Beyond the Bedside Archives - Guardian Nurses Healthcare Advocates

BEWARE: CONTAINS LIGHT, GENERAL SPOILERS What does HBO Max’s The Pitt actually get right about emergency rooms — and what does it completely miss?

In this episode of *Beyond the Bedside*, hosts Betty Long, MHA, RN, Founder and CEO of Guardian Nurses Healthcare Advocates, and Rebecca Rivkin-Czarkowski, MPH, BSN, RN, nurse advocate and healthcare expert, break down the hit medical drama from the perspective of real healthcare professionals with years of ER experience. From nonstop trauma and overcrowded waiting rooms to workplace violence against nurses and the emotional toll of emergency medicine, they discuss the moments that felt painfully accurate — and the ones that felt a little too Hollywood.

They also explore:

Plus, Betty shares insights from her advocacy work surrounding healthcare worker safety and the Protect Our Nurses initiative.

Have you watched *The Pitt*? Tell us what YOU think they got right — or wrong — in the comments.

The post 26.8 What The Pitt Gets Wrong and Right About Emergency Nursing | Beyond the Bedside w/Guardian Nurses appeared first on Guardian Nurses Healthcare Advocates.

Artificial intelligence is rapidly changing healthcare — but is it improving patient care or creating new risks?

In this episode of Beyond the Bedside, Guardian Nurses Founder and CEO Betty Long, MHA, RN, and nurse advocate Rebecca Rivkin-Czarkowski, MPH, BSN, RN, explore a real-life experience with a virtual “discharge agent” and what it could mean for the future of patient communication.

From missed medications to confusion during transitions of care, discharge is already one of the most vulnerable moments in healthcare. So, what happens when human interaction is replaced by screens, or eventually, AI?

This conversation dives into:

If you or a loved one is navigating the healthcare system, this is a must-watch.

Takeaway: Always ask questions, clarify instructions, and advocate for yourself—especially during discharge.

The post 26.7 The Hidden Dangers of AI in Healthcare Discharges | What Patients Need to Know | Beyond the Bedside w/Guardian Nurses appeared first on Guardian Nurses Healthcare Advocates.

Behavioral health challenges are affecting more people than ever — and knowing where to turn can make all the difference. In this powerful episode of Beyond the Bedside, hosts Betty Long, MHA, RN, and Rebecca Rivkin-Czarkowski, MPH, BSN, RN, explore the growing mental health crisis and the life-saving role of nurse advocacy. Through real patient stories, they share how trust, listening, and human connection helped individuals facing suicidal thoughts find support, access care, and begin healing. From workplace bullying to trauma-related triggers, these stories highlight how quickly someone can reach a crisis point and how critical it is to have someone who truly listens.

The episode also emphasizes an essential resource everyone should know: the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. Available 24/7, 988 provides immediate support for anyone experiencing emotional distress, suicidal thoughts, or mental health crises.

If you or someone you love is struggling, you are not alone. Help is available. Text or call 988.

The post 26.6 You’re Not Alone | Suicide Prevention, Mental Health & the Power of Listening | Beyond the Bedside w/Guardian Nurses appeared first on Guardian Nurses Healthcare Advocates.

In this encouraging episode of Beyond the Bedside, hosts Betty Long, MHA, RN — Founder and CEO of Guardian Nurses Healthcare Advocates — and Rebecca Rivkin-Czarkowski, MPH, BSN, RN — nurse advocate — focus on positive developments shaping healthcare today.

From declining smoking rates and promising early detection tools for pancreatic cancer to an inspiring organ donation story and new research on teen screen time, this conversation highlights meaningful progress in public health, prevention, and medical innovation. Betty and Rebecca also discuss the evolving conversation around vaping, the importance of science funding, and why patient education remains critical in navigating modern healthcare challenges.

If you’re looking for hopeful healthcare news, practical insights, and real-world perspective from experienced nurse advocates, this episode delivers both encouragement and actionable awareness. Subscribe for more honest conversations about patient advocacy, healthcare systems, and how individuals and families can make informed decisions.

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In this episode of Beyond the Bedside, Guardian Nurses Healthcare Advocates Guardian Nurses Founder and CEO Betty Long, MHA, RN, and nurse advocate Rebecca Rivkin-Czarkowski, MPH, BSN, RN, discuss the surprising new rankings from U.S. News & World Report and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics on the best healthcare jobs in 2026.

While roles like nurse practitioner, physician assistant, and speech-language pathologist top the list, something shocking stands out — registered nurses (RNs) are missing entirely. With more than 4 million nurses in the United States, how can one of the most essential professions in healthcare be left off the list?

Betty and Rebecca dive into the bigger picture behind the rankings, including:

• the growing nursing shortage

They also discuss what healthcare leaders, national nursing organizations, and policymakers should be doing now to address a workforce crisis that could impact patients, hospitals, and families across the country.

Despite the challenges, this episode also highlights why nursing remains one of the most meaningful and impactful careers in healthcare. If you’re a nurse, healthcare professional, caregiver, or someone considering a career in healthcare, this conversation sheds light on the future of the profession and why the story of nursing deserves to be told.

Subscribe for more episodes of Beyond the Bedside — where healthcare professionals share real stories, insights, and advocacy from the front lines of patient care.

The post 26.4 The Best Healthcare Jobs of 2026 — And Why Registered Nurses Aren’t On the List | Beyond the Bedside w/Guardian Nurses appeared first on Guardian Nurses Healthcare Advocates.

In this episode of Beyond the Bedside with Guardian Nurses, Guardian Nurses Founder and CEO Betty Long, MHA, RN, and nurse advocate Rebecca Rivkin-Czarkowski, MPH, BSN, RN, tackle a difficult but all-too-common reality in healthcare: explosive reactions, verbal abuse, and escalating conflict from patients’ families.

Drawing on decades of frontline experience, they unpack why these outbursts happen, how fear and lack of communication fuel anger, and why nurses and healthcare providers are so often caught in the line of fire. From delayed discharges and ER wait times to high-stress environments like the OR, this conversation explores how confidence, clear boundaries, and proactive communication can change outcomes — for both providers and families.

This episode also addresses generational shifts in healthcare, the toll repeated abuse takes on younger nurses, and why learning to de-escalate (rather than tolerate or walk away) is a critical skill for long-term resilience in the profession.

If you work in healthcare — or love someone who does — this is an honest, compassionate discussion about respect, communication, and kindness in moments when emotions run high.

The post 26.3 When Families Explode in the Hospital: How Nurses Handle Verbal Abuse | Beyond the Bedside w/Guardian Nurses appeared first on Guardian Nurses Healthcare Advocates.

In this episode of Beyond the Bedside with Guardian Nurses, Guardian Nurses Founder and CEO Betty Long, MHA, RN, and nurse advocate Rebecca Rivkin-Czarkowski, MPH, BSN, RN, tackle one of the most confusing — and often frustrating — topics in modern healthcare: price transparency.

Since 2021, hospitals and health systems have been legally required to publish pricing for common tests, procedures, and services. But as Betty and Rebecca explain, finding — and understanding — those prices is rarely straightforward. From massive spreadsheets and unclear procedure names to inconsistent formats and hidden barriers, price transparency often exists in theory more than in practice.

Beyond the Bedside with Guardian Nurses empowers individuals and families with real-world knowledge, tools, and stories that help you navigate today’s complex healthcare system with confidence.

The post 26.2 Why Healthcare Prices Vary So Much & How to Find the Real Cost | Beyond the Bedside w/Guardian Nurses appeared first on Guardian Nurses Healthcare Advocates.

In this episode of Beyond the Bedside with Guardian Nurses, Guardian Nurses Founder and CEO Betty Long, MHA, RN, and nurse advocate Rebecca Rivkin-Czarkowski, MPH, BSN, RN, break down one of the most misunderstood — and most important — health topics: blood pressure.

With more than 60 years of combined healthcare experience, Betty and Rebecca explain what blood pressure numbers actually mean, why high blood pressure is often called the “silent killer,” and how stress, anxiety, caffeine, posture, and even the wrong cuff size can dramatically affect your readings. They also discuss white coat syndrome, the difference between systolic and diastolic pressure, and why the bottom number often matters more than people realize.

Beyond the Bedside with Guardian Nurses empowers individuals and families with real-world knowledge, tools, and stories that help you navigate today’s complex healthcare system with confidence. 

The post 26.1 Blood Pressure Basics: What the Top and Bottom Numbers Mean | Beyond the Bedside w/Guardian Nurses appeared first on Guardian Nurses Healthcare Advocates.

In Episode 3 of Beyond the Bedside with Guardian Nurses, Guardian Nurses Founder and CEO Betty Long, MHA, RN, and nurse advocate Rebecca Rivkin-Czarkowski, MPH, BSN, RN, pull back the curtain on what patients and families can expect the next time they visit the emergency room.

With ER wait times at historic highs, ongoing staffing shortages, and fewer hospital systems nationwide, many people walk into the ER feeling anxious, confused, and unprepared. Betty and Rebecca use their decades of clinical experience to explain how triage really works, why wait times vary so dramatically, what happens behind the scenes, and how to navigate long stretches in the waiting room.

They offer practical, realistic guidance on what to bring, how to stay informed, when urgent care might be a better choice, and why communication gaps often make the experience more stressful than it needs to be. They also discuss the larger system issues causing ER bottlenecks, the impact of hospital closures, and how Guardian Nurses advocates step in when patients feel lost in the process.

If you’ve ever wondered what’s taking so long, who gets seen first, or how to make your next emergency visit less overwhelming, this episode gives you clear, honest insights straight from two nurses who have lived it — and still help patients through it every day.

Beyond the Bedside with Guardian Nurses empowers individuals and families with real-world knowledge, tools, and stories that help you navigate today’s complex healthcare system with confidence.

The post 25.3 What Really Happens in the ER and How to Prepare appeared first on Guardian Nurses Healthcare Advocates.

Welcome to Beyond the Bedside, hosted by Betty Long, RN, Founder & CEO of Guardian Nurses (https://www.guardiannurses.com), and Nurse Advocate Rebecca Czarkowski, BSN, RN.

In this episode of Beyond the Bedside with Guardian Nurses, Guardian Nurses founder and CEO Betty Long and nurse advocate Rebecca Zarkowski break down one of the most important healthcare stories of the year—the sweeping federal legislation passed in July known as “The Big Beautiful Bill” and how its changes will affect insurance access, hospital systems, Medicaid funding, and patient care in 2026. With ACA tax credits set to expire on December 31, 2025 millions of Americans may face skyrocketing premiums, loss of coverage, and longer wait times for essential care.

Betty and Rebecca explain what this means for individuals, families, rural communities, employers, and frontline healthcare workers who are already navigating historic staffing shortages.

Whether you get coverage through a commercial plan, the Affordable Care Act, or Medicaid, this episode offers clear explanations, real-life examples, and practical next steps so you can understand exactly what’s coming and what you can do to advocate for yourself and your community.

Beyond the Bedside empowers patients and families with knowledge, tools, and stories that help you navigate today’s complex healthcare system with confidence. If you find this valuable, please like, subscribe, and share to help others stay informed. Make your voice heard—your legislators are listening. Find your congress person at house.gov.

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