Paula Saunders, R.N., and Marie Oullette, C.N.A., have been given Northern Maine Medical Center’s nurse and nurse’s aide of the year awards. The awards were presented at a reception in their honor by Joanne Fortin, the director of nurses at NMMC in Fort Kent.

Saunders became an employee at NMMC in 1990, having been hired as head nurse of the then-new Adult Inpatient Psychiatry Unit. “Paula is a highly skilled nurse with a positive, helpful, and nurturing attitude that transfers to her unit staff as well as patients,” said Fortin in her presentation.

Oullette began her NMMC career at Forest Hill, where she was based for 13 years. She transferred to the Medical-Surgical Unit in 2003 and has since received cross training in the Obstetric Unit. “Marie is remarkable for her pleasant, compassionate and positive demeanor; her willingness to help others by not hesitating to go above and beyond; and her patient advocacy,” noted Fortin.

In recognition of their respective accomplishments, Saunders and Oullette both received a monetary gift from the NMMC.