Rapid Response RN

How do you recognize a stroke when the usual symptoms are present? No facial droop. No slurred speech. No one-sided weakness.In this episode, you'll hear the case of a post-op patient with normal vital signs but complaints of double vision. What follows is one of the most devastating types of ischemic stroke: a basilar artery occlusion.Sarah walks through each decision that led to the patient's full recovery, from the bedside nurse's decision to activate the rapid response team, the the RRT nurse calling a stroke alert, to thrombectomy when thrombolytics weren’t an option. She also breaks down when common symptoms like dizziness should raise concern for basilar artery occlusion, why strokes like this one are so easy to miss with your typical FAST exam alone, and how a tour of the brain helps you predict neurological deficits.Topics discussed in this episode:Why the nurse called rapid response for a post-op patientAnterior vs. posterior circulationClassic vs. atypical presentations of basilar artery occlusionWhy FAST alone can miss posterior circulation strokesLocked-in syndrome and assessing consciousnessStroke localization: a tour of the brainIV thrombolytics: alteplase, tenecteplase, and bleeding riskWhen to use mechanical thrombectomyCT perfusion: core infarct vs. ischemic penumbra5 important takeaways for your next neuro emergencyThe American Heart Association/American Stroke Association's 2026 Guideline for the Early Management of Patients With Acute Ischemic Stroke:https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/10.1161/STR.0000000000000513Mentioned in this episode:AND If you are planning to sit for your CCRN and would like to take the Critical Care Academy CCRN prep course you can visit https://www.ccrnacademy.com and use coupon code RAPID10 to get 10% off the cost of the course!CONNECT 📸 Connect on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/therapidresponsern/ 📚 Check out my course: https://www.rapidresponseandrescue.com/learnmore 🧑‍💻Check out my website: https://www.rapidresponseandrescue.com/ 📬 Subscribe to my newsletter: https://www.rapidresponseandrescue.com/login 🎁 Affiliation and discounts: https://www.rapidresponseandrescue.com/therapidresponsern ✅ Earn CE’s for listening to podcasts through RNegade: https://rnegade.thinkific.com/?ref=d9d541 SAY THANKS 💜Leave a review on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/rapid-response-rn/id1535997752 💚Leave a rating on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/55LQqeDg6XFeixvZLEp4xE ⏱️ 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 https://www.podcastboutique.com

"I feel like I'm drowning." Four days after a STEMI, a patient who had been recovering well is sitting bolt upright, coughing up pink, frothy sputum, and unable to catch his breath.In this episode, Sarah walks you through a worst-case scenario complication every cardiac nurse needs on their radar: post-MI papillary muscle rupture causing acute, severe mitral regurgitation. This is one of those zebra diagnoses that you may never see... but if you do, recognizing it early is what gets your patient to the OR alive.Sarah breaks down the pathophysiology behind the patient's sudden deterioration, the clues that will help you catch a mechanical complication, and how to treat the patient — including which medications help (or backfire), and where BiPAP and mechanical support fit in.Topics discussed in this episode:Case presentation: sudden respiratory distress 4 days post-STEMIMitral valve anatomy and the role of the papillary musclesWhy mechanical complications happen days after an MIAcute vs. chronic mitral regurgitationWhy the lungs flood while the organs starveWhy murmurs can be misleadingBiPAP and the risks of intubating a patient in shockAfterload reduction vs. norepinephrineWhen Lasix helps and when it doesn'tMechanical circulatory support: IABP, Impella, and VA-ECMOHow to communicate with a frightened patient

Rural nursing is anything but simple. They have limited resources, fewer specialists, and often have to send patients hours away from their families for a higher level of care. But all that is changing as new tech like Zeto brings monitoring right to the bedside and keeps more patients close to home.In this episode, ICU nurse leader Kristen RN shares how point-of-care EEG has empowered her team to catch subclinical seizures sooner and make faster, more informed clinical decisions. From buy-in to implementation, you'll hear how she advocated for her community and successfully integrated this technology into a small ICU. If you work in a rural or resource-limited facility, don't miss this one!Topics discussed in this episode:The unique challenges rural nurses and hospitals faceWhy keeping patients close to home mattersHow telemedicine and new tech are transforming rural healthcareWhy subclinical seizures are hard to recognizeHow Zeto’s spot EEG helps nurses keep more patients close to homeThe positive impact on team confidence and patient careHow you can advocate for the tools your community needsLearn more about Zeto here:https://zeto-inc.com/Mentioned in this episode:Rapid Response Academy Winter 2026 Cohorthttps://www.rapidresponseandrescue.com/rra

Every five years, resuscitation guidelines get a refresh. This year, a few have changed, many have stayed the same, and some are creating major controversy.In this episode, Dr. Ashish Panchal, Chair of the AHA Emergency Cardiovascular Care Committee, helps us unpack what’s new, what might surprise you, and the science behind each decision. You'll learn why there’s serious debate around epinephrine dosing, what changes matter most for the bedside, and how these updates will change the way you and your team respond to the next code!Topics discussed in this episode:The history and development of the AHA Resuscitation GuidelinesKey improvements: algorithms, clear language, and unified careBig, fundamental changes in the guidelinesHow choking management guidelines have changedThe recommended approach for synchronized cardioversionNew guidelines for post-resuscitation careWhy there’s controversy around mechanical CPR and DSDIV vs. IO access: best practice and key takeawaysThe controversy around epinephrine dosingWhat these changes mean for nurses and code teamsListen to E140 with Dr. Ashish Panchal:https://healthpodcastnetwork.com/episodes/rapid-response-rn/140-resuscitation-then-and-now-how-evidence-shapes-every-beat-with-guest-dr-ashish-panchal-md-phd/Mentioned in this episode:AND If you are planning to sit for your CCRN and would like to take the Critical Care Academy CCRN prep course you can visit https://www.ccrnacademy.com and use coupon code RAPID10 to get 10% off the cost of the course!

Every trauma nurse knows this feeling: your stable patient suddenly starts to decompensate and instinct tells you there’s more to the story. Today’s case starts with a stable, post-arrest patient and ends in a full-blown tension pneumothorax.Hear why this patient went from stable to crashing in minutes, how delayed recognition changed the course of care, what diagnostics and assessments could have caught earlier. Trauma Pete breaks down the tell-tale signs, how it differs from a simple pneumothorax, and why it's so easy to miss in trauma patients.In this episode, you’ll learn which patients are the most at risk, how to spot tension pneumothorax early, and why having a systematic approach to decompression make all the difference!Topics discussed in this episode:Presentation of a stable, post-arrest patientThe patient's rapid decline and first interventionsWhy they misread the signs of tension pneumothoraxPneumothorax in intubated vs. non-intubated patientsThe physiology of tension simple vs. tension pneumothoraxBedside clues and diagnostic signs of tension pneumothoraxEarly intervention and treatment prioritiesEmergent needle decompression: timing, technique, and follow-upChest tube placement and management: tips, troubleshooting, and air leaksMentioned in this episode:Listen to the In The Heart of Care Podcasthttps://link.cohostpodcasting.com/6598429e-e927-45b0-9b57-7dd34a09d803?d=seASyqjs7

Some conditions hide in your genes, without any symptoms. One of these conditions is genetic arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy, an inherited condition that can lead to sudden cardiac arrest — even if you feel completely fine.In this episode, Sarah and Leslie talk about their shared diagnosis of FLNC cardiomyopathy — from how this gene mutation affects the function of the heart to how they're managing this rare condition. You'll hear how Leslie's ICD has saved her life more than once, how it feels to be shocked back to life, and the resilience that's helped them move forward.This is a raw, real, emotional episode about living with a genetic heart condition. Tune in to learn the signs to watch for, when to get tested, and where to find support!Topics discussed in this episode:What is genetic arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy?How FLNC related ACM differs from other cardiomyopathiesCommon symptoms and why some people are diagnosed too lateTreatment and lifestyle managementHow Sarah and Leslie finally got diagnosedLeslie’s first cardiac arrest and its impactHow Sarah is processing her diagnosisWhat it feels like to be shocked by your ICDTypes of ICDs: transvenous, SICD, and EV-ICDMental and emotional recovery post-cardiac arrestThe WomenHeart organizationFind support or volunteer with WomenHeart:https://www.womenheart.org/Mentioned in this episode:Listen to the In The Heart of Care Podcasthttps://link.cohostpodcasting.com/6598429e-e927-45b0-9b57-7dd34a09d803?d=seASyqjs7