NORWAY – Registered nurses Karen Thurston, B.S., and Jo Elliott have obtained the status of Clinical Nurse III in the Nursing Advancement Program at Stephens Memorial Hospital (SMH).

Thurston has worked in The Family Birthplace at SMH for seven years. Prior to starting at the hospital, she worked at Maine General Hospital in Waterville and attended the University of Maine, attaining a bachelor of science degree in nursing.

Thurston lives in Rumford with her husband and their six children.

Elliott has been employed on the Medical/Surgical Department at SMH for three years. She attended CMMC School of Nursing and is pursuing her bachelor of science in nursing at USM. She also holds a bachelor of science degree in nutrition.

Elliott lives in Rumford with her husband.

The Nursing Advancement Program was established to enhance professional growth and development, and recognize achievements. Level III clinical nurses demonstrate consistently high standards of caring, expertise, professional behavior, leadership, communication skills and extraordinary attention to safety.