Rapid Response RN – Details, episodes & analysis

When Michelle discovered her patient was paralyzed, it surprised the whole medical team. This patient who was previously mobile and recovering from septic shock was now paralyzed and ultimately diagnosed with spinal cord ischemia, but could early intervention have changed the outcome?

In this episode, we discuss the causes, signs, diagnosis and treatment of spinal cord ischemia. Michelle shares powerful insights from her work in neurocritical care, including a technique for detecting easy-to-miss neurological changes.

Tune in to find out how you can improve patient outcomes when managing spinal cord ischemia!

Topics discussed in this episode:

• Michelle’s passion for patient care and nurse advocacy
• Critical case study: discovering a spinal cord abscess
• How the patient developed spinal cord ischemia
• Pathophysiology and signs of spinal cord ischemia
• Neurological assessment tips
• Peripheral versus central nervous system assessments
• Diagnostic criteria and the diagnostic process
• Prognosis and patient recovery
• Treatment options and challenges
• The role of the ABCDEF bundle in critical care

Connect with Michelle:

https://www.michellededeo.com/

https://www.instagram.com/michellededeo/

Listen to Michelle’s podcasts, the SCRN Prep Podcast and Narrative Nurse Project Podcast!

Get 20% off Michelle’s Stroke Review Bootcamp with code RAPIDRN20!

https://www.nicolekupchikconsulting.com/booksAndCourses/online-courses/61/stroke-review-bootcamp-case-studies-in-optimizing-care

This week, we are talking about every cardiac nurse’s worst nightmare: cardiac tamponade. Host Sarah Lorenzini is joined by Brian McCain RN to share a crazy case of cardiac tamponade where quick intervention made all the difference. In this episode, they discuss the critical signs, symptoms and pathophysiology of cardiac tamponade.

Brian and Sarah cover clinical findings like Beck’s triad and dampened arterial line waveforms, assessment techniques for patients who rapidly decline versus those with a gradual buildup of symptoms, and the nurse’s role in preparing patients for an open arrest.

Tune in to learn how to recognize and manage this cardiac emergency! 

Topics discussed in this episode:

• What Brian loves about the nursing profession
• A classic case of cardiac tamponade
• Pathophysiology of cardiac tamponade
• The clinical findings of cardiac tamponade
• Assessment and diagnosis of cardiac tamponade
• Differentiating between cardiac tamponade and pericardial effusion
• Preparing the patient for an open arrest

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!

Managing liver failure often means walking a tightrope with kidney function. This episode explores what happens when the kidneys begin to fail due to liver disease, a condition known as hepatorenal syndrome. Host Sarah Lorenzini sheds light on this common but severe complication of cirrhosis, sharing a critical case that exemplifies the challenges of diagnosing and treating hepatorenal syndrome.

Tune in to gain a better understanding of the pathophysiology of hepatorenal syndrome, the importance of early intervention, and effective treatment strategies. Listen to part three of this liver failure series now!

Topics discussed in this episode:

• Case study of a patient with suspected hepatorenal syndrome
• Pathophysiology of hepatorenal syndrome
• Diagnostic and treatment strategies for hepatorenal syndrome
• Key takeaways for nurses

Lets talk through the pathophysiology of Atrial Fibrillation, why it's a problem, and how to treat it. Guest Dr. G the NP, a Cardiology Nurse Practitioner helps drop some knowledge about this very common arrhythmia

Ever wondered what you can do in a code? You are not alone! The most common question I receive regarding emergencies is, "What can I do to be helpful in a code blue situation? I don't want to get in the way". Well, there are a lot of important roles you can take on. In this episode we break down all the roles available and what is expected from each one.

A conversation with COVID ICU, PCU, and Med/Surg Nurses about their experiences during the pandemic. We discuss some of our memories from this challenging season, the lessons we have learned, and how it has changed us as nurses.

Two very different presentations of anaphylaxis help provide an introduction to how to make the diagnosis of anaphylaxis, what to expect from the clinical presentation and evolution towards shock, the pathophysiology of anaphylaxis, and how to treat it.

DKA is so complicated... especially when the patient presents with a normal blood glucose! This case really sets the stage for explaining all of the dangerous aspects of DKA and the multifactorial approach to treating it. Christian and Sarah discuss the pathophysiology... down to the cellular level... of what's happening when patients go into DKA, some of the tests used to diagnose DKA like ABGs, and the delicate balance of fluid status and electrolytes that must be maintained when correcting this metabolic acidosis.

What started as pancreatitis, turned into massive transfusion protocol and a visit to interventional radiology. In this episode, Sarah, Katleen, and Marissa discuss a case that took an unexpected turn for the worse. They break down the pathophysiology of pancreatitis, it's treatment, and the nurse's role in the patient's recovery.

Supraventricular tachycardia can present very stable, but this patient rapidly declined.  In this episode we explain what exactly is happening with SVT, and go through all the different treatment modalities from vagal maneuvers, to medications, to synchronized cardioversion.