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 crisis. Morgan also shares five key insights that will give you the tools and confidence to provide the best care to your next sickle cell patient. Tune in to this can’t-miss episode now!

Topics discussed in this episode:

• Patient presentation and initial symptoms
• Pathophysiology of sickle cell anemia
• Pain management
• Role of fluids and oxygen therapy
• Advanced treatments and managing severe complications
• Signs and symptoms of worst case scenarios like Acute Chest Syndrome
• Importance of advocacy and patient education
• Psychosocial impacts of chronic illness

You can learn more about Morgan here:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/morgan-clark-taylor/

Find out everything Archer Review has to offer here:

https://www.linkedin.com/company/archerreview/

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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 this misunderstood condition!

Topics discussed in this episode:

• Three PNES patient stories
• What are psychogenic non-epileptic seizures?
• PNES versus epilepsy: key differences and signs
• Diagnosing PNES
• Treatment and the role of nurses

Learn more about psychogenic non-epileptic seizures here:

https://www.epilepsy.com/stories/truth-about-psychogenic-nonepileptic-seizures

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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 epilepticus. From what happens in the brain during prolonged seizures to proper use of benzodiazepines and anti-epileptic drugs, we get into the nitty gritty of managing this life-threatening condition. 

Topics discussed in this episode:

• Status epilepticus case study
• Defining status epilepticus and its pathophysiology
• How to recognize the signs of status epilepticus
• Intervention tools and best practices
• Medication use and management
• Prevention and identification of underlying causes

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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 of crisis care, from deployment to being an effective nurse leader in a chaotic environment!

Topics discussed in this episode:

• Deploying to Asheville with limited resources
• What it’s like working on a disaster relief nursing team
• The coordination of patient care and operations in disaster relief
• Stories of humanity, kindness, and uplifting moments in crisis
• Common medical issues and challenges during hurricane disasters
• How to maintaining team morale as a nurse leader
• The biggest lessons from working as a hurricane relief nurse

Check out Accuryn for yourself:

https://accuryn.com/why-accuryn/

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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, evaluating the pros and cons of the various oxygen delivery modalities like non-rebreather masks and BiPAP. Curious how an awkward moment turned into a valuable lesson for COPD care? Tune in now!

Topics discussed in this episode:

• The embarrassing BBQ incident
• Lessons from a COPD patient story
• Pathophysiology of COPD
• The truth about hypoxic drive
• Oxygen therapy and choosing the right delivery method for your patient
• When intubation is the best intervention

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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 the balance between the brain’s inhibitory GABA and excitatory glutamate neurotransmitter systems.
• A detailed timeline of alcohol withdrawal symptoms, from early signs (6-12 hours) to severe complications like delirium tremens (48-72 hours).
• The importance of compassionate, non-judgmental care for patients with alcohol use disorder (AUD) during withdrawal, and why judgment rarely leads to positive change.
• The role of CIWA-Ar scoring to assess withdrawal severity and guide treatment, including common medications like benzodiazepines and the emerging use of phenobarbital for symptom management.
• Critical reminders to carefully evaluate all symptoms and avoid misattributing every instance of confusion or agitation to alcohol withdrawal, ensuring comprehensive care.

Tune in to learn how to recognize and manage alcohol withdrawal, keep patients safe, and provide the compassionate care they need during this vulnerable time.

Mentioned in this episode:

Rapid Response Academy Link

Wanna check out Rapid Response Academy: The Heart and Science of Caring for the Sick?

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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 performance under pressure.

So, what makes for a great resuscitationist? Tune in as Sarah breaks down three areas you should focus on to become a better resuscitationist leader!

Topics discussed in this episode:

• Lessons from a chaotic code blue
• What makes a great resuscitationist?
• How to effectively lead a resuscitation team
• The crucial role of debriefs

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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 article on the management of POTS. In this episode, Dr. Cutchins breaks down the symptoms, possible causes and contributing factors of this complex and misunderstood disorder. She also explores treatment strategies and new research that could improve patient outcomes.

Tune in to hear Dr. Cutchins’ insights into how healthcare professionals can better recognize POTS and advocate for patients!

Topics discussed in this episode:

• What is postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS)?
• Causes and contributing factors of POTS
• Common symptoms of POTS
• Diagnostic tests and diagnostic challenges
• The treatment process and effective strategies
• New developments in POTS research
• Treating POTS in an emergency situation
• How to better manage and advocate for patients

Read Dr. Cutchins' article, Narrative Review of Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome: Associated Conditions and Management Strategies: https://www.uscjournal.com/articles/narrative-review-postural-orthostatic-tachycardia-syndrome-associated-conditions-and

POTS patients can find more information and resources here:

https://www.dysautonomiainternational.org/

Print this guide to plan for POTS emergencies with your physician!

https://supertmastcell.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/SuperT-PatientReferenceGuide-2024.pdf

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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 Line Clearance, significantly reducing the risk of CAUTI. You’ll learn how this innovative technology both eases the nursing workload and improves patient outcomes.

From a patient case study to practical tips, this episode covers everything you need to know about the development and prevention of AKI. Tune in for an engaging discussion on the importance of early detection through urine output monitoring!

Topics discussed in this episode:

• Overlooked dangers of acute kidney injury
• What happens in the body to cause AKIs
• Good pee versus bad pee
• The correlation between urine output and patient outcomes
• Case study on the AKI cascade
• The three stages of AKI: prerenal, intrarenal, and postrenal
• Challenges in accurate urine output monitoring
• How CMS mandatory reporting regulations could impact hospitals
• Accuryn’s innovative work in the early detection of AKIs
• Tips for advocating for new technology at your workplace
• The most important takeaways from this episode

Starting in October 2024, CMS is including AKI as a reportable measure under the IPPS eCQMS Patient Safety reporting. Mandatory reporting of AKI Stage 2 and greater will begin by 2026. Click here to learn more: 

https://accuryn.com/why-accuryn/

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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, and reflects on the personal growth that came from living and working in a multicultural setting aboard Mercy Ships.

Tune in to learn how Mercy Ships provided life-changing opportunities for both patients and volunteers!

Topics discussed in this episode:

• Becca’s journey to join Mercy Ships
• Mercy Ships’ mission and volunteer opportunities
• The training process to live and work on a ship
• A day in the life as a Mercy Ships nurse
• Community and social life on Mercy Ships
• Educational perks and collaborative work environment 
• Mercy Ships’ profound impact on patients and volunteers
• Want to volunteer with Mercy Ships?

Mercy Ships is a global charity that operates the world’s largest hospital ships. Since its founding in 1978, Mercy Ships has brought hope and healing to Africa through surgical care, education, training, community development, and health programs. The life-changing work of our hospital ships is made possible all because of our vibrant community of volunteers from around the world. Whether you are a Perioperative, Critical Care, Ophthalmology, or a Pediatric Nurse, there is a place on board for you! Find your place and join Mercy Ship as a volunteer to help change the lives of people in great need.   

Follow Mercy Ships:  

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MercyShips

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mercyships/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/mercy-ships/

Learn more:

https://opportunities.mercyships.org/volunteer-now/

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