Episode Details

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