Nurses have approved a new contract with the Queen's Medical Center, voting 84 percent to 16 percent to ratify in balloting that took place yesterday and today.

"We're very happy with the outcome and certainly with the agreement," said Patt Gibbs, the new executive director of the Hawai'i Nurses' Association.

She declined to give details of the contract last night, saying that a joint media announcement is planned later with Queen's management.

She did say that the union was able to achieve many of the goals it wanted for its members, without concessions.

"With the current economic conditions, that was a huge plus," she said.

She also said Queen's management was happy the union met some of its goals as well.

The previous contract expired Nov. 30. The new contract will be retroactive to Dec. 1, Gibbs said.