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Guided by Heart, Grounded in Purpose: The Journey of Judy Long
For Judy Long, becoming a nurse wasn’t just a career choice—it was a lifelong calling to serve, teach, and uplift others. With nearly four decades of nursing experience, 22 of those in acute cardiology care and 16 in simulation education, Judy has left an indelible mark on countless patients, colleagues, and learners. Today, as a Clinical and Simulation Educator at Elevate Healthcare, she continues to shape the future of nursing by helping others become safer, more confident caregivers.
“I wanted to help people,” Judy shares. “Even when I worked at the bedside, I was always the nurse who took time to go over discharge instructions. I saw the value in making sure patients knew what to do when they got home—so they wouldn’t end up coming back.”
This devotion to knowledge and patient empowerment eventually led Judy to pursue a master’s in nursing with a focus on education. She transitioned into simulation education in 2008 and has dedicated herself to it ever since. “Simulation allows learners to practice those critical, time-sensitive scenarios that don’t happen every day—but when they do, the stakes are high,” she says. “It’s about building muscle memory, confidence, and correct clinical thinking in a risk-free environment.”
One of Judy’s most powerful experiences with simulation occurred while working with OB staff at Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center in New Hampshire. “We had just finished running mandatory postpartum hemorrhage simulations when, within weeks, the team faced a real emergency. Several staff came back and said, ‘We knew exactly what to do. Thank you.’ That’s the best kind of feedback you can get.”
Judy speaks with rare honesty about the emotional demands of a nursing career—and the importance of staying grounded. Reflecting on her years at the bedside, she shares: “I never let a patient die alone. Even if I had eight patients, I sat with them, held their hand, talked to them, prayed with them. If the family was there, I supported the whole unit. They deserved that.” That sense of presence and empathy, she believes, is fundamental. “If I ever got to a place where I became hardened, that’s when I knew it would be time to leave nursing. Because there’s no place for that. You have to treat every patient like they’re your only one.”
Now in education, Judy is just as committed to emotional clarity and connection. “I’m a direct communicator. If something hurts, I talk to someone about it. I don’t believe in just swallowing it and pushing through. That’s not healthy.”
In addition to her clinical and educational experience, Judy brings a deeply personal resilience to her work. As a breast cancer survivor, she understands the patient experience from both sides. “I’m grateful for my health. I’m grateful to be cancer-free. And I’m grateful that I get to keep giving back to this profession that has given me so much.”
Judy says she’s found something special in her team at Elevate Healthcare. “This is one of the most amazing teams I’ve ever worked on. You feel respected, valued, supported. Everyone communicates with kindness and feedback, and everyone has each other’s back.”
Judy has a powerful message for those working in healthcare:
“We are an amazing, collective group of professionals who impact patient safety and outcomes every single day. We need to continue doing just that, even in this ever-changing healthcare environment.”
When asked how she knew she’d made a difference, Judy doesn’t hesitate:
“When students, families, or colleagues come back and say, ‘Thank you for what you taught me. Thank you for how you cared.’ That’s when I know. That’s everything.”