(GLENDALE) Registered nurses at USC Verdugo Hills Hospital have overwhelmingly voted to ratify a first union contract with hospital management, culminating a yearlong campaign persuading the University of Southern California to invest in patient care improvements at the hospital. The agreement includes contract protections for nurses to advocate for improved patient care, as well as wage and benefit improvements to enhance recruitment and retention at the hospital.
 
The California Nurses Association/National Nurses United (CNA/NNU) represents around 150 RNs at Verdugo Hills who voted to join the union last year just months after the hospital was acquired by USC. Additionally, CNA represents around 800 RNs at Keck Hospital of USC and USC Norris Cancer Hospital who are covered under a different contract negotiated in 2013.
 
“This new agreement leaves us in a much stronger position to retain the experienced nurses our community deserves,” says Verdugo Hills RN Erica Beltran, "We’re so proud to have fought for a contract that best supports our ability to care for patients."  
 
The contract is patterned after the Keck and Norris contract, including all the rights and patient care protections CNA RNs have ben able to gain there. Contract highlights include:

• Establishment of a Professional Practice Committee to address patient care issues. This independent committee of direct care RNs elected by their peers monitors patient care conditions at the hospital and meet with hospital officials to discuss patient care concerns. Disputes can be referred to a neutral dispute resolution process.
• Staffing protections. The current agreement would hold management accountable for filling open positions with full-time, experienced RNs, who live and work in the local community rather than relying on temporary ‘travelers’. There are also protections ensuring RNs are not assigned ("floated") to areas outside their area of professional expertise. 
• Improved wages. Wage increases of up to fourteen percent (14%) within the next 15 months to begin to reduce pay disparities with other nearby CNA hospitals.
• Ongoing education. The hospital will provide nurses with paid time to attend continuing education classes for the first time.
• Technology protections. In an era where the hospital industry is increasingly incorporating new technology, the RNs of Verdugo Hills have fought for contract language that will ensure nurses have a voice in how the technology impacts their ability to provide top quality care. 

 
The new agreement will uphold high-quality care in the community served by Verdugo Hills, say nurses, strengthening a bond with area residents established over the course of the campaign.
 
Nurses recently delivered a petition signed by over 1000 residents of the surrounding community advocating for inpatient pharmacy services to be provided during the night shift. As nurses were voting this week, hospital administrators announced that those services would be opened. 
 
“Our nurse leaders and members have seen the power of what happens when we stand together—advocating for what’s best for our patients. When nurses and our community unite, we can’t be ignored,” says Verdugo Hills RN Lisa Ryken.
 
The new contract will be in effect through December 31, 2016.