Episode notes
Rapid Response Calls That Never Should Have Happened | Early Warning Signs, Shock Index & Bedside Report
On the Nurse Gwenny Podcast, Sarah Lorenzini, friend and contributor to The Nurse Gwenny Library joins Nurse Gwenny for the final episode of season one.
Sarah, TheRapidResponseRN, explains what “rapid responses that never should have happened” look like. These two powerhouse nursing educators discuss scenarios where warning signs were present for hours or staff concerns weren’t heard.
TheRapidResponseRN describes critical care experience and certifications often needed for rapid response work and how her dedicated team both responds to and tries to prevent emergencies using tools like MEWS.
Sarah walks through two cases: a patient with worsening tachycardia and hypotension who was treated with metoprolol and fluids without timely reassessment, later found in septic shock requiring vasopressors, ICU care, ARDS, CRRT, and weeks of hospitalization; and an ortho patient who likely developed a brain bleed overnight after missed bedside shift reports and assessments, ultimately dying despite a tech escalating concerns.
Nurse Gwenny and Sarah Lorenzini emphasize shock index, full patient assessment, relying on techs, normalization of deviance, and speaking up for patients.
Find more of Sarah Lorenzini's work in The Nurse Gwenny Library and her own site www.RapidResponseAndRescue.com or on Instagram as TheRapidResponseRN.
00:00 See The Human First
01:29 Meet TheRapidResponseRN , Sarah Lorenzini
02:19 What Rapid Response Means
03:49 Building The RRT Team
04:19 Proactive Rounds And MEWS
05:32 Grace For Med Surg Reality
08:44 Flight Ready In Person Class Announcement
09:08 Case One Warning Signs Missed
13:30 Septic Shock Takeaways
15:31 Shock Index And Teamwork
20:18 ICU Outcome And Advocacy
22:10 Advocating Beyond Tasks
23:14 Swiss Cheese Handoff Fail
26:17 Missed Neuro Decline
27:51 Why Bedside Report Matters
29:49 Normalization of Deviance
32:59 Trust Your Nursing Gut
35:48 Triage and Eyeballing Patients
37:52 New Nurse Pattern Recognition
38:41 Proud Moment Self Care
40:42 Podcast Wrap and Resources