| | A Weekly Update for NYSNA Members | August 29, 2025 | |  | | | NYSNA Nurses at ECMC Save Lives after Buffalo Bus Accident Erie County Medical Center (ECMC) is the only Level 1 trauma center for adults in Western New York, so when the hospital received notification of a mass casualty incident event related to a bus rollover in the area on Friday, Aug. 22, NYSNA nurses jumped into action and saved lives. NYSNA emergency department (ED) nurses are trained to treat life-threatening injuries and provide the best patient outcomes, but it is nearly impossible to prepare for an event of this scale. Nurses prepared trauma rooms and set up triage areas, surgical teams of every discipline got ready, while nurses ensured the intensive care unit and operating rooms were prepared to treat dozens of incoming patients. Injured patients arrived by helicopter and ambulance, and nurses immediately held the line, handling various kinds of injuries and displaying the skills and strength to deliver emergency care at a mass scale. Sarah Macneil, RN, an ED nurse at ECMC, stated, “Even in the darkest moments, we rose together with strength in the chaos and proved every life is worth fighting for.”Krystal Peters, RN, another ECMC nurse present during the event, said, “This was the true definition of teamwork. I never would have thought that something you would normally see on TV would happen so close to home. Everyone involved handled the situation with such confidence and professionalism. I could not be prouder of my work family and what we managed to handle and achieve that day.” Way to go, ECMC ED nurses! They cared for patients through a traumatic event and saved lives through exceptional teamwork, professionalism and compassionate care. | | | | NYSNA Nurses Continue to Fight for Fair Sick Leave as H+H Celebrates Nurse Retention Milestone While New York City Health + Hospitals (H+H) celebrates improvements in nurse retention and its new Pathway to Excellence with Distinction designation, NYSNA nurses at H+H are reminding management that nurse retention has improved because of NYSNA’s fight to achieve pay parity with the private sector and that there is no pathway to excellence without nurses! In 2023, NYSNA nurses fought tooth and nail to achieve historic raises and a fair contract with H+H that stopped the hemorrhaging of public sector nurses to the private sector. While the new contract has helped H+H facilities recruit thousands of nurses and stop high rates of turnover, management continues to make decisions that negatively impact nurses. The latest is H+H’s new interpretation of its long-standing sick leave policy that nurses say incentivizes them to work sick, potentially endangering their patients. Nurses are making it clear to management that just as pay parity is helping H+H retain nurses, so will a fair sick leave policy. They are asking management to listen to the nurses and are enlisting the help of elected officials to put pressure on them until they do. Last week, H+H nurses met with Council Member Mercedes Narcisse, RN, and Council Member Keith Powers to advocate for a fair sick leave policy. They will continue making the rounds in City Hall and organizing in their facilities until management reverses this unfair policy so nurses can use the sick time they have when they need it. | | | | The Fight to Protect Women’s Health Continues! Nurses in Schenectedy County are not backing down! On August 22, Ellis Medicine moved forward with plans to close most surgical services at Bellevue, except for c-sections, and move them to Ellis, which will place women’s healthcare in the region at risk. This comes months before originally planned, and despite vocal opposition from nurses and allies at a powerful town hall on April 13. But nurses in Schenectedy are not giving up! At a time when healthcare — including women's reproductive health services and Medicaid — is under attack at the federal level, we must fight to defend women's health and safe, quality patient care. Join nurses, community advocates, and allies in demanding that Ellis Medicine [LINK https://nysna.salsalabs.org/savebwcsurgicalservices/index.html] protect women's healthcare and restore surgical services at Bellevue Woman's Center! | | | | Meet the 2025 Secor Scholarship Recipients (Correction*)! 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:  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 at Utica University as a family nurse practitioner.  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. *In last week’s update, Stephanie was wrongly labeled as a Family Member Recipient. She is now correctly labeled as the Member Recipient of the Secor Scholarship. | | | |  | 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 TODAY, 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. | | | |  | NYSNA Nurses Rally in Support of Temporary Protected Status for Haiti NYSNA nurses joined Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso at the United with Haiti: Save Temporary Protected Status Rally on Wednesday, Aug. 27. Immigrant New Yorkers are under attack as unidentified officers from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) kidnap people who show up to immigration proceedings as part of their legal asylum application process at 26 Federal Plaza in downtown Manhattan. In addition to this cruel practice, the federal government is canceling protected legal status for thousands of immigrants, including Haitians. NYSNA nurses are in solidarity with immigrant New Yorkers, including our members with immigrant backgrounds, and our patients who are currently facing an environment of fear that is keeping them from seeking medical help. We will continue showing up to demand that New York state protect our immigrant communities and that the federal government keep ICE out of our hospitals. NYSNA President Nancy Hagans, RN, BSN, CCRN, spoke in support of the rally. She said, "As a proud Haitian immigrant and a nurse, I support immigrant New Yorkers advocating to protect their Temporary Protected Status designation. New York City is a city of immigrants; our patients and our members include immigrants from all over the world, and nurses will defend our communities when they are under attack.” | | | | 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. | | | |  | Join the NYSNA Climate and Environmental Justice Committee! Take action for a healthier environment by joining NYSNA’s Climate and Environmental Justice Committee. The first meeting of the season is on Thursday, Sept. 11. Register to attend and learn why nurses see climate change as a public health issue. The committee will discuss the various policy challenges and opportunities taking place at the city, state and federal levels and how nurses can become climate advocates to ensure our patients and communities can enjoy a healthy environment. Check out the committee’s flyer. | | | |  | 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: - THIS WEEKEND! West Indian Day Parade: Monday, Sept. 1. Register here.
- THIS WEEKEND! Buffalo Labor Day Parade: Monday, Sept. 1. Register here.
- THIS WEEKEND! Albany Labor Day Celebration: Monday, Sept. 1. Register here.
- THIS WEEKEND! Massena Labor Day Parade: Monday, Sept. 1. Register here.
- New York City Central Labor Council Labor Day Parade: Saturday, Sept. 6. Register here.
- African American Day Parade: Sunday, Sept. 21. Register here.
| | | | NNU Calls for an Immediate Ceasefire in Gaza, No More Weapons for Israel National Nurses United (NNU), the country’s largest union and professional association of registered nurses, condemned Israel for its ongoing starvation of the Palestinian people in Gaza and its latest bombings of Nasser Hospital, strikes that have killed scores of medical and rescue workers, patients and journalists. Nurses call Israel’s actions tantamount to war crimes and a genocide against Palestinians and demand an immediate ceasefire as well as a stop to all U.S. funding of Israel’s military. Read NNU’s full press release. | | | | NNU Statement on Yet Another Union-Busting Move by the Trump Administration NNU condemns the Trump administration for trying to strip U.S. Health and Human Services (HHS) federal employees of their collective bargaining rights, much like it has attempted to do with NNU’s members who work for the Veterans Health Administration (VA). Trump is not only trying to illegally bust HHS and VA workers’ unions, but he is also jeopardizing the American people’s public health by trying to suppress their voices and ability to advocate for themselves and the public. The HHS workers’ union, the American Federation of Government Employees, represents workers at many HHS agencies, including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Food and Drug Administration, the National Institutes of Health, the Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response, and the Office of Refugee Resettlement within the Administration for Children and Families. Read NNU’s full statement. | | | | 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. | | | | Factsheet: 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. Check out the latest NYSNA Factsheet from NYSNA’s Occupational Health and Safety team to learn more about how healthcare facilities can prepare for wildfire smoke conditions to keep their patients and staff safe. | | | | UPDATED 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. As of Aug. 27, there are 113 confirmed cases, six deaths, and seven 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. | | | | 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 September 2025 newsletter on National Preparedness Month. 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 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
