Catholic Healthcare West makes tentative deal with nurses union

The nation's largest nurses' union and professional organization reached tentative agreement on a new contract with one of the biggest hospital systems in the country. The deal includes a collaborative effort to contain the spread of pandemics such as H1N1. The California Nurses Association/National Nurses Organizing Committee and Catholic Healthcare West agreed to establish a systemwide emergency task force of nurses and hospital representatives to monitor preparedness and set uniform standards that meet federal, state, and local government guidelines.