What began as a stroke alert turned into a different kind of emergency: aortic dissection. Today's patient case study follows a series of clinical decisions that saved an elderly man from a fatal misdiagnosis. Christian Guzman APRN walks us through the case — from the patient’s misleading symptoms to the diagnostic tests that showed something more was going on.

We dive into the anatomy, pathophysiology, and clinical signs of aortic dissection, including how the location of tears changes the presentation of symptoms. From emergency treatment strategies to post-op care, you’ll learn how to navigate the nuances of managing this complex condition!

Topics discussed in this episode:

• Patient’s initial presentation
• Symptoms of aortic dissection and diagnostic imaging
• Bilateral blood pressure and perfusion checks
• Aortic dissection vs. aortic aneurysm
• Why symptoms vary so widely
• Bedside assessment and monitoring
• Treatment priorities and pain management
• Post-op care and long-term complications

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!

Join me at NTI 2025 May 19th-21st in New Orleans!

You can learn more and get registered here: www.aacn.org/25-nti

CONNECT 📸 Connect on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/therapidresponsern/ 🫶 Check out my membership: https://www.rapidresponseandrescue.com/community 📚 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://hoo.be/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

One minute she was the nurse—then she became the emergency. Today, Shenell RN of the All One Nurse podcast shares her story of a ruptured ectopic pregnancy that sent her into emergency surgery on shift — and the second ectopic pregnancy that followed just a year later.

We talk through the symptoms she felt that day, how methotrexate treatment impacted her recovery, and the range of symptoms that can make it hard to tell what’s really going on. Shenell also opens up about the emotional toll of pregnancy loss, her journey to have her rainbow baby, and how her experience gave her deeper insight into the kind of support patients really need.

This episode is a firsthand account of what compassionate care really looks like—and how nurses can better support patients during reproductive emergencies.

Topics discussed in this episode:

• The importance of self-care for nurses
• How her experience changed her approach to patient care
• First ectopic pregnancy and emergency surgery
• Emotional aftermath and physical recovery
•  Methotrexate treatment for her second ectopic pregnancy
• How to support patients through pregnancy loss
• Patient education and communication tips
• When patients need to seek care
• Conceiving after ectopic pregnancy

Connect with Shenell RN:

https://www.instagram.com/allonenurse_shenell/

Listen to the All One Nurse Podcast featuring Sarah Lorenzini:

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/navigating-rapid-response-nursing-with-sarah-lorenzini/id1755700754?i=1000693458288

Mentioned in this episode:

NTI 2025 is in New Orleans May 19th-21st!

If you want to learn more about NTI, you can see all that NTI has to offer and get registered here: http://www.aacn.org/25-nti

CONNECT 📸 Connect on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/therapidresponsern/ 🫶 Check out my membership: https://www.rapidresponseandrescue.com/community 📚 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://hoo.be/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

Rapid response nurses don’t just handle codes — they help prevent them from happening. Contrary to popular belief, Rapid Response Nursing is not just sprinting from code blue the next and neither is ER nursing. While there are a lot of similarities between these two specialties in Nursing, there are a lot of differences too. In this episode, Aidan RN shares what it was like to transition from the fast-paced ER to the world of rapid response.

We discuss what sets rapid response apart, the mindset shifts that helped him make the switch, and break down cases where their quick action made all the difference — including a subdural hematoma caught just in time, a STEMI with an unusual presentation, and a patient whose only symptom was neck pain.

Whether you’re calling rapid response or considering the role yourself, don't miss this conversation on the skills and challenges that define rapid response nursing!

Topics discussed in this episode:

• Why transition from ER to rapid response?
• Differences between ER and rapid response nursing
• Case study: discovering a subdural hematoma
• The role of intuition in rapid response nursing
• Best practices to work with rapid response nurses
• Advice to nurses considering Rapid Response Nursing

Learn more about what it’s like to be a Rapid Response Nurse!

https://www.aacn.org/blog/exploring-the-world-of-rapid-response-nurses

Mentioned in this episode:

CONNECT 📸 Connect on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/therapidresponsern/ 🫶 Check out my membership: https://www.rapidresponseandrescue.com/community 📚 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://hoo.be/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

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!