Vaccines are one of public health's greatest success stories—but what happens when people start saying no? In this episode, Kevin and Dr. Lisa Wolf dig into the rising tide of vaccine refusal, what's fueling it, and how it's already impacting what we see in the emergency department. If you've ever struggled to explain vaccine science to a skeptical patient, this episode is essential listening.

Resources mentioned:

· American Academy of Pediatrics vaccination recommendations

· American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists vaccine guidelines

· Studies on shingles vaccine and dementia reduction

· HPV vaccine and cervical cancer elimination in Scotland

· Vaccination in the emergency department study

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Fluid and electrolyte emergencies are the silent killers you might not notice until your patient crashes. In this episode, Kevin and Dr. Lisa Wolf break down the classic (and not-so-classic) presentations of hypo/hypernatremia, hypokalemia, hyperkalemia, and calcium derangements—and how they impact perfusion, mental status, and cardiac rhythm.

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To support the show:

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Thank you for being a part of our AOEN community!

What happens when you're not the one about to make the mistake, but you're see someone about to make an error? In this episode, Kevin and Dr. Lisa Wolf tackle one of the toughest ethical and professional dilemmas in healthcare: how to intervene when a colleague is on the verge of harming a patient. From quiet cues to full-on halts, theydive into the art of the interruption. You'll also hear why modeling behavior matters, how burnout can blind providers, and why letting a mistake slide is more than just dangerous, it's bullying.

If you've ever asked yourself, "How do I say something without causing a scene?" this one's for you.

• Key Takeaways:

  • Your first loyalty is to the patient

  • There's an art to interrupting mistakes

  • Focus fatigue and burnout cause errors

  • If you don't stop it, you're complicit

  • Modeling matters

  • Letting someone fail is a form of bullying

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To support the show:

• Leave an honest review on iTunes. Your ratings and reviews greatly contribute to the success of the podcast, and I appreciate each and every one of them.
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Thank you for being a part of our AOEN community!

In this episode, Kevin and Dr. Lisa Wolf tackle the critical issue of intimate partner violence (IPV) and its implications for emergency nursing. They break down why IPV is often missed, how it can present in ED, and the subtle red flags that signal deeper concerns. From the limitations of triage screening to the importance of private conversations, they share strategies to identify and respond to intimate partner violence

Links to articles

Warning Signs of Partner Abuse in Intimate Relationships

Intimate Partner Violence and Human Trafficking

Investigating the prevalence of intimate partner violence victimisation in women presenting to the emergency department in suicidal crisis

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Twitter: @AoenPodcast

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To support the show:

• Leave an honest review on iTunes. Your ratings and reviews greatly contribute to the success of the podcast, and I appreciate each and every one of them.
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Thank you for being a part of our AOEN community!

In this episode, Kevin and Dr. Lisa Wolf dive into the ethical principles that shape nursing practice. Nursing ethics are not just in crisis situations, but in the everyday decisions nurses make every single shift. From returning the bladder scanner to honoring patient autonomy, we explore how small actions reflect deep ethical commitments.

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To support the show:

• Leave an honest review on iTunes. Your ratings and reviews greatly contribute to the success of the podcast, and I appreciate each and every one of them.
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Thank you for being a part of our AOEN community!

In this episode, Kevin and Dr. Wolf dive deep into the under-discussed but critically important world of renal and urologic emergencies. From the agony of kidney stones to the subtleties of urinary retention. They discuss the dangers of delayed diagnosis, unpack key presentations, triage considerations, and red flags that emergency nurses must recognize. Urine color chart Click here https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/urine-color-chart

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To support the show:

• Leave an honest review on iTunes. Your ratings and reviews greatly contribute to the success of the podcast, and I appreciate each and every one of them.
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Thank you for being a part of our AOEN community!

Measles: It's Back, It's Contagious, and You Probably Haven't Seen It Before

In this episode, Kevin and Dr. Lisa Wolf dig into the return of a disease we thought had been eradicated in 2000. In case you missed it—we're in the middle of a national measles outbreak, and chances are high you've never actually seen a real case. Measles is back, and we need to be on high alert, as it remains one of the most contagious diseases in the world.

What happens when a patient with a suspicious rash sits in your waiting room for hours? How long does measles hang in the air? (Spoiler: it's longer than you think.) From triage missteps to public health policies, this episode walks through how to identify, isolate, and respond to highly contagious diseases—especially when you've never seen them in real life.

We also bust the autism myth (again), talk about vaccine hesitancy, and explore what your ED should be doing to prepare right now.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2023, September 6). Measles signs and symptoms. U.S. Department of Health & Human Services. https://www.cdc.gov/measles/signs-symptoms/index.html

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2023, September 6). Photos of measles. U.S. Department of Health & Human Services. https://www.cdc.gov/measles/signs-symptoms/photos.html

Child Vaccination Schedule

https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/hcp/imz-schedules/child-adolescent-age.html

Eggertson, L. (2010). Lancet retracts 12-year-old article linking autism to MMR vaccines. CMAJ: Canadian Medical Association Journal, 182(4), E199–E200. https://doi.org/10.1503/cmaj.109-3179

Hviid, A., Hansen, J. V., Frisch, M., & Melbye, M. (2019). Measles, mumps, rubella vaccination and autism: A nationwide cohort study. Annals of Internal Medicine, 170(8), 513–520. https://doi.org/10.7326/M18-2101

Tanne, J. H. (2002). MMR vaccine is not linked with autism, says Danish study. BMJ: British Medical Journal, 325(7373), 1134.

Cohen, J. (2019, May 1). How measles causes the body to 'forget' past infections by other microbes. Science. https://www.science.org/content/article/how-measles-causes-body-forget-past-infections-other-microbes

In this episode, Kevin and Dr. Wolf delve into a critical but often underestimated condition: alcohol withdrawal syndrome (AWS). They challenge the assumptions and biases emergency nurses may bring to patient care, particularly in identifying withdrawal symptoms in individuals who don't fit the "typical" profile.

The discussion emphasizes the importance of early recognition, exploring how biases can cloud clinical judgment and hinder effective decision-making. Kevin and Dr. Wolf also provide essential insights into screening, scoring, and treating AWS, equipping emergency nurses with the knowledge needed to improve patient outcomes for this potentially life-threatening condition.

MD Calc CIWA -AR https://www.mdcalc.com/calc/1736/ciwa-ar-alcohol-withdrawal

Prediction of Alcohol Withdrawal Severity Scale https://www.mdcalc.com/calc/10102/prediction-alcohol-withdrawal-severity-scale#pearls-pitfalls

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Thank you for being a part of our AOEN community!

In this episode, Kevin and Dr. Wolf dive deep into the critical role that leadership plays in communicating change. Dr. Wolf, shares insights from a soon to be published study on how emergency nurses are being left in the dark regarding changes in practice laws, particularly around pregnancy complications in states with restrictive abortion policies. We explore the consequences of silence, including fear, uncertainty, and potential patient harm. The full article will be out in the April Journal of Nursing Administration JONA

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Twitter: @AoenPodcast

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To support the show:

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Thank you for being a part of our AOEN community!

When "Do Everything" Isn't the Answer. In this episode we discuss one of the most complex and emotionally charged aspects of emergency care: navigating code status and advance directives.

We unpack the nuances of "Do Not Resuscitate" (DNR) orders, the dynamics of family presence during resuscitations, and the moral dilemmas that arise when patient wishes conflict with family demands.

If you've ever found yourself mid-code wondering, "Are we doing the right thing here?"—this is the conversation you won't want to miss.

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Twitter: @AoenPodcast

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To support the show:

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Thank you for being a part of our AOEN community!