Frequently asked questions

An independent nurse advocate is a registered nurse who works directly for you and your family, not for a hospital, clinic, or insurance company. At Guided by Nurse, that means helping you understand your care, prepare for important conversations, organize information, and navigate the healthcare system.

No. Guided by Nurse is an independent RN-led patient advocacy and care-navigation practice. We do not provide home-health services or hands-on nursing care.

No. Your advocate works alongside your healthcare team, not in place of them. Your physicians, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, and pharmacists remain responsible for your medical care.

No. We do not diagnose medical conditions. We can help you understand the information your clinicians have given you and prepare questions to ask them.

No. Treatment decisions belong to you and your treating clinicians. We can help you prepare questions so you feel better informed when those conversations happen.

Where legally and operationally appropriate and when contracted to do so, support may be available virtually, by phone, or in person. In-person services are subject to availability, location, travel requirements, and the nature of the engagement.

Yes. We can help you understand what you've been told, organize follow-up appointments and questions, and clarify who is responsible for what. Guided by Nurse does not make discharge decisions, and medication questions that need clinical decisions should go to the treating provider or pharmacist.

Yes. Many clients are adult children helping a parent navigate multiple providers, appointments, and transitions. We help you stay organized and informed while respecting your parent's preferences.

Yes. Long-distance family members are an important part of who we serve. Much of our support can be provided by phone and virtually, which makes it possible to help from anywhere.

Where appropriate, and with the client's permission, an advocate may take part in communications with healthcare providers. Often the most valuable work happens before and after appointments: helping you prepare and helping you understand next steps.

Once an engagement is in place and appropriate arrangements for sharing information have been made, we can help you organize and understand non-emergency healthcare information you choose to share. We do not use records to diagnose conditions or recommend treatment. Please don't send records through the website form.

We take your privacy seriously. Our website's inquiry form is for general inquiries only and is not intended for protected health information. If you decide to work with us, we'll explain how information will be shared and handled. See our Privacy Policy for details.

Independent patient-advocacy services are often arranged directly between the client and the advocate rather than billed to health insurance. We'll explain how Guided by Nurse services are arranged and billed during your first conversation. We do not make insurance coverage determinations or guarantee insurance approval.

Fees depend on the type and scope of support. We'll discuss pricing clearly before any engagement begins, so you know what to expect.

It's a conversation. We'll talk about what's going on, who is involved in your care, what worries you most, and what would be most helpful. You'll leave knowing whether and how an RN advocate can support you. Please don't send medical records ahead of time.

No. Guided by Nurse is not an emergency medical service. If you believe you are experiencing a medical emergency, call 911 or seek appropriate emergency medical care.