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.

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.