Kapiolani nurses agree to new contract

HONOLULU (KHON2) –After more than a year of negotiations, nurses at Kapiolani Medical Center for Women & Children have reached a new three-year contract agreement, marking a significant milestone for the facility and its staff.

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It was a very long and bumpy road to get to this point but Hawaii Nurses Association President Rosalee Agas-Yuu, said the nurses are very happy and about 98% of them voted in favor of the contract.

“Having that in place, that you know, Kapiolani would be attractive again, and people want to go because there’s something set in place to ensure that, you know, there’s safe staffing conditions,” Agas-Yuu explained. “The nurses are extremely happy. It’s probably one of the best contracts we we’ve ever had in terms of working conditions, wages. It was very, very the employer was very gracious. The thing that I don’t want forgotten is that this was was big in terms of, what they had to do to get these ratios.”

This new contract impacts around 600 registered nurses represented by the Hawaii Nurses’ Association. Gidget Ruscetta, the chief operating officer at Kapiolani, expressed her satisfaction with the outcome.

“We’re really pleased our nurses voted in favor of this contract,” Ruscetta said. “Fixed ratios aren’t the solution. Through our collaborative negotiations, our nurses will now play a vital role in the staffing process, allowing us to adapt to our patients’ needs more effectively.”

So, what’s included in this agreement? Here are the key highlights:

• Nurses will receive annual raises averaging 3.5% over the nearly four-year term.
• Longevity pay increases are set for registered nurses who have been with Kapi‘olani for 5, 10, and 15 years.
• The contract introduces a staffing matrix that allows for flexible staffing levels. This means that staffing can be adjusted based on patient conditions, ensuring that care remains responsive and tailored.

• The staffing guidelines are evidence-based and align with standards from national nursing organizations, including the Association of Women’s Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses and the American Nurses Association.
• A new Staffing Council, made up of nurses and nurse leaders, will meet monthly to address staffing concerns and review the staffing matrix annually.
• An innovative staffing and acuity tool will help determine scheduling needs based on the dynamic healthcare landscape.
• The agreement also commits to ongoing recruitment and retention efforts to support both new and current nurses.

“This has been an emotional process for all of us at Kapi‘olani,” Ruscetta added. “But now, we’re ready to move forward together.”

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With this new contract, Kapiolani aims to enhance both nurse satisfaction and patient care, a win-win for the medical center and the community it serves.

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