Rapid Response RN

We’ve talked about hyponatremia, but what do you know about Syndrome of Inappropriate Antidiuretic Hormone secretion (SIADH) and Diabetes Insipidus (DI)? In this episode, host Sarah Lorenzini and Nick McGowan RN, MSN dive into these diseases that develop from complex hormonal responses that manage the body’s water and sodium.

They explore the pathophysiology of both conditions, contrasting the excessive water retention in SIADH with the excessive water loss in DI and how this impacts diagnostic and treatment approaches. Nick identifies which labs and assessments are crucial to accurately diagnose and treat patients, highlighting the importance of neurologic assessments and best practices for correcting sodium.

Sarah and Nick also touch on the debate around cerebral salt wasting, and share interesting facts about the history of these conditions. Tune in to hear key lessons on recognizing and  treating these conditions from an experienced ICU nurse!

Topics discussed in this episode:

• Symptoms and signs of SIADH and DI
• The pathophysiology of SIADH and DI
• Diagnostic approaches and key lab values
• Treatment and management of SIADH
• Treatment and management of DI
• Lessons from SIADH and DI patient stories

Check out Nick's course over at Critical Care Academy!

On this special PodSwap Episode, you will be hearing from Nurse Mo from the Straight A Nursing Podcast! She does an amazing job breaking down all the pharmacology of medications we use for Rapid Sequence Intubation or RSI.

Rapid sequence intubation, a procedure performed to emergently intubate a patient with an intact gag reflex in cases of acute respiratory failure and/or cardiovascular collapse. As a nurse working in the emergency department or ICU, you will be obtaining and may be administering the medications used to perform a rapid sequence intubation. Please be aware of your scope of practice and facility protocol regarding the administration of these medications. In some cases, the medications can only be administered by a physician.

Which combination of medications the physician chooses will vary depending on a variety of factors including the patient’s condition and physician preference. A common combination is a sedative with a short-acting paralytic, though analgesics may also be utilized. This episode provides an overview of the medications commonly utilized for RSI:

• Propofol
• Succinylcholine
• Rocuronium
• Vecuronium
• Etomidate
• Ketamine
• Fentanyl
• Midazolam

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You can check out the following from Nurse Mo:

Are you considering a career as a nurse practitioner? Do you want to go back to school to transition into an advanced practice nursing role? Join host Sarah Lorenzini and guest Dr. Sandra Pagenta, DNP, as they discuss opportunities available in nursing and how to decide if the nurse practitioner path is the right one for you.

Dr. Sandra Pagenta reflects on the evolution of her nursing career, from her early days as an RN to her current role as a nurse practitioner. She dives into the challenges and rewards of advancing your education and career, finding your niche, and achieving work-life balance.

In this episode, Dr. Sandra Pagenta also gives advice on how nurses can figure out their next career move and create the life they want. Tune in now!

Topics discussed in this episode:

• Transitioning from RN to NP
• Pros and cons of working as a nurse practitioner
• Finding passion and alignment in your career
• Exploring a career as an NP 
• The flexibility of a nursing career

Listen to Sandra's Podcast:

Every day that you complete a shift is a day to celebrate because nursing is undoubtedly one of the hardest professions in the world, especially in the last few years. Burnout rates are extremely high, and for good reason, but there are ways to keep your passion for nursing even after decades in the field.

In this milestone 100th episode of Rapid Response RN, host Sarah Lorenzini celebrates 20 years of being a nurse and *still* loving it. It hasn’t been easy, but two decades of continuous learning and navigating the challenges of the job has taught her invaluable lessons on resilience, self-care, and humanity.

Sarah reflects back on her early mistakes and the hard-earned wisdom that’s kept her love for nursing alive, including connecting with patients, growth through education and mentorship, prioritizing physical and mental health, and MORE.

Tune in now to hear Sarah’s "not so secret sauce" for loving nursing after 20 years!

Topics discussed in this episode:

• The importance of self-advocacy and self-care
• Celebrating your nursing wins
• Preventing burnout through learning
• Mentorship and driving change