Cincinnati nurse affiliate ratifies new contract

Members of the Registered Nurses Association, an affiliate of the Ohio Nurses Association/AFT, overwhelmingly voted July 2 to ratify a collective bargaining agreement with University of Cincinnati Medical Center.

The three-year agreement affects approximately 1,400 registered nurses at the medical center who take pride in providing the best care in the Tri-State area. UCMC and RNA worked together to form an agreement with improvements that include continuing education, patient care and nurse retention.

"I'm pleased with the outcome," says RNA President Jeannette Porter. "UCMC heard what our nurses needed, and we were able to work together to find solutions. Future nurses will now have extra training through a new RN residency program, where nurses will be mentored for a year."

The new contract will be in effect until June 2018. "Both sides really did a nice job with negotiations," says Jennifer Jackson, vice president of patient care services and chief nursing officer at UC Medical Center, keeping the focus on life-changing patient-centered care throughout the process. "The new contract will help to retain and support our nurses who are truly top notch in the region."

High-quality patient care will be expanded through the formation of a divisional float pool that will be guided by an advisory group consisting of the nurses and UCMC management. RNA nurses also will see increases in pay, education hours and charge differentials—all of which address concerns of nurse retention by making the compensation competitive with surrounding facilities.

[Ohio Nurses Association/University of Cincinnati Health press release/ONA photo]