| | A Weekly Update for NYSNA Members | January 24, 2025 | |  | | | NYSNA Recognizes Maternal Health Awareness Day On Maternal Health Awareness Day and every day, NYSNA uplifts the work of nurses and midwives who play a critical role providing maternal and reproductive healthcare. Right now, midwives at Jacobi and North Central Bronx are fighting for a fair contract with the safe staffing and pay parity midwives deserve. It’s time Physician Affiliate Group of New York, P.C. and NYC Health + Hospitals deliver the resources needed to deliver safe reproductive and maternal healthcare in the Bronx! With maternity services dwindling or being underfunded in some parts of New York and with reproductive freedom under threat in much of the country, it’s now more critical than ever for NYSNA members to advocate for our patients to improve maternal health outcomes. NYSNA nurses and midwives are committed to fighting for reproductive healthcare for all New Yorkers. | | | |  | Oneida Nurses Speak Out for Fair Contract NYSNA nurses at Oneida Health braved the cold to hold a speak-out on Wednesday, Jan. 22, demanding that management settle a fair contract that nurses and patients deserve. Last month, just before union nurses’ contract expired on Dec. 31, management walked away from the table. It took Oneida nurses marching on the boss, speaking out and engaging a federal mediator to get management back to the table. Nurses were also back at the table this week fighting for a contract that includes enforceable safe staffing standards, a plan to retain experienced nurses, and respectful wages and benefits. With a history of high nurse turnover, Oneida Health needs to start investing in its nurses. Oneida Health must listen to frontline nurses and settle a fair contract that keeps experienced nurses at the bedside. Nurses’ speak-out earned widespread media attention, including on NBC 5, and WSYR. | | | |  | New Website Calls Out Mount Sinai’s Greed Mount Sinai took over South Nassau hospital in 2018 with the promise of turning the hospital into its “flagship” hospital on Long Island. But NYSNA nurses at Mount Sinai South Nassau attest that Mount Sinai has prioritized increasing executive pay and healthcare costs for patients in Long Island, all while nurses are stretched thin. Nurses published a website to inform the community of Mount Sinai’s priorities and to demand that it “find a way” to deliver a fair contract for nurses and patients. Find out more at bit.ly/mssnunfair. | | | |  | Albany Med Nurses Bring Labor Leaders Together at Labor Roundtable On Thursday, Jan. 23, NYSNA nurses attended the New York State AFL-CIO’s labor roundtable, speaking to union leaders and elected officials from across the state about the ongoing contract fight at Albany Medical Center and hospital management’s vicious, anti-union behavior. In attendance at the roundtable were New York State AFL-CIO President Mario Cilento; our union siblings from CDALF, 1199 SEIU and CWA; New York State Assembly Member Gabriella Romero; and representatives from the Offices of the Governor and the Attorney General and the New York State Department of Labor. Attendees listened to nurses share stories about the staffing crisis and its impact on their ability to provide safe, quality patient care to the members of their community and the ways their employer has targeted and retaliated against outspoken, pro-union nurses. Attendees were deeply moved by members’ stories and pledged to support Albany Med nurses in their fight for a fair contract. Notably, Cilento, who recently submitted a letter to the Times Union on behalf of Albany Med nurses, pledged to the campaign the support of all 2.5 million AFL-CIO members in New York state. NYSNA Executive Director Pat Kane, RN, spoke, saying “All these nurses want is what everyone wants: decent working conditions and healthcare, a decent retirement — and all these things are good for the community, the workers, and our patients.” With the renewed support of our union siblings and other allies, Albany Med nurses will continue to fight for the fair contract that nurses and patients deserve! To learn more about the campaign at Albany Med, visit albanymedqualitycare.org. | | | |  | Centerlight Nurses Demand Fair Contract Despite freezing temperatures, Centerlight Healthcare nurses were back this week distributing flyers in the community to ask for support in their efforts to save their healthcare and demand a fair contract. On NYSNA’s social media and in the press, nurses have spoken about management’s callous decision to cut off their health insurance and the impact of this loss. Now nurses are asking for the community to add their voice and ask Centerlight management to do the right thing: restore nurses’ healthcare and negotiate a fair contract that nurses and their patients deserve. If you haven’t already, sign and share their petition. | | | |  | Add the New NYSNA Website to your Phone’s Home Screen! Have you seen the new NYSNA website yet? Check it out for the latest updates on our campaigns, member actions and how to get more involved in our union. You can also add the website to your phone’s home screen like an app to access your member information on the go! Instructions are available here. By adding the NYSNA website to your phone, you’ll be able to access new features in the My Membership section of your account. If you haven’t done so already, register here. Please note: When you set up your account for the first time, the site will ask you for both your email address and the mobile phone number you have on file with NYSNA. | | | |  | NYSNA Nurses Show Support for Immigrant New Yorkers Last week, the New York Immigration Coalition invited NYSNA to join its “Immigrants are Here to Stay” rally on Saturday, Jan. 18, in support of immigrant New Yorkers. NYSNA nurses showed up in solidarity with the immigrant community and to remind advocates and the public that nurses care for all New Yorkers, regardless of immigration status. Hospitals and healthcare facilities should remain places of care — not places where healthcare workers are asked to compromise vulnerable New Yorkers’ safety and health. NYSNA nurses everywhere affirm our commitment to deliver quality care for all New Yorker, including our immigrant neighbors. NYSNA has prepared a list of legal resources related to immigration. Please review and share widely. | | | | Support Afya: Donate Supplies to Help Victims of the Southern California Wildfires Afya, a Yonkers-based nonprofit that works on disaster relief to ensure access to critical medical supplies, is responding to the devastating wildfires erupting in Southern California. NYSNA members can help victims by donating supplies or funds. The most needed items at this time are personal hygiene products. See this flyer for a full list of needed items. Afya has also put together an Amazon Wishlist for NYSNA members to purchase supplies directly. You can also donate funds through the Afya donation page. While volunteer opportunities with Afya are currently at capacity due to the generosity of our members, we will update NYSNA members when future opportunities arise. | | | |  | Celebrate Lunar New Year With NYSNA! On Sunday, Feb. 16, join NYSNA in welcoming the Year of the Snake! NYSNA nurses and healthcare professionals will gather with members of the communities we serve to celebrate the Lunar New Year. Join in the parade and celebration in Manhattan’s Chinatown by RSVPing. For more information, and help spread through word, download and share the flyer. | | | |  | NYSNA Nurses Participate in MLK Jr. Day of Service NYSNA members from the Capital Region and Buffalo joined labor allies from the Capital District Area Labor Federation and the Western New York Area Labor Federation to honor the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. with a day of service at the Ronald McDonald House of Charities and with the Regional Food Bank of Northeastern New York on Monday, Jan 20. Members also attended the annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. luncheon with labor leaders and elected officials, including Congressman Tim Kennedy and Buffalo Mayor Chris Scanlon, on Friday, Jan.17, to celebrate King’s life and recommit to a life of service in dedication to equity and social justice. | | | | NYSNA Supports Amending the Education Law for CRNAs As we continue to celebrate Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetics (CRNAs) Week, NYSNA is proud to support an amendment to the New York education law in relation to creating the profession of nurse anesthetist. The proposed legislation (S357) would create a new CRNA title and establish formal parameters and regulations applicable to CRNA practice. NYSNA believes that CRNAs should be allowed to independently practice to the full extent of their training and the scope of practice provided for in this legislation, which is why we strongly support and will lobby to pass this legislation this year. Read NYSNA’s memorandum of support for the proposal here, and find out how to actively lobby for its passage by attending our upcoming lobby day. | | | |  | Save the Date: NYSNA Lobby Day on March 11 Save the date for NYSNA Lobby Day on March 11, 2025. NYSNA members know that our fight for safe staffing, health equity, and more depends on our elected officials investing in healthcare and holding employers accountable. Share the flyer and reserve your seat on the bus today! | | | | Practice Alert: Required Completion of NYS Reporting Child Abuse Course All licensed health practitioners are required to repeat the Identification and Reporting New York State Child Abuse program, even if you have taken the program in the past. This is a one-time requirement that each individual practitioner must complete and send proof of completion to the New York State Education Department by April 1, 2025. The course is free for NYSNA members. To complete this requirement for free; set up your individual NYSNA account and be signed in; go to the Child Abuse Reporting Course register for and take the program; download your certificates of completion; and mail them to the New York State Education Department. Here is your NYSNA member ID in order to create an account: please reach out to membership. Please check our flyer for more information. | | | | Journal of the New York State Nurses Association 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. Check out the latest volume of the journal and 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, learn more information on how to register here or 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! | | | | Upcoming NNU Workshops As part of National Nurses United, NYSNA members can now access free continuing education courses and workshops online. Learn more about workshops that advance your practice and empower union nurses. Check out these upcoming workshops: January-March 2025, multiple dates and times | | | | Seminar at Sea 2025 Join NYSNA on a weeklong cruise from Spain to Portugal on May 24-31, 2025. Not only will you get a chance to visit these beautiful countries, but you will also have the opportunity to obtain nursing continuing education credits and connect with colleagues from New York and throughout the country. You can find additional information in the informational flyer to learn about this unique and informative educational program and details on how to register for the cruise. | | | | Calling All Nurse Practitioners The NYSNA Nursing Education and Practice Department has added required and important educational offerings specifically for nurse practitioners (NPs). Register and sign in here to access the courses listed below: - Updated: New York State Mandatory Prescriber Education Guidance – For DEA Registration No. (four-hour online asynchronous program required to be taken every three (3) years).
- New and Required: Federal Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2023 and New York State Requirements for All DEA Registered Practitioners: Safe Prescribing of Controlled Substances 8 Hour Training (a one-time eight-hour online asynchronous program. The deadline for satisfying this new training requirement is the date of a practitioner’s next scheduled DEA registration submission—regardless of whether it is an initial registration or a renewal registration—on or after June 27, 2023).
- Mandated New York State Infection Control Training for Healthcare Professionals (asynchronous program required to be taken every four (4) years).
- New and Required: New York State Child Abuse: Identification and Reporting, 8th Edition. (All licensed health practitioners are required to take this new program even if you have taken the New York State Child Abuse program in the past. This is a one-time requirement to be completed by April 1, 2025, with proof to be sent by the practitioner to New York State by April 1, 2025.)
- NPs and Midwives: Prescribing Information (Req. for Form 2B) (a one-time online asynchronous program for those NPs and midwives who did not graduate from an in-state NYSED registered NP program, satisfying the required coursework on New York and Federal Laws Governing Prescriptions and Record Keeping).
| | | | | | Winter-Spring 2025 Labor Education Trainings Open for Registration There’s still time to register for the upcoming training Staffing Enforcement: Collecting Protest of Assignments on Monday, Jan. 27, from 8:00 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. Registration for the statewide Spring 2025 Member Leader Training series is also open and will take place on Zoom on Thursdays, April 4, 10, 17 and 24 from 9:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. The Member Leader Training is a four-part training open to all members who want to deepen their leadership skills, and it covers all the basic skills needed to represent your co-workers, enforce your contracts, organize successful collective actions, plan workplace issue campaigns, and have effective meetings with management. You can take each part individually or the entire series, and each provides three contact hours and 0.3 CEUs. Register here! Please invite your co-workers to attend with you. Here is a flyer with a registration link (it includes other trainings too). Other trainings: Labor Education provides a variety of Zoom trainings on a range of topics. New to NYSNA? Come to the “Welcome to Your Union” training and meet other new members. Want to get more co-workers filling out Protests of Assignments or building mini-campaigns on your unit to resolve workplace issues? Come to the “Staffing Enforcement” workshop, or the brand new “Winning an Issue on Your Unit Through a Campaign of Escalating Actions” workshop. Register here and download this flyer to share with your co-workers! You can read all the workshop descriptions here. All trainings are 90 minutes on Zoom. Next trainings:
COMING UP! Staffing Enforcement: Collecting Protest of Assignments
Monday, Jan. 27, 2025 | 8:00 p.m.-9:30 p.m. (register) Welcome to Your Union
Monday, Feb. 3, 2025 | 9:30 a.m.-11:00 a.m. (register) New Officer and New Convention Delegate Leadership Training
Thursday, Feb. 6, 2025 | 8:00 p.m.-9:30 p.m. (register) Winning an Issue on Your Unit Through a Campaign of Escalating Actions
Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2025 | 8:00 p.m. - 9:30 p.m. (register) | | | | NNU President Represents Nurses in Roundtable on Vaccines and Vaccine Misinformation Senator Bernie Sanders held a roundtable discussion to examine the importance of vaccines and fighting vaccine misinformation. NNU President Cathy Kennedy, RN, represented nurses and shared her own experience as a nurse who has practiced for 45 years and currently works at a neonatal intensive care unit. Kennedy shared how over the last few decades, bedside nurses have seen the eradication of dangerous diseases thanks to the power of vaccines. She warned that in recent years, nurses have also seen an alarming drop in vaccinations, especially among children. Listen to her full remarks here. | | | | | | | | Effective Jan. 1: Prenatal Rights Under New York State Law Recent changes to New York state employment law help working parents better navigate work and family and require hospitals to better accommodate registered nurses’ medical and family needs. Effective Jan. 1, 2025, New York has become the first state in the U.S. to require paid prenatal care leave, impacting all private employers. This comes not long after the June 2024 change that requires public and private employers to provide a minimum of a 30-minute paid break for employees to pump breast milk. Learn more about these rights in our updated NYSNA fact sheet and the New York State FAQs. | | | | 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: CDC Issues Health Advisory on Influenza Testing The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued a health advisory through its Health Alert Network regarding testing and subtyping for influenza A. There is currently a high rate of seasonal influenza A (both H1N1 and H3N2 subtypes) in circulation. In addition, the current avian influenza subtype is an influenza A virus (H5N1). By recommending a shorter timeline for testing and subtyping which type of influenza A that patients are presenting with, the CDC hopes to catch any human avian influenza cases as quickly as possible. Read the full advisory here. For information on how healthcare facilities should prepare for an avian influenza outbreak, read NYSNA’s Avian Influenza Health and Safety Guidelines here. If you have questions or concerns regarding infection control at your facility, please contact the NYSNA Occupational Health and Safety Representatives at healthandsafety@nysna.org. | | | | Health and Safety Alert on Norovirus Norovirus is the leading cause of foodborne illness outbreaks worldwide. In the United States, it is estimated that norovirus causes approximately 20 million illnesses each year. Healthcare facilities must be prepared to handle patient surges and staffing shortages during a Norovirus outbreak. Check out NYSNA’s Health and Safety Alert on Norovirus to learn more about prevention, control, and management strategies for healthcare workers. | | | | NEW: Avian Influenza Health and Safety Guidelines Avian influenza, or bird flu, has existed for a very long time, and there have been outbreaks among poultry in the U.S. in the past. However, the current outbreak of bird flu in the U.S., which involves influenza A H5N1, has spread the most aggressively so far. It has infected at least 60 people, including one fatally in Louisiana earlier this week. While there have not yet been any reported human cases of avian influenza in New York, it is important that nurses are prepared to safely care for potential patients. Check out NYSNA’s latest Avian Influenza Health & Safety Guidelines to learn more about precautions, protocols and treatment recommendations. | | | | | | | | COVID-19 Leave Fact Sheet Nurses working in New York have several options for fully paid or partially paid leave to cover work time missed due to COVID-19 infection or COVID-19 quarantine. Check out this fact sheet updated by NYSNA’s Occupational Health and Safety team to learn more about your rights under New York state law. | | | | 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. | | | | | | | | No-Cost Life Insurance Benefit From MetLife Are in Effect for NYSNA Members! NYSNA is pleased to announce a new member benefit that became effective on Aug. 1, 2024: Basic MetLife Life Insurance! This new coverage is at no-cost to you and 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/policyholder will automatically be enrolled in the plan. This new union benefit is in addition to any other insurance provided by your benefits fund, your contract, or through your employer. Benefits include: - Basic term life insurance.
- AD&D benefits for covered losses that are the result of an accidental injury or loss of life, including line of duty death benefits.
For more information and instructions on designating a beneficiary, visit www.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 NYSNA Membership department at membership@nysna.org. Download and share the flyer. | | | | 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. | | | | | | Free Benefits for NYSNA Members: UAP Program and SPAN 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. The January 2025 newsletter shares how to make the most out of our Member Assistance Program benefits. Read it here. 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 January classes on intention setting. Learn more about SPAN’s new Compassion Project here. | | | | NEW: Talkspace Go Classes Through Union UAP NYSNA is excited to introduce a new resource available to all members and eligible family members from our Union Assistance Program: Talkspace Go classes to learn valuable skills and resources to support your health. February’s topics are designed to improve your mental health and wellbeing. These live, online group classes are therapist-led, anonymous and free. Check out the calendar of Talkspace Go classes for February 2025. There are new classes every month covering a broad range of topics related to work, family, relationships, and mental health. You can download the Talkspace Go app for free from the Apple App store or Google Play to review and register for classes. After you download the app, sign up and create an account, and then enter your organization’s code: ESIEAP. | | | | | | In solidarity,
Pat Kane, RN
Executive Director | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
