Rapid Response RN
129 episodes - English - Latest episode: 9 days ago - ★★★★★ - 264 ratingsDo you want to go from dreading emergencies to feeling confident and ready to jump into action to rescue your patient?
Well, this show will let you see emergencies unfold through the eyes of a Rapid Response Nurse. With real life stories from the frontlines of nursing, host Sarah Lorenzini MSN, RN, CCRN, CEN, a Rapid Response Nurse and educator, shares her experiences at rapid response events and breaks down the pathophysiology, pharmacology, and the important role the nurse plays during emergencies.
If you want to sharpen your assessment skills and learn how to think like a Rapid Response Nurse, then Sarah is here to share stories, tips, tricks, and mindsets that will prepare you to approach any emergency.
Every episode is packed full of exactly what you need to know to handle whatever crisis that could arise on your shift. It’s one thing to get the right answer on the test, but knowing how to detect when YOUR patient is declining and what to do when YOUR patient is crashing is what will make or break your day… and might just save your patient’s life.
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Episodes
101: So You Wanna Go Back to School Part 1: Nurse Practitioner With Guest Dr. Sandra Pagenta DNP
April 19, 2024 11:00 - 40 minutes - 55.3 MBAre you considering a career as a nurse practitioner? Do you want to go back to school to transition into an advanced practice nursing role? Join host Sarah Lorenzini and guest Dr. Sandra Pagenta, DNP, as they discuss opportunities available in nursing and how to decide if the nurse practitioner path is the right one for you. Dr. Sandra Pagenta reflects on the evolution of her nursing career, from her early days as an RN to her current role as a nurse practitioner. She dives into the challe...
100: How to Still Love Being a Nurse After 20 Years in the Profession
April 12, 2024 11:00 - 25 minutes - 35 MBEvery day that you complete a shift is a day to celebrate because nursing is undoubtedly one of the hardest professions in the world, especially in the last few years. Burnout rates are extremely high, and for good reason, but there are ways to keep your passion for nursing even after decades in the field. In this milestone 100th episode of Rapid Response RN, host Sarah Lorenzini celebrates 20 years of being a nurse and *still* loving it. It hasn’t been easy, but two decades of continuous l...
99: Hyponatremia: How Did It Happen and Why Is It So Challenging To Treat?
April 05, 2024 11:02 - 23 minutes - 32.9 MBTreating hyponatremia, a condition characterized by low sodium levels in the blood, can be both complicated and quite risky.. Disruptions to the delicate balance of sodium in the body can lead to a spectrum of outcomes, from an asymptomatic presentation to life-threatening seizures, coma, and death. Through the patient story of Mrs. Saltman, host Sarah Lorenzini explains the role of sodium in the body, breaking down the science of osmosis and electrolytes so nurses can better understand the...
98: "Broken Heart Syndrome" aka Takotsubo Cardiomyopathy
March 29, 2024 11:00 - 22 minutes - 30.8 MBTakotsubo cardiomyopathy, also known as “broken heart syndrome,” is hard to diagnose because its symptoms mimic more common conditions like acute coronary syndrome. This stress-induced cardiomyopathy presents a mysterious challenge to nurses, as you’ll hear in today’s patient story. Host Sarah Lorenzini shares the case of a patient who went from experiencing shortness of breath and nausea to a serious cardiac emergency. She breaks down the patient’s initial presentation, their quick decline...
97: Status Asthmaticus Part 2: Strategies to Manage the Crashing Asthmatic
March 22, 2024 11:00 - 28 minutes - 38.7 MBPart two of our crashing asthmatic series continues with a comprehensive look into what exactly happened in last week’s nightmare patient case. Host Sarah Lorenzini dives into the pathophysiology of status asthmaticus, explaining the physiological changes in the airways during severe asthma attacks and what makes these cases resistant to standard treatment. She also breaks down treat options for patients approaching the asthma spiral of death, from pharmacological interventions to last-res...
96: Nightmare Case: The Young Crashing Asthmatic Patient With Guest Brooklyn RN
March 15, 2024 11:00 - 33 minutes - 45.5 MBSevere asthma leads to cardiac arrest in today’s gripping patient story. Brooklyn, an ER Nurse joins host Sarah Lorenzini to discuss a nightmare case of a young asthmatic patient and her team’s desperate fight to stabilize him. Despite various interventions, from albuterol, magnesium, BiPap, ketamine, and more, the patient's condition deteriorated, requiring intubation and ultimately transfer to an ECMO center to save the patient’s life. This episode highlights the challenges faced by small...
95: "That's a Weird Blood Pressure!": Recognizing and Interpreting Wide and Narrow Pulse Pressures
March 08, 2024 11:00 - 18 minutes - 24.8 MBDo you know how to recognize a wide or narrow pulse pressure and what each finding tells you about your patient? Following last week's discussion on the shock index, host Sarah Lorenzini introduces pulse pressure as another essential tool in the nurse's assessment arsenal. In this episode, Sarah outlines how to measure and interpret pulse pressure. She shares two patient stories to illustrate how variations in pulse pressure can indicate different underlying conditions: The case study of Mr...
94: How Valuable is the Shock Index?
March 01, 2024 11:00 - 14 minutes - 19.4 MBLooking at HR or Blood Pressure alone as determinants of how stable the patient is can lead us astray. The Shock Index allows us to detect when patients are declining… while they are still compensating. Shock Index = HR/SBP… but how can we use this tool? A patient’s vital signs can appear normal, meanwhile they’re on the brink of shock. This was exactly the case of Mr. Fields, a patient admitted to the ER after falling off his tractor. Initially, his vitals didn't raise alarms but there w...
93: What the Heck is BRASH Syndrome?
February 23, 2024 11:00 - 20 minutes - 27.6 MBAre you familiar with BRASH syndrome? The complex interplay of Bradycardia, Renal Failure, Atrioventricular Block, Shock, and Hyperkalemia forms a collection of clinical signs known as BRASH syndrome. One condition leads to another which leads to another, heightening the severity of symptoms. Fortunately, it’s easy to manage if you know what you are treating. In this episode, Sarah Lorenzini breaks down the pathophysiology of BRASH syndrome as she examines a patient case study. Starting wit...
92: How to Rock Your Next Stroke Alert With Guest Dr. Eric Wilson RN, AGNP-C, DNP, NREMT-P
February 16, 2024 11:00 - 27 minutes - 38.1 MBTiming is everything when it comes to strokes because every second without treatment impacts patient outcomes. If you’ve ever wasted time debating whether or not to call a stroke alert, you don’t want to miss this episode with Dr. Eric Wilson RN, AGNP-C, DNP, NREMT-P! During his conversation with host Sarah Lorenzini, Eric emphasizes the urgency of recognizing stroke symptoms early, highlighting unilateral deficits and speech issues as red flags for immediate action. He guides listeners thr...
91: Vasopressors and Inotropes 101
February 09, 2024 11:00 - 14 minutes - 13.4 MBCardiac output equals heart rate times stroke volume… but what does that really mean and how does it apply to the bedside? This formula (CO = HR x SV) is crucial for nurses to understand in the application of vasopressors and inotropes, so why is it so difficult to memorize their role in improving cardiac output? This episode is dedicated to breaking down these life-saving medications so you can not only memorize their expected effect on vital signs, but more importantly, understand how the...
90: Rhabdomyolysis
February 02, 2024 11:00 - 16 minutes - 22.4 MBDid you listen to Joey’s story in last week’s mystery episode? If you did and guessed rhabdomyolysis as his diagnosis, congratulations! Joey’s muscle injury from playing a little too hard at football camp resulted in a release of muscle proteins that ultimately caused his kidneys to shut down, which led to his diagnosis and treatment for rhabdomyolysis. In this episode, host Sarah Lorenzini examines the complexities of the condition, from its pathophysiology to causes and treatment options....
89: MYSTERY EPISODE... What's Wrong With Joey?
January 26, 2024 11:00 - 7 minutes - 6.54 MBAre you ready for some diagnosing fun?! In this episode, host Sarah Lorenzini will challenge your diagnostic skills with the mystery case of Joey, a 14-year-old patient who went from playing football at summer camp to being intubated in the ER. Joey presented with an altered mental status, and was tachycardic, tachypneic and febrile. Once in the ER, he went into ventricular tachycardia, his blood pressure dropped significantly, and he required intubation. As Sarah shares more details on his...
88: Autonomic Dysreflexia: The Who, What, Why, and How to Treat This Perplexing Diagnosis
January 19, 2024 11:00 - 15 minutes - 21.2 MBAs host Sarah Lorenzini insightfully explains, “think of autonomic dysreflexia symptoms as the body's way of telling you something is wrong.” Autonomic dysreflexia is a medical emergency that occurs in patients with a spinal cord injury, but it can be hard to recognize because of the body’s confusing responses to stimulation. That’s why it’s crucial for nurses to understand this syndrome and prevent patients from developing any life-threatening complications. In this episode, host Sarah Lor...
87: Navigating Goals of Care Discussions With Guest, Hospice Nurse AJ
January 12, 2024 11:00 - 32 minutes - 45.1 MBGoals of care discussions are among the most difficult to navigate as a nurse, BUT there are ways to provide both comfort and clarity to patients and their families in these emotionally charged situations. In this episode, host Sarah Lorenzini and Hospice Nurse AJ share tips and insights on how to approach these challenging discussions with sensitivity and respect, all while keeping patient’s wishes at the forefront of treatment. From how to start the conversation to addressing concerns, th...
86: Making the Transition to the ICU With Guest Sarah Vance
January 05, 2024 14:45 - 25 minutes - 34.8 MBOrienting as a new Nurse in the ICU is much like climbing your first big mountain — both require basic knowledge, passion, and the ability to learn quickly and adapt in a demanding environment. But without these attributes, you have an arduous, possibly insurmountable journey ahead of you. In this episode, host Sarah Lorenzini and Sarah Vance RN delve into the controversial topic of new grads going straight into the ICU after graduation, exploring the challenges and opportunities it present...
85: Just a Spoonful of Sugar Helps Your Patient's Prolapsed Rectum Go Down
December 29, 2023 11:00 - 23 minutes - 32.5 MBWhat’s your craziest, most shocking nursing story? In this episode, you’ll hear one of host Sarah Lorenzini’s most memorable stories as a rapid response nurse! Sarah recounts her experience treating a severe case of a prolapsed rectum, describing the unconventional yet effective approach that not only resolved the medical dilemma but caught the attention of Rapid Response RN listeners, becoming the most shared episode of the podcast! As Sarah delves into this case of rectal prolapse, she e...
84: Urology Tips, Tricks, and Hacks... and When it's Time to Call the Urologist With Guest Dr. Shailen Sehgal
December 22, 2023 11:00 - 31 minutes - 42.7 MBForeign objects in the bladder, urinary retention, priapism. These are just a few of the urological emergencies host Sarah Lorenzini is discussing with Dr. Shailen Sehgal! Nurses are the first line of defense in treating emergencies and play an important role in managing their care. In this episode, Dr. Shailen Sehgal explores these emergencies and shares great tips and tricks to treat conditions like testicular torsion, assess for hematuria, and troubleshoot catheter insertions, bladder sp...
83: How to Manage Snake Bites as a Nurse and as a Patient With Guest Sealy RN
December 15, 2023 11:00 - 23 minutes - 31.7 MBSnake bite care: where the cost and long-term complications can sting harder than the bite. Managing snake bites requires quick intervention, making it crucial for nurses to understand how to navigate this type of emergency. So in this episode, host Sarah Lorenzini welcomes Sealy RN to share her firsthand experience of being bitten. As a nurse who has also treated snake bites, she has great insights on the challenges of snake bite care. Sarah and Sealy discuss the use of antivenom, specifi...
82: Sympathetic Crashing Acute Pulmonary Edema: That Time My Patient Went From Stable A-Fib RVR to Intubated in 30 Minutes!
December 08, 2023 11:00 - 19 minutes - 26.1 MBHow does AFib RVR escalate into a life-threatening situation in just 30 minutes? Join host Sarah Lorenzini as she reflects on a perplexing case of sympathetic crashing acute pulmonary edema, also known as flash pulmonary edema. This patient’s rapid deterioration led to an emergency intubation that perplexed the rapid response team, but the patient's true condition became clear in hindsight. In this episode, Sarah walks us through the case, sharing the patient's presentation and medical his...
81: Mechanical Circulatory Support for Cardiogenic Shock With Guest Christian Guzman, APRN
December 01, 2023 11:00 - 39 minutes - 54.6 MBHost Sarah Lorenzini and Christian Guzman APRN are back to conclude this three-part heart failure series by examining the use of mechanical circulatory support for cardiogenic shock. This episode expands on the topics covered in previous parts, focusing on the application of mechanical circulatory support methods like the intra-aortic balloon pump, Impella, CentriMag, LVADs, and ECMO. Christian and Sarah review the risks and benefits of each device, when to use them, and the key factors tha...
80: Medical Management of Cardiogenic Shock With Guest Christian Guzman APRN
November 24, 2023 11:00 - 34 minutes - 47.6 MBBuilding on last week’s introduction to heart failure, this episode explores the nuances in the medical management of cardiogenic shock. Host Sarah Lorenzini and Christian Guzman APRN continue this three-part heart failure series by completing the case study of a patient in cardiogenic shock, and breaking down key treatment concepts and strategies. They discuss goal-directed therapy to optimize heart function, with a specific focus on the vital aspects of contractility, afterload, and prelo...
79: Heart Failure 101 with Guest Christian Guzman APRN
November 17, 2023 11:00 - 44 minutes - 61 MBDuring a normal day gardening, an active woman in her 60s was suddenly struck with chest tightness. Thinking it was just an asthma attack, she tried to let the pain pass. What she didn’t realize was that she was having a full blown myocardial infarction, and this was only the beginning of her journey. In this episode, host Sarah Lorenzini is joined by her friend, Christian Guzman APRN, to discuss this patient story and the pathophysiology of heart failure. As they go through this case study...
78: Healthy vs Hostile: Recognizing the Nursing Red Flags and Green Flags of a Work Environment
November 10, 2023 10:30 - 20 minutes - 28.8 MBHave you ever started a new and promising job, only to discover that it wasn’t the nurturing and supportive space you thought it was? In this episode, host Sarah Lorenzini, armed with nearly two decades of nursing experience in various departments and leadership roles, provides a guideline to spotting the red and green flags that can signal a healthy or hostile workplace. Sarah explores what makes a healthy work environment, beyond reputation and first impressions, as she does a deep dive i...
77: THE TRAUMA DIAMOND OF DEATH: 4 Treatment Priorities in Trauma Care With Guest Sarah Vance
November 03, 2023 11:00 - 23 minutes - 32.4 MBYou may already be familiar with the trauma triad… but in this episode, host Sarah Lorenzini is once again joined by her friend and critical care nurse and educator, Sarah Vance to break down a 4th component to trauma resuscitation. Last week, they discussed the treatment of a trauma patient with neuro and respiratory injuries, but today they’re getting into the “blood and guts” of trauma cases as Sarah Vance RN walks us through a multiple gunshot wound case study. Similar to last week’s pat...
76: Trauma Breakdown: Beyond the Blood and Guts... A Complicated Case Study with Guest Sarah Vance RN
October 27, 2023 11:00 - 36 minutes - 49.8 MBIf you hear “trauma” and immediately think of blood and guts, this episode with host Sarah Lorenzini’s friend, critical care nurse and educator Sarah Vance, will show you that there’s so much more to trauma cases. Because even localized injuries can affect the whole body, and issues can pile up and require conflicting treatments. That’s why trauma cases require an advanced level of assessment and critical thinking skills. During this episode, Sarah Vance RN tells the story of a patient who ...
75: Rigors and Other Super Scary Chemotherapy Reactions With Guest Montana, Rapid Response RN
October 20, 2023 11:00 - 29 minutes - 41 MBEvery nurse knows the havoc chemotherapy wreaks on the body, but most nurses aren’t as knowledgeable on how to treat chemo reactions as, say, chemo or oncology nurses. Even host Sarah Lorenzini is slightly intimidated by unpredictable reactions from chemotherapy! That’s why this episode is centered around those super scary chemotherapy reactions and how to treat them. To help us dive further into this topic, Sarah is speaking with another rapid response nurse, Montana RN. He has a dramatic ...
74: Pediatric Basilar Skull Fracture With Guest Casey BSN, RN, CCRN-CMC, CFRN, CTRN, CEN, TCRN, CPEN, CNRN, NRP
October 13, 2023 11:00 - 34 minutes - 47 MBIn this episode of Rapid Response RN, host Sarah Lorenzini is joined by Casey BSN, RN, CCRN-CMC, CFRN, CTRN, CEN, TCRN, CPEN, CNRN, NRP. And yes, you read her title right — Casey has a whopping eight certifications and is one of the few nurses with ALL five BCEN certifications. And she’s using her knowledge and skills to advocate for her patients and teach others. Today, Casey tells the story of a patient who came into the ER after a fall and was later diagnosed with a basilar skull fractur...
73: Resuscitate Before You Intubate: How to NOT KILL YOUR PATIENT When You Intubate
October 06, 2023 11:00 - 34 minutes - 47.3 MBIntubation is a life-saving intervention, but it can also kill your patient! That’s why this follow-up episode to last week’s patient story is covering the process of intubation, what can go wrong and how nurses can mitigate risk factors to avoid bad outcomes like cardiac arrest. In part two of this intubation series, host Sarah Lorenzini details proper intubation preparation and the role of nurses during intubation. She walks through the entire process from assembling a team to what suppli...
72: How Do You Know When it's Time to Intubate?
September 29, 2023 11:00 - 15 minutes - 21.7 MBPatients get intubated in every department of the hospital… not just the ICU. So it’s important that every nurse know the signs and symptoms of when it’s time to intubate. Our host Sarah Lorenzini, has been asked the same type of questions about intubation multiple times this week, so we felt it was necessary to address them. Sarah’s extensive knowledge and experience in critical care and rapid response situations has prepared her to be able to provide expertise and insights on this topic,...
71: Recognition and Treatment of Septic Shock With Guest Yesha APRN
September 22, 2023 09:54 - 39 minutes - 53.6 MBSeptember is Sepsis Awareness Month, so host Sarah Lorenzini is throwing it back to one of the earliest Rapid Response RN podcast episodes with guest Yesha APRN. This episode tells the story of a patient with sepsis, and it’s one of Sarah’s favorite episodes because it exemplifies all of the classic signs and symptoms of sepsis as well as the important role the nurse plays in caring for septic patients. Last week, you learned about fluid resuscitation and the potential harm of fluid overloa...
70: Stop Guessing When Fluid Resuscitating With Guest Corinne RN From FloPatch
September 15, 2023 11:00 - 37 minutes - 51.4 MBOften when a patient’s blood pressure has dropped, we administer fluids without truly knowing the exact reason for the change. Does the patient have low volume, were they vasodilating, or is their heart not squeezing effectively? Fluid resuscitation is not always the answer, but there’s no clear guideline to assess patients without advanced tools that take time and specialists. Enter the FloPatch from Flosonics, an innovative device that quickly measures blood flow in real time. Fluids can ...
69: Diuretic Induced Metabolic Alkalosis with Guest Annie RN
September 08, 2023 11:00 - 27 minutes - 37.1 MBWe often are looking for an acidosis when patients present with lethargy but what about when it’s an alkalosis!? In last week’s episode with Annie Fulton RN of the “Up My Nursing Game” podcast, she and host Sarah Lorenzini presented a patient story but left the diagnosis a mystery. You heard why Annie’s patient was admitted and her initial assessment, what caused her to think something more was going on, and why she ruled out sepsis as a diagnosis. Now, find out what her diagnosis was and h...
68: MYSTERY EPISODE With Guest Annie Fulton RN
September 01, 2023 11:00 - 14 minutes - 19.4 MBCan you guess what was causing this patient’s unexpected symptoms? This episode is a little different from the rest, thanks to you, our listeners, for submitting your suggestions and ideas for how these episodes should go, because we are all ears! One of our listeners suggested we do a mystery episode (thanks Shannon!), and we thought it was brilliant! So, on today’s episode, our host Sarah Lorenzini invites back, podcast host of Up My Nursing Game, registered nurse, friend, and former Rap...
67: Battling Nursing Burnout: Interview with Nurse Burnout Coach Janna Holterman Part 2
August 25, 2023 11:00 - 17 minutes - 24.2 MB“If you look for the bad, you’ll always find it. If you look for the good, you’ll always find it.” - Sarah’s grandmother In the second part of our two part series on nursing burnout, our host Sarah Lorenzini continues her conversation with Nurse Burnout Coach Janna Holterman, where they discuss how to reframe your mindset as a nurse to deal with burnout. We go to nursing school because we want to help people who are suffering and provide care on a heart centered level, not just by fulfilli...
66: Who is Advocating For You? Interview with Nurse Burnout Coach Janna Holterman Part 1
August 18, 2023 11:00 - 27 minutes - 37.3 MBNurses are trained to put their patients first, and that oftentimes results in forgoing their own needs. Skipping out on fundamental needs like sleeping and eating healthy meals lead nurses to feel emotionally and physically exhausted, eventually leading to burnout and loss of love for the job. Nurses spend so much time advocating for patients but forget that it’s equally as important to advocate for themselves. As today’s guest will remind you, “what you resist persists.” Even if you have ...
65: Benzodiazepine Withdrawal: Severe Symptoms That Make Coming Off Benzos So Difficult
August 15, 2023 01:24 - 12 minutes - 17.4 MBWelcome to part two of our series on benzodiazepines where we will be discussing the other side of benzodiazepines: the challenges of withdrawal. As healthcare providers, you are taught that benzodiazepines are in fact safe, but our host Sarah Lorenzini wants to offer a different perspective. Do we really need to be administering benzodiazepines as freely as we are taught in school? Of course for life or death situations it is a no brainer, but what about those moments when your patient is ...
64: Benzodiazepine Overdose: Recognition and Treatment When It's an Emergency
August 04, 2023 11:18 - 11 minutes - 15.4 MBIn part one of the two part series on benzodiazepines, our host Sarah Lorenzini presents us with a case study about how she treated a benzodiazepine overdose during her time working as an ER Nurse. She walks us through the state her patient was in when she arrived at the hospital and the steps she took when assessing the patient and how to treat her, as well as her thought process along the way. Benzodiazepine overdoses are a little tricky. All the pieces of the puzzle matter, so having goo...
63: The Science and Heart of Organ Donation: An Exclusive Interview With Sean, an Organ Procurement Nurse
July 28, 2023 23:43 - 43 minutes - 60 MBOne facet of nursing that we don’t learn much about in nursing school is organ donation. It’s such a rewarding experience to help give a person back their life, as you’ll hear from our host and today’s guest. In this episode, Sarah is speaking with Nurse Sean, organ procurement nurse and host of the “Nurse Dose Podcast.” He goes over the process of organ donation from start to finish, including procuring organs from a patient who is brain dead and also from donors after cardiac death (DCD)....
62: Resuscitation Leadership: Beyond the ABCs of CODE BLUE
July 21, 2023 10:52 - 17 minutes - 24.7 MB“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 nur...
61: Infective Endocarditis Part 2: Understanding Valvular Damage, Embolic Sequelae, and Clinical Manifestations
July 14, 2023 10:15 - 19 minutes - 27.4 MBLast 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 ...
60: Infective Endocarditis: From Invasion to Destruction
July 07, 2023 14:20 - 11 minutes - 15.2 MBIn 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 ...
59: Re-Release"Air Don't Go There!" Air Embolism to the Brain With Guest Marissa, Rapid Response RN
June 23, 2023 10:00 - 23 minutes - 32.9 MBOur 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 re...
58: Narcotic Overdose: The Nurse's Vital Role In Initial Stabilization and Management
June 16, 2023 10:00 - 16 minutes - 23 MBWhen 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 t...
57: What to Expect When Your Patient is Dying with Hospice Nurse Hadley
June 09, 2023 10:00 - 34 minutes - 47.9 MBNurses 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 wi...
56: Recap, Top Pearls, and Reflections from the NTI 2023 Conference
June 02, 2023 10:00 - 41 minutes - 56.8 MBThe American Association of Critical Care Nurses hosts an annual conference called NTI. Sarah and her team were able to attend NTI 2023 and they’re all recapping their experiences at the 4-day event in the episode! Sarah is joined by her team, Walker, Elisabeth, and Ashley, as well as special guest, ICU Nurse Sarah. They recorded each night to share the key takeaways from each day of the conference, from the wonderful people they met and inspirational speakers to the educational lessons in...
55: Q&A "Can You Please Make ABGs Make Sense?"
May 26, 2023 17:50 - 12 minutes - 17.4 MBArterial Blood Gas interpretation is tricky if you aren’t regularly looking at them, and a lot of the information out there makes it really confusing. In today’s episode, you will hear a palatable explanation on what you need to know when looking at ABGs, how the kidneys and lungs work together to maintain pH balance, and examples that will help you wrap your head around all of it. If you have been looking for a simple explanation of ABGs, this is definitely the episode for you. So be sure ...
54: ARDS Part 2... Meds, Proning, and ECMO With Guest Christian Guzman APRN
May 19, 2023 11:00 - 33 minutes - 46.1 MBConcluding this two-part series on acute respiratory distress syndrome, Sarah and Christian Guzman APRN focus on the treatment options of ARDS and how you can make a difference in the outcome of ARDS patients. They cover the pros and cons of deep sedation, early paralysis, inhaled vasodilators, steroids and more. You’ll also learn about the rationale for prone position therapy and ECMO. Topics discussed in this episode: Pharmacological interventions for ARDS Pros and Cons to sedation an...
53: Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome Part 1 With Guest Christian Guzman APRN
May 12, 2023 20:04 - 45 minutes - 61.9 MBSarah is welcoming back Christian Guzman APRN on the show for a two-part series on acute respiratory distress syndrome, otherwise known as ARDS. Don’t know how to properly diagnose ARDS, or treat it without further damaging the lungs? This episode will answer your questions! Christian shares the case of a patient who presented with abnormal symptoms for his age, and how they reached an ARDS diagnosis. ARDS is a secondary diagnosis, so you’ll also hear how to differentiate between ARDS and o...
52: Transitioning From Nursing Student to Being 'The Nurse' With Guest Stephanee Beggs RN
May 05, 2023 12:48 - 35 minutes - 48.5 MBIt’s a huge shift in mindset and level of responsibility to go from introducing yourself as “Hi! I’m the nursing student” to “Hi! I will be your Nurse today”. This episode is not just for Nurses who are making that transition from student to “The Nurse” but also for anyone who will be precepting and mentoring new Nurses. Sarah welcomes Stephanee Beggs to the show for an important discussion on how to successfully make this transition. Stephanee Beggs, BSN, RN, has made the Forbes 30 Under...