In this episode of My Nurse Specialty, I talk with Jill Leftwich about her role as a rapid response nurse and the path that led her there. Jill shares how she moved from telemetry step-down to cardiac ICU and eventually into rapid response after learning about an opening through a former coworker. Her story highlights how networking, timing, and experience can all play a role in helping nurses move into a new specialty.

We talk about what a rapid response nurse actually does, what a typical shift can look like, and the balance between emergency calls, rounding, education, and supporting bedside nurses. Jill also explains some common misconceptions about the role, including the idea that rapid response nurses are constantly running from crisis to crisis or fully take over patient care when they arrive.

Jill also shares why confidence, leadership, and calm decision-making are so important in this specialty. She offers honest advice for nurses considering this path, especially those coming from ICU, and talks about the teaching side of the role, the value of debriefing after emergencies, and how this specialty can lead into education or other advanced nursing roles.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• Rapid response nurses support bedside teams during emergencies.
• The role requires calm leadership and strong ICU experience.
• It can be a great fit for nurses who enjoy both emergencies and teaching.

About My Guest

Jill Leftwich is a rapid response nurse with a background in telemetry step-down and cardiac ICU nursing. She has worked in rapid response for about six years and brings both emergency experience and a strong passion for teaching to her role. In addition to her hospital work, she creates educational content and resources to help nurses feel more prepared and supported during rapid responses and emergency situations.

Connect with Jill

Instagram: @nurselefty
TikTok: @nurse.lefty
Website: revitalizingnurses.com

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