Rapid Response RN

By Sarah LorenziniMedicine Health & Fitness Education

Favorites
137
Followers
Typical duration
38 min
per episode

Based on Podcast App listening data

Rapid Response RN episodes

July 21, 202362: Resuscitation Leadership: Beyond the ABCs of CODE BLUE
“Leadership is not a title. Leadership is influence.”
Our host Sarah Lorenzini wants to highlight a question that nurses are regularly asking her to answer on the Rapid Response Podcast: how can we be better leaders during resuscitation where a fast coordinated effort is necessary?
Knowing your place as a leader, knowing how to delegate and communicate, as well as having the ability to channel your inevitable fight or flight response into peak performance, may feel daunting to a lot of nurses, especially those just starting out. However, you don’t necessarily need years of experience under your belt to be a great leader in a code situation, which is what Sarah wants to share with you all today!
In this episode, you will hear a detailed example of what a good leader in a resuscitation situation embodies, what their role is, what tasks are needed, the level of importance of each task, and how to delegate tasks, as well as how to debrief your team.
This information is invaluable to anyone who is in healthcare, even if you are still in nursing school or just starting your nursing career and you don’t necessarily think of yourself as a leader, this episode is still for you!

Tune in for this and more!

Topics discussed in this episode:

The last thing you should be doing as a leader
Rescuer one, two, three method
Less crucial, yet important tasks that need to be assigned
Closed loop communication and why it is important
Why you should think out loud as a leader
The importance of giving kudos even in an emergency situation
Debriefing as a priority and how to do it
How to lead a moment of silence (or honor) after an unsuccessful code
Using your sympathetic nervous system to your advantage
20 min
July 14, 202361: Infective Endocarditis Part 2: Understanding Valvular Damage, Embolic Sequelae, and Clinical Manifestations
Last week, Sarah shared the story of a patient who was finally diagnosed with infective endocarditis after presenting with several symptoms, including fever, tachypnea, chest pain, hypotension and more. In this episode, she’ll further explain how the patient was diagnosed and the pathophysiology of this type of infection.
Sarah goes over how septic emboli form, and the clinical manifestations that result when they travel in the body as well as the risks and signs of valvular damage to look out for when you’ve diagnosed infective endocarditis.
You’ll also learn the areas of the body that can be affected by endocarditis, the diagnostic criteria, and what conditions can predispose a patient to infective endocarditis. Sarah covers the critical role that nurses can play in treating these at-risk patients and how education and compassion can make the biggest difference in the patient’s long term outcome.
Make sure you’re prepared to recognize the signs and symptoms of infective endocarditis and tune into this episode now!
Topics discussed in this episode:

What predisposes a patient to infective endocarditis
Why and how bacteria starts to form
What happens after bacteria has invaded the body
How endocarditis can lead to dysrhythmias
The formation of mobile septic emboli and their danger
How infective endocarditis presents in a patient
Common symptoms of infective endocarditis
How the diagnosis of infective endocarditis is made
The two treatment options for infective endocarditis
The Nurse’s role in caring for this patient population
20 min
July 14, 202361: Infective Endocarditis Part 2: Understanding Valvular Damage, Embolic Sequelae, and Clinical Manifestations
Last week, Sarah shared the story of a patient who was finally diagnosed with infective endocarditis after presenting with several symptoms, including fever, tachypnea, chest pain, hypotension and more. In this episode, she’ll further explain how the patient was diagnosed and the pathophysiology of this type of infection.
Sarah goes over how septic emboli form, and the clinical manifestations that result when they travel in the body as well as the risks and signs of valvular damage to look out for when you’ve diagnosed infective endocarditis.
You’ll also learn the areas of the body that can be affected by endocarditis, the diagnostic criteria, and what conditions can predispose a patient to infective endocarditis. Sarah covers the critical role that nurses can play in treating these at-risk patients and how education and compassion can make the biggest difference in the patient’s long term outcome.
Make sure you’re prepared to recognize the signs and symptoms of infective endocarditis and tune into this episode now!
Topics discussed in this episode:

What predisposes a patient to infective endocarditis
Why and how bacteria starts to form
What happens after bacteria has invaded the body
How endocarditis can lead to dysrhythmias
The formation of mobile septic emboli and their danger
How infective endocarditis presents in a patient
Common symptoms of infective endocarditis
How the diagnosis of infective endocarditis is made
The two treatment options for infective endocarditis
The Nurse’s role in caring for this patient population
22 min
July 07, 202360: Infective Endocarditis: From Invasion to Destruction
In part one of this two part series, our host Sarah Lorenzini shares a story about a patient she was called to see who was under the care of nurse Clayton, a trusted colleague and previous Rapid Response Podcast guest, after he saw a drop in the patient’s blood pressure and had a gut feeling something wasn’t right.
Sarah walks us through her assessment and how the team came to the conclusion that this patient had infective endocarditis.
In part two of this series, Sarah will elaborate on this case by explaining how bacteria or fungus grows inside the cardiac muscle, how infective endocarditis presents itself in patients, and the different diagnostic criteria for endocarditis.
Topics discussed in this episode:
Clayton’s concern over a patient’s drop in blood pressure
Steps Sarah took to assess the patient
What they found after calling for an expedited echo for the patient
What is infective endocarditis?
Introduction into infective endocarditis
12 min
July 07, 202360: Infective Endocarditis: From Invasion to Destruction
In part one of this two part series, our host Sarah Lorenzini shares a story about a patient she was called to see who was under the care of nurse Clayton, a trusted colleague and previous Rapid Response Podcast guest, after he saw a drop in the patient’s blood pressure and had a gut feeling something wasn’t right.
Sarah walks us through her assessment and how the team came to the conclusion that this patient had infective endocarditis.
In part two of this series, Sarah will elaborate on this case by explaining how bacteria or fungus grows inside the cardiac muscle, how infective endocarditis presents itself in patients, and the different diagnostic criteria for endocarditis.
Topics discussed in this episode:
Clayton’s concern over a patient’s drop in blood pressure
Steps Sarah took to assess the patient
What they found after calling for an expedited echo for the patient
What is infective endocarditis?
Introduction into infective endocarditis
13 min
June 23, 202359: Re-Release"Air Don't Go There!" Air Embolism to the Brain With Guest Marissa, Rapid Response RN
Our nursing professors cautioned us about the risk of not using proper technique when removing central lines, their warnings sometimes seeming dramatic and unlikely. That’s why this previously released interview with Nurse Marissa is such an important story, because sometimes those rare cases DO happen!
In this episode, Marissa tells the story of a patient that was admitted for her mental status, lethargy and hyperkalemia. She seemed to improve but then became unresponsive, and the rapid response team was called. What followed was the surprising discovery of air in her brain, and a probe into how it happened.
At the end of Marissa’s story, host Sarah Lorenzini shares her research on air embolisms, including how air gets into the bloodstream, what happens when it travels to each part of the body, and the level of risk associated with each scenario.
By the end of this episode, you’ll know the steps you can take if your patient pulls their central line just like Marissa’s patient, what signs to look for, and how to treat a cerebral embolus if it occurs. Tune in now!
Topics discussed in this episode:

Marissa’s journey from Med-Surg nurse to Cardiac ICU to Rapid Response
Her patient’s presentation and patient history
What the patient’s CT showed
How they treated the patient for air in the brain
How air gets into the bloodstream
The risk associated with air embolisms
What to do if your patient pulls their own central line
Things to remember about air embolisms

Learn more about the pathophysiology of air embolism in the brain in this article by the American Heart Association, called Accidental Air Embolism: https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/full/10.1161/STROKEAHA.119.025340
24 min
June 23, 202359: Re-Release"Air Don't Go There!" Air Embolism to the Brain With Guest Marissa, Rapid Response RN
Our nursing professors cautioned us about the risk of not using proper technique when removing central lines, their warnings sometimes seeming dramatic and unlikely. That’s why this previously released interview with Nurse Marissa is such an important story, because sometimes those rare cases DO happen!
In this episode, Marissa tells the story of a patient that was admitted for her mental status, lethargy and hyperkalemia. She seemed to improve but then became unresponsive, and the rapid response team was called. What followed was the surprising discovery of air in her brain, and a probe into how it happened.
At the end of Marissa’s story, host Sarah Lorenzini shares her research on air embolisms, including how air gets into the bloodstream, what happens when it travels to each part of the body, and the level of risk associated with each scenario.
By the end of this episode, you’ll know the steps you can take if your patient pulls their central line just like Marissa’s patient, what signs to look for, and how to treat a cerebral embolus if it occurs. Tune in now!
Topics discussed in this episode:

Marissa’s journey from Med-Surg nurse to Cardiac ICU to Rapid Response
Her patient’s presentation and patient history
What the patient’s CT showed
How they treated the patient for air in the brain
How air gets into the bloodstream
The risk associated with air embolisms
What to do if your patient pulls their own central line
Things to remember about air embolisms

Learn more about the pathophysiology of air embolism in the brain in this article by the American Heart Association, called Accidental Air Embolism: https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/full/10.1161/STROKEAHA.119.025340
26 min
June 16, 202358: Narcotic Overdose: The Nurse's Vital Role In Initial Stabilization and Management
When we speak about narcotic overdoses, the first thing we think about is the administration of Narcan or Naloxone. However, our host Sarah Lorenzini shares how that shouldn’t always be the first thing we reach for.
Sarah wants to share why Narcan is her absolute last resort, and why she tries to avoid administering it at all cost. Narcan, or Naloxone, is used to counteract the effects of opioids in the system and while it may help the patient breathe faster, it also blocks the effects of the narcotic that was managing their pain. In some cases, it is totally necessary to use Narcan, but not every time a patient is lethargic or minimally responsive does Narcan need to be administered.
In today’s episode, you will hear a story of a patient Sarah dealt with where she made the decision to administer Narcan, the very first course of action when dealing with an overdose patient, what to look for in an overdose patient, and some pro tips on how to administer Narcan when/if necessary.
This episode is crucial to understanding and changing perspectives on overdose patients that could make a big difference in a life or death situation.
Tune in for this and more!
Topics discussed in this episode:

Why Sarah was alarmed after the quick assessment of the patient
How Sarah delegated to her team of nurses
The list of medications the patient was given
The risk of high CO2 in the system
How to measure a patient’s CO2 level
What symptoms to look for in an overdose patient
What to do first when you discover respiratory depression
Why Sarah tries to avoid Narcan at all costs
Pro Tips on how to administer Narcan (if necessary)
17 min
June 16, 202358: Narcotic Overdose: The Nurse's Vital Role In Initial Stabilization and Management
When we speak about narcotic overdoses, the first thing we think about is the administration of Narcan or Naloxone. However, our host Sarah Lorenzini shares how that shouldn’t always be the first thing we reach for.
Sarah wants to share why Narcan is her absolute last resort, and why she tries to avoid administering it at all cost. Narcan, or Naloxone, is used to counteract the effects of opioids in the system and while it may help the patient breathe faster, it also blocks the effects of the narcotic that was managing their pain. In some cases, it is totally necessary to use Narcan, but not every time a patient is lethargic or minimally responsive does Narcan need to be administered.
In today’s episode, you will hear a story of a patient Sarah dealt with where she made the decision to administer Narcan, the very first course of action when dealing with an overdose patient, what to look for in an overdose patient, and some pro tips on how to administer Narcan when/if necessary.
This episode is crucial to understanding and changing perspectives on overdose patients that could make a big difference in a life or death situation.
Tune in for this and more!
Topics discussed in this episode:

Why Sarah was alarmed after the quick assessment of the patient
How Sarah delegated to her team of nurses
The list of medications the patient was given
The risk of high CO2 in the system
How to measure a patient’s CO2 level
What symptoms to look for in an overdose patient
What to do first when you discover respiratory depression
Why Sarah tries to avoid Narcan at all costs
Pro Tips on how to administer Narcan (if necessary)
19 min
June 09, 202357: What to Expect When Your Patient is Dying with Hospice Nurse Hadley
Nurses are trained to treat and save lives, but hospice nurses focus on a different set of skills. As host Sarah says in this episode as she speaks with Hadley Vlahos, RN, “fixing isn’t the only great thing we can do as nurses.”
In this episode and her new book, The In-Between, Hadley shares what it’s like to care for patients that are dying and what she’s learned from their end of life wisdom. She offers insight into what to expect as a patient is passing, what type of vernacular to use with grieving families, and lots more.
Hadley and Sarah also discuss hard-to-describe things like the energy shift that happens after a patient passes, and an often unexplainable final burst of energy many patients have when they are close to dying. Plus, Sarah shares her life-changing first experience with a dying hospice patient in the ER.
Whether you plan to work in hospice or not, tune in to hear tips on how you can be a better nurse to dying patients and their families!
Topics discussed in this episode:

Misconceptions about hospice nursing
What you can expect when a patient is dying
Signs that a patient is passing
How nurses can make patients more comfortable in their final days
That final burst of energy before death
Hadley’s most life-changing patient
What you feel after a patient passes
How you can be compassionate towards patient’s loved ones
Tips for speaking to family members about death and dying
Using the words “death” and “dying”
Lessons Hadley has learned from her patients

To purchase Hadley's Book "The In-Between":

https://www.amazon.com/dp/059349993X

Follow Nurse Hadley on Social Media:
https://www.instagram.com/nurse.hadley/
35 min