2-Day: Rapid Response: Master the Critical Signs and Symptoms that Patients Provide

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Rachel Henderson, PhD, MS, RN, HCRM Related seminars and products

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Rachel Henderson, PhD, MS, RN, HCRM, is a nationally recognized expert on healthcare law, nursing documentation, and regulatory compliance. With over two decades of experience as a legal nurse consultant, senior leadership roles, and healthcare risk manager, she brings real-world case studies to life in her engaging and informative presentations.

Dr. Henderson is a published author in peer-reviewed journals and textbooks and a sought speaker known for her ability to simplify complex legal and regulatory issues. She is a proud member of the National Speakers Association and a past president of the Florida Speakers Association.

In addition to leading Medical Legal Concepts, LLC, she collaborates with law firms and healthcare organizations, analyzing medical records for compliance with standards of care and applicable regulations. She has served as an expert witness in medical negligence for both plaintiffs and defendants.

Dr. Henderson holds a PhD in Public Policy and Administration, with a focus on Law and Policy. This degree equips her with deep expertise in healthcare regulations, ethics, and legal accountability.

 

Speaker Disclosures:
Financial: Dr. Rachel Henderson has an employment relationship with Medical Legal Concepts. She receives royalties as a published author and compensation as a legal nurse consultant. Dr. Henderson receives a speaking honorarium and recording royalties from PESI, Inc. She has no relevant financial relationships with ineligible organizations.
Non-financial: Dr. Rachel Henderson is a member of the American Association of Critical Care Nurses, the American Society of Healthcare Risk Managers, and the American Society of Professionals in Patient Safety.

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Outline

Immunology/Hematology: DIC | HIT | Transfusion reactions

• Bleeding usually stops quickly. How do you know when to be concerned?
• Demystify the complex web of clotting
• Most transfusion reactions are minor.

• What if the reaction is immediate/major?
• Do you know what to do?

Cardiovascular: Pulse pressure | Recognition of valvular heart disease | Recognition of ACS | Complication of PCI | Hypertensive crisis | Acute vascular insufficiency | Cardiac trauma | Aneurysms

• Calculate pulse pressure in a case study
• Recognize audibly and identify anatomic locations for valvular dysfunction (sound examples)
• List key urgent steps to take when you recognize ACS
• My back hurts! My foot is numb! My chest hurts again!
• When is a BP “too” high? Every patient is different…
• Your MVA patient on a M/S floor may look OK on the outside - but inside can be another thing!

Endocrine: SIADH | DI | Ketoacidosis and HHS | Hypoglycemia

• Too much water, too little water. What does it all mean?
• Too much insulin, too little insulin. Can’t keep it straight?

Gastrointestinal: GI bleed | Acute pancreatitis | Liver failure and encephalopathy | Abdominal trauma | Bowel infarction, obstruction and perforation

• 5 tips to correctly identify significant nonspecific abdominal pain
• When confusion is not just getting old!
• All backed up and nowhere to go, can kill your patient. Don’t miss key findings that can save them

Behavioral / Psychosocial: Delirium | Dementia | Suicide | Substance withdrawal

• Nurses can affect the double “Ds”
• Would you recognize suicide intent in your patient?
• The substance your patient abuses affects the presenting symptoms of withdrawal

Neurology: Encephalopathy | Stroke | TBI | Skull fracture | Seizure | Meningitis

• 5 clues to encephalopathy
• Embolic vs. ischemic stroke
• When the brain swells, the skull leaves no room for guessing. Early s/s of neuro problems
• Seizures may come about suddenly – and sometimes they don’t stop

Renal: Acute renal failure | Life-threatening electrolyte imbalance

• What the kidneys do with all those electrolytes. Why it matters

Pulmonary: Perfusion | Acute respiratory failure | Status asthmaticus | Pulmonary embolism | Pneumonia | Aspiration | Pneumothorax | Hemothorax

• Early detection that enough oxygen is not getting to the blood stream
• Toxic substances interfering with oxygen exchange
• Rapid detection of a pneumothorax and hemothorax

Multisystem: Hypovolemic, Hemorrhagic, SIRS, Sepsis, and Septic shock | Anaphylactic shock

• 5 tips to recognizing s/s of early shock and possible etiologies
• Support failing compensatory mechanisms in a deteriorating patient

Target Audience

Objectives

• Point out critical anatomy, physiology, and pathophysiology concerns of nine body systems that could present a patient crisis.
• Specify differentials for selected clinical crises.
• Decide at least 5 actions that improve patient outcome if initiated early.
• Analyze real patient crises to identify early signs of clinical deterioration.
• Integrate labs, radiology, medications and other findings into your plan of care for a patient in crisis.
• Select indicators for the implementation of the Rapid Response System.
• Explain steps to follow to determine severity of patient condition and priority setting.
• Choose appropriate assessment parameters critical for accurate clinical diagnosis.
• Distinguish between a change in patient condition and a change in patient condition that warrants a rapid response team.
• Demonstrate key strategies to avoid future risk when documenting a patient crisis.
• Formulate personal solutions to your biggest documentation concerns.
• Integrate current evidence-based clinical management strategies for patient crisis.
• Plan for the most high-risk populations for in-patient emergencies.