MountainView Hospital Nurses Ratify New Contract to Enhance Patient Care

The New Contract Enhances Staffing and Patient Care at MountainView Hospital

In a significant move to bolster patient safety and nurse retention, registered nurses at MountainView Hospital in Las Vegas, Nevada, have ratified a new three-year contract. The nurses, represented by the National Nurses Organizing Committee/National Nurses United (NNOC/NNU), advocate that the agreement brings substantial advances in patient care and working conditions.

Elizabeth Rodriguez, a registered nurse in the neonatal intensive care unit at MountainView, remarked, "This new contract that includes a pilot program for meal and rest break nurses is a huge win for our patients and for us as nurses." She emphasized that the nurses' voices have been pivotal in shaping the future of their hospital, with the progress reflected in the contract.

Key Aspects of the Agreement

  • Pilot Program for Break Relief Staffing: A new initiative designed to enhance staffing practices, ensuring nurses can avail their meal and rest breaks during shifts.
  • Wage Enhancements: The contract includes substantial wage increases, facilitating improved nurse recruitment and retention, with some nurses receiving up to a 22% increase over the contract period.
  • Inclusive Documentation: Nurses now have the option to use preferred names and include personal pronouns on their name badges.

Jenevie Aranas-Bowen, a registered nurse in the intermediate care unit, commented, "Nurses' top concern is always patient care. With the new measures in this contract, we'll be able to take better care of our patients because nurses' working conditions should be improved with this new pilot program."

NNOC/NNU, representing nearly 1,000 nurses at MountainView Hospital and over 8,500 nurses nationally, engaged in negotiations with HCA management throughout 2024. This occurred as contracts expired at 17 HCA facilities spread across six states. While nurses at these facilities showed readiness to authorize strikes if necessary, an agreement was reached before any strike action was taken.

Overall, NNOC/NNU represents nearly 10,000 nurses at HCA facilities nationwide, even beyond those involved in this year's negotiations. HCA, noted as one of the largest and wealthiest healthcare systems in the U.S., has been at the center of these significant negotiations.

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, boasting nearly 225,000 members nationwide. Other affiliates of the NNU include the California Nurses Association, DC Nurses Association, Michigan Nurses Association, Minnesota Nurses Association, and New York State Nurses Association.

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