Episodes

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 overc...

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, a...

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 mis...

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 oft...

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 ...

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,...

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 clini...

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 insura...

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 ...

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.