Barbara Acello is an independent nurse consultant and educator in Denton, Texas. She is an active, contributing member of the Texas Nurses Association and the American College of Healthcare Administrators, where she was honored with the national Educator of the Year Award in 2007, the Journalism Award in 2009 and the Chair's Award -- the organization's highest honor -- in 2016 for her years of extraordinary service. Stretching across four decades, her nursing career includes work in hospitals, long-term care facilities and home health, with geriatrics as her preferred area of clinical practice. Presently, she is involved with freelance consulting, lecturing and writing. She has written and contributed to many textbooks, journal articles, instructor guides, computerized test banks, quick reference guides, nursing and managerial reference books, online inservices and supplemental instructional materials for health care personnel. Believing that the nursing assistant is the most important caregiver in the health care facility, Acello is committed to improving working conditions, education and professionalism for these vital professionals. She may be contacted at bacello@aol.com. Barbara Hegner, MS, RN, Former Professor Emeritus Nursing and Life Science at Long Beach City College in California.
