26.3 When Families Explode in the Hospital: How Nurses Handle Verbal Abuse | Beyond the Bedside w/Guardian Nurses

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.