Clinical Adventurer

Nurse Adventurer LLC
  • 5.0 (4)
  • COURSES

Clinical Adventurer is the podcast created for the nursing students of the University of Hawai‘i - Maui College — and open to all nursing students, new nurses, and lifelong learners. Each episode delivers practical strategies, clinical pearls, and honest guidance with in-depth pathophysiology, interventions, nursing implications, and care. No fluff, no sugar-coating — just what you need to build confidence, strengthen skills, and thrive at the bedside.

  1. 11/20/2025

    S1E40 Abdominal Catastrophe and Septic Shock

    A bowel obstruction, a suspected malignancy, and multiple comorbidities — this case had all the makings of a clinical storm. In this episode of Clinical Adventurer, we walk through the complex hospital course of a 72-year-old male whose sigmoid stricture led to large bowel obstruction, feculent peritonitis, and septic shock. From emergent surgeries and ICU-level vasopressor support to managing cardiac instability and thrombocytopenia, we unpack the critical decision points, pathophysiology, and bedside nursing priorities that shaped his care. All patient identifiers have been changed. If you’re ready for a deep dive into surgical complications, sepsis physiology, and real-world nursing strategy, this is one you won’t want to miss.

    39 min
  2. S1E39: Cascade Under Pressure - Real Cases That Test the Clotting System

    11/20/2025

    S1E39: Cascade Under Pressure - Real Cases That Test the Clotting System

    The coagulation cascade isn’t just a lecture topic—it’s a life-or-death system unfolding in real time in trauma bays, ORs, and ICUs. What happens when the cascade misfires? In this episode, we explore not just the science, but the stories, of three patients whose bleeding or clotting disorders reveal the power and peril of the clotting cascade. From a child with hemarthrosis to a septic patient in DIC, you’ll see how lab values like INR and aPTT are more than just numbers—they're clinical lifelines.

    20 min

  3. 09/05/2025

    S1E38 Bleeding Edge: Demystifying Blood Clotting Tests

    Ever wonder what PT, INR, or aPTT actually mean—and why they matter right now at the bedside? In this episode, we’re cracking open the coagulation cascade to uncover how common clotting labs can reveal life-threatening risks like bleeding, clot formation, liver dysfunction, or anticoagulant overdose. Whether you’re titrating heparin, checking warfarin levels, or ruling out a PE, you need more than just a normal range—you need context.

    20 min

  4. 08/28/2025

    S1E37 Cardiac Clues: Cracking the Code on Troponins and Heart Damage

    When seconds count, your patient’s lab results can be the difference between catching a heart attack early or missing a silent killer. In this episode, we break down cardiac biomarkers — what they really mean, how to interpret them, and why troponins reign supreme in today’s high-stakes cardiac care. We’ll walk you through the science, the pitfalls, and the nursing implications so you can make sense of those critical labs in real time. 🧠 Key Topics Covered: What Are Cardiac Biomarkers? Substances released during cardiac muscle injury Their role in diagnosing Acute Myocardial Infarction (AMI) and Acute Coronary Syndromes (ACS) Troponin I and T – The Gold Standard: Why they replaced AST, LDH, and CK-MB Sensitivity, specificity, and timing of elevation Clinical relevance of high-sensitivity troponin assays Other Biomarkers in Context: CK-MB and myoglobin: When they’re still used BNP and NT-proBNP: For heart failure assessment (vs ischemia) Timing and Trends Matter: Serial troponin testing and rise/fall patterns How early peaks and delayed elevations affect diagnosis False Positives and Interfering Factors: Sepsis, renal failure, pulmonary embolism, and chronic disease Pre-analytical issues: Hemolysis, improper timing, and specimen handling Diagnostic Criteria for AMI (Fourth Universal Definition): Troponin changes + clinical signs + ECG changes Type 1 vs Type 2 MI differentiation Nursing and Interprofessional Implications: When to alert the provider How to prepare patients for serial testing Collaborating with lab, cardiology, and emergency teams for timely action

    22 min

  5. 08/28/2025

    S1E36 Renal Reality Check: Decoding Kidney Function Tests

    Not all kidneys fail loudly. Sometimes the earliest signs are hidden in the labs — if you know where to look. In this episode, we go deep into renal function testing, breaking down how to spot trouble early, stage chronic kidney disease accurately, and make sense of the numbers that don’t always tell the full story. Whether you're monitoring a dialysis patient or picking up subtle trends in a post-op patient, this episode equips you with the clinical insight to interpret renal labs with confidence. Key Topics Covered: GFR (Glomerular Filtration Rate): Why it’s the gold standard Estimated vs measured GFR Creatinine vs cystatin C Limitations and influencing factors (age, muscle mass, etc.) KDIGO CKD Staging: GFR and albuminuria categories Clinical relevance in guiding treatment Creatinine and BUN: What they measure and what they miss BUN/Cr ratio and what it tells you about prerenal vs intrinsic causes Albuminuria/Proteinuria: Spot urine vs 24-hour collection Why microalbuminuria matters Urinalysis (UA): Key elements: Specific gravity, pH, protein, casts, sediment Clues for glomerular vs tubular vs post-renal pathology Tubular Function Tests: Fractional excretion of sodium (FeNa), urine osmolality, and concentrating ability Clinical Pearls: How hydration, medications, and diet can skew results When to question the numbers and what to do next Nursing implications for trending renal labs, fluid management, and alerting providers

    25 min

  6. 08/28/2025

    S1E35 Liver Labs Decoded: What LFTs Really Tell You

    Think a high AST or ALT means your patient’s liver is failing? Think again. Liver function tests are one of the most misunderstood panels in clinical practice — often called "function" tests, yet many don’t measure function at all. In this episode, we break down the real meaning behind LFTs, explore the different patterns of liver injury, and help you interpret these labs like a pro. Whether it’s differentiating between cholestasis and hepatocellular injury, or figuring out when to worry about that isolated bilirubin bump, we’ve got you covered with pathophysiology, clinical reasoning, and nursing implications. 🧠 Key Topics Covered: Why “LFT” is often a misnomer True measures of liver function: Albumin, PT/INR Injury patterns: Hepatocellular (↑ AST/ALT) Cholestatic (↑ ALP/GGT) Mixed patterns Isolated hyperbilirubinemia What each test actually tells you: ALT/AST – hepatocellular enzymes ALP/GGT – biliary obstruction clues Bilirubin – excretory function vs hemolysis Albumin, PT/INR – synthetic function markers Common causes of abnormal labs: Medications, alcohol, viral hepatitis, fatty liver, hemolysis, specimen error How to link lab patterns to clinical conditions When to escalate care or consult hepatology

    24 min

  7. 08/26/2025

    S1E34 Right or Left? Decoding the Oxyhemoglobin Curve

    Ever wonder why a patient’s SpO₂ is normal, but their tissues are still starving for oxygen? Or why a low SpO₂ isn’t always a crisis? Welcome to the world of the oxyhemoglobin dissociation curve — where hemoglobin plays by different rules depending on your patient’s pH, CO₂, temperature, and more. In this episode, we unpack what a right shift versus a left shift really means for oxygen delivery, how to spot trouble early, and what every nurse and clinician should know about interpreting oxygen saturation in context. Whether you’re at the bedside, teaching students, or troubleshooting ABGs, this is the episode that brings it all together. 🧠 Key Topics Covered: What the oxyhemoglobin dissociation curve actually shows (SpO₂ vs PaO₂) Right shift vs left shift – what happens and why it matters Clinical scenarios that trigger each shift (e.g., sepsis, hypothermia, COPD, alkalosis) The problem with “normal” SpO₂ readings when tissue hypoxia is still present Real-world tips for using the curve to interpret ABGs and guide care

    14 min

  8. 08/24/2025

    S1E33 Case Study Series #13: Breathless and Beyond - A Case of PE, AFib, and Possible Metastatic Mystery

    When a 91-year-old woman presents with shortness of breath and back pain, the initial concern might be pneumonia or a musculoskeletal issue—but what if it’s much more? This case unravels into a multi-system diagnostic challenge involving pulmonary embolism, atrial fibrillation with RVR, and suspicious findings pointing to possible metastatic disease. It’s a deep dive into the complexity of geriatric presentations—and the clinical judgment required when intervention decisions aren’t clear-cut.Key Topics Covered: Pulmonary Embolism in an Older AdultNew-Onset Atrial Fibrillation with RVRConcurrent Pneumonia and Lung NodulesBack Pain and Bone LesionsHolistic Discharge Planning

    24 min
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
4 Ratings

About

Clinical Adventurer is the podcast created for the nursing students of the University of Hawai‘i - Maui College — and open to all nursing students, new nurses, and lifelong learners. Each episode delivers practical strategies, clinical pearls, and honest guidance with in-depth pathophysiology, interventions, nursing implications, and care. No fluff, no sugar-coating — just what you need to build confidence, strengthen skills, and thrive at the bedside.

Information

  • Creator
    Nurse Adventurer LLC
  • Years Active
    2K
  • Episodes
    40
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Nurse Adventurer LLC
  • Show Website
    Clinical Adventurer