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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:

39: Critical Limb Ischemia Jan 27, 2023

Show notes

As health care professionals, it is our job to advocate for our patients, even if our efforts are not well received initially. Especially when we are deeply concerned, or uncomfortable with the situation. This can be tough, but it is essential for the health of the patient.

What happens when we are expressing real urgent concern and the provider on the other end doesn’t feel your urgency?

On today’s episode, our host and rapid response nurse Sarah Lorenzini, tells us about an experience she had when providing care for a patient with critical limb ischemia where she knew the patient needed immediate surgery, but the primary care doctor didn’t think it was urgent. Sarah goes through real examples of how she spoke with the doctor, the doctor’s responses, intentional language she used to get her urgency across, and what happened thereafter.

Sarah also explains the classes of critical limb ischemia, symptoms to look out for in varying severity, how to treat patients in each class, and main takeaways for nurses when they are in a situation where they need to be persistent in their advocacy in a situation like this.

Tune in to learn more about critical limb ischemia and what you as a nurse can do to potentially save your patient’s life, or limb.

Topics discussed in this episode:

An example of expressing concern to a medical provider
Words and phrases to use that can help express your concern for the patient
The importance of a doctor being physically present to assess the patient
Don’t neglect the basics
Three classes of critical limb ischemia and what to do in each case
Options for restoring blood flow (revascularization)
Range of symptoms to expect from claudication to amputation
Why waiting too long for revascularization is problematic
Takeaways for nurses who find themselves in this type of situation

If you would like to check out the 1hr, 1 CE course, go to: 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

@TheRapidResponseRN and type the word PODCAST!

38:Q&A: How to Effectively and Professionally Advocate For Your Patient… Even When the Provider is Intimidating Jan 20, 2023

Show notes

Nurses, for the most part, spend significantly more time with patients compared to physicians. Regardless, it can be difficult for nurses to have their voice heard. For instance, how many times have YOU found yourself apologizing to a physician for just doing your job?

The education from nursing school teaches a lot of vital skills, but one that’s ignored is the need to effectively communicate with other members of an interdisciplinary team. How do you make a physician take into account your concerns for your patient? And, what if you’re dealing with a rude physician?

During this episode of Rapid Response RN, Sarah Lorenzini shares multiple communication strategies she uses when trying to advocate for patients. She also discusses the nurse/physician relationship, and the patience required to work with medical residents and interns.

Tune in to gain a better understanding of how to deal with this issue through her real-life examples!

Topics discussed in this episode:

Power dynamics between nurses and doctors
The SBAR technique
Examples of non-urgent and urgent communication
How to deal with an professional or rude physician
Using the CUS communication method
How to ask “Why” without putting others on the defensive

If you would like to check out the 1hr, 1 CE course, go to: 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://podcastboutique.com

37: Hypercalcemia Cardiac Arrest with guest Kisha RN Jan 13, 2023

Show notes

One Sunday during football season, after being pressured by his wife, a reluctant patient gave in and decided to finally come into the ER. His calcium levels were high, but his EKG came back normal, he was experiencing no pain, and seemed healthy and responsive — until he wasn’t.

Telling her story of treating this patient is host Sarah Lorenzini’s friend and fellow nurse, Kisha RN, CEN. She details her experience with this patient, starting from convincing him to stay for further tests, to shocking him 19 times after he coded, and reuniting months later.

Tune in to learn why it wasn’t obvious this patient was about to experience cardiac arrest, and how medical professionals should address similar cases.

You’ll also hear from Kisha and Sarah about the emotional impact of working on a patient who has coded as they fight for their life that is in your hands.

Kisha has helpful takeaways and advice from this case to share, so don’t miss this episode!

Topics discussed in this episode:

What drew Kisha to ER nursing
Kisha tells an ER story of a seemingly healthy patient
The moment Kisha’s patient coded
How Kisha was affected by this patient
Skills that nursing school can’t teach
Explaining hypercalcemia and what causes it
“Stones, bones, groans, moans, and psychiatric overtones”
Routine treatments for hypercalcemia
Why this patient was so memorable
Kisha’s biggest lessons from this case

If you would like to check out the 1hr, 1 CE course, go to: 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

@TheRapidResponseRN and type the word PODCAST!

36: Commotio Cordis: Responding to Sports Related Cardiac Events With Guest Dr. Jeremy Alland, Team Physician for the Chicago Bulls Jan 06, 2023

Show notes

We are all praying for Buffalo Bills’ safety, Damar Hamlin, after he was hit, causing a cardiac event, sending him to the ICU. This is a nightmare for any athlete, and disheartening for family, friends and fans.

As nurses, medical students, even parents, when viewing these types of tragic events, it is natural to think about what you would do in an emergency situation like this. Especially a parent attending a child’s sporting event, having the knowledge and ability to help out in an emergency can start to feel more important than ever.

On today’s episode, rapid response nurse and our host, Sarah Lorenzini, has invited guest Dr. Jeremy Alland, the official physician for the Chicago Bulls basketball team, to help us unravel what happened to Damar Hamlin on the football field, and how we can better prepare ourselves for cardiac events as medical professionals in non-medical settings.

We go over sports medicine doctor’s roles, common cardiac events that occur in sporting events, how to treat them, and how to stay vigilant (not paranoid) in situations where there is a possibility of a cardiac event.

This episode isn’t only for medical professionals or students, this is also for anyone who wants to be prepared and helpful in emergency situations.

Tune in today to hear practical information and advice that could potentially help save someone’s life.

Topics discussed in this episode:

Dr. Alland’s role as the Chicago Bulls team physician
What happened to Damar Hamlin?
What is commotio cordis?
Explanation of the how sports related cardiac events occur for non-nurses
A possibility of what happened to Damar Hamlin
What happens when a player collapses on the field?
What is an emergency action plan in sports medicine?
Why AEDs are important in an emergency
How was Damar Hamlin able to stand up and collapse again after he was hit?
Advice for lay people and medical professionals witnessing a sports emergency
A free app to download to locate AEDs in your area: Pulse Point AED

https://apps.apple.com/app/id867150971

Who is the best person to do CPR in an emergency?

To connect with Dr. Jeremy Alland, head to his instagram page

@JeremyAllandMD

or check out his podcast by visiting

www.yourdoctorfriendspodcast.com

!

35: Cardiac Syncope...(DO NOT AMBULATE!) Dec 27, 2022

Show notes

The most concerning type of syncope! When a patient suddenly passes out from either an arrhythmia or a structural abnormality of the heart... this needs to be investigated and treated... next time they might not wake up from it!

If you love learning from other people's mistakes, you will love this episode of when I didn't realize my patient was in V-tach and walked him back to his room!

We discuss all of the reasons the heart might cause you to pass out and a little about the challenges of being an ER Triage Nurse in this final episode of the year and the last episode in a 4 part series on syncope. So make sure you also check out episode #32, #33, and #34 to learn seizure vs syncope, reflex syncope, and orthostatic syncope.

If you would like to check out the 1hr, 1 CE course, go to:

www.rapidresponseandrescue.com

you can use coupon code: PODCAST22

To get $22 off the cost of the course now until the end of 2022

34: Orthostatic Syncope Dec 19, 2022

Show notes

This episode covers the two types of orthostatic syncope:

Neurally mediated orthostatic syncope (from conditions with autonomic dysfunction)

and

"non-neurally mediated" orthostatic syncope which is from medications or hypovolemia.

We discuss the diagnostic value and dangers of orthostatic vital signs and how to determine what type of orthostatic syncope your patient has had.

This is part 3 of a 4 part series on syncope so make sure you check out episode #32 and #33.

If you would like to check out the 1hr, 1 CE course, go to:

www.rapidresponseandrescue.com

you can use coupon code: PODCAST22

To get $22 off the cost of the course now until the end of 2022

33: Vasovagal Syncope with guest Annie Fulton Dec 06, 2022

Show notes

Part 2 of a 4 part series on syncope.

Syncope is one of the top reasons why a rapid response is called... but the question is, what precipitated the syncope?

In this episode we discuss a classic case of vasovagal syncope, in which Annie's patient had a six second pause on his ECG in response to some overwhelming news. We break down why atropine might not be the best intervention for this patient and some of the treatment options for bradycardia.

32: Syncope vs Seizure? Nov 26, 2022

Show notes

This episode is Part 1 in a 4 part series on syncope.

Syncope and seizure can both present with unresponsiveness. It can be difficult to differentiate between the two very different causes for an unresponsive episode. Fortunately, there are some things to look for to help rule out seizure or confirm that it is the culprit... and they probably aren't the ones you thought you knew.

31: Cardiac Tamponade with Guest Brian McCain Nov 11, 2022

Show notes

If you are a cardiac nurse, this is your nightmare case! Cardiac Tamponade is a surgical emergency that requires you know more than ACLS to save this patient. The signs and symptoms are subtle and takes an astute clinician to figure it out.

In this episode we discuss all the classic textbook assessment findings from Beck's Triad to pulsus paradoxus as well as some of the more subtle clues of declining cardiac output. We talk through when you need a pericardiocentesis and when it's time to crack the chest and perform an open arrest.

And who better to discuss this case than the person who taught me about cardiac tamponade, my boss and former Cardiac ICU Nurse; Brian McCain.

If you want to be prepared for the absolute worst case scenario for your post cardiac surgery patient, than you're gonna want to take notes on this one.

30: Life Threatening Small Bowel Obstruction Oct 30, 2022

Show notes

This patient was so backed up, his abdomen looked like he was 9 months pregnant! It was so bad that he was tachycardic and hypotensive. In this episode we talk about common post-surgical complications from constipation, to an ileus, to a small bowel obstruction. We break down diagnostics, pharmacological interventions, and surgical options.

Ever given neostigmine? Then you are gonna want to hear this episode.

Ever heard of Ogilvie's syndrome... if you care for post-surgical patients this is another one you want to be familiar with.

Do you want to listen to an entire episode about poop... than you will love this episode!

It's amazing how inability to poop can cause such severe and even life threatening complications!

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