Advertise on podcast: Beyond the Bedside

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.

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. 

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.

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.

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 first episode, we talk openly about the alarming rise in violence against nurses, from emergency rooms to med-surg floors and outpatient settings. Every 25 minutes, a nurse in the U.S. is assaulted — physically or verbally — and many incidents go unreported. We share real stories, personal experiences, and discuss why nurses are being put at risk, how the culture of incivility impacts patient care, and what needs to change — from hospital leadership to federal legislation currently stalled in Congress. This conversation is for: Nurses and healthcare staff Hospital and health system leaders Policymakers Anyone who has ever received care If you care about the people who care for all of us, this matters. Support the Protect Our Nurses initiative: Sign the petition: https://protectournurses.com 

Jim Walsh got a new lease on life thanks to his incredible care team and the fantastic generosity of his son, Greg, who bravely donated part of his liver. It’s a happy story from beginning to end.

This week, we talk to Emily Koval, whose harrowing journey through the healthcare system could have been much less frightening with clearer communication at every level.

When Miriam Rivkin went to the hospital with a detached retina, they discovered another, more urgent problem. Then, failures in communication and chaos in the ER made a bad situation even more frightening. test

When the prescribed therapies to treat Lexi Livanos’ debilitating migraines were no longer effective, her doctors dismissed her concerns. Then, with the help of a nurse advocate and a second opinion, she got her voice and her life back.

In the final episode of Season 8, Patricia Long tells us about the ups and downs of her knee replacement journey and offers advice for those getting ready for the surgery.

This week, we chat with 27-year-old Jessi Clarke, who went to the dermatologist to get an itchy mole checked out. It’s a very good thing she did — it was cancerous.

Guardian Nurses’ Andrea Spector, RN, MSN, is back on the podcast, this time as a patient! She discusses her recent diagnosis of Type 1.5 diabetes, a “new” variety of the disease that has elements of both Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes.

The resilient Crystal Chuck shares what it’s like to be among the 1 in 5 cancer survivors who face a new, different type of cancer later in life.

Leston Hall shares his inspiring story of receiving a life-saving heart and kidney transplant after complications from COVID-19.

Stage 4 cancer patient Marc Czarkowski discusses the importance of clear communication with healthcare providers and shares stories of his own healthcare journey.