NORWAY — Western Maine Health Vice President of Clinical Services, M. Patricia Cook, RN, MBA, EdD, announced recently that Stephens Memorial Hospital registered nurse Karen Thurston, RNC-OB, BSN, who works in The Family Birthplace, has become certified in inpatient obstetric nursing.

Thurston took a two-day intensive program and exam, developed by the National Certification Corporation for Obstetric, Gynecologic and Neonatal Nursing Specialties, which focuses heavily on labor and fetal assessment. Her years of nursing and heavy reading and studying for two months prior to the exam helped her succeed.

Thurston has worked in The Family Birthplace at SMH for nine years. Prior to coming to SMH, she worked at Maine General Hospital in Waterville. She attended the University of Maine, attaining a bachelor of science degree in nursing. She serves on the SMH Magnet Committee as well as two nursing councils that are part of the shared governance system recently adopted by nursing. She is a certified breast feeding counselor, teaches neonatal resuscitation, and is a Clinical Level III nurse.

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