LEWISTON — A Mentor Recognition Award ceremony was held recently at Central Maine Medical Center honoring nurses who have demonstrated “outstanding mentoring qualities.”

Nurses from CMMC who were selected for the award by nursing students at the Central Maine Medical Center College of Nursing and Health Professions were: oncology nurse Rachelle Artea, RN; orthopaedic nurse Sarah LeClerc, RN; maternal-child nurse Kate Preston, RN; cardiopulmonary nurse Patti Pelletier, RN; medical-surgical nurse Paula Bernier, RN; critical care nurse Russell Buzwell, RN; cardiovascular nurse Luke Cook, RN; pediatrics nurse Nicole Nicolas, RN; and inpatient rehabilitation nurse Regan Dion, RN.

Other award recipients were mental health nurse practitioner Christine Plourde from St. Mary’s Regional Medical Center in Lewiston and Deborah J. Wear-Finkle, MD, from Riverview Hospital in Augusta.

Also recognized at the event were graduating nursing students selected by CMMC nurses for a Staff Choice Award, established to recognize senior nursing students who have demonstrated outstanding nursing qualities. Staff Award student nurses for 2010 are: Jessica L. Tibbitts of Yarmouth; Angel Harmon of Biddeford; Sarah E. Hascall of Bethel; Jill King of Turner; Susan L. Marcous of Lewiston; Tyler T. Tyburski of Lewiston; and Danielle P. Valliere of Poland.

The Central Maine Medical Center College of Nursing and Health Professions offers an associate in the applied science in nursing degree program.

Program graduates who pass the National Council Licensure Examination become registered nurses.