BLUE HILL and ELLSWORTH — Northern Light Blue Hill and Maine Coast Hospitals announce a change in nursing leadership. The inpatient units, emergency departments, and Maine Coast birthing center, surgical unit and ICU all require teams of highly skilled and compassionate nurses to deliver safe, quality care, according to the hospitals, in a news release.

“The leaders who have moved into these roles exemplify the culture we strive to create in our hospitals; one with honesty, integrity and respect,” said hospital president John Ronan, FACHE.

In late summer, Ann-Margaret Shaheen, MSN, RN, was hired as the new Vice President, Nursing and Patient Care Services. Shaheen received her training at the University of Virginia and worked for 20 years at major medical centers including Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center and University of North Carolina Hospital, specializing in critical care, clinical education, and quality. She joined Blue Hill Hospital in 2010 where she held progressive leadership roles culminating in director of the emergency department and medical surgical and specialty care units. 

“With her broad nursing background, excellent management skills, patient experience knowledge, and positive attitude, Ann-Margaret has already proven to be a strong asset to our senior leadership team,” says Ronan. “We look forward to recruiting and retaining nurses who are interested in careers that offer a safe and supportive work environment, clinical excellence, opportunity for professional growth, and a sense of community. We have entrusted Ann Margaret to promote and foster such a workplace.”

The new emergency and medical surgical department director at Blue Hill Hospital, Tanya Astbury, RN, started last month. Astbury has over 26 years of nursing experience in a variety of areas including medical surgical, rehabilitation, cardiac care, ICU, emergency department, ambulatory care, and infusion. She has held numerous supervisory roles earning the respect and trust of her teams.   

“Tanya and I are focused on quality improvement, staff recruitment and retention, and employee engagement,” shares Shaheen. “We have worked together for many years, and I am confident that together, and in collaboration with nurse leadership at Maine Coast Hospital, we will continue to build and cultivate strong nursing teams across both hospitals. We are deeply committed to earning and maintaining a positive reputation in our community for excellent and compassionate patient care delivery.”

If you are interested in finding out about RN openings at Blue Hill and Maine Coast Hospitals, call Ann-Margaret directly at 664-5523 or visit the Northern Light Health Career page: northernlighthealth.org/careers.