Staying Safe from Medical Mistakes: A Guide to Surviving a Hospital Stay | Dr. Julie Siemers
Meet Dr. Julie Siemers, author Surviving Your Hospital Stay: A Nurse Educator's Guide to Staying Safe and Living to Tell About It.
What if your best chance of surviving a hospital stay wasn’t your doctor—but you?
On this week’s Better Health Bookshelf, I’m featuring the book Surviving Your Hospital Stay: A Nurse Educator's Guide to Staying Safe and Living to Tell About It.
My guest is Dr. Julie Siemers, a highly experienced nurse educator, ICU and trauma nurse, and former flight nurse who’s been on the frontlines of patient care for decades.
In this must-listen episode, Julie shares the shocking truth about medical mistakes—and how many of them are entirely preventable. If you're over 50 and find yourself (or a loved one) in the hospital, this conversation could save your life.
We talk about what really goes on behind the scenes during a hospital stay, how to recognize signs of declining patient stability, and why it’s critical to become your own healthcare advocate. Julie also shares powerful tools to help you spot medication errors, ask smarter questions, and navigate the system with more confidence.
If you’ve ever felt like hospitals are intimidating, this episode flips the script—equipping you with the knowledge to speak up, stay safe, and come out stronger.
WHO SHOULD LISTEN TO THIS EPISODE:
This episode is for adults over 50 who are planning for a hospital stay—or supporting someone who is.
- You’re caring for aging parents and want to protect them from preventable medical mistakes
- You or a loved one have an upcoming surgery and want to avoid medication errors
- You want to become a more confident, effective healthcare advocate for yourself and your family
TOP TAKEAWAYS FROM THIS EPISODE:
- Medical Mistakes Are Common: they’re the third leading cause of death—knowing that gives you power
- Ask The Hard Questions: you have the right to understand your diagnosis, treatment, and test results
- Watch For Warning Signs: changes in breathing, confusion, or vital signs can mean serious problems
- Become A Healthcare Advocate: being polite, present, and persistent could literally save a life
FREE GIFT FROM THE AUTHOR:
GET THE BOOK:
This is not a book you wait to read. It’s one you read before a crisis. Dr. Julie Siemers arms you with real-world advice, life-saving strategies, and a behind-the-curtain look at how to avoid the most dangerous medical mistakes. If you want to protect yourself or a loved one, Surviving Your Hospital Stay belongs on your shelf.
PLEASE SHARE WITH FRIENDS & FAMILY:
If you found this episode helpful, it would mean the world to me if you shared it and this podcast with your friends and family. Thank you!
LISTEN HERE: