6-30-2025 From Admission to Discharge: The Next 48hrs

In Part Two of the From Admission to Discharge series, whistleblower nurse and patient advocate Jodi O’Malley returns with expert witness and veteran RN Suzi to explore what happens after a patient has been admitted—and why so many hospital stays fall short of the care patients and families expect.
While hospitals promote "patient-centered care," the reality on the ground often tells a very different story. In this episode, Jodi and Suzi dig into the difference between what ethical nursing care should look like, and what actually happens when staffing shortages, rigid protocols, and corporate policies take over.
From the moment a patient arrives on the unit, the nurse becomes the hub of the care team. It’s the nurse who coordinates with physical therapy, tracks medications, ensures hygiene and ambulation, and often advocates for the patient in conversations with physicians and support staff. But are nurses being empowered to lead—or are they being forced into silent compliance with “just follow orders” medicine?
Suzi, who testifies in court as a nursing expert, shares real-life stories from cases she’s reviewed—examples where poor rounding, lack of basic hygiene, and missed therapy referrals led to long-term consequences for patients. She and Jodi outline what families should expect each day: hourly rounding, oral care, repositioning, mobility, toileting, pain control, and communication about what’s coming next. These are not extras—they’re the basics of ethical, competent nursing care.
The episode also highlights the critical role of bedside reporting—where oncoming and offgoing nurses give report at the patient’s bedside, ideally with the patient and family present. This not only reduces errors, but also builds trust. Suzi explains why rounding with physicians matters just as much, and how the nurse’s input can—and should—shape the day’s care plan.
But what happens when these things don’t occur? What if a patient hasn’t been out of bed in two days? What if the nurse says “therapy hasn’t gotten to them yet” or no one seems to know the discharge plan? That’s where patient and family advocacy becomes crucial.
Jodi and Suzi offer actionable steps for families: how to respectfully escalate concerns, when to speak to the charge nurse or supervisor, and how to document communication gaps. They also speak directly to nurses—reminding them of their ethical duty to advocate, even in a system that discourages it.
The hard truth? Most hospitals are no longer structured for personalized care. They’re structured for efficiency, liability protection, and compliance with protocol. But ethical care isn’t a checklist—it’s a commitment.
Whether you’re a nurse, a family member, or someone preparing for a hospital stay, this episode will help you identify what’s missing, ask the right questions, and ensure the care being delivered is truly centered on the patient—not the policy.
👉 Don’t miss Part One, where we walk through the first 24 hours: from registration in the ER to admission https://www.americaoutloud.news/from-admission-to-discharge-the-first-24-hours/

Get in contact with Nurse Suzi [email protected]
Subscribe to our newsletter www.nursesoutloud.com