Cath Lab Digest

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There is no peace among equals because equality doesn’t exist in the universe. Either one prevails and the other follows, or both negotiate their differences and create a greater partnership. – Harold J. Duarte-Bernhardt

  Throughout her career as a nurse, clinical nurse specialist and wound, ostomy, continence nurse, partnerships have been important to Mary Arnold-Long, MSN, RN, CRRN, ACNS-BC, CWOCN-AP.

  Arnold-Long had chosen to work for the Franciscan Health System of Greater Cincinnati, OH, partly because of their mission: the healing ministry of Jesus Christ. Nineteen years ago, after working for this system for nearly 14 years, Arnold-Long and colleague Rita Pochard were offered the opportunity to attend an Enterostomal Therapy Nursing Education Program (ETNEP). Arnold-Long studied at Abbott Northwestern Hospital, Minneapolis, MN; Pochard, at the Cleveland Clinic. They benefited from sharing different learning and clinical experiences. Shortly after they received certification in 1994, their healthcare system reorganized. Pochard chose to work for the system’s home health agency; Arnold-Long relocated to Indiana.

  Not long after, Arnold-Long achieved certification through the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) as a Medical-Surgical Clinical Nurse Specialist (now Adult Health CNS) and worked as the inaugural clinical nurse specialist at Hancock Memorial Hospital, a county facility. A large component of that role was wound, ostomy, continence (WOC) nurse duties, including the facility’s pressure ulcer incidence and prevalence survey, support surface selection, and revision of the facility’s policies and procedures. Arnold-Long saw patients in the hospital, in a home health setting, and in physician offices. Although she didn’t have a WOC partner during this time, she worked with Pharmacy Director Diane Detering on policy and procedure revisions, along with other projects. Arnold-Long reached out to another WOC nurse in the area — Mary Baker — who introduced her to other local WOC nurses and became a great resource. When Baker’s partner at Community Hospitals of Indianapolis resigned, she and Arnold-Long became formal partners working for a Clinical Nurse Specialist, Jan Bingle, dividing their duties among their institution’s campuses. About this time, Arnold-Long became active with the Mid East Region Wound Ostomy Continence Nurses Society and participated in her first WOCN regional conference.

  In 2000, Arnold-Long returned to Cincinnati to work at Drake Center, a long-term acute care hospital, rehabilitation, and skilled nursing facility. Initially, her partners were four other clinical nurse specialists; as the wound care program expanded, Trish Hoge, another CWOCN, became her partner. She and Trish initiated development of the Advanced Wound Care Team at the center. Arnold-Long underwent surgery in early 2005 and left Drake for a year; Trish departed for acute care at Bethesda North Hospital. When Arnold-Long returned, Anne Blevins became her partner, providing insights into pediatrics and burns. Blevins had attended the WebWOC program, and Arnold-Long had been her preceptor. They worked together for 5 years.

  Currently, Arnold-Long is employed at Roper Hospital in downtown Charleston, SC. Roper St. Francis Healthcare is South Carolina low country’s only private, not-for-profit healthcare system. The 657-bed system consists of 90 facilities and provides services in seven counties. Member hospitals include Roper Hospital, Bon Secours St. Francis Hospital, Mount Pleasant Hospital, and Roper Rehabilitation Hospital. With more than 5,100 employees, Roper St. Francis Healthcare is Charleston’s largest nongovernmental, private employer. Its medical staff includes nearly 800 physicians representing every medical specialty. Ranked #41 among the Top 100 Integrated Health Networks in the nation, Roper St.