Hudson Valley Magazine has recognized 11 NYSNA nurses in their annual “Nursing Excellence Awards.”

Jayne Cammisa, an RN at Westchester Medical Center (WMC), was chosen because of her outstanding advocacy for patients. Among WMC RNs, Jayne is known for working tirelessly to educate lawmakers about safe staffing and the dangers of privatization. “It was a complete surprise to be nominated and after 25 years of service, it is nice to be recognized for the hard work,” Jayne said.

Camille Petty, RN, has been caring for Bellevue patients for an amazing 60 years. “I work in child psychiatry, and I have former patients who still call me as adults to thank me for helping them when they were young.”

Born and raised in Harlem, Camille entered Bellevue Nursing School in 1954, when she was 17 years old. She developed an interest in nursing from her mother’s love of movies during the World War II era, where she was inspired by strong depictions of wartime nurses in a noble cause.

Chanting “Everybody in - Nobody out,” NYSNA nurses joined doctors and patients to call on Albany to pass a law guaranteeing healthcare for all New Yorkers.

The bill, New York Health, would create a single-payer insurance system that would cover all New Yorkers. “We know that every other industrialized nation, except ours, has a national healthcare system. That’s because in this country, healthcare is not a public service - it’s a big business,” NYSNA President Judy Sheridan-Gonzalez, RN, told the crowd of supporters and lawmakers.

“We’re tired of seeing our patients suffer because they cannot afford care.”

Our campaign for safe ER care in the Bronx is making headlines! We've been in the Daily News, the Bronx Times and on News12 speaking out for Bronx patients.

The future of patient care in Rockland County is looking brighter, thanks to a new contract just inked by NYSNA RNs at Nyack Hospital.

It was not easy. Across the country, employers are demanding that nurses and our families make big sacrifices. Inequality is on the rise. Nyack execs wanted record cuts in our health benefits.

Imagine what the future of healthcare will look like if employers get their way. Fewer and fewer people will go into the profession of nursing. More nurses will burn out. Veteran nurses will leave. Patient care will suffer.

NYSNA nurses are pushing against that trend. And we won big in Nyack.