NEW YORK NURSE: October/November 2007
The New York State Legislature returns to session in January, and lawmakers will be considering key pieces of legislation related to nursing practice.
NYSNA’s bill to prohibit employers from mandating nurses to work overtime passed the State Assembly in 2007, and we’ll be giving maximum effort into getting the State Senate to pass the bill in 2008.
A multi-union sponsored bill to establish safe staffing standards in all healthcare facilities is also on the agenda.
We’re also lobbying for other measures designed to improve working conditions for nurses and ensure safe patient care, such as a bill to increase penalties for workplace violence against nurses and the “physically taxing” bill that would improve pensions for nurses who work at New York City public hospitals.
The Legislative District Coordinator (LDC) network is the best way to make sure your voice – and the voice of nursing – is heard on these issues. The unique program, which has been in place for more than a decade, matches RNs with their own State Senators and Assemblymembers as official LDCs.
LDCs communicate regularly with lawmakers through phone calls, e-mails, and office visits. Many LDCs become recognized by legislators as experts in nursing and health care and become regular consultants on these issues.
NYSNA has materials to help each LDC adjust to his or her role and our grassroots experts are always available for consultation.
Why not take your next step as a legislative and political activist? Contact the NYSNA Governmental Affairs Department at 800-724-NYRN (6976), ext. 283, and ask for an application. Or, you may e-mail legislative@nysna.org.