Pen Bay Healthcare Nurses Honored at Samoset

"Caring for friends and family" was the theme of National Nurses Week, which Pen Bay Healthcare celebrated this year from May 5 through May 9. In our Midcoast community, nearly 400 of our friends and neighbors are licensed nursing professionals working throughout the Pen Bay Healthcare family of services.

The culmination of Nurses Week was a reception held at the Samoset Resort on May 9, attended by some 130 nurses from all the PBH organizations – Penobscot Bay Medical Center, Kno-Wal-Lin Home Care and Hospice, Quarry Hill Retirement Community, the Knox Center for Long Term Care and the Mid-Coast Mental Health Center.

Ninety-two nurses received awards at the reception as their Nurse Leaders recognized their contributions to professional practice. Kathleen Florance received a special award for organizing and spearheading the "Shades of Green" initiative introducing many environmentally friendly practices at the hospital.

The nurses surprised Delahanty with her own award for her leadership and dedication. She has worked as a nurse at PBMC for 24 years.

Roy Hitchings, President and CEO of Pen Bay Healthcare, said: "I thank you for being great nurses, and for doing many other things, too. You lead support groups, you work at free clinics, you participate on medical mission trips. Thank you all."