Upstate NYSNA RNs packed the house with more than 83 RNs for our Capital District Inter-regional Meeting on Thursday, June 12. Members traveled from as far as Central New York to Mallozzi’s in Schenectady, to discuss our movement to build an even stronger voice for nurses and patients in the Capital Region.
 
Nurses paused to pay a special recognition to those RNs who volunteer much of their time to serve on our negotiations committees, and for an inspiring message about how we can successfully realize our collective goals every day, every shift, in our workplaces.
 
We were also excited to learn of the successful organizing campaigns happening in the Capital Region, and how building nurse unity benefits both organized and non-organized RNs by building our collective strength to improve patient care.
 
The RNs of Nathan Littauer Hospital in Gloversville gave a humorous report of how they recently surprised management at the hospital’s annual fundraising gala in full costume for an ‘Evening of Oz.’  This brave negotiations committee mingled with docs and prominent donors to spread our message about how much they care for their patients at NLH.
        
“Inter-regional meetings are an amazing reminder of how much nurses can do when we are united for patient care,” said Bellevue Woman’s Hospital RN Victoria Decker.
 
As we continue to organize RNs throughout our state, we are also still pushing our legislative priorities forward. Lawmakers are working with us on legislation to protect patient care and avoid nurse burnout. We heard an update from Assemblyman Angelo Santabarbara, who assisted in passing our Safe Patient Handling legislation and is in full support of our Safe Staffing for Quality Care Act.