BANGOR, ME – Nurses at Eastern Maine Medical Center reached a tentative agreement with hospital officials early Wednesday morning that nurses say includes improvements in staffing in key areas throughout the hospital.

As a result of the settlement, a two-day strike called by nurses for July 13-14 has been cancelled. EMMC RNs, who will vote on the agreement Friday, July 10, must still ratify the accord.

An additional 30 RNs are to be hired to address staffing shortages under the settlement. Further details will be disclosed after the ratification vote.

The tentative agreement represents months of work by the nurses to have key patient safety issues addressed. The Maine State Nurses Association/National Nurses United represents 800 RNs at EMMC.

“This agreement will address important staffing concerns that we have for our patients in the community and region,” said EMMC RN Steve Akerley.

“By having reduced patient ratios, we look forward to doing the kind of nursing we would like to do – which means providing the kind of care we would provide for our loved ones. The community has been especially supportive of this effort and we want to thank everyone,” Akerley said.

MSNA/NNOC is an affiliate of National Nurses United, the largest U.S. organization of nurses. In Maine, MSNA represents over 2000 nurses who work in facilities and agencies throughout the state.