Nurses’ contract ratified at HRH

By Doug Dickinson
Staff Writer
    HOULTON — Nurses at the Houlton Regional Hospital were able to ratify a one-year contract last week after their previous contract expired more than five months ago. The new contract includes safe staffing provisions and health and safety language for staff.
    A press release from the Maine State Nurses Association last week stated that the new provision includes a requirement of five nurses at all times and no more than one nurse for five floor care patients; and one nurse for two unstable intermediate care patients. 
    Additionally, orientation for nurses will be enhanced and in the long-term care department, nurses will be looking into language unique to the department.
    Vanessa Sylvester is a spokeswoman for the Maine State Nurses Association. She said April 20 that HRH nurses are happy with the new contract.
    “Overall the nurses were able to ratify a contract at HRH,” said Sylvester. “They are satisfied with the safe-staffing language in the new contract.”
    According to Sylvester the provisions are a big help toward patient safety, and staff language is a guarantee of their safety. She said that the new contract maintains the same benefits from the previous contract, and put a one-year freeze on pay increases.
    Judy Eastham works as an RN at Houlton Regional Hospital. She said that the negotiations were tough because of the state of the economy and the inefficient way provider reimbursements work in the current health care system.
    “That is why we have agreed to a one-year contract only,” said Eastham. “However, nurses secured safe staffing language for HRH’s largest department, the Acute Care Unit, which is a new unit created two years ago from the combined ICU and MedSurg,”
    Houlton Regional Hospital CEO Tom Moakler said that he is pleased that the contract has been settled and that the nurses accepted the language for safe staffing.