Nursing & Healthcare Exam Prep
byRan Chen, EA, CFP®
EducationCoursesHealthFitness
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 pas...
Episodes(40 episodes)
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 m...
Published: Oct 25, 2026Duration: 2m 57s
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 a...
Published: Oct 24, 2026Duration: 3m 36s
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 i...
Published: Oct 23, 2026Duration: 3m 6s
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.
- S...
Published: Oct 22, 2026Duration: 3m 15s
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 n...
Published: Oct 21, 2026Duration: 3m 27s
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.
- T...
Published: Oct 20, 2026Duration: 3m 29s
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 m...
Published: Oct 19, 2026Duration: 3m 33s
NHA CCMA Exam Prep 74, Biohazard Waste and Specimen Spill Cleanup
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 differentiate waste: red bags for soft, saturated items and sharps containers for anything that can puncture.
- The correct procedure for transporting specimens involves a primary container inside a secondary, leak-proof, biohazard-labeled bag.
- The critical sequence for cleaning a blood spill: secure the area, don PPE, absorb the spill, a...
Published: Oct 18, 2026Duration: 3m 33s
NHA CCMA Exam Prep 73, OSHA Hazard Communication and SDS Use
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:
- That the OSHA Hazard Communication Standard ensures your "right to know" about chemical dangers in the workplace.
- Why the Safety Data Sheet (SDS) is your primary source for detailed chemical information in an emergency.
- How to identify the most critical SDS sections for the NHA CCMA exam: Section 4 (First-Aid), S...
Published: Oct 17, 2026Duration: 3m 17s
NHA CCMA Exam Prep 72, Bloodborne Pathogen Exposure Response
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 action to take immediately following a needlestick or splash exposure.
- Why immediate reporting to a supervisor is prioritized over all other tasks post-exposure.
- The key details required for proper OSHA-compliant exposure incident documentation.
- The importance of source-patient consent and the time-sensitive nature of Post-Exposure Prophylaxis (P...
Published: Oct 16, 2026Duration: 2m 59s
NHA CCMA Exam Prep 71, Sharps Safety and Needlestick Prevention
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 immediately activating safety-engineered devices after use and common exam traps related to delays.
- How to identify a correctly placed and maintained sharps container, including the crucial two-thirds full replacement rule.
- The absolute rule of never recapping a contaminated needle and how this is tested on t...
Published: Oct 15, 2026Duration: 3m 24s
NHA CCMA Exam Prep 70, Autoclave Operation and Sterility Monitoring
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:
- Proper instrument preparation and loose loading techniques are critical for effective steam penetration in an autoclave.
- Sterility depends on achieving the correct combination of time, temperature, and pressure, typically 121-123°C at 15-20 psi for at least 20 minutes.
- Biological indicators, or spore tests, are the only definitive proof of st...
Published: Oct 14, 2026Duration: 3m 30s
NHA CCMA Exam Prep 69, Cleaning Disinfection and Sterilization
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 rule that cleaning must always precede disinfection or sterilization to remove bioburden.
- How to apply Spaulding's Classification to determine if an instrument is critical, semi-critical, or non-critical.
- Why following the manufacturer's specified contact time is a non-negotiable step for effective disinfection.
- The critical exam concept that s...
Published: Oct 13, 2026Duration: 3m 8s
NHA CCMA Exam Prep 68, Medical vs Surgical Asepsis
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 difference between medical asepsis (clean technique) and surgical asepsis (sterile technique).
- How to correctly maintain a sterile field by observing the one-inch non-sterile border.
- Why sterile items must always be kept above the waist and within your line of sight.
- The principle of moisture contamination and w...
Published: Oct 12, 2026Duration: 2m 38s
NHA CCMA Exam Prep 67, Chain of Infection and Transmission Precautions
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 six links in the chain of infection: Agent, Reservoir, Portal of Exit, Mode of Transmission, Portal of Entry, and Susceptible Host.
- How to apply transmission-based precautions (Contact, Droplet, and Airborne) to break the chain of infection.
- The specific PPE required for diseases like C. diff (contact), influenza (droplet), a...
Published: Oct 11, 2026Duration: 3m 21s
NHA CCMA Exam Prep 66, PPE Selection Donning and Doffing
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 risk-based selection of PPE for contact, droplet, and airborne isolation precautions.
- The proper CDC-recommended sequence for donning PPE: gown, mask/respirator, goggles/face shield, and gloves.
- The critical doffing sequence to prevent self-contamination, which can be remembered alphabetically: Gloves, Goggles, Gown, Mask.
- To identify common exam t...
Published: Oct 10, 2026Duration: 3m 11s
NHA CCMA Exam Prep 65, Hand Hygiene Technique and Timing
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:
- Alcohol-based rubs are standard, but soap and water are mandatory for visibly soiled hands, after restroom use, and for spore-forming organisms like C. difficile.
- Gloves are a critical barrier but never a substitute for hand hygiene; you must perform hand hygiene before donning and immediately after doffing gloves.
- Proper h...
Published: Oct 9, 2026Duration: 1m 6s
NHA CCMA Exam Prep 64, Standard Precautions for Every Patient
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:
- Standard precautions are universal, applying to all patients because all body fluids are treated as potentially infectious.
- PPE selection is based on the anticipated risk of exposure to blood or body fluids, not the patient's diagnosis.
- Never recap a used needle; immediate disposal in a designated sharps container is t...
Published: Oct 8, 2026Duration: 2m 43s
NHA CCMA Exam Prep 63, Triage Red Flags and Immediate Escalation
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 CCMA's strict scope of practice in triage: recognize and escalate, never diagnose or give medical advice.
- How to identify critical red flags for chest pain, stroke, severe breathing difficulty, and anaphylaxis.
- The immediate and correct action for life-threatening emergencies like uncontrolled bleeding and altered consciousness.
- To recognize c...
Published: Oct 7, 2026Duration: 3m 17s
NHA CCMA Exam Prep 62, Medical Emergencies CPR and AED Workflow
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 steps when encountering an unresponsive patient, from scene safety to activating EMS.
- The C-A-B sequence of high-quality CPR, including the exam-specific rate and depth of compressions.
- Proper AED pad placement for an adult and the critical importance of clearing the patient during analysis and shock.
- T...
Published: Oct 6, 2026Duration: 2m 53s