Sharp HealthCare Increases Nurse Wages with New Contract

Sharp HealthCare has secured a new contract for its registered nurses, marking a significant wage increase after extensive negotiations. Announced on Friday, the ratified agreement follows seven months of discussions with the United Nurses Associations of California and the Union of Health Care Professionals. The previous contract expired on September 30, 2025, prompting the union to advocate for higher wages for its members.

The four-year contract includes a base-pay increase of 5% in the first year, followed by 4% increases in each of the subsequent three years for all bargaining-unit registered nurses. Additionally, the agreement provides for 72 hours of sick leave to be frontloaded. This allows nurses to utilize other paid time off or unpaid leave if they require more time than allocated.

Dr. Susan Stone, Senior Vice President of Health System Operations and System Chief Nursing Executive at Sharp HealthCare, expressed satisfaction with the agreement. “We are pleased to have reached this agreement, which reflects our commitment to our nurses and our community. We believe it will help us continue to attract the very best registered nurses to Sharp,” she stated.

The nurses’ union emphasized that the wage increases will be instrumental in attracting and retaining skilled professionals at Sharp. Andrea Muir, a registered nurse at Sharp and President of the UNAC/UHCP affiliate at Sharp, remarked, “This win is about more than a contract. Sharp registered nurses stood together to ensure that the San Diego community gets the health care they deserve and has access to skilled, dedicated caregivers in their moments of need.”

The union and Sharp HealthCare reached a tentative agreement on January 12, 2026, culminating in this successful outcome that aims to enhance the overall healthcare experience in the San Diego region. The improvements in wages and benefits are expected to foster a more supportive environment for nurses, ultimately benefiting patients as well.

As healthcare systems nationwide face challenges in staffing and retention, agreements like this one serve as crucial steps toward ensuring quality care in the community.