VENTURA COUNTY: Public Hospital Nurses to Get Raise

      Nurses at Ventura County Medical Center and its affiliated clinics have approved a contract that could bring salary increases of up to 10.5% over the next two years, the Los Angeles Times reports. The agreement between county officials and the California Nurses Association, which was reached over the weekend, calls for an immediate 2.5% salary increase for each of the 250 registered nurses, vocational nurses and psychiatric technicians currently employed at the hospital. Those employees who still fall below the average pay of their counterparts in the seven other Southern California counties, would receive additional increases up to 10.5% over the next two years. Some registered nurses who pursue specialized training and work weekend shifts could receive more than the 10.5% increase, or close to $30 per hour. Union spokesperson Yoli Rios said, "This settlement reveals to me that (the county acknowledges) the nursing shortage is a reality. They want to keep skilled, experienced nurses." The Board of Supervisors is expected to approve the agreement within the next few weeks (Talev, 4/11).