Registered nurses at Albert Lea Medical Center have agreed to a three-year contract that calls for annual pay increases of 8 percent, 6 percent and 5 percent. The union says the contract will help recruit and retain quality professionals for the 72-bed facility.

The Minnesota Nurses Association (MNA) represents 100 registered nurses at the center, which is affiliated with the Mayo Health System.

The Albert Lea area is not immune to the impact of a critical nursing shortage in the nation. In fact, the newest statistics for the state of Minnesota show the number of open positions is growing at a faster rate for greater Minnesota than the metro area. Both parties agree this contract will be a good step toward addressing the shortage.

The offer includes more competitive wages, improved health insurance contributions and the implementation of time-and-a-half pay for holidays. Starting salaries for Albert Lea registered nurses are now $19.66 per hour and senior nurses will receive $26.79 per hour.

In nearby Fairmont, nurses at the Fairmont Medical Center had been preparing to walk off the job as early as Friday, after rejecting a previous settlement offer.

But late Monday, negotiators for the hospital and the MNA reached a new agreement, and the strike notice was withdrawn.