Remember when we used to use stacked shocks for ventricular arrhythmias or load patients up with high doses of epinephrine and bicarb? Over the last 25 years, resuscitation guidelines have evolved and it’s our job to stay updated on the current protocols. Here to help us break down what’s changed and what still works is Dr. Ashish Panchal, Chair of Emergency Cardiovascular Care for the AHA and host of the In the Heart of Care podcast. We discuss how a common cardiac arrest scenario would be trea...
Jul 04, 2025•56 min
Think of a case where you ignored your intuition, leaned on your training, and followed protocol… but something still felt off. Today, we're talking about how to balance evidence-based practice with those gut instincts that can change patient outcomes. Dr. Vicki Good, DNP and Andrea Schmitt, hosts of the Voices in Nursing Podcast, share stories that highlight why intuition is just as important as clinical data and why nurses need to confidently speak up. You’ll learn how to develop your own intu...
Jun 20, 2025•45 min
Rapid response teams provide so much more than reducing morbidity and mortality! Think about how quickly things can spiral without the support of RRTs. As the former director of specialty teams, Jaclyn Bond MSN-LM, MBA-HM has seen how a rapid response program can improve outcomes while also improving nursing job satisfaction and promoting retention. We talk about the MANY benefits of rapid response teams, including fewer code blues, more confident nurses, and their impact on hospital culture. Le...
May 23, 2025•55 min
You’re 30,000 feet in the air when you hear, “Is there a medical professional onboard?” Answering that call is a little more complicated than you might think. In this episode, Alexandra Jabr, PhD, EMT-P joins Sarah to discuss what happened during their first in-flight medical emergencies — what surprises came up, what resources they had, and how they responded with limited supplies. They share what they learned about caring for patients mid-flight, from the most common in-flight emergencies to t...
May 09, 2025•1 hr
The flight team may be on the way, but your work isn’t done yet. Flight medic Sam, host of the Nine One One Nonsense podcast, shares what the ideal patient handoff looks like between hospital staff and flight crews, and why those final moments at the bedside matter more than you think. You’ll hear real-life examples of where in-hospital care teams often go wrong and how you can help create a safer, smoother transfer. Sam also shares what it’s really like to be part of a flight crew — the challen...
Apr 25, 2025•42 min
What began as a stroke alert turned into a different kind of emergency: aortic dissection. Today's patient case study follows a series of clinical decisions that saved an elderly man from a fatal misdiagnosis. Christian Guzman APRN walks us through the case — from the patient’s misleading symptoms to the diagnostic tests that showed something more was going on. We dive into the anatomy, pathophysiology, and clinical signs of aortic dissection, including how the location of tears changes the pres...
Apr 11, 2025•55 min
One minute she was the nurse—then she became the emergency. Today, Shenell RN of the All One Nurse podcast shares her story of a ruptured ectopic pregnancy that sent her into emergency surgery on shift — and the second ectopic pregnancy that followed just a year later. We talk through the symptoms she felt that day, how methotrexate treatment impacted her recovery, and the range of symptoms that can make it hard to tell what’s really going on. Shenell also opens up about the emotional toll of pr...
Apr 04, 2025•44 min
Rapid response nurses don’t just handle codes — they help prevent them from happening. Contrary to popular belief, Rapid Response Nursing is not just sprinting from code blue the next and neither is ER nursing. While there are a lot of similarities between these two specialties in Nursing, there are a lot of differences too. In this episode, Aidan RN shares what it was like to transition from the fast-paced ER to the world of rapid response. We discuss what sets rapid response apart, the mindset...
Mar 21, 2025•33 min
Imagine working as a nurse, but you must stay attached to battery packs to stay alive. That’s the reality for Tiffany Davis Cannon, RN—full-time nurse, mother, and LVAD patient. After being diagnosed with peripartum cardiomyopathy, she had to adapt to life with an LVAD—but it’s been anything but easy. In this episode, Tiffany candidly shares the emotional and physical challenges of living with an LVAD, how her experience changed her approach to nursing, and what she wants other nurses to know ab...
Feb 21, 2025•54 min
Would you know how to identify a blood transfusion reaction? This is one of those nightmare cases because we just expect that when we give blood transfusion, the patient will get better… but what about when they get worse? In this reboot episode, host Sarah Lorenzini shares evidence-based research to shed some light and insight into this very rare, but potentially life threatening situation. In today’s episode, Sarah goes over a case study of one of a rapid response patient she dealt with where ...
Feb 07, 2025•26 min
What makes some teams work in sync and others fall into chaos? During emergencies, team dynamics are just as important as clinical skills for saving lives. Let’s dive into what it takes to create a work culture that encourages collaboration, where mistakes are as learning opportunities, and kindness builds trust! This episode outlines the do’s and don’ts of leading a team during emergencies, covering everything from fostering a safe environment to breaking down barriers that keep people from spe...
Jan 24, 2025•27 min
What makes sickle cell disease so challenging to manage? It’s not just the pain — it’s the complications, stigma, and the need for fast, effective care. In this episode, Morgan Taylor, RN helps us unpack the science behind sickle cell crisis and how nurses can address both the medical and emotional needs of their patients. Learn how to recognize early warning signs of severe complications like acute chest syndrome, balance efficacy and safety in treatment, and help patients prevent a sickle cell...
Dec 31, 2024•38 min
Once called pseudoseizures, psychogenic non-epileptic seizures can confuse even seasoned clinicians — until you know the signs. These seizures mimic epilepsy but have entirely different causes, requiring a unique approach to care. In this episode, we explore how to distinguish PNES from epilepsy, the psychological factors that trigger attacks, and steps in the diagnostic process. Learn how you can identify these episodes, provide compassionate care, and educate patients and their families about ...
Dec 13, 2024•25 min
Do you feel confident recognizing status epilepticus? When a seizure doesn’t stop on its own, knowing the signs of this high-stakes emergency is the first step to preventing complications and even death. This episode breaks everything you need to know about status epilepticus — the warning signs, critical action steps, and the interventions that save lives. In this deep dive for Epilepsy Awareness Month, Sarah unpacks the role of nurses to take quick action and advocate for patients in status ep...
Nov 22, 2024•19 min
No power, no water, no communication. How do healthcare teams provide care during disasters? In this episode, host Sarah Lorenzini and Brooke MSN, RN, CCRN, NE-BC share their experiences working as disaster response nurses after the hurricanes in Asheville, NC and Tampa, FL. Get a glimpse into the challenges, collaboration, and determination that define hurricane relief nursing, as well as the unity and resilience shown by patients and communities in recovery. Listen to learn about the realities...
Nov 01, 2024•38 min
You never forget your most embarrassing nursing moment — especially when it happens in the middle of a critical situation. In this episode, Sarah recounts an unforgettable, cringe-worthy blunder during a rapid response call for a COPD patient in respiratory distress. Discover how she managed the patient’s COPD exacerbation and advocated for the patient’s care despite a lack of urgency from some on the medical team. Sarah also dives into the pathophysiology of COPD and intervention strategies, ev...
Oct 21, 2024•37 min
Caring for patients withdrawing from alcohol can be challenging to say the least. In this episode, host Sarah Lorenzini shares a case of a patient recovering from emergency surgery, and highlights the subtle but critical signs of alcohol withdrawal—like anxiety, tremors, confusion, tachycardia, and hypertension —that often go unrecognized until symptoms escalate. Key topics covered in this episode include: The pathophysiology of alcohol withdrawal , focusing on how chronic alcohol use disrupts t...
Oct 11, 2024•24 min
Bringing calm to chaos is an underrated skill in medicine. During her talk at the ResusX Conference, Sarah explored this concept and the importance of guiding teams through high-stress situations. In today’s episode, you’ll hear what happened when Sarah responded to a bloody code blue that ended in tears and defeat. This patient story is a prime example of why being a great resuscitationist requires more than clinical skills, and how leadership and communication can make or break a team’s perfor...
Sep 27, 2024•19 min
Behind every POTS diagnosis is a patient who had to fight for answers. Postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS) is often misdiagnosed because its symptoms mimic so many other conditions. In fact, it is often dismissed as “just anxiety”, but anxiety is a secondary side effect of the fact that the patient keeps having syncopal episodes without explanation. To dig deeper into its diagnosis and treatment challenges, Sarah turned to Dr. Alexis Cutchins, cardiologist and co-author of a key art...
Sep 20, 2024•30 min
Pee might be the key to saving your patient’s life. In this episode of Rapid Response RN, we dive into the critical yet often overlooked early sign of clinical deterioration — urine output. Join us as Tom Colabro, MNS-HCSM, RN, NEA-BC, shares his expert insights on why accurate urine output can be a cost-effective biomarker in patient care. Tom introduces the Accuryn Monitoring System, which not only identifies AKI up to 33.4 hours faster than traditional methods but also features Active Drain L...
Sep 13, 2024•44 min
Burned out by hospital life? For Becca RN, serving a two-year mission with Mercy Ships reignited her passion for nursing and introduced her to a global community of volunteers. Her experience as a nurse on a hospital ship in West Africa went beyond traditional patient care, allowing her to play a role in both the physical and emotional healing of her patients. In this episode, she shares what daily life is like on Mercy Ships, talks about the diverse education and team-focused work environment, ...
Sep 06, 2024•37 min
When Michelle discovered her patient was paralyzed, it surprised the whole medical team. This patient who was previously mobile and recovering from septic shock was now paralyzed and ultimately diagnosed with spinal cord ischemia, but could early intervention have changed the outcome? In this episode, we discuss the causes, signs, diagnosis and treatment of spinal cord ischemia. Michelle shares powerful insights from her work in neurocritical care, including a technique for detecting easy-to-mis...
Aug 30, 2024•46 min
This week, we are talking about every cardiac nurse’s worst nightmare: cardiac tamponade. Host Sarah Lorenzini is joined by Brian McCain RN to share a crazy case of cardiac tamponade where quick intervention made all the difference. In this episode, they discuss the critical signs, symptoms and pathophysiology of cardiac tamponade. Brian and Sarah cover clinical findings like Beck’s triad and dampened arterial line waveforms, assessment techniques for patients who rapidly decline versus those wi...
Aug 23, 2024•36 min
A patient arrives at the ER, complaining of chest pain that dramatically worsens when she lies down. What could this clue reveal about her condition? In this episode, host Sarah Lorenzini recounts her experience caring for her first pericarditis patient and the subtle yet critical signs that distinguish it from more common cardiac emergencies. Sarah dives into the tricky nature of chest pain, sharing how the PQRST pain assessment and an EKG played a critical role in uncovering the patient’s cond...
Aug 16, 2024•26 min
Clinical Nurse Specialists are more than just experts in their field. They are advanced practice nurses who are driven to make system wide changes for both nurses and their patients. This episode sheds light on the critical role of Clinical Nurse Specialists, the extensive education and experience needed to enter the field, and their unique responsibilities compared to other nursing positions. Nicole openly shares the impact she’s been able to make as a CNS, the challenges she’s faced — and even...
Aug 02, 2024•37 min
This week's case study features a 5-week trauma injury, a critical care transport, and a pediatric patient with a surprise sepsis diagnosis. Critical Care Transport Nurses Erik and Nykole join host Sarah Lorenzini to discuss the complexities of managing a young patient with an unexpected empyema. In this episode, you’ll hear Erik's initial assessment of the patient, how the diagnosis of empyema was ultimately reached, and the actions taken to keep the patient stabilized during transport. They co...
Jul 26, 2024•45 min
This mystery case kept everyone guessing, and now it’s time to reveal Mr. James’ surprising diagnosis: serotonin syndrome! But how did he end up with this rare condition? In this episode, host Sarah Lorenzini reviews Mr. James’ case, explains what led him to develop serotonin syndrome, and the signs that pointed to this diagnosis. If you were stumped by this case, don’t sweat it! Serotonin syndrome is hard to diagnose, but Sarah breaks down its pathophysiology and shares effective treatment meth...
Jul 19, 2024•19 min
Can you guess what was Mr. James' diagnosis? Why was he having periods of apnea? Why was he tachycardic? Why was he hypertensive? Why was he so rigid? Why wouldn't he wake up? Tune in Friday for Episode 114 to hear the reveal of the diagnosis and breakdown of the pathophysiology and how to treat Mr. James' condition Mentioned in this episode: Rapid Response and Rescue Intro Course CONNECT 📸 Connect on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/therapidresponsern/ 🫶 Check out my membership: https://w...
Jul 16, 2024•10 min
Awesome nurses don’t always make great preceptors. So what does it take to nurture new talent into capable and confident professionals? This episode delves into fundamental qualities, mindset and teaching strategies necessary to excel in the role of a preceptor. Host Sarah Lorenzini reflects on her experiences with both good and bad preceptors, sharing insights on how to create a supportive and empowering learning environment that encourages independence. From setting expectations and goals to d...
Jul 12, 2024•39 min
The summer heat brings fun in the sun, relaxing days, and even the threat of heat stroke. In this episode, host Sarah Lorenzini explores the spectrum of heat-related illnesses, highlighting the crucial differences between heat stroke and heat exhaustion. She recounts an emergency case of a young man with all the classic symptoms of heat stroke — and the highest temperature of any patient she’s ever seen. Sarah delves into the complications that can arise from heat stroke and effective treatment ...
Jul 05, 2024•19 min
