Arla Washenko is director of emergency services for Saint Mary’s Hospital’s 46-bed Emergency Department and Level II Trauma Center in Waterbury. She works with nursing staff, providers and hospital leaders to oversee emergency care, implement strategic initiatives and improve patient flow and operational performance.
What makes you a Healthcare Hero?
What makes me a Healthcare Hero is my commitment to building strong teams that deliver exceptional patient care. I am proud that our Emergency Department earned the 2026 ENA Lantern Award, a national recognition of excellence in emergency nursing.
Through a focus on leadership development, quality improvement and staff engagement, we achieved a 44% reduction in patient falls and a 51% decrease in incomplete care departures. These outcomes reflect our team’s dedication to safety, excellence and continuous improvement, and the culture we have built together to better serve our patients and community.
Tell us about a challenge in your job that you were able to overcome.
One of the greatest challenges I faced was rebuilding after a major shift in the healthcare workforce. We strengthened our leadership team, improved staffing and invested in professional development. By creating a strong foundation and supporting a novice workforce, we transformed our department into a high-performing, resilient team.
What’s your next major goal and/or challenge?
Looking ahead, I aspire to continue growing as a nursing leader, leveraging the lessons, resilience and leadership experience gained in emergency medicine to drive broader organizational impact, advance patient care and help shape the future of the nursing profession.
