Rapid Response RN

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 the legal considerations of volunteering. Tune in to find out how you can prepare and respond if you ever hear that call in the air!

Topics discussed in this episode:

• Alex’s international flight medical emergency
• What went wrong during Sarah’s first in-flight emergency
• Protocols and challenges of in-flight care
• Aircraft medical kits and limitations
• Legal protections for volunteers
• Should you accept gifts from airlines?
• Common in-flight medical emergencies
• How to prepare for in-flight emergencies
• Documentation protocols and follow-up

Connect with Alex:

https://www.emergencyresilience.com/

https://www.instagram.com/emergencyresilience

Check out the list of FAA mandated medical supplies on every flight:

https://mobile.fpnotebook.com/ER/Pharm/FMndtdEmrgncyMdclKt.htm

Mentioned in this episode:

Listen to the In The Heart of Care Podcast

https://link.cohostpodcasting.com/6598429e-e927-45b0-9b57-7dd34a09d803?d=seASyqjs7

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 challenges, team dynamics, and common misconceptions that affect patient care. No matter your role, this episode will help nurses and flight crews understand their role and how to better work together!

Topics discussed in this episode:

• The role of ground versus flight paramedics
• Gaps between pre-hospital care and in-hospital care
• Common handoff mistakes (and how to avoid them)
• Misconceptions about flight transfers and patient care
• Why sedation matters before takeoff
• Managing medications and supplies in-flight
• How bedside nurses can better support flight teams
• The importance of team dynamics in flight medicine
• Advice for future flight medics and nurses

Check out Sam's podcast, Nine One One Nonsense, here:

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/nine-one-one-nonsense/id1673565406

Connect with Sam on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/911nonsense/

Mentioned in this episode:

Listen to the In The Heart of Care Podcast

https://link.cohostpodcasting.com/6598429e-e927-45b0-9b57-7dd34a09d803?d=seASyqjs7

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 presentation of symptoms. From emergency treatment strategies to post-op care, you’ll learn how to navigate the nuances of managing this complex condition!

Topics discussed in this episode:

• Patient’s initial presentation
• Symptoms of aortic dissection and diagnostic imaging
• Bilateral blood pressure and perfusion checks
• Aortic dissection vs. aortic aneurysm
• Why symptoms vary so widely
• Bedside assessment and monitoring
• Treatment priorities and pain management
• Post-op care and long-term complications

Mentioned in this episode:

Listen to the In The Heart of Care Podcast

https://link.cohostpodcasting.com/6598429e-e927-45b0-9b57-7dd34a09d803?d=seASyqjs7

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 pregnancy loss, her journey to have her rainbow baby, and how her experience gave her deeper insight into the kind of support patients really need.

This episode is a firsthand account of what compassionate care really looks like—and how nurses can better support patients during reproductive emergencies.

Topics discussed in this episode:

• The importance of self-care for nurses
• How her experience changed her approach to patient care
• First ectopic pregnancy and emergency surgery
• Emotional aftermath and physical recovery
•  Methotrexate treatment for her second ectopic pregnancy
• How to support patients through pregnancy loss
• Patient education and communication tips
• When patients need to seek care
• Conceiving after ectopic pregnancy

Connect with Shenell RN:

https://www.instagram.com/allonenurse_shenell/

Listen to the All One Nurse Podcast featuring Sarah Lorenzini:

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/navigating-rapid-response-nursing-with-sarah-lorenzini/id1755700754?i=1000693458288

Mentioned in this episode:

Listen to the In The Heart of Care Podcast

https://link.cohostpodcasting.com/6598429e-e927-45b0-9b57-7dd34a09d803?d=seASyqjs7

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 shifts that helped him make the switch, and break down cases where their quick action made all the difference — including a subdural hematoma caught just in time, a STEMI with an unusual presentation, and a patient whose only symptom was neck pain.

Whether you’re calling rapid response or considering the role yourself, don't miss this conversation on the skills and challenges that define rapid response nursing!

Topics discussed in this episode:

• Why transition from ER to rapid response?
• Differences between ER and rapid response nursing
• Case study: discovering a subdural hematoma
• The role of intuition in rapid response nursing
• Best practices to work with rapid response nurses
• Advice to nurses considering Rapid Response Nursing

Learn more about what it’s like to be a Rapid Response Nurse!

https://www.aacn.org/blog/exploring-the-world-of-rapid-response-nurses

Mentioned in this episode:

Listen to the In The Heart of Care Podcast

https://link.cohostpodcasting.com/6598429e-e927-45b0-9b57-7dd34a09d803?d=seASyqjs7

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 about caring for LVAD patients. Tune in to hear how she’s embraced her new normal and turned her experience into an opportunity to advocate for patients!

Topics discussed in this episode:

• Early signs of peripartum cardiomyopathy
• Tiffany’s birth story and descent into heart failure
• Making the decision to get an LVAD
• How the LVAD works and the implantation process
• The reality of living life with an LVAD
• Challenges of working as a nurse with an LVAD
• How her experience changed her approach to patient care
• Common LVAD emergencies
• Tips for treating LVAD patients

Hear more from Tiffany:

FB: https://www.facebook.com/tiffany.cannon.397/

IG: https://www.instagram.com/tiffany_cannon90/

Email: [email protected]

Purchase her book, A Journey Through Supernatural Healing!

https://a.co/d/av53sri

Mentioned in this episode:

Listen to the In The Heart of Care Podcast

https://link.cohostpodcasting.com/6598429e-e927-45b0-9b57-7dd34a09d803?d=seASyqjs7

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 she discovered there was a blood transfusion reaction when it wasn’t readily apparent. You will hear how the patient was reacting, how she assessed the situation, and how the patient was treated.

You will also hear Sarah’s cliff notes from what she researched detailing what kind of blood transfusion reactions to look out for, their treatment, what TACO and TRALI stand for along with their symptoms and treatment.

This episode is full of information that you may not learn in nursing school, but is SO useful when treating a patient that is having a blood transfusion reaction.

Tune in to hear this and more!

Topics discussed in this episode:

• Synopsis of a rapid response patient after a blood transfusion reaction
• First thing to do when you discover a blood transfusion reaction
• Blood transfusion reactions in order of prevalence
• What does TACO stand for?
• Treatment for each blood transfusion reactions
• What does TRALI stand for?
• Symptoms TACO vs. TRALI and how they are treated

Mentioned in this episode:

Listen to the In The Heart of Care Podcast

https://link.cohostpodcasting.com/6598429e-e927-45b0-9b57-7dd34a09d803?d=seASyqjs7

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 speaking up. Tune in for insights that will help you provide the best patient care even in high-stress emergencies!

Topics discussed in this episode:

• Lessons from a chaotic CVICU emergency
• The do’s and don’ts of team leadership
• How to create a culture of safety
• Why it’s important to be kind versus nice

Listen to  episode 62, “Resuscitation Leadership: Beyond the ABCs of CODE BLUE:”

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/62-resuscitation-leadership-beyond-the-abcs-of-code-blue/id1535997752?i=1000621879820

Listen to episode 123, “What Makes for a Great Resuscitationist?:”

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/123-what-makes-for-a-great-resuscitationist/id1535997752?i=1000670934458

Mentioned in this episode:

Listen to the In The Heart of Care Podcast

https://link.cohostpodcasting.com/6598429e-e927-45b0-9b57-7dd34a09d803?d=seASyqjs7

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/

Mentioned in this episode:

Listen to the In The Heart of Care Podcast

https://link.cohostpodcasting.com/6598429e-e927-45b0-9b57-7dd34a09d803?d=seASyqjs7

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

Mentioned in this episode:

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