[brian]

Nurses voting on contract at South Jersey's trauma hospital Eds: LEADS with 3 new grafs to reflect contract ratified; ADDS quotes, details. No pickup. hofongmbn1fonad

CAMDEN, N.J. (AP) _ Nurses at Cooper University Hospital ratified a contract Thursday that gives them a 10 percent salary increase over two years.

The deal, approved by 96 percent of the nurses who voted, also introduces minimum staffing ratios in a critical-care area of the hospital, and expands the nurses' wage scale to recognize the most experienced RNs, said Jean Lucas, president of Health Professionals and Allied Employees Local 5118.

Full Article: http://www.newsday.com/news/local/wi...-regional-wire