Lighting Your Way Podcast

6.12 A Very Bad Primary Care Provider

6.12 A Very Bad Primary Care Provider

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.

6.10 A Profiled Patient

6.10 A Profiled Patient

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.

6.9 Substance Use and Mental Health

6.9 Substance Use and Mental Health

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.

6.8 A Catastrophic Discharge

6.8 A Catastrophic Discharge

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.

6.7 Hospice Care Improves Lives

6.7 Hospice Care Improves Lives

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.

6.6 Ask, Ask, Ask Again

6.6 Ask, Ask, Ask Again

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.

6.5 Communication Is Key

6.5 Communication Is Key

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.

6.4 Coming Home

6.4 Coming Home

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...

6.3 Fighting the Good Fight

6.3 Fighting the Good Fight

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!

6.2 Men Get Breast Cancer, Too!

6.2 Men Get Breast Cancer, Too!

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.

6.1 An Unusual Diagnosis

6.1 An Unusual Diagnosis

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...