We've Been Where You Are
We know what it's like to walk into a patient's room with five minutes on the clock and a dozen tasks on your mind. We know the weight of delivering difficult news. We know the frustration of watching a conversation go sideways—and the exhaustion of wondering if you could have done it differently.
Between us, we've spent over 30 years at the bedside—in psychiatric units and hospice rooms, trauma centers and community clinics, crisis situations and quiet moments of connection. We've made mistakes. We've learned from them. And we've discovered that effective communication isn't a personality trait you're born with—it's a skill you can learn.
That's why we created Better Bedside Manner™.
Meet Nancy
I didn't set out to build a training company. I set out to figure out why healthcare—a field built on helping people—so often leaves everyone involved feeling hurt, unheard, and burned out.
Over 15+ years working in behavioral health, outpatient psychiatry, community mental health, and hospice, I kept seeing the same pattern: brilliant clinicians struggling to connect. Not because they didn't care—but because no one had ever taught them how to translate that care into words and actions that patients could actually feel.
I've sat with families receiving the worst news of their lives. I've de-escalated patients in crisis. I've coached teams through communication breakdowns that were tearing units apart. And through all of it, I kept asking: What actually works? What can we teach? What makes the difference between a patient who feels dismissed and one who feels seen?
The C.A.R.E. Method™ is my answer to those questions—an evidence-based framework that gives healthcare professionals practical tools they can use immediately, even when time is short and stress is high.
As a California Board of Registered Nursing approved CE Provider (#18156), I'm committed to creating training that doesn't just check a compliance box—it actually changes how you show up for your patients and yourself.
Credentials:
-
Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW)
-
Master of International Public Health (MIPH)
-
California BRN CE Provider #18156
-
15+ Years Healthcare Experience
Clinical Background:
-
Inpatient Behavioral Health
-
Outpatient Psychiatry
-
Community Mental Health
-
Hospice & Palliative Care
With my mother, six months before she died.
With my mother, six months before she died.
meet darrin
In psychiatric nursing, you learn very quickly that your words matter as much as your clinical skills. Sometimes more.
For over 15 years, I've worked in acute psychiatric settings—places where emotions run high, trust is hard to earn, and the wrong word can escalate a situation in seconds. Currently at Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital's Trauma Center, I've seen what happens when communication fails. I've also seen what's possible when it works.
When I worked as a BERT (Behavioral Emergency Response Team) De-Escalation Trainer, I taught hundreds of healthcare professionals how to stay calm under pressure, read the room, and connect with patients who are at their most vulnerable—and sometimes their most volatile. It's not about scripts or techniques performed by rote. It's about genuine human connection, even in moments of crisis.
My background in counseling psychology gives me a unique perspective: I understand both the clinical side of patient care and the deeper emotional dynamics that drive behavior. When I train healthcare teams, I'm not just teaching them what to say—I'm helping them understand why certain approaches work, so they can adapt in real-time to whatever situation they face.
At Better Bedside Manner™, I bring that frontline experience to our training—because the skills that keep everyone safe in a psychiatric crisis are the same skills that build trust in any healthcare encounter.
Credentials:
-
Registered Nurse, California (#793728)
-
Master of Arts, Counseling Psychology
-
BERT De-Escalation Trainer, Zuckerberg SF General
-
15+ Years Psychiatric Nursing Experience
Clinical Background:
-
Zuckerberg SF General Hospital & Trauma Center (Current)
-
Sutter Health – Psychiatric Services
-
Alameda Health System – Assistant Nurse Manager
-
John Muir Health Behavioral Health Center
-
Ohio Department of Mental Health & Addiction Services
What We Believe
Humanity belongs at every bedside.
We believe that compassionate communication isn't a "nice to have"—it's a clinical skill that directly impacts patient outcomes, safety, and satisfaction. We believe that healthcare professionals deserve more than a lecture about being nicer—they deserve practical tools that work in real-world conditions.
And we believe that when you take care of how you communicate, you take better care of yourself too.
Our Core Beliefs:
-
Communication is a clinical skill—not a personality trait. It can be learned, practiced, and mastered.
-
Every patient deserves to feel heard—regardless of their diagnosis, behavior, or the time constraints you're working under.
-
Healthcare workers deserve better—better training, better tools, and better support for the emotionally demanding work they do.
-
Small changes create big impact—you don't need more time, you need better skills for the time you have.
-
Systems can extend compassion—when entrepreneurs build client-centered processes, their care reaches people even when they're not in the room.
Why This Work Matters Now
Healthcare is in crisis—and not just because of staffing shortages or budget cuts. The human connection that makes healing possible is breaking down.
Healthcare is in crisis—and not just because of staffing shortages or budget cuts. The human connection that makes healing possible is breaking down.
The Data:
[Display as an infographic or visually distinct statistics]
-
Up to 80% of serious medical errors involve miscommunication during patient handoffs or care transitions
-
Communication quality is the #1 factor in patient satisfaction—even above clinical outcomes
-
Healthcare workers who practice effective communication report lower burnout rates and greater professional satisfaction
-
Patients who report positive communication experiences have better treatment adherence and faster recovery times
The way we communicate doesn't just impact patient experience—it directly influences clinical outcomes, safety, team dynamics, and our own wellbeing as healthcare professionals.
Better communication isn't optional anymore. It's essential.