The new agreement brings improvements in staffing practices for Research and Menorah medical centers.

Registered nurses at Research Medical Center in Kansas City, Mo., and Menorah Medical Center in Overland Park, Kan., voted to ratify new three-year contracts last week, winning measures to improve patient safety and nurse retention. Nurses represented by National Nurses Organizing Committee/National Nurses United (NNOC/NNU), the nation’s largest nurses union, say the newly ratified agreements will improve patient care and working conditions at their hospital. 

“These contracts are how we’re leading the way to make our hospitals safer and better,” said Cheryl Rodarmel, RN in the rehabilitation unit at Research Medical Center. “Nurses made sure our voices were heard when it comes to the future of our hospitals, and our new contracts are a big step towards a brighter future for everyone involved.” 

Highlights of the contracts include:

• Pilot program on break relief staffing: A new program that will improve staffing practices to ensure nurses can take their meal and rest breaks during their shifts.
• Nurse floating improvements: New measures will ensure nurses are “floated” (temporarily reassigned) to units similar to their normal specialty.
• Inclusive documentation: Staff can use preferred names and add personal pronouns to name badges.
• Wage increases: Substantial wage increases that will improve nurse recruitment and retention. 

“We believe these contracts will raise the bar at our hospitals,” said Jessica Gessley, RN in the cardiac care unit at Menorah Medical Center. “As nurses, we want what’s best for our patients, and that means making sure our hospitals are places where nurses can do our jobs safely and effectively.”

NNOC/NNU represents nearly 1,000 nurses combined at Research and Menorah medical centers and more than 8,500 nurses across the country who were at the bargaining table with HCA management throughout 2024, as contracts expired at 17 HCA facilities in six states. In recent weeks, nurses at HCA facilities had voted in favor of authorizing strikes if necessary to resolve negotiations, but an agreement was reached before any strikes were called by nurses on bargaining teams. 

NNOC/NNU represents nearly 10,000 nurses at HCA facilities nationwide, including some not bargaining new contracts this year. HCA is one of the largest and wealthiest health care systems in the United States.

National Nurses Organizing Committee is an affiliate of National Nurses United, the largest and fastest-growing union and professional association of registered nurses in the United States with nearly 225,000 members nationwide. NNU affiliates also include California Nurses Association, DC Nurses Association, Michigan Nurses Association, Minnesota Nurses Association, and New York State Nurses Association.