Sulfa allergy is one of the most commonly reported drug allergies (often cited around ~6% of patients), and it frequently leads clinicians to avoid entire medication classes—sometimes unnecessarily. In this lecture from This is Why, Dr. Busti will break down what drugs to avoid with a sulfa allergy (and what’s usually safe) by focusing on the “why”: the chemical features that drive true sulfonamide allergy risk and what that means for real-world prescribing.

You’ll learn how to:

- Identify what makes a drug a “sulfonamide”

- Distinguish antimicrobial vs non-antimicrobial sulfonamides

- Understand the structural features linked to higher allergy risk (why Bactrim is different)

- Apply practical guidance for patients with a reported sulfa allergy

- Avoid unnecessary “all-or-nothing” medication exclusions while still prioritizing safety

The goal = make medical education easy and clinically relevant.

👉 Access bonus materials and downloads from this episode at: https://www.thisiswhy.health/topics/topics/sulfa-allergy-drugs-to-avoid

👉 Get more with a free membership at https://www.thisiswhy.health/

- Access free downloads from our videos 

- Access deep dive content from Dr. Busti

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- Join live Q&A

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👍 If this helped you, please like, subscribe, and share it with a classmate or colleague. That will help this new channel continue producing free, high-yield medical education content.

🔔 Don’t forget to turn on notifications so you don’t miss upcoming lectures in pharmacology, medical rounds, and more!

#SulfaAllergy #SulfonamideAllergy #Bactrim #SulfaCrossReactivity #drbusti

Disclaimer:

This content is for educational purposes only and is not medical advice. It does not replace individualized evaluation, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of a qualified health provider with questions about a medical condition and never delay care because of educational content.

In this lecture from This is Why, Dr. Busti will break down the term odynophagia—how to pronounce it, how to use it correctly in charting and clinical conversation, and the most common conditions that cause swallowing pain (painful swallowing). This quick, high-yield refresher will help you confidently recognize and document odynophagia and avoid common mistakes (like confusing it with dysphagia).

In this video you’ll learn:

- What odynophagia means and how to say it

- How it differs from dysphagia

- Common causes of pain when swallowing (throat vs esophageal causes)

- High-yield differentials like esophagitis, GERD, and pill-induced esophagitis

- Why immunocompromised patients with odynophagia may need a different workup

Watch next in the Medical Dictionary series and build your terminology foundation for clinical practice and exams.

The goal = make medical education easy and clinically relevant.

👉 Access this episode at the website: https://www.thisiswhy.health/topics/odynophagia-painful-swallowing-medical-term-definition

👉 Get more with a free membership at https://www.thisiswhy.health/

- Access free downloads from our videos 

- Access deep dive content from Dr. Busti

- Organize content via playlists & collections

- Join live Q&A

- Receive member newsletters

- Coupons & discounts for exam prep resources

👍 If this helped you, please like, subscribe, and share it with a classmate or colleague. That will help this new channel continue producing free, high-yield medical education content.

🔔 Don’t forget to turn on notifications so you don’t miss upcoming lectures in pharmacology, medical rounds, and more!

#Odynophagia #PainfulSwallowing #SwallowingPain #medicaldictionary #drbusti

Disclaimer:

This content is for educational purposes only and is not medical advice. It does not replace individualized evaluation, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of a qualified health provider with questions about a medical condition and never delay care because of educational content.

In this lecture from This is Why, Dr. Busti will make the identification of the heart borders and heart chambers on a chest x-ray easy. Dr. Busti will walk step-by-step through how to identify the cardiac silhouette, locate the heart borders, and understand where the right atrium, left atrium, right ventricle, left ventricle, left atrial appendage, and apex of the heart sit on a standard PA chest x-ray (CXR).

You’ll see how to connect real heart xray images with the underlying heart anatomy.

You’ll learn how to:
- Identify normal heart borders on a chest xray
- Recognize which heart chambers form the right and left heart borders
- Understand where the right ventricle and left atrium actually sit on a CXR
- Use the silhouette sign to localize lung pathology next to the heart
- Apply a simple, repeatable approach to chest xray interpretation

The goal = make medical education easy and clinically relevant.

👉 Access bonus materials and downloads from this episode at: https://www.thisiswhy.health/topics/chest-xray-heart-borders-chambers-cxr

👉 Get more with a free membership at https://www.thisiswhy.health/
- Access free downloads from our videos 
- Access deep dive content from Dr. Busti
- Organize content via playlists & collections
- Join live Q&A
- Receive member newsletters
- Coupons & discounts for exam prep resources

👍 If this helped you, please like, subscribe, and share it with a classmate or colleague. That will help this new channel continue producing free, high-yield medical education content.

🔔 Don’t forget to turn on notifications so you don’t miss upcoming lectures in pharmacology, medical rounds, and more!

#chestxrayheart #heartborderchestxray #heartxrayimages #ChestXRayHeartChambers #drbusti

Disclaimer:
This content is for educational purposes only and is not medical advice. It does not replace individualized evaluation, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of a qualified health provider with questions about a medical condition and never delay care because of educational content.

In this lecture from This is Why, Dr. Busti will break down dysphagia—the medical term for difficulty swallowing—in a clear, clinically relevant way. You’ll learn what dysphagia means, how clinicians use the term, and how to quickly recognize the difference between oropharyngeal dysphagia vs esophageal dysphagia. We’ll also cover high-yield dysphagia causes, red flags, and common pitfalls that lead to missed diagnoses—especially when aspiration risk is overlooked.

What you’ll learn (quick + practical):

- Dysphagia definition and how it shows up in real patients (“trouble swallowing)

- Oropharyngeal vs esophageal dysphagia: symptom patterns that matter

- Common causes: stroke dysphagia, Parkinson disease, dementia, neurologic/neuromuscular conditions, GERD, strictures/rings, eosinophilic esophagitis, and achalasia

- Complications: aspiration, aspiration pneumonia, dehydration, malnutrition, food impaction

- Evaluation basics: bedside swallow assessment, swallow evaluation, modified barium swallow / VFSS, FEES, barium swallow, and upper endoscopy (EGD)

The goal = make medical education easy and clinically relevant.

👉 Access this episode at the website: https://www.thisiswhy.health/topics/dysphagia-difficulty-swallowing-medical-term-definition

👉 Get more with a free membership at https://www.thisiswhy.health/

- Access free downloads from our videos 

- Access deep dive content from Dr. Busti

- Organize content via playlists & collections

- Join live Q&A

- Receive member newsletters

- Coupons & discounts for exam prep resources

👍 If this helped you, please like, subscribe, and share it with a classmate or colleague. That will help this new channel continue producing free, high-yield medical education content.

🔔 Don’t forget to turn on notifications so you don’t miss upcoming lectures in pharmacology, medical rounds, and more!

#Dysphagia #DifficultySwallowing #Dysphagiacauses #medicaldictionary #drbusti

Disclaimer:

This content is for educational purposes only and is not medical advice. It does not replace individualized evaluation, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of a qualified health provider with questions about a medical condition and never delay care because of educational content.

Are you looking at a portable chest x-ray and wondering, “Is this exposure good enough to trust?” In this video, we walk through how to check chest x-ray exposure step-by-step so you can quickly decide if a CXR is adequately penetrated and ready for interpretation. In this lecture from This is Why, Dr. Busti will provide you with a practical approach to how to read chest x-rays and judge image quality before making clinical decisions.

You’ll learn how to:
Recognize adequate CXR penetration using the “spine through the heart” rule
Apply a simple chest x-ray quality check (rotation, inspiration, projection, and exposure) at the bedside
Improve your confidence with portable chest x-ray technique

The goal = make medical education easy and clinically relevant.

👉 Access bonus materials and downloads from this episode at: https://www.thisiswhy.health/topics/chest-x-ray-exposure-adequate-cxr

👉 Get more with a free membership at https://www.thisiswhy.health/
- Access free downloads from our videos 
- Access deep dive content from Dr. Busti
- Organize content via playlists & collections
- Join live Q&A
- Receive member newsletters
- Coupons & discounts for exam prep resources

👍 If this helped you, please like, subscribe, and share it with a classmate or colleague. That will help this new channel continue producing free, high-yield medical education content.

🔔 Don’t forget to turn on notifications so you don’t miss upcoming lectures in pharmacology, medical rounds, and more!

#chestxrayexposure #chestxrayquality #CXRpenetration #portableCXR #howtoreadCXR

Disclaimer:
This content is for educational purposes only and is not medical advice. It does not replace individualized evaluation, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of a qualified health provider with questions about a medical condition and never delay care because of educational content.

In this lecture from This is Why, Dr. Busti will walk step-by-step through rib anatomy on a portable AP chest x ray, so you can quickly recognize posterior vs anterior ribs, assess inspiratory effort, and improve your overall chest x ray interpretation skills.

You’ll learn how to:
Spot posterior ribs and anterior ribs on a standard AP chest x ray
Use rib counting to judge film quality and inspiration
Apply rib levels as landmarks when describing lung findings
Avoid common mistakes when reading portable chest x rays in the ER, ICU, and inpatient units

If you’re looking for a clear, visual guide to how to read a chest x ray, chest x ray for beginners, and how to count ribs on a chest x ray, this session is for you.  The goal = make medical education easy and clinically relevant.

👉 Access bonus materials and downloads from this episode at: https://www.thisiswhy.health/topics/chest-x-ray-how-to-identify-count-ribs

👉 Get more with a free membership at https://www.thisiswhy.health/
- Access free downloads from our videos 
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- Organize content via playlists & collections
- Join live Q&A
- Receive member newsletters
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👍 If this helped you, please like, subscribe, and share it with a classmate or colleague. That will help this new channel continue producing free, high-yield medical education content.

#ChestXRay #CXRinterpretation #ribcounting #drbusti #medicaleducation

Disclaimer:
This content is for educational purposes only and is not medical advice. It does not replace individualized evaluation, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of a qualified health provider with questions about a medical condition and never delay care because of educational content.

What does “micturate” actually mean, and why do textbooks, exam questions, and older charts still use it instead of just saying “urinate”? In this lecture on Medical Terminology from This is Why, Dr. Busti breaks down the meaning and definition of micturate, how it relates to micturition and urination, and shows you exactly how this term is used in real clinical practice so it finally sticks.

In this video, you’ll learn: what micturate and micturition mean in plain language, how to connect “micturate = urinate” so you never freeze on an exam, how the term shows up in phrases like “burning on micturition” (classic for urinary tract infections) and “micturition reflex”, and how to recognize when to use more common language like “void” or “urinate” with patients and in charting.

The goal = make medical education easy and clinically relevant.

👉 Access bonus materials and downloads from this episode at: https://www.thisiswhy.health/topics/what-does-micturate-mean-medical-terminology

👉 Get more with a free membership at https://www.thisiswhy.health/
- Access free downloads from our videos 
- Access deep dive content from Dr. Busti
- Organize content via playlists & collections
- Join live Q&A
- Receive member newsletters
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👍 If this helped you, please like, subscribe, and share it with a classmate or colleague. That will help this new channel continue producing free, high-yield medical education content.

#micturatemeaning #medicalterminology #urinationmedicalterm #medicaldictionary #drbusti

Disclaimer:
This content is for educational purposes only and is not medical advice. It does not replace individualized evaluation, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of a qualified health provider with questions about a medical condition and never delay care because of educational content.

In this lecture from This is Why, Dr. Busti will answer the question, "Are patients with a penicillin allergy really at high risk when we use cephalosporins?" Dr. Busti will also discuss some of the evidence on penicillin allergy & cephalosporin cross-reactivity and shows you how to safely use β-lactam antibiotics in clinical practice.

In this episode, we’ll cover:
- Why most penicillin allergy labels are incorrect
- The true risk of cephalosporin cross-reactivity (and why it’s not what you think)
- How R1 side chains drive cross-reactivity between β-lactam antibiotics
- Practical, step-by-step approaches to antibiotic allergy risk stratification

The goal = make medical education easy and clinically relevant.

👉 Access bonus materials and downloads from this episode at: https://www.thisiswhy.health/topics/penicillin-allergy-cephalosporin-cross-reactivity

👉 Get more with a free membership at https://www.thisiswhy.health/
- Access free downloads from our videos 
- Access deep dive content from Dr. Busti
- Organize content via playlists & collections
- Join live Q&A
- Receive member newsletters
- Coupons & discounts for exam prep resources

👍 If this helped you, please like, subscribe, and share it with a classmate or colleague. That will help this new channel continue producing free, high-yield medical education content.

#penicillinallergy #cephalosporincrossreactivity #cephalosporinsinpenicillinallergy #betalactamallergy #drbusti

Disclaimer:
This content is for educational purposes only and is not medical advice. It does not replace individualized evaluation, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of a qualified health provider with questions about a medical condition and never delay care because of educational content.

Master penicillin allergy questions exactly the way they show up on your exams and in clinical practice. In this episode of This is Why, Dr. Busti will walk through a high-yield practice question on penicillin allergy and beta-lactam cross-reactivity, so you know which antibiotics are safe, which to avoid, and how to reason through the stem under exam pressure.

You’ll learn how to:
- Analyze a penicillin allergy history in an exam-style MCQ
- Understand penicillin–cephalosporin cross-reactivity and when it actually matters
- Apply beta-lactam cross-reactivity concepts (penicillins vs. cephalosporins) to patient care
- Avoid common traps on exams

The goal = make medical education easy and clinically relevant.

👉 Access bonus materials and downloads from this episode at: https://www.thisiswhy.health/topics/practice-question-penicillin-allergy-cross-reactivity 

👉 Get more with a free membership at https://www.thisiswhy.health/
- Access free downloads from our videos 
- Access deep dive content from Dr. Busti
- Organize content via playlists & collections
- Join live Q&A
- Receive member newsletters
- Coupons & discounts for exam prep resources

👍 If this helped you, please like, subscribe, and share it with a classmate or colleague. That will help this new channel continue producing free, high-yield medical education content.

#penicillinallergy #penicillinallergycrossreactivity #betalactamcrossreactivity #cephalosporinpenicillincrossreactivity #drbusti

Disclaimer:
This content is for educational purposes only and is not medical advice. It does not replace individualized evaluation, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of a qualified health provider with questions about a medical condition and never delay care because of educational content.

Mastering chest X-ray positioning is the first step to safe and accurate chest X-ray interpretation. In this video, “How to Check Patient Positioning on a Chest X-Ray,” Dr. Busti walk through a simple, practical checklist so you can quickly decide if a CXR is good enough to interpret—or if positioning errors (rotation, poor inspiration, clipping) are misleading you.

You’ll learn how to:
Tell PA vs AP views and why it matters for heart size and mediastinum
Spot patient rotation using the clavicles and spinous processes
Assess inspiration on a chest X-ray (how many ribs is “good enough”?)
Check centering and coverage so the lung apices and costophrenic angles aren’t cut off
Avoid common mistakes that lead to false positives and missed pathology

The goal = make medical education easy and clinically relevant.

👉 Access bonus materials and downloads from this episode at: https://www.thisiswhy.health/topics/how-to-check-chest-x-ray-positioning

👉 Get more with a free membership at https://www.thisiswhy.health/
- Access free downloads from our videos 
- Access deep dive content from Dr. Busti
- Organize content via playlists & collections
- Join live Q&A
- Receive member newsletters
- Coupons & discounts for exam prep resources

👍 If this helped you, please like, subscribe, and share it with a classmate or colleague. That will help this new channel continue producing free, high-yield medical education content.

🔔 Don’t forget to turn on notifications so you don’t miss upcoming lectures in pharmacology, medical rounds, and more!

#chestxraypositioning #chestxrayinterpretation #cxr #chestxrayquality #radiologyeducation

Disclaimer:
This content is for educational purposes only and is not medical advice. It does not replace individualized evaluation, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of a qualified health provider with questions about a medical condition and never delay care because of educational content.

In this lecture from This is Why, Dr. Busti will teach you how to quickly and confidently tell AP vs PA chest X-ray (CXR) views apart so you don’t get misled by magnified hearts or a widened mediastinum. In this video, we break down chest X-ray projection step by step and show you how to spot whether a film is AP or PA view just by looking at the image itself—skills you can use on your next shift or exam.

This teaching video is designed to help clinicians who want practical, bedside chest X-ray interpretation skills. We’ll connect the physics of X ray projection (AP vs PA) with real-world decisions, like when you can and cannot trust the heart size on a portable chest X-ray.

You’ll learn how to:
What AP and PA mean in chest X-ray views and why projection matters
How to recognize AP chest X-ray vs PA chest X-ray using simple visual clues
Why the heart often looks “enlarged” on AP portable CXR
How scapula position, patient posture, and inspiration help you identify the view
Common pitfalls in how to read chest X ray and avoid overcalling cardiomegaly

If you’re looking for chest X-ray basics, how to interpret chest X ray, or a concise refresher on frontal chest X ray positioning, this video will help build your foundation in radiology chest X ray and medical imaging education. The goal = make medical education easy and clinically relevant.

👉 Access bonus materials and downloads from this episode at: https://www.thisiswhy.health/topics/chest-xrays-ap-vs-pa-view-cxr

👉 Get more with a free membership at https://www.thisiswhy.health/
- Access free downloads from our videos 
- Access deep dive content from Dr. Busti
- Organize content via playlists & collections
- Join live Q&A
- Receive member newsletters
- Coupons & discounts for exam prep resources

👍 If this helped you, please like, subscribe, and share it with a classmate or colleague. That will help this new channel continue producing free, high-yield medical education content.

🔔 Don’t forget to turn on notifications so you don’t miss upcoming lectures in pharmacology, medical rounds, and more!

#apvspachestxray #APvsPA #chestxrayinterpretation #howtoreadchestxray #drbusti

Disclaimer:
This content is for educational purposes only and is not medical advice. It does not replace individualized evaluation, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of a qualified health provider with questions about a medical condition and never delay care because of educational content.

In this lecture from This is Why, Dr. Busti will walk step-by-step through the proper steps to determine if the inspiration is good enough to allow the chest x-ray (CXR) to be appropriate to interpret and avoid missing an abnormality.  This lecture will improve your overall chest x-ray interpretation skills.

You’ll learn how to:
Identify the posterior ribs and anterior ribs on a standard AP chest x ray
Use rib counting to judge film quality and inspiration

If you’re looking for a clear, visual guide to how to read a chest x ray, chest x-ray for beginners, and how to adequate inspiration for a portable AP chest x ray, this session is for you.  The goal = make medical education easy and clinically relevant.

👉 Access bonus materials and downloads from this episode at: https://www.thisiswhy.health/topics/chest-x-ray-how-to-identify-good-adequate-inspiration

👉 Get more with a free membership at https://www.thisiswhy.health/
- Access free downloads from our videos 
- Access deep dive content from Dr. Busti
- Organize content via playlists & collections
- Join live Q&A
- Receive member newsletters
- Coupons & discounts for exam prep resources

Chapter Table of Contents
*** ADD HERE ****

👍 If this helped you, please like, subscribe, and share it with a classmate or colleague. That will help this new channel continue producing free, high-yield medical education content.

🔔 Don’t forget to turn on notifications so you don’t miss upcoming lectures in pharmacology, medical rounds, and more!

#ChestXRay #CXRinterpretation #chestxrayinspiration #drbusti #medicaleducation

Disclaimer:
This content is for educational purposes only and is not medical advice. It does not replace individualized evaluation, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of a qualified health provider with questions about a medical condition and never delay care because of educational content.

In this This Is Why pharmacology review, Dr. Busti walks through the Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs)—how they became first-line for major depressive disorder and a wide range of anxiety-related disorders, and where their real-world pitfalls live.

We compare the core agents—citalopram, escitalopram, fluoxetine, fluvoxamine, paroxetine, and sertraline—covering indications, mechanism, and clinical nuances that matter at the bedside. You’ll learn how dose, half-life, metabolism, and side-effect patterns influence patient-specific choices, and what to monitor for safety and success.

This episode includes practical guidance on:

• Managing sexual dysfunction, QT risk, and SIADH
• Recognizing CYP2D6 interactions
• Understanding fluoxetine’s long half-life
• Applying MAOI washout rules to avoid serotonin syndrome
• Starting low and titrating slow for anxiety

If you want to go beyond memorization and understand the why behind the what, this episode connects the science, safety, and strategy of SSRI use.

🔹 Download study tables, mechanisms, and comparison charts for this video at https://www.thisiswhy.health/topics/pharmacology-review-ssri-antidepressants

Disclaimer:
This content is for educational purposes only and is not intended to provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have heard in this content.

This session teaches a reproducible, step-by-step approach to chest X-ray (CXR) interpretation using two complementary mnemonics: RIPE (Rotation, Inspiration, Penetration/Projection, Exposure/Artifacts) to verify image quality, and A-B-C-D-E-F-G-H-I to read findings in a consistent order. Viewers learn to spot essential landmarks (trachea, aortic knob, hila, lobes/fissures, diaphragms, costophrenic angles), recognize when AP vs PA matters (e.g., cardiothoracic ratio), and avoid common pitfalls that lead to misses. A live, real-time read ties the method together so the approach can be used on rounds, in clinic, or at the bedside.

What you’ll learn

• Quality first: use RIPE to confirm a film is worth interpreting
• A structured read with A-B-C-D-E-F-G-H-I
• How projection changes appearance (AP vs PA vs lateral)
• Reliable checks for effusions, pneumothorax, edema, and device/artifact confounders
• How to synthesize a clear impression clinicians can act on

Show notes and downloads: https://www.thisiswhy.health/topics/chest-xray-how-to-read-step-by-step-guide

Get more (free) at ThisIsWhy.health
Access the video, free downloads (mnemonic tables), organize content via playlists & collections, join live Q&A, receive member newsletters, and unlock partner discounts—resources built to help clinicians move from what to why and improve real-world decisions.

Disclaimer:
This content is for educational purposes only and is not medical advice. It does not replace individualized evaluation, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of a qualified health provider with questions about a medical condition and never delay care because of educational content.

In this episode of This Is Why, Dr. Busti breaks down the evidence-based predictors of NCLEX-RN success for first-time test takers. See what the 10-year pass-rate trend really shows, which factors (GPA, standardized exit exams, program environment, life experience) matter most, and—most importantly—what you can do now to raise your odds on test day.

Build confidence in your exam readiness and clinical mastery with free resources at https://thisiswhy.health

Disclaimer:
This content is for educational purposes only and is not intended to provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have heard in this content.

BPS specialty board exams are challenging — and the data proves it. But knowing what drives success can make all the difference.

In this episode of This Is Why, Dr. Busti reviews national BPS pass rate trends and explores what separates first-time test takers who succeed from those who don’t. Using data from multiple specialties, he highlights how residency training, study strategy, and preparation methods predict success — and why relying solely on memorization or guesswork fails so many candidates.

You’ll learn how to interpret your own readiness, avoid common traps like overemphasizing blueprints or anecdotal advice, and design a structured, question-based study plan that mirrors the way you’ll be tested. Whether you’re pursuing BCPS, BCCCP, BCACP, or another BPS certification, this episode will equip you with the insights and mindset needed to succeed on the first try.

Access bonus materials and downloads at https://thisiswhy.health

Disclaimer: This content is for educational purposes only and is not intended to provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have heard in this content.

Passing a BPS specialty exam takes more than hard work — it takes strategy and understanding.

In this episode of This Is Why, Dr. Busti breaks down how BPS exams are built, what “testable” really means, and why focusing on validated, evidence-based concepts gives you a major advantage. Drawing on decades of experience as a pharmacist, educator, and exam review developer, he explains the multi-step process used to create fair, reliable, and job-related BPS exams.

Listeners will learn why not all new or clinically relevant content appears on the test, how to interpret the exam blueprint effectively, and which study approaches are proven to help first-time takers pass. Dr. Busti also explains why question banks and application-based practice are essential for success — and how understanding the “why” behind each concept improves long-term retention.

If you’re preparing for a BPS specialty exam or mentoring someone who is, this episode offers practical, motivating insights to help you study smarter and perform with confidence.

Access bonus materials and downloads at https://thisiswhy.health

Disclaimer: This content is for educational purposes only and is not intended to provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have heard in this content.

What predicts success on the NAPLEX? It’s not chance — it’s about understanding the factors that matter most.

In this episode of This Is Why, Dr. Busti unpacks the key predictors of NAPLEX performance based on data and published literature. You’ll learn how GPA, pre-admission metrics, clinical performance, study effort, and test timing correlate with first-time pass rates — and how to interpret these factors to improve your own odds.

Drawing from decades of experience teaching pharmacy and preparing students for licensing exams, Dr. Busti helps listeners identify what’s within their control and how to act on it. From taking practice exams early to focusing on question-based learning and targeted remediation, this episode offers a structured framework for building a smarter, evidence-based study plan.

If you’re getting ready for the NAPLEX or mentoring students who are, this conversation provides both data-driven insight and actionable strategy for success on the first attempt.

Access bonus materials and downloads at https://thisiswhy.health

Disclaimer: This content is for educational purposes only and is not intended to provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have heard in this content.

Over the past decade, NAPLEX pass rates have dropped — sparking concern across pharmacy education. But what’s really driving this decline?

In this episode of This Is Why, Dr. Busti breaks down the data behind NAPLEX performance trends, exploring factors such as the rapid growth of pharmacy schools, shifts in applicant pools, and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on learning and assessment.

Drawing from decades of experience as a pharmacist, physician, and nurse, Dr. Busti helps listeners understand how these changes have shaped the profession — and what students can do to overcome them. You’ll learn how to adapt your mindset, refine your study strategy, and focus on high-yield, testable material rather than memorizing everything in a textbook.

If you’re feeling discouraged by national pass rate trends, this episode offers both context and encouragement — showing you how to take control of your preparation, regain confidence, and move toward NAPLEX success.

Access bonus materials and downloads at https://thisiswhy.health

Disclaimer: This content is for educational purposes only and is not intended to provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have heard in this content.

The NAPLEX isn’t testing everything you’ve ever learned — it’s measuring what matters most for entry-level pharmacist competence.

In this episode of This Is Why, Dr. Busti explains how the NAPLEX is built by the NABP, why understanding its blueprint helps you focus your studying, and how to avoid wasting time on untested or emerging content. Drawing on his own experience as a pharmacist, physician, and nurse — and decades teaching pharmacy students — he reveals the process behind question validation, exam updates, and psychometric testing.

Listeners will learn how to identify high-yield, testable concepts that align with national standards of care, use question banks effectively, and balance their preparation between memorization and mastery. Dr. Busti’s practical insights will help you create a focused, efficient study plan designed for success on the first attempt.

Access bonus materials and downloads at https://thisiswhy.health

Disclaimer: This content is for educational purposes only and is not intended to provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have heard in this content.

Passing the NCLEX-RN isn’t about memorizing more — it’s about understanding what truly matters and how the exam is built to measure it. In this episode of This Is Why, Dr. Busti, a physician and pharmacist who began his healthcare career as a registered nurse, breaks down how the NCLEX-RN is developed by the National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) — and what that means for your study plan.

You’ll learn how to recognize high-yield, testable concepts, why some new content won’t appear on the exam, and how to focus your preparation on what can actually be scored. Dr. Busti also explains the value of using question banks to practice applying core knowledge, helping you move beyond memorization toward real understanding and exam confidence.

If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed by the amount of nursing material to study, this episode offers a clear framework to study smarter — not harder — and increase your chances of passing the NCLEX-RN on your first attempt.

Access bonus materials and downloads at https://thisiswhy.health

Disclaimer: This content is for educational purposes only and is not intended to provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have heard in this content.

In this episode of This Is Why, Dr. Busti walks through a real-world board-style question on community-acquired pneumonia — connecting core pathophysiology to exam reasoning and clinical judgment. Using a 54-year-old patient case, you’ll learn how to differentiate inpatient versus outpatient management, apply CURB-65 and PSI scoring tools, and identify sepsis criteria that drive treatment decisions.

Dr. Busti also unpacks the rationale behind antibiotic selection, comparing macrolide monotherapy, beta-lactam combinations, and fluoroquinolone alternatives — all while reinforcing how understanding why each answer choice is correct or incorrect leads to long-term mastery.

If you’re preparing for your boards, rotations, or want to strengthen your diagnostic thinking, this episode helps you move beyond memorization into true clinical understanding.

Access bonus materials and downloads https://www.thisiswhy.health/topics/practice-test-question-pneumonia-treatment

Disclaimer: This content is for educational purposes only and is not intended to provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have heard in this content.

Dr. Busti reviews pharmacologic options for smoking cessation—bupropion, nicotine replacement therapy, and varenicline—highlighting mechanisms, dosing strategies, and safety considerations. Learn how to integrate these therapies with behavioral approaches, tailor choices to patient comorbidities, and monitor for clinically relevant risks.

Access bonus materials and downloads at https://thisiswhy.health

Disclaimer: This content is for educational purposes only and is not intended to provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have heard in this content.

Dr. Busti reviews selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs)—their mechanism, first-line indications, key side effects, and clinical pearls. Learn why SSRIs are widely used for depression and anxiety, how to avoid pitfalls like QT prolongation and drug interactions, and what to monitor to optimize patient care.

Access bonus materials and downloads at https://thisiswhy.health

Find resources for this topic at https://www.thisiswhy.health/topics/pharmacology-review-tca-tricyclic-antidepressants

Disclaimer: This content is for educational purposes only and is not intended to provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have heard in this content.

Discover serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs)—safe, effective antidepressants for depression, anxiety, and pain syndromes. 

In this episode, you’ll learn:
- How SNRIs work in the brain and differ from SSRIs, TCAs, and MAOIs
- Key medications: venlafaxine, desvenlafaxine, duloxetine, milnacipran, levomilnacipran
- Important side effects, including blood pressure changes and SIADH in older adults
- Tips for safe switching, monitoring, and counseling patients

Companion tables (indications, mechanisms, PK/PD, side-effect grid, and monitoring prompts) are available for download and teaching at https://www.thisiswhy.health/topics/pharmacology-review-snri-antidepressants

Disclaimer: This content is for educational purposes only and is not intended to provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have heard in this content.