Betty Long (above left), RN, MHA, President/CEO and founder of Guardian Nurses Healthcare Advocates of Flourtown, has received the annual Mary Ann Garrigan Award on behalf of The Board of Nursing Archives Associates at the Howard Gotlieb Archival Research Center (Boston University Libraries).

The award honors individuals with outstanding professional achievements in nursing and others who have made substantial contributions to or in support of the nursing profession.

Long was nominated for the award by a previous recipient, Kathleen A. Bower (above right), DNSc, RN, FAONL, FAAN.

“Guardian Nurses, under Betty’s leadership, provides theory-based, clinically competent, and holistic care to its patients and others to the benefit of individuals as well as the union finances and member engagement,” Bower states in her nomination letter. “As an innovator, Betty identified a patient/family need and created a unique approach to meeting it. As an entrepreneur, Betty has established a nurse-run business that produces exceptional patient outcomes as well as manages health care costs for patients and the unions to which they belong. Guardian Nurses supports nurses practicing at the peak of their license, using deep clinical knowledge and skills, expert problem solving, tenacity in problem solving on behalf of patients, and more.”