NEW YORK NURSE: March 2010
A new three-year contract for the 200 RNs at this Southwestern New York facility calls for the Nurse Practice Committee to continue its work on an acuity tool on which staffing would be based. Until then, the hospital will staff units by its current grid – taking into account acuity, census, staffing mix, and skill levels. The RNs will receive raises every six months. Part-timers will have an extra paid day off when they work 45 hours and over a holiday. RNs will participate on the hospital’s Safety Committee and will be able to try out and comment on safe patient handling equipment before the hospital makes a purchase. Approved Feb. 16, the contract expires Jan. 31, 2013.
A new three-year agreement approved on Feb. 15 will provide annual 2.25% salary increases for all 39 RNs employed by this Central New York county. The rate for working as a supervisor over a weekend or holiday was also increased. The contract allows RNs more time to use their holiday and compensatory time, provides for quarterly vacation requests and sets a priority order for granting time, and establishes an on-call process for the County Nursing Home.
A one-year contract, approved Feb. 24, will increase the number of continuing education programs provided for the 18 RNs throughout this Utica agency. The RNs will receive a 75-cent per-hour wage increase retroactive to Jan. 1, 2010 and 25-cent per-hour increase on July 1, 2010. The contract increases the period for orienting new hires and covers the full cost of obtaining hospice certification.