orders and facility protocols, especially in complex situations, without violating core safety rules. For more free exam prep tools, practice questions, and AI-powered explanations, visit https://open-exam-prep.com/ or YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@Open-exam-prep

  • October 20 · 3 min

    NHA CCMA Exam Prep 76, Phlebotomy Orders Patient Prep and Identification

    This podcast is made by Ran Chen, who holds an EA license, Insurance and Securities licenses (Series 6, 63, 65), and the CFP® designation. He is passionate about opening access to high-quality exam preparation resources and helping learners prepare more effectively for professional certification exams. In this episode you will learn: - The absolute requirement of using at least two patient identifiers before every phlebotomy procedure. - The correct and non-negotiable protocol for labeling blood tubes: only after the draw and always in the patient's presence. - How to properly verify and handle patient compliance with fasting requirements for specific lab tests. - The importance of screening for allergies and prior complications to ensure patient safety during venipuncture. - A simple mnemonic, "I.D. and Label After," to remember the critical sequence of patient identification and specimen labeling. For more free exam prep tools, practice questions, and AI-powered explanations, visit https://open-exam-prep.com/ or YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@Open-exam-prep

  • October 19 · 3 min

    NHA CCMA Exam Prep 75, Emergency Equipment and Environmental Safety

    This podcast is made by Ran Chen, who holds an EA license, Insurance and Securities licenses (Series 6, 63, 65), and the CFP® designation. He is passionate about opening access to high-quality exam preparation resources and helping learners prepare more effectively for professional certification exams. In this episode you will learn: - The correct first step to take when discovering a compromised crash cart. - How to apply the RACE and PASS mnemonics in a fire emergency, with a focus on the first priority. - Key oxygen safety precautions, including the hazard of petroleum-based products. - The proper procedure for tagging and removing malfunctioning electrical equipment from service. - How to apply correct ergonomic lifting techniques and the critical role of documentation in all safety procedures. For more free exam prep tools, practice questions, and AI-powered explanations, visit https://open-exam-prep.com/ or YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@Open-exam-prep

Showing 1–20 of 107 episodes