BANGOR — Northern Light Eastern Maine Medical Center is proud to be awarded a Pathway to Excellence® designation by the American Nurses Credentialing Center. The medical center is the first in Maine and New Hampshire, and one of just 217 hospitals in the world, to achieve this recognition.
Pathway to Excellence is a nursing-focused designation that recognizes and honors the important role of nursing care in making a difference and advancing professional practice worldwide.
Organizations across the healthcare continuum pursue the Pathway designation because its evidence-based practice standards foster a positive practice environment. In Pathway-designated organizations, nurses thrive in an environment that supports empowerment, job satisfaction, professional growth and development, respect, and recognition.
“This designation is a reflection of the remarkable nursing staff at Northern Light Eastern Maine Medical Center and highlights our high standard of care, positive practice environment, and the culture we have cultivated together,” says Deb Sanford, MBA, MSN, RN, vice president, Nursing and Patient Care Services. “It’s a shining example of what we can achieve when we work together, driven by a shared vision.”
Studies show that the characteristics of the Pathway environment correlate with better outcomes for patient care, satisfaction, and safety, as well as nurse satisfaction and retention.
The medical center formally began the Pathway process in February 2023 by collecting information to submit the document a year later. Nurses participated in the validation in April and May.
