Sarah Lorenzini Named Nurse Podcast Host of the Year By Nurse.org
Nurse.org proudly named Sarah Lorenzini, MSN, RN, CCRN, CEN, host of The Rapid Response RN Podcast, the Nurse Podcast Host of the Year for the 2025 Best of Nursing Awards.
Lorenzini, who lives in sunny Florida, is an educator, rapid response nurse, and podcast host. Her podcast, Rapid Response RN, is a fascinating mix of stories from the frontlines of rapid response nursing with detailed breakdowns of the behind-the-scenes nursing that goes into emergencies. Lorenzini has over 20 years of experience in the frontlines of rapid response nursing to back up all of her online work, which includes platforms on YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, and LinkedIn.
Lorenzini’s impressive career and extensive background make her a podcast host who is more than just talk. Continue reading to discover how she walks the walk of rapid response nursing to create exceptional digital content.
From New Grad to Rapid Response Nurse and Beyond
Lorenzini graduated from nursing school at the ripe age of 19, thanks to dual enrollment in high school. Her nursing competence was immediately apparent as she started her career "as a baby nurse" in a busy ER in 2004. She laughs, recalling how she became a preceptor and charge nurse "all before I could even legally drink alcohol!"
Lorenzini found she loved teaching, so she pursued a Master’s Degree in Nursing Education. Following advice from her professors to become a more well-rounded educator by gaining experience beyond the ER, she took a role in a high-risk cardiovascular ICU. She fell in love with working in this environment, especially with all the advanced hemodynamic monitoring and devices.
After three years in the CVICU, Lorenzini joined the rapid response team, and "I’ve never looked back," she says.
"Rapid response nursing combines everything I love—the fast-paced, high-energy decision-making of ER nursing and the methodical, investigative approach of ICU nursing," she explains. "And I get to teach every day!"
Having found her home in rapid response nursing, Lorenzini finished her master's degree, worked as a nursing professor for a year, and then spent five years as an ER nurse educator. When COVID hit, she felt called back to the bedside, fighting in the trenches alongside her team.
While Lorenzini loved her work as a rapid-response nurse, as it provided plenty of opportunity for on-the-spot teaching, she still longed for deep-dive education. This desire led to the creation of Lorenzini’s podcast, Rapid Response RN.
Bringing Real-World Teaching to Life
At the encouragement of her husband, Lorenzini started her podcast because she "saw a gap in accessible, real-world emergency nursing education."
"Nurses learn best through stories and real cases, so I wanted to create a resource that would help them feel prepared at the bedside," she explains. "I bought a $15 mic off Amazon, recorded my first three episodes in my closet, and just started."
What began as a passion project has become a part-time job for the dedicated nurse. She tells Nurse.org that she has two primary goals as a nurse educator:
- To help nurses feel confident in emergencies (the science of nursing).
- To inspire nurses to see the human soul in front of them and use compassion as an intervention that promotes healing (the heart of nursing).
"The podcast has become an avenue to teach both," she says.
Lorenzini is a big believer in the power of podcasting, both on a personal and professional level. "Podcasts allow nurses to learn on the go—on their commute, during a workout, or between shifts," she notes. "They make complex topics digestible and provide a sense of community."
For floor nurses especially, there isn't always a lot of time to connect with other healthcare professionals about what you're experiencing, and a podcast can provide that vital place for connection.
"I’ve had so many nurses tell me they listen to my podcast before every shift to get 'in the zone,'" she says. "I love getting messages from nurses saying, 'I listened to episode 120, then had that exact patient, and I knew what to do. I advocated and saved their life. Thank you!'"
"I love knowing that I play a small role in helping them feel confident as they step into their role," Lorenzini adds.
Do You Have What It Takes to Be a Rapid Response Nurse?
If you've ever been curious about rapid response nursing, first of all, listen to Lorenzini's podcast.
Secondly, she says it's important to understand that rapid response nursing is not all just cardiac arrests. "While those high-adrenaline moments are part of my role, my job is so much more," she explains. "I respond to stroke alerts, manage heart attacks, and handle a wide range of complex medical emergencies. My day can shift from proactive rounding on stable patients to running across the hospital for a pulseless patient in an instant. No two days are the same."
While there are no specific attributes that every rapid response nurse must have, Lorenzini is open about the characteristics that help her every day in her role, such as her background growing up in a military family and moving 12 times before she was 16.
"As tough as it was constantly starting over, it shaped who I am today. I can talk to anyone about anything, connect with all types of people, feel completely comfortable in new environments, and truly believe that everything is figure-out-able —perfect skills for a Rapid Response Nurse!" she notes.
Final Thoughts
While some people don’t have what it takes to be a rapid response nurse or podcast host, Lorenzini believes in encouraging nurses to find and pursue their passions.
"Start with what you’re passionate about," she says. "Let your desire to help others be your fuel. If money is your motivator, you’ll burn out fast. I didn’t make a dime from my podcast for years, but I kept going because I believed in the impact it could have."
Through her podcast and work as a nurse educator, Lorenzini hopes to encourage all nurses, no matter their field, passion, or current employment, to remember that the work they are doing is important.
"Keep showing up," she urges. "You make a difference, even on the days you don’t feel like it. The patient who was too sick to thank you, the overwhelmed family—they remember you." she continues.
"The work you are doing is important. Whenever it feels overwhelming, take a moment to look past the tasks of nursing and see the human you get the opportunity to care for."
🤔Nurses, have you listened to Sarah Lorenzini’s podcast? Share your comments below!
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