A nurse patient advocate is the person you hire to protect a loved one when you can’t be there. Nightingale Patient Advocates is led by Carolyn Wheeler, RN, who spent 34 years as an emergency and trauma nurse in Philadelphia. Today, she serves families in Palm Beach County, Florida, and in Philadelphia, Montgomery, Bucks and Chester counties in Pennsylvania. She becomes your eyes and ears at the hospital, the doctor’s office and the retirement community. Call (215) 680-1523 for a free consultation.
What a Nurse Patient Advocate Does
When someone you love is in the hospital, a lot happens fast. Doctors change orders. Specialists come and go. Then discharge papers show up before anyone explains them. So families end up making big decisions with very little information.
A nurse patient advocate steps into that gap. Carolyn knows how hospitals, doctors’ offices and care facilities work from the inside. As a result, she knows what to ask, whom to ask and when to push.
For example, she can:
- Attend doctor visits and hospital rounds with your loved one.
- Review physician orders, medication lists and care plans so nothing falls through the cracks.
- Keep medical records and test results organized in one place.
- Explain diagnoses and treatment options in plain language.
- Speak up when something doesn’t look right.
- Report back to you after every visit, wherever you live.
This Is Advocacy, Not Hands-On Nursing Care
Carolyn does not replace your loved one’s nurses or doctors. She also does not provide hands-on nursing care. Instead, you hire her to watch over the care your loved one already receives.
Think of her as your family’s professional representative. She is there to protect your loved one, ask the hard questions and make sure the care team hears your family’s concerns. Above all, she works for you.
Meet Carolyn Wheeler, RN: 34 Years in the ER
- Registered nurse with 34 years of experience in emergency, trauma and critical care
- Decades at Einstein’s Level 1 trauma center in Philadelphia, one of the busiest in the region
- TNCC (Trauma Nursing Core Course) certified
- Founder of Nightingale Patient Advocates, serving Palm Beach County and Southeastern Pennsylvania
- Five-star Google reviews from families, patients and fellow nurses
In the ER, there is no time to guess. Because Carolyn spent her career there, she reads a medical situation quickly and calmly. Now she brings that same skill to your family.
Read more about Carolyn Wheeler, RN.
Why Families Hire a Nurse Patient Advocate
Most families who call us share one problem: they can’t be there. For instance, a daughter lives in New York while her mother is in a Jupiter hospital. Or a son works long shifts while his father recovers from surgery in Abington. Sometimes, the family is close by but simply overwhelmed.
In every case, a nurse patient advocate gives you peace of mind. Carolyn shows up in person, and then she tells you exactly what she saw.
In the Hospital
Carolyn joins rounds, talks with nurses and doctors and tracks every change in the plan. Also, she watches for warning signs a busy staff might miss.
At Doctor Appointments
She goes with your loved one, takes notes and asks the questions you would ask. Afterward, she sends you a clear summary of what the doctor said and what happens next.
In Rehab, Assisted Living and Retirement Communities
Care can slip once someone leaves the hospital. That’s why Carolyn checks in at rehab centers, assisted living and retirement communities. In addition, she makes sure the doctor’s orders are actually followed.
At Discharge
Discharge is one of the riskiest moments in any hospital stay. Before your loved one leaves, Carolyn reviews the instructions, medications and follow-up plan. Then she helps your family get ready for the next step.
Nurse Patient Advocate in Palm Beach County, Florida
Palm Beach County is our home base. As a local nurse patient advocate, Carolyn works with families in:
- Palm Beach Island
- Palm Beach Gardens
- Jupiter and Tequesta
- Juno Beach and North Palm Beach
- West Palm Beach
- Delray Beach
- Stuart
Many Palm Beach County residents have children who live up North. So Carolyn often becomes the family’s local point person, at the hospital, the doctor’s office or the retirement community.
Learn more about our Palm Beach County service area.
Nurse Patient Advocate in Philadelphia, Montgomery, Bucks and Chester Counties
Nightingale has come home to Pennsylvania. Carolyn built her career in Philadelphia, and she now serves families across Philadelphia, Montgomery, Bucks and Chester counties. In fact, few advocates know Philadelphia-area hospitals as well as a nurse who worked their busiest trauma floors for decades.
This matters for Florida families too. When a parent in Pennsylvania needs a nurse patient advocate and you live in Florida, Carolyn can be there for you.
Read about Nightingale’s return to Pennsylvania.
What Families Say
Families describe Carolyn in their own words on Google:
- Rob M. had emergency surgery at Jupiter Medical Center. Carolyn sat at his side when his wife couldn’t be there and worked with his nurses on his care. In his words, “I would give 10 stars if I could.”
- Anita M.‘s father had a stroke. Carolyn was at his bedside the next day. Later, she checked on him at home while the family was out of town.
- Patricia B., a nurse herself, has trusted Carolyn with the care of six loved ones.
- Mary M. wrote that her husband’s doctors listened to Carolyn and respected her opinions through months in the hospital.
- Thomas B. pointed to her 30-plus years at a Philadelphia Level 1 trauma center.
Read all of our Google reviews.
One Nurse, One Family: Personal Concierge Advocacy
Nightingale is not a call center or an agency that sends whoever is free. Instead, you work directly with Carolyn. She learns your loved one’s history, your family’s wishes and the names of the people on the care team. Because of that, every visit builds on the last one.
This is concierge advocacy: one experienced nurse, focused on one family at a time.
FAQ About Hiring a Nurse Patient Advocate
What does a nurse patient advocate do?
A nurse patient advocate represents your loved one in the medical system. Carolyn attends appointments, reviews orders and records, explains medical information and reports back to your family.
Does Carolyn provide hands-on nursing care?
No. Carolyn’s role is advocacy, not hands-on care. Your loved one’s own nurses and doctors still provide treatment, while Carolyn makes sure that care is clear, correct and on track.
Can you help if I live out of state?
Absolutely. Many of our families live hundreds of miles away. Carolyn is there in person, and then she keeps you updated by phone, text or email.
Where do you serve?
We serve Palm Beach County, Florida, including Palm Beach Island. In Pennsylvania, we serve Philadelphia, Montgomery, Bucks and Chester counties.
Will the hospital work with a nurse patient advocate?
Yes, with the right permission. Once your loved one, or the person who holds their healthcare power of attorney, gives consent, Carolyn can speak with the care team. She’ll walk you through the paperwork on the first call.
How do I get started?
First, call (215) 680-1523 for a free consultation. Then Carolyn will learn about your loved one and explain how she can help.
Call Carolyn Today
You can’t be everywhere. However, a nurse patient advocate can be there for you. Call (215) 680-1523 to talk with Carolyn Wheeler, RN, about your loved one.
Book a Free Consultation · Hospital & Bedside Support · Family Resource Guide
