| | A Weekly Update for NYSNA Members | June 6, 2025 | |  | | | Join NYSNA at the 2025 New York City Puerto Rican Day Parade This Sunday, June 8 at 1 p.m., join NYSNA members as we dance, march and celebrate Puerto Rico at the 2025 New York City Puerto Rican Day Parade. The National Puerto Rican Day Parade, now in its 68th year, is the largest demonstration of cultural pride in the nation. It celebrates the resilience, culture and contributions of Puerto Ricans to New York City and the nation. Check out our flyer and RSVP to attend here. | | | |  | NYSNA Pride Celebrations Continue NYSNA continues to celebrate our LGBTQIA+ members, colleagues and patients. This past Sunday, NYSNA nurses kicked off the celebration at Buffalo Pride. The celebration continues on Sunday, June 8, at Albany Pride and later this month at New York City Pride on June 29. Do you identify as LGBTQIA+ or feel passionate about being an ally and advocate for the LGBTQIA+ community? NYSNA wants to hear from you! Send us a video or a brief email expressing what pride means to you. We will use these videos and quotes on our social media to reflect our members’ commitment to fighting for the LGBTQ+ community’s rights and healthcare. More details are on this flyer. | | | |  | Nathan Littauer Nurses Ratify Contract On Thursday, June 5, NYSNA nurses at Nathan Littauer Hospital overwhelmingly ratified their new contract! After two successful actions this spring — a speak-out in April and an informational picket last month — and consistently showing up to multiple bargaining sessions, Nathan Littauer nurses were able to challenge and eventually defeat management’s proposals of givebacks on health insurance. Nurses also won improvements to family plans and wage increases from 15% to 22% over three years. Congratulations, NYSNA nurses at Nathan Littauer Hospital! | | | | NYSNA Nurses at NewYork Presbyterian Continue Speaking out Against Lay Offs NYSNA nurses continue to fight back against NewYork-Presbyterian (NYP) Hospital’s plan to cut services and lay off nurses throughout the system. On Thursday, June 5, on the eve of Nurses Week, NYP Health System executives announced 2% cuts across the board, a decision that has already meant layoff notices across NYP facilities. That same day, NYP-Columbia NYSNA nurse practitioners attended a Community Board 12 meeting calling on board members and community members to take action to stop the cuts and support safe, quality care. NYP NYSNA members are not backing down. They will hold a speak-out next Wednesday, June 11, to continue to demand placement of every impacted nurse within the NYP system and that NYP release the financial reports and projections the hospital is using to justify cutting jobs and care at a time when New York’s nonprofit healthcare providers should be protecting quality care for patients. | |  | | | Albany Med Nurses Hold Speak-Out, Demand Accountability and a Fair Contract On Thursday, June 5, Albany Medical Center NYSNA nurses spoke out about Albany Med’s ongoing refusal to fix the staffing crisis and protect patient care. Nurses provided an update on the hospital’s responses to the Department of Health’s (DOH) investigation and called on the Albany Med board of directors to hold the hospital accountable. Nearly one year after its first investigation and after several rejected correction plans, the DOH has yet to issue fines or spur substantive change from the hospital! Nearly 1,000 nurses signed a petition calling on Albany Med to negotiate a fair contract now that will help address the staffing crisis. Sam Oreshan, neonatal intensive care unit RN, said, “Over the past few months, nurses have shown that we’re united like never before. Approximately a thousand nurses have signed a petition demanding an end to Albany Med’s bullying and for a fair contract that will help recruit and retain enough nurses to safely care for patients. We won’t stop until we get what patients, nurses and this community deserve. With the future of healthcare in the capital region in the balance, we need a contract that will protect patient care.” NBC 13 News, Spectrum 1 News,and WDGJ AM covered the speak-out. | | | |  | Montefiore Weiler Nurses March on the Boss Thirty nurses from Montefiore Weiler Hospital marched on the nursing office on Monday, June 2, to deliver more than 500 signatures demanding a halt to the changes to their intensive care unit (ICU). Montefiore has announced massive restructuring plans in recent months. While Montefiore is closing beds in some units to expand ICU capacity at one campus, it is converting an ICU back to a stepdown unit at another site. That will result in the loss of almost 50 beds across the system. NYSNA nurses have had enough. They demanded that Montefiore negate its July 1 deadline to convert the unit, meet with the union immediately and explore alternatives with nurses. The action sent a clear message to management that NYSNA nurses are united for patient care at Montefiore Weiler! | | | | Calling All Members: Labor Ed Courses and Summer 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, and Bargaining Trainings on How to Become a Contract Action Team member, What is a Contract Campaign, Mobilizing Members & Rounding, and more, taking place throughout June and July. Check out the comprehensive schedule, and click here to register. Contact labored@nysna.org with questions or to request a training in your facility. | | | |  | Save the Date for the 2025 NYSNA Convention: Strength in Solidarity! Mark your calendars for the 2025 NYSNA Convention, where hundreds of NYSNA members will come together to decide our union’s direction. The 2025 convention will take place in Resorts World Catskills on Oct. 28 and 29. This year’s convention theme is “Strength in Solidarity.” Check out the NYSNA website for the most up-to-date information on the convention. Stay tuned over the coming weeks for more information and a link to register online! | | | | Know Your Rights and 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 Joins Gov. Hochul, Rep. Jeffries at Press Conference Denouncing Medicaid Last Sunday, June 1, NYSNA President Nancy Hagans, RN, MSN, CCRN, and NYSNA Director at Large Ari Moma, MSA, RN, joined Governor Kathy Hochul and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, and 1199/SEIU members, at a press conference at One Brooklyn Health’s Interfaith Medical Center to speak out against steep federal healthcare cuts approved in the latest budget bill that the House of Representatives passed last month. The budget includes cruel and extreme cuts to Medicaid and other social safety net programs. Moma spoke candidly about the impact the budget will have on his patients at Interfaith Medical Center: “We are in a medically underserved area. We are a lifeline for the people in this community. The cuts that Congress and this administration are trying to push through will devastate our hospital and community,” he said. Nurses will continue to speak out and partner with union siblings and elected officials to ensure this bill does not pass the Senate. MSNBC covered the press conference. Stay tuned for ways to get involved. | | | |  | Parade Season is Here! Join Nurses at Puerto Rican Day Parade, Albany Pride, and More! June marks the beginning of NYSNA’s participation in various cultural events that celebrate the power of the diverse identities and cultures that make up the NYSNA union family and the communities we serve. This weekend, join the largest celebration of Puerto Rican pride at NYC’s Puerto Rican Day Parade, or join Albany Pride in the capital region on Sunday, June 8. Check out all June events below. - COMING UP! Puerto Rican Day Parade
Sunday, June 8. Check out the flyer and register here. - COMING UP! Albany Pride Parade
Sunday, June 8. Register here. - Buffalo Juneteenth Parade
Saturday, June 14. Check out the flyer and register here. - Albany Filipino Independence Day Parade
Saturday, June 28. Register here. - New York City Pride Parade
Sunday, June 29. Check out the flyer and register here. | | | | Labor Strong 2025 Coalition and NYSNA Endorsements NYSNA and four other major city unions — 32BJ SEIU, Communications Workers of America District 1, District Council 37 and Hotel Trades Council — jointly endorsed candidates who will fight for worker rights, health equity and our city’s future as part of the Labor Strong 2025 Coalition. Check out the 27 Labor Strong-endorsed candidates for New York City Council. NYSNA has also endorsed candidates in other races, such as Sean Ryan for Mayor of Buffalo, Justin Brannan for New York City comptroller, Jumaane Williams for New York City public advocate, Anthony Reynoso for Brooklyn Borough president, Richard Donovan for Queens Borough President, and Vanessa Gibson for Bronx Borough president, and more. Check out our full list of endorsements here , which includes endorsements in Westchester County, White Plains, Yonkers, the Hudson Valley, and the Capital Region. This is a critical election year, and it’s more vital than ever that we have a pro-worker, pro-union, pro-healthcare justice majority in the New York City Council and in other city or borough-wide roles to support nurses and our fights for patients. Read NYSNA’s full press release about the endorsement here, and check below for key dates for this year’s election! | | | | Key Dates for 2025 Primary Election Our ability to strengthen the public health system — our social safety net — and support frontline working people depends on electing candidates who support nurses, healthcare professionals and our communities. For that, we need our members to get out the vote in New York’s primary elections. Review important dates and information about this year’s primary below.
FIND YOUR NEW YORK CITY POLLING SITE
FIND YOUR NEW YORK STATE POLLING SITE
KEY DATES FOR 2025 ELECTIONS - June 14: Last day to receive an absentee ballot
- June 14-22: Early voting for the primary election
- June 23: Deadline to apply in person for a primary ballot
- June 24: Primary Election Day | Deadline to postmark mail-in ballot
| | | | Join NNU’s Fund Care Not Billionaires Strategy Call The so-called “Big Beautiful Bill” would make the largest cuts in U.S. history to Medicare, Medicaid and other healthcare services, all to pay for tax cuts for millionaires and billionaires. It would be a huge step backward for our country — which already suffers from a broken, for-profit healthcare system — but we can still stop it and fight for better. This budget may have passed the House, but with enough public pressure, we can block it in the Senate and continue to strengthen our movement for the universal, guaranteed healthcare we deserve through Medicare for All. Join National Nurses United (NNU) next Tuesday, June 10 at 8 p.m. ET, for a Fund Care Not Billionaires Strategy Call to hear from speakers and learn the latest ways to take action in this fight. RSVP here. | | | | NNU Workshop: Reevaluating Magnet Recognition and its Impacts on Nursing Practice and Professional Autonomy This popular course examines the effects of Magnet status designation on nursing practice, with a focus on how the models of care, leadership approaches, and management styles promoted by Magnet recognition impact nurses' ability to exercise independent professional judgment and advocate effectively for patients. Don’t miss out. Register for the course in June, July and August. You can register here and check out this flyer for all available dates. | | | | Sign up for New NNU Courses Free for NYSNA Members NNU is offering FREE virtual courses for NYSNA members! 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." | | | | Urgent Health Advisory: Avoid Nonsterile Ultrasound Gel in Percutaneous Procedures On May 23, 2025, the New York State DOH and the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene issued 2025 Health Advisory #10: Non-Sterile Ultrasound Gel Contaminated
with an Environmental Bacterium. According to the health advisory, healthcare providers should avoid nonsterile ultrasound gel in preparation for or during procedures that involve puncturing the skin. Please review the NYSNA Health Advisory in full for more details | | | | June Deadlines Coming Up for Nurse Scholarship Opportunity! A scholarship opportunity is still available for registered and licensed practical nurses in New York. The Senator Patricia K. McGee Nursing Faculty Scholarship is available to registered nurses licensed in New York pursuing a graduate degree that leads to a career in nursing or adjunct clinical faculty. The scholarship provides awardees with up to $20,000 annually. To qualify, students must meet the following requirements: Enroll in a graduate degree program that qualifies you to work as nursing faculty or adjunct clinical faculty in New York, have a GPA of 3.0 or higher if you have already completed a semester in a graduate program, and live in New York and work as nursing faculty or adjunct faculty for four years. The deadline to apply is June 17, 2025. Go to www.hesc.ny.gov for more information about how to apply. | | | |  |  | 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 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, 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. | | | | | | | | | | 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. | | | | Last Chance to Sign Up: Avian Influenza & Measles Webinar The current avian influenza outbreak in the U.S. has affected almost 200 million birds and almost 1 thousand cattle herds. Many other species, including domestic cats, have been infected. And while the official count of human infections remains under 100, it is estimated that actual cases are far higher. Additionally, the U.S. is currently experiencing escalating rates of measles, pertussis and TB. A new webinar “Avian Influenza & Measles: Preparing for New & Newly Recurring Infectious Diseases” will assist nurses in understanding the current situation of each of these pathogens, preparation for possible effects on the healthcare system, best practices for infection control in the healthcare setting, and protections for both patients and nurses. This webinar is being offered on Wednesday, June 11, from 10 a.m.-noon, and Thursday, June 12, from 8 p.m.-10 p.m. Register for either session here. | | | | 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. | | | | | | | | 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. | | | | | | 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. The June 2025 newsletter outlines the most frequently asked questions counselors hear from members seeking assistance. Check it out here. The Talkspace Go app, another great resource UAP offers, is great for accessing 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. 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 May or June classes. 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 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
