She is a member of the Texas Nurses’ Association, NANDA International, and the American College of Healthcare Administrators, where she was honored with the Educator of the Year Award for 2007 and the Journalism Award for 2009. Acello has worked as a director of nursing, administrator, and long-term care facility consultant and educator; she has held numerous corporate-level positions in eight states. Presently, she is involved with freelance consulting, lecturing, and writing. She has written many textbooks, journal articles, and other materials related to acute and long-term care nursing, as well as nursing assistant practice and education. Although she has worked in acute care, emergency room, and EMS, long-term care is her preferred practice setting. She is committed to improving working conditions, education, and professionalism for nurses and nursing assistants in long-term care facilities.