Agreement includes strong measures to improve patient safety and nurse retention 

Registered nurses at six California Tenet facilities: San Ramon Regional Medical Center in San Ramon, Doctors Hospital Manteca in Manteca, Doctors Medical Center in Modesto, Emanuel Medical Center in Turlock, Desert Regional Medical Center in Palm Springs, and Hi-Desert Medical Center in Twentynine Palms yesterday voted overwhelmingly, with 93 percent in favor, to ratify a new three-year contract. The agreement includes important protections to improve patient safety and nurse retention, announced California Nurses Association/National Nurses United (CNA/NNU).

“This ratified contract is the result of nurses standing together to demand better,” said Kristi Carson, registered nurse in the emergency department at Doctors Medical Center in Modesto. “It’s about recruiting and retaining nurses, but it’s also about holding the hospital accountable for providing safe, quality care our patients deserve.”

Highlights of the contract include: 

• Safe staffing improvements, including dedicated rapid response nurse at every facility and a guaranteed minimum orientation for new nurses.
• Economic gains to help with recruitment and retention. The new agreement includes wage Increases from 11 percent to 18 percent over the life of the contract.
• No takeaways to health care benefits.

The new pact covers the period July 1, 2025 through June 30, 2028.

“For well over a year our nurses have been at the table, in the facility and out on the streets,” said Rachel Garcia, registered nurse in the intensive care unit at Desert Regional Medical Center in Palm Springs. “We have been voicing our concerns and demanding improvements. Today, we stand proud. We have won a fair contract, one that delivers real improvements for our patients.”

The nurses held a one-day strike back in October 2025 after negotiations stalled.

“This victory reflects the power of unity, perseverance, and an unwavering commitment to safe quality care,” said Deb Edwards, registered nurse in the neonatal intensive care unit at Desert Regional Medical Center in Palm Springs. “Together we have made our voices heard, and together we have made change happen.”

CNA represents nearly 3,000 nurses at the six California Tenet facilities.

California Nurses Association/National Nurses United is the largest and fastest-growing union and professional association of registered nurses in the nation with more than 100,000 members in more than 200 facilities throughout California and more than 225,000 RNs nationwide.