TORRINGTON, Wyo. (September 27, 2019) – Thinking outside the box to improve how things are done just comes naturally to Ingrid Long, MSN, RN. Since becoming Chief Nursing Officer at Community Hospital in Torrington last year, Long has reduced the nursing turnover to below average and helped start a new nursing program at Eastern Wyoming College.
For her efforts and passion improving nursing, Long was honored earlier this month with the Norm S. Holt Award for Nursing Excellence by the Wyoming Hospital Association (WHA). The annual award winner is selected from a pool of statewide candidates in recognition of outstanding nursing achievement.
“Our nominees this year all demonstrate excellence in their field and represent facilities in Wyoming both large and small,” said Eric Boley, WHA President. “Among so many outstanding nominees, we were honored to present Ingrid Long, of Banner Torrington Community Hospital, with the 2019 Norman S. Holt Award for Nursing Excellence. It was a privilege for us to recognize her many contributions to her patients, colleagues, community, hospital and the field of nursing.”
Long received her bachelor of science from Northern Arizona University and later went on to obtain her master of science in nursing from Aspen University. Long started her career at Platte County Memorial Hospital in Wheatland and then moved to West Park Hospital in Cody where she learned obstetrical and peri-operative nursing.
In 2010, she moved back to her husband’s hometown of Torrington, and while at Community Hospital, her leadership abilities quickly became apparent. She has served as the RN Manager of Perioperative Services, Director of Nursing and was named Chief Nursing Officer in January of 2018.
During this time, Long has become a role model for professionalism, leadership, innovation, dedication to high-quality patient care and a commitment to ensuring a positive work environment. In addition to reducing nursing turnover to below average and helping to start a new nursing program at Eastern Wyoming College, she is an Advanced Cardiac Life Support instructor and advocated for the hiring of a nurse educator.
“We’re really focused on being a great place to work and a great place to receive care,” Long said. “It’s a very prestigious award for the state of Wyoming and I never imagined I’d be on the receiving end. It’s really an honor.”
About Community Hospital
Community Hospital in Torrington, Wyo., is operated by Banner Health, one of the nation’s largest nonprofit health care systems with 28 hospitals in six states. Community Hospital offers obstetrics, general surgery, oncology, inpatient and outpatient diagnostics, rehabilitation services, community wellness and emergency care. For more information, visit www.BannerHealth.com/Torrington.