How to Handle Emergencies as a New Nurse with Sarah Lorenzini
If you’ve ever felt nervous responding to a patient emergency as a new nurse—this episode is your new bible.
In this jam-packed conversation, I sat down with Sarah Lorenzini, AKA The Rapid Response RN, to talk about all things emergency nursing. From building a rapid response team during COVID to coaching new nurses on how to trust their gut and take action, Sarah brings over 20 years of real-world, high-stakes wisdom.
Whether you’re in nursing school or recently passed the NCLEX, this is the kind of advice that helps you feel capable and calm when it counts.
Meet Sarah: From ER Rookie to Rapid Response Expert
Sarah didn’t plan on being a rapid response nurse—or a podcast host. Like many of us, she entered nursing school with a very different goal (she thought she’d be in Labor & Delivery!).
Instead, she landed a role as an ER tech during school, fell in love with helping patients in crisis, and never looked back. Over the years, she’s worked in ER, CVICU, served as an educator, and launched her own rapid response team at a 500+ bed hospital in the middle of the pandemic. Her podcast now reaches nurses all over the globe, and she offers mentorship and critical thinking training through her Rapid Response Academy.
What Is a Rapid Response Nurse, Anyway?
Let’s break it down.
In the hospital, when a patient starts to crash, you don’t call 911—you call a Rapid Response Team (RRT). Their job is to assess, stabilize, and decide next steps (ICU, surgery, etc.).
Depending on the hospital, the team might include:
A rapid response nurse
ICU charge nurse
Respiratory therapist
Physician or APP
House supervisor
Phlebotomist
Sarah’s team isn’t just reactive. They proactively round on patients, assess those with subtle changes, and help new nurses advocate when “something feels off.”
✅ Pro Tip: If your hospital offers a consult or resource nurse role—use them. Early intervention = fewer Code Blues. In Sarah’s hospital, implementing this team cut codes by over 50%.
Warning Signs of Patient Decline You Should Never Ignore
Sarah broke it down beautifully: you don’t have to wait for a full set of abnormal vitals to call for help. Some of the most critical early changes include:
Altered mental status (sleepier, more agitated, not baseline)
Increased work of breathing (use of accessory muscles, fast RR)
Cold or clammy skin
“I don’t know, but something’s not right” — trust your gut
🚨 Remember: It’s better to call a rapid response and be wrong than to wait and be too late.
Sarah’s Rescuer 1-2-3 Model (What To Do When a Code Blue Starts)
Feeling overwhelmed during a code? Sarah’s got a simple way to remember your role based on when you arrive:
First Responder → Start Chest Compressions
Second Responder → Manage Airway + Bag the Patient
Third Responder → Apply Pads + Set Up Defibrillator
Not one of the first three? Ask clearly: “How can I help?”
Documenting, running meds, or managing supplies may come next—but those first few actions save lives.
How to Speak Up Like a Pro: Closed Loop Communication
One of the best ways to stay calm in a code is to use closed-loop communication. It’s simple but powerful.
💬 Example:
“Caroline, can you grab flushes?”
“Yes, Sarah. I’ll get flushes now.”
Why it works: Everyone knows the task is covered, which avoids chaos.
What to Do When You Freeze During a Code
Even after two decades in the ER, Sarah admits her heart still races in a code. That fight-or-flight response is normal and it doesn’t mean you’re weak or unqualified.
Her advice?
🧠 1. Acknowledge the adrenaline
“This is my body doing what it’s designed to do.”
💬 2. Use a grounding phrase
Sarah says: “It’s go time.” You can choose your own mantra.
🌬 3. Breathe—and stay
You don’t need to fix everything. Just do the next right thing.
Critical Skills New Nurses Should Master
Here’s your cheat sheet, straight from Sarah:
✅ Know where the crash cart, suction, and oxygen are
✅ Get comfortable using a BVM (bag-valve-mask)
✅ Understand how to move a hospital bed into code mode
✅ Learn how your facility runs a code (who shows up, what roles exist)
✅ Practice your assessment language—describe what’s happening, not just “the vitals”
After the Code: Processing Grief, Guilt, and Growth
This might be the most powerful part of the conversation.
Sarah doesn’t believe in “leaving work at work.” She sits in silence on her drive home. She journals. She allows herself to feel the hard emotions—because suppressing them never works long-term.
Her best tip?
Make a list of what fills your cup.
Schedule things that bring you joy the same way you schedule shifts. Protect that time.
She reminds us that self-care doesn’t have to be expensive. It just has to be intentional.
Trust Your Intuition (Even When Others Don’t)
One of the biggest lessons Sarah learned in her early career?
She knew something was off, even when the vitals were okay.
Even when doctors brushed her off.
And over and over again, her gut was right.
If you’re a new grad nurse trying to figure out how to speak up—this is your sign. You don’t need all the answers. You just need to notice the change and say something.
Want to Learn More from Sarah?
Check out her free resources and learning community:
🎙 Podcast: Rapid Response RN
🎓 Mini Course: Rapid Response & Rescue – 1 CEU
🧠 Membership: Rapid Response Academy (returns Fall 2025!)
📲 Instagram: @TheRapidResponseRN
Final Takeaways
If you’re a nursing student or new nurse feeling nervous about emergencies—you’re not alone. Every seasoned nurse started somewhere. And according to Sarah?
Call early, call often.
Trust your assessment.
Use your voice.
And above all, don’t freeze—breathe and act.
Caroline
PS. Want more on this topic? Listen to Life After Nursing School Podcast Episode 20