Rapid Response RN - TopPodcast.com

View Top 200 Chart

Back to Rankings Page

Rapid Response RN — Health & Fitness
Rapid Response RN

Do 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.

Copyright: © Copyright 2025 Sarah Lorenzini

Latest Episodes:

59: Re-Release"Air Don't Go There!" Air Embolism to the Brain With Guest Marissa, Rapid Response RN Jun 23, 2023

Show notes

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

58: Narcotic Overdose: The Nurse's Vital Role In Initial Stabilization and Management Jun 16, 2023

Show notes

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)

57: What to Expect When Your Patient is Dying with Hospice Nurse Hadley Jun 09, 2023

Show notes

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/

56: Recap, Top Pearls, and Reflections from the NTI 2023 Conference Jun 02, 2023

Show notes

The 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 their sessions.

You’ll hear highlights from NTI 2023, including how artificial intelligence is being used in the medical field, life-changing products and technology, the importance of mentorship, and LOTS MORE.

Tune in as Sarah and her fellow nurses discuss what’s new in the world of nursing, and how NTI’s upcoming virtual sessions can help you become a better nurse!

Topics discussed in this episode:

Everyone’s experiences in the pre-conference cadaver lab
The valuable role that mentorship plays in shifting the culture of Nursing
What everyone learned during the first day’s super session and classes
Exciting events from day 2… including the “Critical Care Challenge”
Walker’s discoveries talking to sepsis researchers
The effect of COVID-19 on nursing
Rebuilding after COVID and our path forward as Nurses

Get more information on AACN's National Conference NTI and the upcoming virtual event on June 12-14th!

https://www.aacn.org/conferences-and-events/nti?tab=NTI%20Virtual

Connect with our guest, ICU Nurse Sarah's, Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/iseeu_nurse/

55: Q&A "Can You Please Make ABGs Make Sense?" May 26, 2023

Show notes

Arterial 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 to tune in!

Topics discussed in this episode:

How Sarah learned about ABG interpretation
Values to memorize when looking at an ABG
Determining whether the ABG is acidotic or alkalotic
Interpreting the First, Middle, and Last name of the ABG
Examples of metabolic and respiratory derangements
Do you always need an ABG?

This episode was produced by Podcast Boutique http://www.podcastboutique.com

54: ARDS Part 2... Meds, Proning, and ECMO With Guest Christian Guzman APRN May 19, 2023

Show notes

Concluding 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 and paralytics for patients with ARDS
The controversial use of steroids and more medications
Benefits of prone position therapy
The role of fluid management
How Christian treated his ARDS patient
Determining when to cannulate for ECMO and when take a patient off ECMO
Christian’s tips on recognizing and treating ARDS

If you would like to check out Sarah’s 1hr, 1 CE course, go to: http://www.rapidresponseandrescue.com

To get the FREE Rapid Response RN Assessment Guide and the coupon code for $10 off the cost of the course, message Sarah on Instagram @TheRapidResponseRN and type the word PODCAST!

This episode was produced by Podcast Boutique http://www.podcastboutique.com

53: Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome Part 1 With Guest Christian Guzman APRN May 12, 2023

Show notes

Sarah 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 other conditions like pneumonia, aspiration, congestive heart failure, viral infections, etc.

In this episode, Christian gives a history of ARDS, how our treatment methods have changed, and why lung protective ventilation is essential for care. He also details the 3 types of trauma that can occur with ventilation, including atelectotrauma, barotrauma and volutrauma, plus one newer trauma that’s showing up in the literature.

For a breakdown of the history, pathology, and treatment for ARDS, listen to this conversation!

Topics discussed in this episode:

Christian’s career in critical care
His patient’s unusual presentation in the ER
What the patient’s tests showed and what was concerning
The cause of the patient’s pleural effusion
Diagnostic criteria for ARDS
The progression of ARDS
How we treat ARDS
Types of ventilation trauma
How to prevent harm and promote resting of the lungs

If you would like to check out Sarah’s 1hr, 1 CE course, go to: http://www.rapidresponseandrescue.com

To get the FREE Rapid Response RN Assessment Guide and the coupon code for $10 off the cost of the course, message Sarah on Instagram @TheRapidResponseRN and type the word PODCAST!

This episode was produced by Podcast Boutique http://www.podcastboutique.com

52: Transitioning From Nursing Student to Being 'The Nurse' With Guest Stephanee Beggs RN May 05, 2023

Show notes

It’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 30 List since leveraging her business background with a new nursing career as CEO of RNExplained. Her company provides fellow nurses and students with educational resources, and her social media content has attracted a large following. After graduating from an accelerated nursing program, Stephanee thought the hardest part of transitioning from student to nurse would be applying the skills taught in simulation labs. In reality, the toughest aspect of the job proved to be very different.

Stephanee shares how she balanced gaining new knowledge and developing her skills in the busy environment of the ER as a new nurse. We also go over the flaws in nursing education, how nursing schools can improve, and the most effective way to train new grads.

If you want to prepare for the transition from nursing student to nurse, including how to deal with tough personalities and what you have to learn on the job, tune in now!

Topics discussed in this episode:

Stephanee’s career journey and nursing education
Her fears and the hardest parts of becoming a nurse
How to get the most out of your new Nurse orientation
Navigating nursing culture and Stephanee’s approach to dealing with “bullies”
How nursing school education could be improved
What hospitals can do to better help nurses transition into their career
Stephanee’s advice to preceptors training the new wave of grads
Our best advice to new nurses

Connect with Stephanee Beggs:

https://www.instagram.com/stephaneebeggs/

https://www.tiktok.com/@stephbegg

https://www.youtube.com/@rnexplained

https://www.etsy.com/shop/RNExplained

If you would like to check out Sarah’s 1hr, 1 CE course, go to: http://www.rapidresponseandrescue.com

To get the FREE Rapid Response RN Assessment Guide and the coupon code for $10 off the cost of the course, message Sarah on Instagram @TheRapidResponseRN and type the word PODCAST!

This episode was produced by Podcast Boutique http://www.podcastboutique.com

51: "Poop in the Lungs?": Aspiration Pneumonia With Guest Nurse Mo From the Straight A Nursing Podcast Apr 28, 2023

Show notes

Aspiration Pneumonia can come from a variety of sources and sometimes it is difficult to put your finger on when you didn't see your patient aspirate. As the lungs begin to react to the foreign substance, the symptoms start accumulating and it becomes undeniable that aspiration has occurred.

Rapid Response RN always emphasizes the importance of advocating for our patients because patient advocacy is a crucial responsibility that can make the difference in a patient’s health and recovery.

In this episode, Nurse Mo of the Straight A Nursing Podcast shares how she advocated for a patient with aspiration pneumonia. She details what clues led her to believe the patient had a serious issue, why aspiration pneumonia is such a serious condition and how to diagnose it.

We also talk about nursing pet peeves, how to advocate for your patient when there’s opposition, the ins and out of bronchoscopy procedures, and more.

Tune in to learn how you can prevent aspiration, what signs and symptoms to look for, and the best way to advocate for your patient!

Topics discussed in this episode:

Who is Nurse Mo?
Nurse Mo’s initial assessment findings on her patient
How she documented her findings in her notes
What tests the doctor ordered and how they led to the diagnosis of ARDS
Benefits of using a noninvasive cardiac output monitoring device
Surprising findings during the patient’s endoscopy
How they treated the patient
Why aspiration pneumonia is a big issue
What a bronchoscopy is and a nurse’s role during the procedure
How nurses can prevent patients from aspirating

Connect with Nurse Mo and listen to her show, Straight A Nursing Podcast!

https://straightanursingstudent.com/

https://www.instagram.com/straightanurse/

If you would like to check out Sarah’s 1hr, 1 CE course, go to: http://www.rapidresponseandrescue.com

To get the FREE Rapid Response RN Assessment Guide and the coupon code for $10 off the cost of the course, message Sarah on Instagram @TheRapidResponseRN and type the word PODCAST!

This episode was produced by Podcast Boutique http://www.podcastboutique.com

50: What's the Big Deal With Delirium? With Guest Kati Kleber From the FreshRN Podcast Apr 21, 2023

Show notes

Delirium is acute brain failure. It’s not just an unavoidable consequence of being hospitalized, it is a condition that can be prevented and treated! That’s why Rapid Response RN has teamed up with some of our favorite nursing podcasts for a pod crawl devoted to delirium.

In this episode, Kati Kleber, MSN RN and host of the FreshRN® Podcast, joins our discussion on treating patients with delirium and avoiding its long-term effects. We go over the ABCDEF bundle, common mistakes new nurses make in regards to delirium, and the importance of family engagement in its treatment.

You’ll also hear an inspiring story of how host Sarah Lorenzini used creative solutions, combined with a nurse’s secret weapon (their intuition!), to get a patient with delirium out of the ICU and away from the harmful effects of sedation.

Listen to this stop on the pod crawl for a lesson in delirium treatment, interdisciplinary collaboration, and patient advocacy!

Topics discussed in this episode:

Difficulties with Sarah’s delirium patient
How she overcame tough circumstances and helped the patient
The ABCDEF bundle to prevent delirium
Benefits of family engagement
Why you shouldn’t undervalue physical therapy
How nurses can work together as a team to help patients
Whether or not we should keep intubated patients sedated
Changing procedures with new research
Important advice Sarah has for new nurses
Nursing culture on social media

To hear the rest of the episodes in this podcrawl go to upmynursinggame.com/podcrawl

Kati Kleber, MSN RN is a nurse educator, author, national speaker, host of the FreshRN® Podcast, and owner of FreshRN® – an online platform created to educate, encourage, and motivate newly licensed nurses in innovative ways.

You can find her at https://www.instagram.com/kati_kleber/

If you would like to check out Sarah’s 1hr, 1 CE course, go to: http://www.rapidresponseandrescue.com

To get the FREE Rapid Response RN Assessment Guide and the coupon code for $10 off the cost of the course, message Sarah on Instagram @TheRapidResponseRN and type the word PODCAST!

This episode was produced by Podcast Boutique http://www.podcastboutique.com

Related Podcasts