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.