Ellis Medicine has reached a tentative contract agreement with its nurses to avert a strike.

The four-year pact still requires a vote and ratification by the nursing unions, but Ellis Medicine believe the contract is a “positive step forward.”

The highlights include working to maintain adequate staffing while acknowledging the national nursing shortage and staffing challenges, implementing a per diem program to help provide incentives to get people to fill shifts and watch increases that were not disclosed.

“We are incredibly proud of our nurses, who are the lifeblood of Ellis Medicine. Their dedication and hard work are the foundation of our success, and this agreement underscores our commitment to supporting and valuing their contributions,” Ellis Medicine said in a statement.