Stepping Stone Advocacy Services

09/10/2026

You know how to be a nurse. But becoming a nurse entrepreneur? That can feel like a whole different mountain. 🚂

Starting a Nurse Patient Advocacy business can make even the most experienced nurse feel a little like a deer in the headlights.

You know how to assess, educate, coordinate care, solve problems and advocate.

Then suddenly you're learning about service agreements, websites, care management software, payment systems, business processes, marketing…and the ever-changing world of social media.

It reminds me of The Little Engine That Could.

“I think I can. I think I can. I think I can.”

Because you can be an expert nurse and a beginner entrepreneur at the very same time.

And little by little, the pieces start coming together.

That is one of the reasons I created the Nurse Advocate Initiative—to help nurses who are curious about independent Nurse Patient Advocacy better understand the work, the business behind it, and what it really takes to get started.

Maybe you're standing at the bottom of the mountain wondering whether this could be your next chapter.

You don't have to climb it without a roadmap. ❤️

Keep going, little engine. You can. 🚂

Learn more about the Nurse Advocate Initiative at: www.steppingstoneadvocacy.com

09/06/2026

A hospital bed does not always mean a hospital admission.

A patient may spend the night, receive medications, undergo testing, and receive hospital-level care while still being classified as an outpatient under Observation Status.

Why does that matter?

Because hospital status can affect Medicare coverage and potentially impact the next step in care, particularly when a patient needs rehabilitation or skilled nursing after hospitalization.

At Stepping Stone Advocacy Services, we know that a safe transition in care involves more than receiving discharge instructions. Our Nurse Patient Advocates look at the clinical needs of the patient while our Insurance Advocacy team helps identify coverage requirements and potential barriers.

We help families ask important questions before they find themselves caught between the hospital, home, and the care their loved one needs next.

One question every Medicare patient and family should know to ask:

“Am I admitted as an inpatient, or am I under Observation Status?”

Knowledge is part of advocacy. And sometimes knowing what to ask can make all the difference in what happens next.

Learn more: www.steppingstoneadvocacy.com

09/03/2026

If you know me, you know I love finding creative ways to help people understand healthcare. 💙
Patient education has always been something I enjoy, and over the years I’ve learned that sometimes the best way to explain something complicated is simply to tell a story people can connect with.
That’s why creating and writing for the Advocacy Corner at Stepping Stone has become something I really enjoy.
It gives me a place to take the questions I hear from patients and families and turn them into useful, understandable information that might help someone else.
There are articles on all kinds of topics, from doctor visits and hospital care to chronic illness, caregivers, specialists, healthcare navigation and recognizing when something just doesn’t seem right.
And one of my favorite features is the search bar. 🔎
Have a healthcare question or topic on your mind? Search for it and see what you find!
Search a topic. Read a story. Maybe learn something that helps you or someone you love.

Visit our Advocacy Corner at www.steppingstoneadvocacy.com
Because for me, education has always been part of advocacy. 💙

08/31/2026

A doctor’s appointment may only last 15 or 20 minutes. Being prepared can make those minutes count. 💙

When someone you love is navigating multiple health concerns, medications, specialists, hospitalizations, or changes in their condition, it can become difficult to keep the entire healthcare story straight.

And yet, that story matters.

A simple health binder can help families organize medical history, medication lists, test results, provider information, questions, and important changes so the right information is available when it is needed most.

At Stepping Stone Advocacy Services, we believe preparation is an important part of advocacy.

Our founder, Lori Schellenberg, RN, CCM, recently found herself putting these same strategies into practice while helping her own family support her mother through a challenging year of healthcare.

In our latest Advocacy Corner article, we share practical tips for preparing for a doctor’s appointment and becoming a more informed, confident advocate for yourself or someone you love.

Because sometimes the most important thing you can bring to an appointment isn’t another test result.

It’s a clear understanding of the story behind it.

A Little Preparation Can Change the Conversation You waited six weeks for the appointment. You checked in, completed the forms, sat in the waiting room, and finally heard your name called. Twenty minutes later, you were back in your car. And that is when you remembered the question you really wanted...

08/19/2026

I would say the number one reason I have received a referral for advocacy support with transitions in care,over the past 5 years, is related to a family member who has suffered a stroke.
Knowing the signs, is so important.
Understanding that a nurse patient advocate is available to walk alongside you, during this very frightening time to guide and support you can help ease the burden.
Learn more:
We are here to help you navigate the healthcare system!
www.steppingstoneadvocacy.com

08/13/2026

This one is personal for me, as the Founder of Stepping Stone Advocacy Services.

I know healthcare from the nurse’s side. I know it as a Nurse Patient Advocate. But I also know what it feels like to suddenly be the patient trying to navigate it.

I received a diagnosis. I was prescribed a medication that I eventually could no longer tolerate. That led to a referral to a specialist and a recommendation for a different treatment.

Then came the insurance denials.

Not once. Several times.

And suddenly, what should have been a clinical decision between me and my healthcare team became an insurance battle too.

It was stressful. And even with more than four decades of nursing experience and an understanding of how healthcare works, I found myself thinking:
What does someone do when they don’t know how to navigate this?

That experience reinforced something I believe deeply.

A patient shouldn’t have to find one person to understand the medical side and another person to figure out the insurance side, while they are already dealing with the emotional weight of a diagnosis.

Their advocates should be able to jump in together.

The nurse can understand the diagnosis, treatment plan and clinical implications. The insurance advocate can tackle the authorization, denial, appeal and coverage issues. And they can communicate with each other so the patient isn’t left trying to connect the dots.

That is why our Gold Service Program at means so much to me.

It isn’t an add-on service.

It reflects what I learned firsthand as a patient:
Sometimes getting the right care requires advocating for the treatment AND advocating for access to it.

Have you experienced a new diagnosis, had to find a specialist, and new medication only to have to fight to have it paid for by your insurance company?

I would love to hear your story.

Perhaps our Gold Service Program can support you too!

Patients and families deserve support on both sides.

Learn more:
https://steppingstoneadvocacy.com

08/11/2026

Confusion can be confusing!

Today we compare the story of Alice in Wonderland, to relate to what confusion looks and feels like- a little different approach!

Sharing our recent article from Stepping Stone Advocacy Services “Recognizing the Signs” educational series.

If you notice a change in a loved one’s behavior, it is worth looking into.



https://lnkd.in/ejtTn6py

https://steppingstoneadvocacy.com/blog/why-is-my-loved-one-so-confused/?fbclid=IwdGRjcATn-QJwZG9mBWZkaWQWUMQMHRsLUkTwuOrRYkyb2Bv0thjb7WV4dG4DYWVtAjExAHNydGMGYXBwX2lkCjY2Mjg1NjgzNzkAc3RoYxgeogWK2y5_AR7xP05kZwAuyMEXTGHxbRB4Xl0FpL_iPO4DsvWqrx0730MYSaa8QWvw0snDKA_aem_rwfKAG6MqcTRY6TSrtVEJQ

Has your loved one suddenly become confused? Learn common causes of sudden confusion in older adults, when it’s a medical emergency

07/06/2026

Snoring is often the punchline of a joke.

We tease our spouses about it. We buy earplugs. We sleep in separate rooms. We chalk it up to getting older.

But sometimes, snoring is much more than a bedtime annoyance.

It can be one of the earliest warning signs of sleep apnea—a condition that affects your sleep, your heart, your brain, your energy, and your overall health.

As part of our July Awareness Series, we're shining a light on conditions that are often overlooked or dismissed until they begin affecting quality of life.

Our latest blog explores why recognizing the signs early can make all the difference.

Awareness is the first step toward better health. If this sounds familiar to you or someone you love, we encourage you to read the article and start the conversation.

Sleep apnea is more than just loud snoring. Learn the warning signs, health risks, and why proper diagnosis and treatment can improve sleep

07/01/2026

The Lipstick Theory 💄

The other morning, while putting on my makeup, I found myself standing at the bathroom counter trying to decide which lipstick to wear.

I pulled out several tubes and slowly twisted each one until the color appeared.

Then I smiled.

There, scattered across the counter, was quite a collection.

Some lipsticks were worn down in the middle from years of being applied the same way. Others were flat across the top, used evenly over time. A few were worn all the way down to a tiny nub. And one beautiful purple shade looked like it had barely touched a pair of lips.

As I looked at them, I couldn't help but think about the nurses I've met throughout my career.

We all wear the same title.

But no two of us have the same story.

Maybe you've been the red lipstick. You have been bold and courageous. The one who stepped into every challenge until there was almost nothing left to give.

Maybe you've been the pink lipstick. You have been steady and dependable. The quiet team player whose impact was felt every single day, even if it wasn't always noticed.

Or maybe you're the purple lipstick. You are new to nursing and full of enthusiasm and possibility, just beginning your journey.

I lined every lipstick up in a row.

And what I saw wasn't a collection of worn-out tubes.

I saw a beautiful display of colors.

Beautifully imperfect.

Each one valuable because of how it had been used.
Just like nurses.

I see you.

I see the bedside nurse caring for children, adults, or older adults.
I see the case manager coordinating impossible situations.
I see the nurse educator shaping future generations.
I see the hospice nurse bringing comfort.
I see the school nurse, the occupational health nurse, the home health nurse, the infusion nurse, the operating room nurse, the public health nurse, the executive leader, and the CEO.

Every experience you've had has shaped you.

Every patient you've cared for has taught you something.

Every challenge has added another layer to who you are.

And even if you feel a little worn down...

There is still tremendous value in everything you've become.

Because patient advocacy comes in many colors.

And there is a place for every nurse.

The Nurse Advocate Initiative was created to help nurses discover how their unique experiences can become the foundation for a meaningful career in patient advocacy.

Because the world doesn't need nurses who all look the same.

It needs every color.

💙 Learn more about The Nurse Advocate Initiative and discover how your nursing journey can become someone else's lifeline.

https://www.steppingstoneadvocacy.com

06/25/2026

Caregiver burnout is real! Listen in as our founder, Lori Schellenberg, discusses tips to lessen this burden!