Registered nurses at Saint Vincent Hospital in Worcester voted overwhelmingly yesterday to ratify a new three-year contract with the hospital, which is owned by Vanguard Health Systems Inc. Negotiators for Saint Vincent and the Massachusetts Nurses Association, which represents the nurses, reached agreement on the contract on May 4, averting a strike that had been called for the following day. Under the contract, patient ratios will be reduced to four to five per nurse on the day and evening shifts and no more than five on the night shift. Patient ratios are currently up to six on days and evenings and up to seven at nights.
