Hospitals Present “Last, Best, and Final” Offer to Nurses Union

Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital and Stanford Hospital & Clinics Make Generous, Comprehensive Offer to CRONA Members; Includes 4% Wage Increase and Ratification Bonus

For Release: March 31, 2010

STANFORD, Calif. — Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital Stanford and Stanford Hospital & Clinics announced today that they submitted their “Last, Best, and Final” Offer to their nurses’ union, the Committee for Recognition of Nursing Achievement (CRONA). The hospitals have been negotiating in good faith with the union since January to develop a new contract that advances the hospitals’ nursing practices and programs.

“This offer reflects the high regard we have for our nursing staff and our commitment to nursing excellence,” said Martha H. Marsh, President and Chief Executive Officer at Stanford Hospital & Clinics. “Our offer includes a comprehensive package of wage increases, benefit improvements and a new Professional Nurse Development Program that is competitive with nursing excellence at other academic medical centers across the nation.”

Highlights of the Hospitals’ Offer Include:

  • Ratification bonus of $3,000 for each full-time CRONA represented nurse if there is no strike notice given to the hospitals.
  • A modified Professional Nurse Development Program (PNPD) in line with other leading world-class institutions that advances the hospitals’ nursing practice by recognizing and rewarding expertise in clinical practice.
  • Wage increases for all nurses in all three years of the agreement, including 4% across-the-board wage increases for all of the hospitals’ nurses in the first year of the agreement.
  • Increased benefits for all nurses including Retiree Medical Health Reimbursement, Retirement, New Extended Sick Leave, Bereavement Leave and Back-Up Care.

“We strongly believe that this offer achieves our goal of establishing a generous and comprehensive contract for our nurses that advances nursing practice and programs,” said Christopher G. Dawes, President and Chief Executive Officer of Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital. “We hope that together we can move forward with this agreement and accomplish our common goal of providing the very best in patient care. CRONA represents approximately 2,700 registered nurses at Stanford and Packard Children’s Hospitals. The current contract between CRONA and the hospitals expires today, March 31, 2010.

Authors

Robert Dicks
(650) 497-8364
rdicks@stanfordchildrens.org

About Stanford Hospital & Clinics

Stanford Hospital & Clinics, located in Palo Alto, California with multiple facilities throughout the region, is internationally renowned for leading edge and coordinated care in cancer, neurosciences, cardiovascular medicine, surgery, organ transplant, medicine specialties and primary care. Stanford Hospital is an academic medical institution of Stanford University School of Medicine. Throughout its history, Stanford has been at the forefront of discovery and innovation, as researchers and clinicians work together to improve health, alleviate suffering, and translate medical breakthroughs into better ways to deliver patient care. Stanford Hospital & Clinics:  Healing humanity through science and compassion, one patient at a time. For more information, visit: StanfordHospital.org

About Stanford Medicine Children's Health

Stanford Medicine Children’s Health, with Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital Stanford at its center, is the Bay Area’s largest health care system exclusively dedicated to children and expectant mothers. Our network of care includes more than 65 locations across Northern California and more than 85 locations in the U.S. Western region. Along with Stanford Health Care and the Stanford School of Medicine, we are part of Stanford Medicine, an ecosystem harnessing the potential of biomedicine through collaborative research, education, and clinical care to improve health outcomes around the world. We are a nonprofit organization committed to supporting the community through meaningful outreach programs and services and providing necessary medical care to families, regardless of their ability to pay. Discover more at stanfordchildrens.org.