Nurse Advocate Entrepreneur

02/23/2026

The U.S. was short 500,000 nurses last year.

Let that sink in.

When nurses speak up, strike, or demand safer staffing, it’s not about ego. It’s not about “more for me.” It’s about protecting patients in a system that is stretched dangerously thin.

In this recent piece, I shared what so many healthcare professionals already know:

When one nurse is responsible for too many patients, everyone feels it.
When burnout becomes the norm, care suffers.
When safety concerns are ignored, the entire system is at risk.

Nurses are not fighting against healthcare.
They are fighting for it.

They are fighting for safe staffing ratios.
They are fighting for protection from workplace violence.
They are fighting for the tools and support needed to do the job they were trained — and called — to do.

And when nurses stand up, they are standing up for patients, too.

The shortage isn’t going away overnight. But we can choose how we respond to it.

We can ignore it.
Or we can advocate for smarter systems, stronger safeguards, and better support for the professionals holding it all together.

Protecting nurses protects patients. It really is that simple.

What are you seeing in your own community?

When nurses strike, it’s not about walking away from patients — it’s about fighting for them. Across the country, nurses are raising voices over what they view as unsafe staffing conditions, wag...

02/17/2026

I want to hear your story.

Before anything else — that’s why I’m here.

For those of you who are new to my page or seeing me for the first time, I’m Teri Frykenberg — nurse, patient advocate, educator, speaker, and founder of Nurse Advocate Entrepreneur

I’ve spent decades inside the healthcare system — in hospitals, in homes, in courtrooms, in boardrooms — and I’ve seen it from every angle. I’ve witnessed extraordinary compassion… and I’ve also seen where the system breaks down.

I’ve watched nurses fight for safe staffing.
I’ve helped families navigate dementia, hospital discharges, and impossible medical decisions.
I’ve stood beside patients who felt unheard, overlooked, or overwhelmed.

That’s why I do this work.

I teach nurses and healthcare professionals how to become independent patient advocates — because protecting patients and protecting nurses are not separate conversations. They’re the same mission.

Yesterday’s post about the strikes made something very clear to me:

There are so many stories out there.

Stories that make you afraid.
Stories of frustration.
Stories of violence.
Stories of heartbreak.

And I don’t just want to talk at you, I want to talk to you, because I get you.

So tell me:

• Are you a nurse who’s dealt with violence?
• Have you ever been assaulted by a patient?
• Terminated or reprimanded for advocacy?

Drop your story in the comments. Even one sentence.
Because healthcare doesn’t change from silence.
It changes from shared truth.

I’m listening.

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02/16/2026

I want you to SHARE this message.

I stand with nurses.

In my years working in Chicago hospitals, I saw firsthand the dangers we faced—gang violence, threats, and chaos you’d think came straight out of a crime drama. Yet, through it all, nurses have been the backbone of care.
Now, across California, New York, and states coast to coast, nurses are striking—not for something extravagant, but for the bare essentials: fair pay, staffing levels that ensure safe patient care, and working conditions where they don’t have to fear for their lives.

This is about respect. It’s about not being burned out because staffing ratios are unsafe. It’s about ensuring nurses—those we count on in our most vulnerable moments—can actually do their job safely and are compensated fairly for the expertise they bring every day.

Basic protections are overdue. This strike is a call for change—a change that will benefit not just nurses, but every patient relying on them. If you’ve ever been helped by a nurse, now’s the time to stand with them. Share this message. Start a conversation. Let’s make it clear that we won’t accept anything less than safety, fairness, and respect for those who care for us all.

02/16/2026

I was thinking about home health care this week — and how different recovery looks once you leave the hospital.
In the hospital, there’s a team of nurses, aides, therapists and physicians surrounding you.

At home? It’s often just you… and maybe one overwhelmed spouse.

That’s why home health is booming — and why understanding it matters.

Medicare does cover skilled services like nursing, physical therapy, and durable medical equipment. But it does not cover 24-hour care, meal prep, or ongoing personal care assistance.
Those gaps surprise families every single day.
As a nurse and patient advocate, I’ve learned this:

Preparation prevents complications.
Before discharge, ask:

• What equipment will be needed?
• Who is coordinating care?
• What exactly is covered — and what isn’t?
• Who do we call if something goes wrong?

Recovery at home can absolutely lead to better outcomes — but only if it’s planned well.
Don’t go it alone. Ask questions. Advocate early. And bring in help before a fall or medication error forces you back to the hospital.

If you're navigating home health right now, what has surprised you most?



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It’s usually good news when the doctor says you or a loved one can come home from the hospital. Sometimes, though, it’s a mixed blessing.

02/15/2026

This Valentine’s Day weekend is about love.

But not just the flowers and chocolates kind.

The show up when it’s hard kind.
The sit beside someone in a hospital room and ask better questions kind.
The read the discharge papers twice because something feels off kind.

That’s advocacy.

At its core, patient advocacy is an act of love.
Love for your family.
Love for your clients.
Love for people navigating a healthcare system that can feel overwhelming and impersonal.

Advocacy says:
“I see you.”
“I hear you.”
“You deserve answers.”

And sometimes the most powerful Valentine you can give someone…
is standing in the gap when they can’t stand there alone.

If you’re an advocate — or thinking about becoming one — remember this:
What you do is rooted in care. And that matters more than ever.

Happy Valentine’s Day weekend to those who lead with heart in a system that desperately needs it. 💙

02/13/2026

Unfiltered Friday: Why Are Nurses Striking?

When nurses strike, it’s not about walking away from patients — it’s about fighting for them.

Across the country, nurses are raising their voices over unsafe staffing ratios, wages that don’t reflect the intensity of the job, workplace violence, lack of mental health support, and the growing strain on patient care quality. They’re not asking for luxury. They’re asking for the tools and support needed to do their jobs safely and effectively.

When one nurse is stretched too thin, patients feel it. When burnout becomes the norm, care suffers. When safety concerns are ignored, everyone is at risk.

This isn’t just a labor issue — it’s a patient safety issue.

Healthcare only works when the people at the bedside are protected, respected, and properly supported. If we want better outcomes for patients, we have to be willing to have honest conversations about what nurses are facing behind the scenes.

Let’s talk about it.

02/12/2026

started thinking about this article because of our upcoming community conversation, Dementia: The New Pandemic, at the Monson Free Library.

Several years ago, I wrote about the power of music in dementia care. The research is compelling — music activates areas of the brain that are often more resilient in Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia. It can reduce agitation, ease anxiety, improve mood, and sometimes reconnect a person to parts of themselves that feel lost.

I shared the story of a woman living with dementia who could no longer communicate clearly — yet when she sat at the piano, she was grounded, joyful, present. The music remained when so much else had faded.

Music therapy can be active (singing or playing instruments) or receptive (simply listening). The key is personalization — familiar songs tied to meaningful memories. In some care settings, personalized playlists have even reduced medication use and falls.

There is no cure for dementia. But there are ways to improve quality of life — ways that honor dignity, identity, and connection.

This is exactly why conversations like the one we’re hosting matter. Families need information. Caregivers need support. Communities need awareness.

If you’re local, I hope you’ll join us for this important discussion.

Because sometimes healing begins with something as simple as a song.

Elaine Lebar became a TikTok sensation at age 92 when her daughter Randi posted a video of her playing “Moonlight Sonata” at her senior-living facility. At the time, Elaine had been living with de...

02/11/2026

Is Dementia the Next Pandemic We’re Ignoring?
We talk about heart disease.
We talk about cancer.
We talk about infectious outbreaks.
But we rarely talk about the steady, quiet rise of dementia.
Every year, more families are navigating cognitive decline without a roadmap.
More caregivers are burning out.
More patients are slipping through cracks in a system that wasn’t designed for long-term neurological care.
This isn’t a rare diagnosis anymore.
This is becoming a societal issue.
And yet — we’re still reacting instead of preparing.
Why are we not having louder conversations about:
• Early detection
• Caregiver support
• Long-term planning
• Community education
That’s exactly why I’m speaking at the Monson Free Library about “Dementia: The New Pandemic.”
Because awareness isn’t fear-based — it’s preparation-based.
If we wait until crisis hits, we’re already behind.
If we educate early, families make better decisions.
If we talk openly, stigma fades.
If we plan ahead, patients retain dignity longer.
Dementia isn’t just a medical issue.
It’s a community issue.
And communities start with conversations.
If you’re in the Massachusetts area, I’d love to see you at the Monson Free Library. Let’s talk about what’s coming — and what we can do about it.
What are you seeing in your work or your own family? Are we prepared for what’s ahead?

02/10/2026

Selling doesn’t have to feel uncomfortable.

If you’re a patient advocate who wants to sell your services ethically, confidently, and through real stories that actually resonate, this free live webinar is for you.

The Advocacy Sales Playbook: Stories That Work
Live + free, with Q&A.

In this session, you’ll learn how to talk about your services without pressure, scripts, or feeling “salesy” — and how to use your real-life advocacy stories to build trust, confidence, and yes… clients.

Don’t wait,

Register here:

https://lnkd.in/eVspFANf

02/09/2026

Embracing the Seasons of Life

Life is a beautiful journey, marked by distinct seasons, each with its own unique challenges and joys. As we move through these seasons, we gather wisdom, resilience, and a deeper appreciation for what truly matters.
As we enter the later seasons of life, there’s a profound shift. These years can be some of the most positive and freeing times of all. With a wealth of experience behind us, we gain clarity about our priorities, a stronger sense of self, and the freedom to focus on what brings us true joy and fulfillment.

This season is about embracing authenticity, nurturing relationships, and contributing to the world in meaningful ways. It’s a time to celebrate the legacy we’re building and to relish the freedom that comes with knowing ourselves deeply.

Let’s honor every season of life, and especially recognize the richness and potential of our later years. They are a testament to a life well-lived and an invitation to live even more fully.

02/09/2026

I’ve been thinking a lot about something I wrote recently: the importance of touch — and what happens when we don’t have it.

From the moment we’re born, human touch helps regulate our nervous system, our emotions, and our sense of safety. It’s biology, not sentimentality. Touch releases oxytocin, dopamine, and serotonin — the same chemicals that help us manage stress, anxiety, and connection.

But the last few years showed us something uncomfortable.

When touch disappears — whether due to isolation, illness, trauma, or fear — people suffer. Research now has a name for it: touch starvation. And it’s linked to higher stress levels, anxiety, depression, and even worsening chronic conditions.

At the same time, touch isn’t simple for everyone.

For some people, past trauma, PTSD, or anxiety makes physical closeness difficult or even painful. So the question becomes: how do we support connection when touch isn’t always possible or safe?

A few gentle alternatives matter more than we realize:
• Meaningful eye contact during video calls
• Time with pets
• Music, movement, singing, or dancing
• Engaging the senses through sound, smell, and taste
• Spending time in nature — yes, even literally touching grass

None of these fully replace human touch — but they remind the nervous system that it’s not alone.

As a nurse and patient advocate, I’ve seen how isolation quietly erodes people’s health just as much as disease does. Connection isn’t a luxury. It’s a health issue.

If this resonates with you — or with someone you care for — you’re not imagining it. And you’re not weak for needing connection. You’re human.

“I will not play tug o’ war. I’d rather play hug o’war, where everyone hugs instead of tugs.” — Shel Silverstein The writer and poet Shel Silverstein really knew how to distill an id...

02/08/2026

Happy Super Bowl Sunday from New England!

Of course now that I live in New England, I’ve fully embraced being a Patriots fan — it’s basically genetic at this point,And let’s be honest, watching Drake Maye lead his team with heart, grit, and character? It’s exactly the kind of leadership I admire — both on the field and off.

The more I thought about today’s game, the more it reminded me of advocacy…

Because advocacy is a lot like football:

You’ve got to have a plan. You don’t wait for success — you design it.

You’ve got to have strategy. You study the system, anticipate pressure, and call audibles when things change.

You’ve got to coach. You bring together the right people, you prep them, you support them — and you protect them.

Just like an offensive coordinator calls plays, advocacy requires thinking several steps ahead — protecting your client’s interests, pivoting when barriers show up, and always keeping your eyes on the end zone.

Today, I hope you enjoy the big game — the halftime (yes, even the commercials), the friends and family gathered around, and all the fun that comes with Super Bowl Sunday.

And whether you’re prepping for a big moment, building strategy in your work, or advocating for someone you care about — remember: the best wins come from preparation, heart, and a plan that’s built to succeed.

Go Pats.