Who Cares if We're Not Invited, We're Here! featuring Betty Long (Part I)

In Part I, Founder & CEO of Guardian Nurses shares "glimmers" and how a family medical crisis led her to advocacy.

Betty Long, MHA, RN Founder & CEO of Guardian Nurses

Betty Long began her career in 1986 as a critical care nurse. Over the next 20 years, she gained experience in clinical, management and consulting roles. Long is a nurse always and an entrepreneur since 2003 when she used her knowledge of how the healthcare system works to found a company that makes the system work better for patients and their families. Through her leadership, Guardian Nurses Healthcare Advocates has grown to more than 58 employees and serves business, health and welfare funds, and private clients throughout the United States.

A nurse-owned, nurse-run company, Guardian Nurses deploys RNs to provide patient advocacy and high-touch care management services. With the caring concern that is typical of nurses and the clinical knowledge that comes from 20+ years of experience, Long’s nurse advocates drive timely, top-quality care that results in better outcomes for patients. Although Guardian Nurses serves individuals and families, its clients are primarily unions, health & welfare funds, and corporations that self-insure for employee healthcare.

Long has won many awards in her career, but the most satisfying was seeing her one-of-a-kind Mobile Care Coordinator program recognized by the prestigious American Academy of Nursing as a 2023 Edge Runner. In 2024, Long received the Mary Ann Garrigan award which is presented annually by the Howard Gotlieb Archival Research Center Nursing Archives Associates in Boston, MA.

Long has become a nationally recognized expert and speaker on patient advocacy and care coordination, with special expertise in critical care, long-term care and geriatric care management. She is a member of the Mid-Atlantic Chapter of the Case Management Society of America, the Pennsylvania Organization of Nursing Leadership, as well as the Forum of Executive Women in Philadelphia. Currently, she serves as President of the Board of Trustees for The Nightingale Awards of Pennsylvania.

Thanks for reading & Listening to OVERexpressed & OUT Podcast! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support our work.

Betty’s Thought Prompt:

Here are three suggestions:

1. Tell me about a moment when a person’s kindness made a difference in your life?
2. Who has been the biggest influence on your life? What lessons did that person or those people teach you?
3. If you could hold on to memories from your life forever, which would they be?Leave a commentTune in next week to hear Part II of Betty Long’s interview.Until then, share OVERexpressed & OUT with a friend.Refer a friend