| | A Weekly Update for NYSNA Members | August 22, 2025 | |  | | | Check Out NYSNA’s Revamped New Member Handbook! New NYSNA members now have an updated guide to learn about our powerful union and find out how to get involved. Whether you’re a newer member or a seasoned NYSNA leader, check out our revamped New Member Handbook here to review our union’s Mission and Vision, learn about the various resources and benefits NYSNA offers, and read about the multiple paths toward advocacy and union leadership. The Handbook is a great resource and organizing tool for all NYSNA members. The New Member Handbook also lives in the My Membership section of the NYSNA website. Please note that you must be signed in to view it here. | | | |  | Syosset Nurses March on the Boss! Over one-third of all NYSNA Nurses at Syosset Hospital/Northwell Health marched on the boss on Wednesday, Aug. 20, to demand Northwell stop dragging its feet, agree to a bargaining location and start negotiating a fair contract! Nurses packed the conference room and met with the hospital’s chief financial officer and the chief nursing officer. Some nurses had to stay in the doorway because of the high turnout. Nurses were energized and outspoken and had a clear message for Northwell: Stop stalling and start negotiating! Nurses are ready to bargain for safe staffing and the wages and benefits they deserve, and they are united in their demands for a fair contract. Way to go, Syosset nurses! | | | |  | Claxton-Hepburn and Carthage Area Nurses Are Organizing for a Fair Contract! NYSNA Nurses at Claxton-Hepburn Medical Center & Carthage Area Hospital are currently bargaining for a new contract. But they’re not just engaged at the bargaining table. Nurses have also been busy collecting signatures from members to show their unity and support in the fight for safe patient care, fair wages and better benefits! | | | |  | ECMC Nurses Win Staffing Fights, Engage in Their Community When Erie County Medical Center (ECMC) nurses from the intensive care unit (ICU) were told to stop picking up overtime in the medical-surgical unit, they came together to advocate for a commonsense solution that would help alleviate chronic understaffing in their facility. After months of discussion, management agreed to compensate ICU nurses to get the necessary training and competencies to take med-surg shifts so they can volunteer to pick up overtime and reduce short staffing on those units. In the emergency department (ED), staff successfully demanded that administration remove an assessment requirement from triage that was slowing patient intake. Nurses successfully advocated that the assessment be moved to a more appropriate time. This is an important victory for ECMC patients and nurses, because ECMC has some of the longest ED wait times in New York state. NYSNA nurses have been busy spreading the word of upcoming union events to LBU members! They are tabling at the hospital to remind fellow nurses of the upcoming Buffalo Labor Day parade and to sign up for the NYSNA Convention. Nurses are also engaging with their community by collecting school supplies to donate to a local public school so kids in their community have the resources they need in the new school year. | | | |  | Plainview Nurses March on the Boss After months of back and forth, Northwell management at Plainview Hospital/Northwell has yet to agree on a bargaining location and continues to delay the bargaining process, leaving nurses frustrated and ready to escalate. Earlier today, nurses did just that and marched on the boss to the CNO and CFO to calling on Northwell management come to the table at a location that makes sense for nurses. LBU leaders Cindy Essenfield, RN and Lisa Fassini, RN presented the petition and made their demands heard! Way to go, Plainview Hospital nurses! | | | | Meet the 2025 Secor Scholarship Recipients! Congratulations to our 2025 Secor Scholarship winners! In honor of long-time NYSNA member Jane Secor, PhD, RN, the Secor Scholarship annually awards $5000 to a NYSNA member seeking a baccalaureate (or higher) degree in nursing and $5000 to a family member of a NYSNA member seeking a first degree in nursing. Please join the Secor Scholarship Committee members in congratulating this year’s winners:  Family Member Recipient: Stephanie Petit Homeis Stephanie is a staff nurse at Kings County Hospital. She is Ambulatory Care Board certified and has years of experience in occupational health nursing and medical-surgical and rehabilitative nursing. As an immigrant and first-generation college student who was inspired to become a nurse after receiving exceptional care at a healthcare facility, Stephanie is a champion for protecting underserved communities and is dedicated to improving patient outcomes through holistic and preventative care in a rapidly transforming industry. Stephanie is pursuing a master’s degree in nursing – family nurse practitioner at Utica University.  Family Member Recipient: Alexandra Ungureanu Alexandra is pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Adelphi University, where she has received the distinctions of Dean’s List, Honor Award, Seal of Civic Readiness and Merit Award. As the daughter of a NYSNA nurse (Ana Ungureanu, Flushing Hospital Medical Center), Alexandra has followed in the footsteps of her mother — her role model. She is an active member of her community in Sunnyside and an emblem of dedication to those around her, carrying her skills of both leadership and compassion with her on her journey as an excellent undergraduate student and promising future nurse. | | | |  | Last Chance to Submit Resolutions for the 2025 NYSNA Convention: Strength in Solidarity! Register for the 2025 NYSNA Convention today to join hundreds of NYSNA members to decide our union’s direction. The 2025 convention will take place in Resorts World Catskills and the Kartrite Resort on Oct. 28 and 29. This year’s convention theme is “Strength in Solidarity.” Register online here, or download and complete the registration form here. Check out the NYSNA website for the most up-to-date information on the convention. Deadline to submit resolutions is Aug. 29. Read the guidelines on drafting a resolution here. Stay tuned over the coming weeks for more information! | | | | Calling All Members: Labor Ed Courses and Summer/Fall 2025 Trainings Open for Registration NYSNA’s Labor Education Department is ready to come to your facility to train members to become union leaders. Sign up for Labor Education’s Taking Control of Our Meetings with Management, Bargaining Trainings on How to Become a Contract Action Team member, What is a Contract Campaign, Mobilizing Members & Rounding and more, taking place throughout July and August. Check out the comprehensive schedule, and click here to register. Contact labored@nysna.org with questions or to request a training in your facility. | | | | Your Rights to Advocate for Patients When Encountering ICE Nurses’ first duty is to care for and advocate for our patients. NYSNA nurses care for all New Yorkers regardless of immigration status, income or insurance status, race, religion, ability or disability, sexuality, or gender identity or expression — simply regardless. Read our statement regarding the federal policy change on immigration enforcement in “sensitive locations,” including hospitals and schools. NEW: Our allies at the New York Immigration Coalition developed this toolkit to provide a comprehensive list of resources for community members, partners and allies who work with immigrants. The toolkit covers health, community safety, family resources, financial empowerment and more. Learn your rights and get answers to frequently asked questions here to know what to do if you encounter ICE officers in your facility. NYSNA has also prepared this list of legal resources related to immigration. Please review and share widely. | | | | NYSNA Nurses Call out Congressman Lawler for Voting to Gut Medicaid On Tuesday, Aug. 19, NYSNA nurses joined fellow New York state union members at the AFL-CIO’s “It’s Better in a Union” nationwide bus tour and rally. Union members rallied in Croton, part of the 17th Congressional District, to highlight and speak out against Rep Mike Lawler’s vote for the Republican-led “Big Ugly Budget” bill. The bill guts funding for hospitals and nursing homes and also fails to advance the Protect America’s Workforce Act, which would restore the collective bargaining rights of federal workers targeted by President Trump’s executive order earlier this year. Montefiore Nyack nurse Michelle Corda, RN, spoke out at the event, saying, “Instead of standing with us, Rep. Lawler stood with the ultra-wealthy, cutting healthcare to fund handouts for millionaires and billionaires. We are coming together in solidarity to fight back and defend our healthcare, our economic health, and our communities.” | | | | Tell Congress: Sign the Discharge Petition and Pass the Protect America’s Workforce Act Take action today to help restore federal workers’ collective bargaining rights! We have the votes needed to pass the Protect America’s Workforce Act in the House of Representatives. By using a tool called a “discharge petition,” Congress can bypass all the political procedures and shenanigans and bring a bill quickly to the floor for a vote. But to make it happen, every single member of Congress who says they support America’s unions must sign that discharge petition. Call your member of Congress—Republican or Democrat—and urge them to sign the discharge petition for the Protect America’s Workforce Act right now. | | | | Union Members Join to Learn the Impact of Medicaid Cuts and How to Fight Back Union members across New York came together for a virtual teach-in to learn about the impact of the recent cuts to Medicaid, Medicaid and SNAP benefits. New York City Council Member and Labor Caucus Chair Carmen De La Rosa and economists and budget experts from the Fiscal Policy Institute joined union members, including members from NYSNA, AFSCME, CWA and NYS AFL-CIO Participants came out of the webinar energized to educate fellow union members on the impact of the cuts, mobilize to speak out against the cuts, and hold elected officials who voted for this bill accountable. To learn more, NYSNA has created a factsheet as an overview of the impact that healthcare cuts will have on our patients. Join the next webinar on Aug. 26! This webinar will give a statewide overview and a snapshot of the impact on Central New York. Tuesday, Aug. 26, 6-7 p.m. — Central New York. Sign up here. | | | |  | Join NYSNA at Upcoming Cultural and Labor Celebrations Show up to celebrate the diverse identities and cultures that make up the NYSNA union family. Register or save the date to attend these upcoming cultural and labor events with NYSNA: | | | | UPDATED: Nurses for Democracy Resources The Trump administration is rapidly making sweeping changes that affect nurses and our patients in and out of the hospital. See National Nurses United’s updated list of resources regarding these changes, and learn how you can remain a patient advocate during these challenging times. Issues: | | | | NEW COURSES! Sign Up for New NNU Courses Free for NYSNA Members NNU is offering FREE virtual courses for NYSNA members throughout the summer. New Fall 2025/Winter 2026 courses have just been added. View the full calendar and register here or click on the links below to learn more and register for the courses you’re interested in. When registering for NNU courses, be sure to check off the first box, "Yes, I am a CNA/NNOC/NNU member." NEW fall/winter offerings: | | | |  | Tips From the Nurse Education and Practice Classroom Practice Issue — Patient Identification
Patient identification is not always performed correctly in clinical settings, and this practice gap leads to medical errors, patient harm and poor health outcomes. The Institute of Medicine’s 2000 report, “To Err is Human,” highlighted the magnitude of the healthcare error problem and its negative impact on the lives of over 100,000 patients in the United States annually. A substantial amount of healthcare harm is linked to failure to properly identify patients (Osler, Brigham, & Kilpatrick, 2024). Patient identification is a crucial part of preventing patient harm such as medication errors, misdiagnosis or incorrect procedures (De Rezende, Melliero, & Barker, 2021). Evidence-Based Practice for Patient Identification
Patient identification is a major part of the nursing care process and, when done correctly, enhances patient safety and reduces the risk of harm to patients. Suggested strategies to improve patient identification include: - Double-Check — Nurses should verify the patient’s full name and date of birth (or at least two identifiers acceptable to their facility) to ensure accuracy.
- Use Technology — If available, use technology such as barcode scanners to facilitate and verify patient identification.
- Involve the Patient — Encourage patient involvement in the identification process. Ask, don’t tell, the patient for their name (for example, ask the patient to state their full name. Do not state the patient’s name and ask them to agree or disagree).
References
De Rezende, H., Melliero, M. M., & Barker, T. H. (2021). Interventions to Reduce Patient Identification Errors in the Hospital Setting: A Systematic Review. The Open Nursing Journal, 15. doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.2174/1874434602115010109 Osler, C., Brigham, G., & Kilpatrick, M. (2024, May 24). Avoiding Preventable Harm. Washington State Nurses Association News. | | | | Med-Ed Continuing Education Discount NYSNA has partnered with Med-Ed Continuing Nursing Education to provide NYSNA members with full access to the complete Med-Ed catalogue at a 50% reduced rate. These are all self-study programs that members can access and complete at their leisure. You can access these course offerings by going to NYSNA’s members-only website here, then clicking on the Med-Ed website link, and entering the Promo Code NYSNAMEMBER at checkout, where the discount will apply. Please do not share this information with any nonmembers. | | | | NEW! Nurse Education and Practice Workshops You asked for it, and NYSNA’s Nurse Education and Practice (NEP) Department is delivering! NEP added the following workshops to our calendar in response to the learning needs assessment survey: | | | |  |  | 2026 Seminar at Sea Last year, NYSNA nurses sailed to Spain and Portugal while learning about resilience, emotional intelligence and how they connect to nursing. Next year, join NYSNA on an unforgettable weeklong cruise to China, South Korea and Japan set to sail in April 2026! This is an opportunity to visit beautiful countries while obtaining nursing continuing education credits and learning about the relevant and important topic of artificial intelligence in nursing practice and nursing education. Check out the informational flyer to learn about this unique and informative educational program. | | | | Journal of the New York State Nurses Association The latest volume of The Journal of the New York Nurses Association is out now! You can read it here. The Journal of the New York Nurses Association is currently seeking papers. Authors are invited to submit scholarly papers, research studies, brief reports on clinical or educational innovations, and articles of opinion on subjects important to registered nurses. Of particular interest are papers addressing direct care issues. New authors and student authors are encouraged to submit manuscripts for publication. Read the guidelines for submission here. | | | | 2025 Nursing Education & Practice Courses NYSNA members can take advantage of FREE e-leaRN courses, including state-mandated offerings, standard of practice and certification review courses, as well as nursing practice workshops. Take a look at the complete course offering, and register for the courses directly here. You must create an account and be signed into it to search the full catalog of classes and register for them at no cost! | | | | Calling All Nurse Practitioners The NYSNA Nursing Education and Practice Department has added required and important educational offerings specifically for nurse practitioners (NPs). The courses include new, updated, new and required and mandated courses. Learn more and register to these classes for NYSNA NPs. | | | | | | | | | | Nurses’ Rights to Be Whistleblowers and Protest Your Assignments NYSNA members should be empowered with the knowledge of laws that have been passed with NYSNA’s input to protect them and empower them to speak up when patient safety is compromised, either due to unsafe staffing or other factors, such as a lack of personal protective equipment, as was the case throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. Take a moment to learn about your rights in this flyer. | | | | NEW Health and Safety Webinar: Preparing for Wildfire Smoke Smoke from wildfires has become a common feature in New York State and the surrounding area. Wildfire smoke is far more dangerous to human health than regular pollution and presents complex problems for medical facilities. Join NYSNA’s Occupational Health and Safety Representatives to learn more about how healthcare facilities can prepare for wildfire smoke conditions in order to keep their patients and staff safe. This webinar will take place on Aug. 28 and Sept. 3. Register here. | | | | NYSNA Health Alert: Cluster of Legionnaires' Disease in Harlem The New York City Department of Health (NYC DOH) is actively responding to a cluster of individuals with Legionnaires’ disease in Central Harlem. There are 81 confirmed cases, including 3 deaths, and 24 are currently hospitalized. The NYC DOH is urging residents in ZIP codes 10027, 10030, 10035, 10037, and 10039 to seek medical attention if they experience flu-like symptoms. Additional cases are pending confirmation. New York City clinicians should maintain a high index of suspicion for legionellosis among all adults with pneumonia. Identification and diagnostic testing of Legionnaires’ disease is critical for informing treatment decisions and helping the NYC DOH identify and address outbreaks, particularly through matching clinical isolates to environmental isolates. Report legionellosis cases promptly to the local health department (LHD) where the patient resides. Report cases in New York City residents to the NYC DOH by calling the Provider Access Line at 866-692-3641. If you are unable to reach the LHD for cases outside of New York City, contact the New York State Department of Health Bureau of Communicable Disease Control at 518-473-4439. Read NYSNA’s factsheet and resources and the health advisory from the NYC DOH here. | | | | COVID Sick-Leave Ended July 31 As one of the first states heavily impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, New York pioneered a paid benefit to workers impacted by the virus. New York was the last state to sunset this benefit at the end of July. Although New York has ended statewide COVID-specific paid leave requirements, COVID is still with us, and NYSNA members should review their existing sick leave policies in their contracts. Check your contract in the My Membership section of NYSNA’s website here. | | | | Register for Health Watch USA’s 2025 Public Health Webinar Join NYSNA’s Health and Safety team at the 2025 Public Health Webinar on Aug. 29. Attendees will learn to apply evidence-based science to improve public health outcomes relating to viral infections. They will also learn to implement strategies designed to improve treatment and prevention options relating to emerging infections. The conference will discuss the dangers imposed by four infectious pathogens, SARS-CoV-2, measles, H5N1 and antibiotic-resistant bacteria; identify preventative strategies for airborne pathogens; and educate attendees about misinformation surrounding vaccinations to promote patient education. Check out the conference program here. You can register online here. | | | | Long COVID Guide Read NYSNA’s Long COVID Guide to help you stay informed on the diagnosis, treatment options, benefits and rights for workers with long COVID. | | | | | | | | NYSNA Life Insurance – It's Time to Designate Your Beneficiary NYSNA already provides members with a great benefit at no cost: Basic MetLife Life Insurance! This coverage provides $20,000 of Basic Life Insurance and $20,000 of Basic Personal Accidental Death and Dismemberment (AD&D) Insurance. All active members in good standing represented for collective bargaining through the union will automatically be enrolled in the plan. This union benefit is in addition to any other insurance provided by your benefits fund, your contract, or through your employer. But for your loved ones to receive this benefit, you must designate them as a beneficiary! To enroll and receive instructions on designating a beneficiary for your new Basic Personal AD&D Insurance, go to nysnawinstonbenefits.com or call 1-866-483-1124. Sign up with your NYSNA Member ID to set up and access your account and benefits. If you need your Member ID, please contact the NYSNA Membership department at membership@nysna.org. Download the flyer for additional details. | | | | NYSNA Will-Writing Benefits From MetLife The NYSNA Benefits Fund gives NYSNA members who are covered by the NYSNA Benefits Fund access to personal will preparation services that MetLife Legal Plans offer — at no additional cost. Having a will prevents unnecessary stress and ensures final wishes are clear. The Benefits Fund offers valuable legal resources through MetLife Legal Plans to assist with creating or updating a will with a member’s Basic Life coverage. As part of this benefit, members get legal guidance and unlimited consultations with network attorneys. Learn more here. | | | | NYSNA Members Are Eligible for AFL-CIO’s Union Plus Benefits! The benefits of being a NYSNA member extend beyond your NYSNA benefits. As an affiliate of the AFL-CIO, NYSNA members are also eligible for Union Plus benefits to help current and retired labor union members and their families save money and support them through major milestones, celebrations and hardships. These benefits include discounts on wireless plans, credit card deals, mortgage deals, discounts on insurance plans and more! Find out more on the AFL-CIO Union Plus website. | | | | | | The Talkspace Go App Is Mental Health on the Go! The Talkspace Go app is a great resource that provides daily mental health support on the go! Talkspace Go is a clinician-created, self-guided app so you can address mental health challenges and build mental fitness on your own schedule. It empowers couples, individuals and parents to take progress into their own hands in as little as five minutes a day. Access 400-plus self-guided classes and live weekly therapist-led, anonymous classes. Enjoy assessments, meditation exercises, journaling, reminders and more. Talkspace Go app is available at no cost to members and their eligible household members! Click here for the instructions and passcode to access the app. | | | | Free Benefits for NYSNA Members: Union Assistance Program The Union Assistance Program (UAP) is a confidential self-help program, independent from NYSNA, that is available to NYSNA members and their families as a membership benefit. When an employee or family member (18 or older) faces a significant personal problem, they can call UAP’s experienced counselors at 800-252-4555 for assistance at any time. Read more information on phone counseling services here. Learn about the benefits and resources that the UAP offers here. Check out the August 2025 newsletter here on beating the workplace loneliness epidemic. Statewide Peer Assistance for Nurses (SPAN) is a confidential education, support and advocacy program for all nurses licensed in New York state who are dealing with substance abuse problems. Visit the SPAN website for more information or to sign up for one of its August classes. Check out SPAN’s Compassion Project. Wellness Wednesdays: As part of its mission to promote a healthy lifestyle, SPAN is also offering a Self-Care Series that includes free Wellness Wednesday courses. Check out the full calendar of Wellness Wednesday offerings here. | | | | | | In solidarity,
Pat Kane, RN
Executive Director | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
