Lighting Your Way: Recent Episodes
Betty Long
Podcast featuring exciting, hilarious, heartbreaking, terrifying and joyful stories of real nurse advocates helping real patients get the best healthcare. Each week, Betty Long and one of her colleagues at Guardian Nurses will take you behind the curtain to help you better navigate the healthcare system when you or a loved one is sick or injured.
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:
• Violence against healthcare workers
• What ER shifts really feel like
• The emotional stress nurses carry home
• Why The Pitt has healthcare workers talking
• Physician vs. nurse representation in medical dramas
• COVID’s lasting impact on healthcare culture
• What television still misunderstands about nursing
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.
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.
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
• the rising cost of nursing education
• concerns about work-life balance and job safety
• the need for better public relations and recruitment for nursing
• how media coverage shapes public perception of healthcare careers
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.
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.
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.
This week, Linda Long, a 30-year veteran of the Philadelphia Fire Department, speaks candidly about her brain cancer diagnosis and the Optune treatment for Glioblastoma.
Season 8 starts with Peter Friedrichs, a retired attorney who was in a terrible accident while out for a drive with his wife. Find out what he learned about the healthcare system during this harrowing ordeal.
In this story, Crystal Leonardi, RN, BSN, tells us how trusting a patient’s intuition (combined with extra testing) saved her from an invasive and potentially dangerous procedure.
We’re following up with Suzy Parker, RN, about a successful surgery to fix a severe underbite that caused headaches, digestive problems, and dental issues throughout a patient’s life. It’s an inspiring win!
This week, Betty speaks with Heather Munizza, RN, MSN, and Stephanie Wimmer, RN, BSN, about their work serving a population who are sometimes exposed to environmental hazards on the job.
This week, Betty speaks to her colleagues on the Coastal HIF Mobile Care Coordinator team about various cases, including a leg that was saved with a second opinion.
This week, Betty speaks with Jeanette Meredith, RN, and Diane McCaffery, BSN, RN, about how unsafe hospital discharges lead to rehospitalizations.
This week, Alonda Wood, RN, BSN, shares a story about helping a patient whose antibiotic did more harm than good and an unresponsive medical team who made the situation even worse.
Guardian Nurses rookie Joe McLaughlin, RN, talks with Betty about his first memorable cases as a Nurse Advocate with the team.
This week, Betty talks with Jeneane Fitzmaurice, RN, BSN, and Heidi J. Davis, MSN, RN, CPN, NPD-BC, who help teamsters stay on the road by supporting their healthcare journeys.
In our Season 7 opener, we’re learning about how social workers and nurse advocates can work together to help patients. With Damali N. Stansbury, LSW, MSW.
In our Season 6 finale, Bianca Pollart, RN, BSN, shares a doozy of a cautionary tale about how a primary care provider who doesn’t listen to you can harm your health and well-being.
Suzy Parker, RN, from Guardian Nurses, gives actionable advice on how to appeal when your health insurance company denies a claim.
This week, we hear from Samantha Salerno, RN, BSN, who tells us all about a case in which a patient’s treatment for a painful condition was delayed — because his doctors and nurses made assumptions based on his tattoos.
This week, Betty speaks with her colleague Samuel Hirst, RN, BSN, about working with patients who have substance use and mental health issues. He also offers powerful advice for families and friends who want to support loved ones who are struggling with addiction.
After lengthy and complex hospital stays, follow-up care is exceedingly important. Unfortunately, it’s not uncommon for patients and their families to head home without a full understanding of what they are supposed to do next. This week’s episode highlights the work of Diane Bassett, RN, who recently helped a patient set up home care, find a primary care physician, and set up appointments with specialists after a patient was discharged without clear instructions after a catastrophic accident.
Tonya Niverson, RN, BSN, shares a story about how choosing to enter hospice care can make a remarkably positive difference in how patients and their loved ones experience the progression of a terminal illness.
Frightening respiratory symptoms sent a patient to the hospital several times, but no one could pinpoint their cause. It took months to find a doctor curious, patient, and good enough to figure out she had a combination of several different conditions. With Ramona Cooper, MSN, RN from Guardian Nurses.
During a young man’s lengthy stay in the ICU, the lack of clear communication makes an already frightening situation even worse. Happily, Janice Penn, BSN, RN, from Guardian Nurses was ready to step in and improve the situation by empowering the family to get clear answers to their questions and to ensure their concerns were addressed.
After a stroke, a man was discharged home with supplies, equipment, and overwhelming piles of paperwork. While in-home healthcare visits were scheduled, the professionals weren’t expected to arrive for two days. Happily, a Guardian Nurse helped the patient’s overwhelmed wife go through all the instructions and learn how to use the equipment. She even helped the patient find a new primary care physician who makes housecalls when they discovered that his original doctor had retired. And all during the time of COVID, no less! With Jennifer Donahue, RN.
A young man with a traumatic brain injury was making tremendous progress after therapy — until his insurance benefits ended. Then a Guardian Nurse stepped in to help get them reinstated. What she learned could help you if you or a loved one have a catastrophic event!
After a 32-year-old man accidentally walked into a truck’s rear-view mirror, he noticed a lump on his chest and went to get it checked out. Turns out his little parking lot mishap saved his life… His story is told by his sister, Charlotte Jaroma, BSN, RN, from Guardian Nurses.
A young man comes to the ER after days of dizziness, nausea, and headaches. After a few tests, he’s almost discharged with a diagnosis of vertigo — until his fiancée reminds the doctor that it all started with numbness on the left side of his face. Then, everything changes. With Stephanie McCool, BSN, RN.
Violence against nurses is at an all-time high. This week, Betty speaks with Dr. Jeanne Venella, the Nursing Executive at Commure Strongline, about an innovative tool that helps protect nurses.
This week, we’re celebrating — and learning from Maryellen Murphy, RN, BSN, CCCP, who is retiring after 44 years in nursing. Find out what we mean when we say “Be Like Murph!”
To celebrate Nurse’s Month, Rebecca Rivkin-Czarkowski is turning the tables and interviewing host Betty about the start of Guardian Nurses, nursing, and entrepreneurship.
Six years ago, IUPAT District Council 21 Fund Administrator Mike Previtera had a heart scan that saved his life, but not in the expected way. Learn more about the many benefits of this non-invasive test from him and Rebecca Rivkin-Czarkowski, RN, BSN, MPH, of Guardian Nurses.
This week, Hip-Hop Artist and Stetsasonic Drummer Bobby Simmons talks about being hospitalized for diverticulitis surgery and how Guardian Nurse Michelle Agnese helped him recover.
This week, we talk to the amazing Colleen Quinn, a New Jersey mom who worked to get a Seizure Safe Schools law passed in her state when her son Paul was diagnosed with Epilepsy.
This week, Betty talks to two nursing colleagues about the confusion surrounding palliative care, a valuable and life-enhancing service not synonymous with hospice care.
Season 5 starts with a cautionary tale about how getting a second opinion saved a man from getting an unnecessary procedure from an ethically questionable doctor.
For our final episode of season four, we talk to clinical psychologist Dr. Susan Hunt about strategies to get through the holidays — which can be a stressful time for many of us.
When healthcare systems break down, the consequences can be catastrophic. This week Betty speaks to Renee Pedro, a cancer patient who was taken to the ER by ambulance and left to sit for two days. Sadly, her experience is not unique.
Betty and Jeneane Fitzmaurice, RN, BSN, talk about healthy strategies for people with diabetes during the sugar-filled holiday season. Good advice for everyone hoping for a healthier holiday!
What happens when your health insurance denies a claim? Can you fight back? Yes (!) say Guardian Nurses Monica Nash, RN, BSN and Lori Rivkin, RN, BSN in this week’s podcast.
What’s shingles? Who is likely to get it? Who should get the vaccine? This week, Betty talks to Briana Coughlin, PharmD., to learn all about it.
When Tiffany Sutphin was given three months to live, she contacted Guardian Nurse Andy Votendahl, RN, BSN, for help finding a hospice. Nurse Andy looked at her case and refused — helping to save Tiffany’s life as she supported her in her journey back to health.
This week, Betty speaks with Julie Chandler, owner of London Town Tours about her Florence Nightingale walking tour in London. Also find out what The Great Stink was!
This week, Betty speaks with two nurses who have both professional and personal experience with respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV, which is in the news because U.S. children’s hospitals are overwhelmed with cases. Nurses Walker LeFleur and Bianca Pollart, who specializes pediatrics, are both parents of young children.
This week, Betty speaks with two nurses who have both professional and personal experience with respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV, which is in the news because U.S. children’s hospitals are overwhelmed with cases. Nurses Walker LeFleur and Bianca Pollart, who specializes in pediatrics, are both parents of young children.
This week, Betty speaks with the one and only Florence Nightingale! Well, actually Laura Sharpe, the Learning Manager at the Florence Nightingale Museum in London, who brings Nurse Nightingale to life in interactive in-person and zoom performances that educate and inspire children and adults alike.
This week, Betty talks to her Guardian Nurses colleague, Chris McCarrick, RN, who is a finalist in the Community Nursing category in this year’s Nightingale Awards of Pennsylvania for her work as a Mobile Care Coordinator for the Sheet Metal Workers’ Local Union No. 19 in Philadelphia.
This week, Betty talks to Megan Swider, RN, who is a finalist in the Community Nursing category in this year’s Nightingale Awards of Pennsylvania for her work as a Mobile Care Coordinator for AFSCME District Council 47.
In the Season 4 Opener, Betty speaks with Charlotte Jaroma, RN, BSN, winner of this year’s Nightingale Awards of Pennsylvania Patient Choice Award.
In the season 3 finale, Betty speaks with nursing legend Jayne Felgen, MPA, BSN, RN, the Founder of Nightingale Awards of Pennsylvania.
This week, Betty speaks with Nursing Legend Kathy Bower, a celebrated nurse, author, speaker, consultant, and pioneering leader in the field of Care Coordination.
This week, Betty speaks with Nursing Legend Ginny Beeson, RN, MSN, Captain, USN (Ret) about leadership and her amazing career.
We continue our Nurses Month celebration by chatting with – and learning from — another living legend of nursing: Mary Rodgers Schubert.
This year, May’s Nurses Week has been extended to Nurses Month. To celebrate, we’re speaking with a few Legends of Nursing, starting with Marsha Davidson — the amazing woman who inspired Betty to become a nurse.
This week, Betty talks with a nurse and a social worker about finding extensive resources to help with aftercare and companionship for a patient healing up after an unexpected reaction to a medication.
Communication is the cornerstone of healthcare. This week, Betty speaks with her colleague, Charlotte Jaroma, RN, BSN, about what can be done when patients feel they aren’t being heard.
After her husband was in the hospital for three weeks with a complicated diagnosis, a woman knew that she still didn’t have the full picture of what was happening despite asking many questions. Nurse Jennifer Prater worked to arrange a family meeting with the team to get everyone up to speed and share the complete gameplan.
We are all getting inundated with images and reports of the conflict in Ukraine every day through the tv, smartphones, and computers. This week, we talk with two pediatric nurses about age-appropriate and healthy ways to talk to kids about war.
This week, hear about a few of our recent “4-alarm cases” from Guardian Nurses’ rock star Advocacy Services Team, who help lead patients through the healthcare system daily.
This week, Betty speaks with research expert Laura Buonomo about the reasons behind the impending (and terrifying) 1 million nurse deficit projected by 2030 and how hospitals and practices must transform if retention is to be improved.
This week, we learn about the power — and wisdom — of getting a second opinion from Kirsten Grueter, RN, MSN, NP, the Director of Operations at Best In Class MD.