"As RNs we are dedicated to providing optimal care for our patients - The new contract supports this"

Registered nurses voted by an overwhelming margin of 93% to ratify a new contract covering 1641 RNs in bargaining units at Good Samaritan Hospital and Regional Medical Center in San Jose the California Nurses Association announced today.

RNs say the contract includes significant improvements and workplace protections as well as a wage scale that aligns with the San Jose market, all factors that will enhance the hospitals ability to retain and recruit staff.

"As RNs we are dedicated to providing optimal care for our patients. The new contract supports this and will be a real boon to the recruitment and retention of experienced RNs," said Malinda Markowitz, an RN at Good Samaritan Hospital and Co-president of CNA.

"We're very proud of the new contract because it represents RNs working together to make our hospital a great place for nurses to work and for patients to get well.  We're also very excited to welcome so many new members to our ranks," said Amy Santos, RN, Regional Medical Center.

Key elements of the pact include:

• Economic gains to help with nurse recruitment and retention that include across-the-board raises and a new wage scale that will result in increases ranging from 10.4%-32.3% over the three-year term of the agreement.
• Nearly a hundred previously unrepresented nurses will be covered by the new contract and enjoy the full benefits and protections negotiated by the union."
• Improved health and safety language to strengthen protection for nurses and patients from workplace violence, and the spread of infectious diseases.
• Eight hours of rest for any RN after working a call shift before she can be called back to work to reduce nurse fatigue that can put nurses and patients at risk.
• Improved union and workplace rights for nurses, including a strengthened grievance procedure for disputes.

Both hospitals are affiliated with, Nashville-based, Healthcare Corporation of America (HCA), the largest for-profit medical corporation in the world. The California Nurses Association represents nearly 100,000 RNs throughout the state.