Registered nurses who work at the City of Hope National Medical Center in Duarte, Ca. near Los Angeles voted overwhelmingly Tuesday night to approve a new, three-year collective bargaining contract they say will strengthen their ability to protect patients, as well as provide good economic gains.
 
The California Nurses Association/National Nurses United represents some 850 City of Hope RNs.
 
Nurses say the new agreement will especially strengthen care delivery on individual patient care units, and help reduce nurse injuries and patient falls and accidents associated with the practice of lifting or moving patients, an issue highlighted in a major National Public Radio series earlier this year.
 
"The new unit specific protocol with CNA oversight, intended to examine and resolve patient safety, staffing, and acuity concerns is a big win for City of Hope patients and RNs," said pediatric RN Gloria Diaz, a member of the nurses negotiating team.
 
Under the pact, CNA-appointed RNs and department managers will jointly review patient assignments in specific patient care units to assess care concerns, with a process for resolving disputes to improve patient safety.
 
California is a national leader in safe patient handling practices, as a result of a CNA-sponsored law signed by Gov. Brown in 2011, and implementing regulations adopted last year that require all hospitals to have a policy for safe lifting, including trained lift teams to reduce the threat of injuries.  Yet Cal-OSHA, which established the regulations following state hearings, cited City of Hope in November for deficiencies in lift equipment and staff education.
 
To improve its practices, the hospital has established a Safe Patient Handling Committee, on which a direct care RN, appointed by the CNA Professional Practice Committee, will now serve, with the ability to make recommendations for improvement to which the hospital must respond.
 
"The Professional Practice Committee's new ability to appoint a representative to the hospital's Safe Patient Handling Committee provides a critical voice for nurses," said City of Hope RN Alma Torrez.
 
Economic gains are another important area of the agreement, including 11 percent across the board wage increases over the next three years, retroactive to April 30, and other increases for educational activity that updates an RN’s professional expertise.
 
"Our collective bargaining agreement rewards all nurses for their advocacy and continued excellent patient care," said Kathy Patane, a long time RN leader at City of Hope.
 
At a time when many employers are demanding a reduction in health care coverage for employees, the City of Hope RNs were also able to protect their existing health plan coverage.