Acute cardiac tamponade
Martin Pace, a 65-year-old man, is admitted with an inferior wall ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction and receives a permanent pacemaker…
rapid response
Acute cardiogenic pulmonary edema
Quick action prevents respiratory failure. Takeaways: Acute cardiogenic pulmonary edema occurs with reduced cardiac muscle efficiency. Decreased pump function results…
Acute hypopituitarism
Your recognition of troubling signs and symptoms results in prompt diagnosis and treatment. Takeaways: Hypopituitarism is the deficient secretion of…
Amniotic fluid embolus
A team’s quick actions ensure a positive outcome. Takeaways: After a patient is admitted with gestational hypertension, she experiences an…
Anaphylaxis in the school setting
Quick action results in positive outcome. Takeaways: School mealtimes are important for socialization and nutrition, but food allergies can be…
Atrial fibrillation
Patient history, new symptoms, and assessment findings prompt a call for the rapid response team Takeaways: Atrial fibrillation results from…
Atypical myocardial infarction
Clinical judgment leads to swift action. Takeaways: Myocardial infarctions may present differently in women than men. Not all cardiac emergencies…
Atypical presentation of myocardial infarction
Quickly recognizing unusual symptoms can save lives. Takeaways Cardiovascular disease remains the leading cause of death in women, but it’s…
Barely breathing
After cleft palate repair, 16-month-old Nicholas* is admitted to the general care unit in a children’s hospital for postoperative monitoring. Because of…
Bradykinin-induced angioedema
Quick treatment results in a good outcome. Takeaways: Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors can increase the release of bradykinin, which can increase…
Cerebral vasospasm
Prompt recognition of subtle signs saves patient’s life. Key Points: Patients who experience an aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH) require frequent…
Esophageal varices
Quick action prevents a negative outcome. Takeaways: Cirrhosis of the liver causes scaring, shrinking, and hardening. Complications of cirrhosis include…
Fat embolism syndrome
Early identification prevents negative outcomes. Takeaways: Fat embolism syndrome is a rare complication that can occur after traumatic orthopedic injuries.…
Myxedema coma
Emergent and aggressive treatment are key to a good outcome. Takeaways: Myxedema coma is the most severe, potentially life-threatening…
Pediatric hypoglycemia
Your prompt action on the scene aids quick recovery. Takeaways: School-age children frequently skip meals or have poor nutrition that…
Pleural effusion
Early identification results in prompt diagnosis. Takeaways: Parapneumonic effusions can increase in size despite antimicrobial therapy. Nurses should be attuned…
Pyelonephritis
Early identification results in a positive outcome. Candance Walker* is a 28-year-old woman who arrives in a wheelchair in the…
Rapid response team in a psychiatric hospital
A twist on the RRT positions nurses as leaders in responding to non-life-threatening situations. Takeaways Medical emergencies occur in many…
Rapid Response: Fat embolism threatens a patient’s life
Jorge Valencia, age 27, is admitted to the medical-surgical unit after surgical reduction and fixation of a displaced, compound right…
Rapid Response: Supraventricular tachycardia
A quick response ensures good outcome. Takeaways: Supraventricular tachycardia is a broad term describing a fast regular rhythm originating above…
Sickle cell crisis in the ED
Following the pain pathway leads to a good outcome. Takeaways: Quick action and critical thinking leads to optimal pain control…
Small bowel obstruction
Early identification results in a positive outcome. Takeaways: Abdominal pain, bloating and distension, vomiting, and obstipation are warning signs of…
Stroke alert
Quick identification of stroke in a postpartum patient yields positive result. Anna Connor, a 30-year-old woman, is admitted to the…
Transurethral resection of the prostate
Quick response to postsurgical complication. Takeaways: Benign prostatic hypertrophy, if left untreated, may lead to chronic urinary retention. Medical…
When all signs point to tension pneumothorax
Key takeaways Initial presentation of tension pneumothorax in patients with unassisted breathing is slower and more subtle than in patients…
