NYSNA Update: July 25
H+H Nurses Say: No Pathways to Excellence Without Nurses!
NYSNA nurses at New York City Health+ Hospitals (H+H) continue to advocate that H+H administrators reverse punitive changes to their sick leave policy. While H+H management puts on a show to pursue a Pathway to Excellence designation in different H+H facilities through the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), nurses are reminding H+H administrators of their fight by wearing buttons that read: “There is no pathway to excellence without nurses!” “Pathway to excellence” means a healthy work environment where nurses feel empowered and valued, but the way hospital administrators are interpreting H+H’s long-standing sick leave policy is reducing nurses’ sick leave and pressuring them to work sick. Nurses have started a call-in campaign targeting ANCC credential administrators to tell them that H+H should not get a Pathway to Excellence designation if they refuse to listen to nurses. Check out the flyer for details on how you can take action to support H+H nurses.
On Aug. 6, NYSNA nurses are planning to meet with City Council Member Gale Brewer, the sponsor of the Earned Safe and Sick Time Act (Paid Safe and Sick Leave Law) in New York City, to ask for her support. It’s time for H+H to do the right thing to maintain a healthy workplace for nurses, our patients and the public.
Albany Med Nurses Drop Informational Picket Notice
Today, NYSNA nurses at Albany Medical Center delivered notice to management that they will hold an informational picketing at their hospital on Tuesday, Aug. 5. For over one year, Albany Med nurses have been sounding the alarm about the ongoing staffing crisis at the hospital and bargaining for the fair contract that capital region nurses and patients deserve. At every turn, management has denied the existence of the staffing crisis, spread lies about the state of patient care in the capital region and engaged in anti-union behavior in hopes of keeping nurses divided. Nurses are ready to show the hospital that enough is enough, and they are holding a picket to get the community involved in their fight to protect safe, quality patient care.
The informational picket is on Tuesday, Aug. 5, from 5:30-7:30 p.m. RSVP today!
Earlier this summer, the New York State Department of Health leveled historic fines against Albany Medical Center, ordering the hospital to pay $375,000 for more than 500 violations of the safe staffing law. These fines are the largest leveled against any hospital in New York state that NYSNA is aware of and validated nurses’ concerns that repeated understaffing at the hospital has had a detrimental impact on patient care.
At Ally Briefing, Bellevue Nurses Share Concerns About Closures That Threaten Maternal Healthcare
Ellis Medicine recently announced plans to close units and services at Bellevue Woman’s Center, including surgical services, which will compromise care and add stress to an overworked staff at Ellis. Last week, nurses shared their concerns with community allies and will hold a town hall next month to bring these issues to the broader community. Bellevue’s plans include laying off 14 nurses and will require patients who need surgical services to be transported from Bellevue to Ellis by ambulance. For mothers in emergency situations, it could be a matter of life and death. This is the latest in Trinity Health’s slow expansion into the region, which has resulted in other essential services being cut. Nurses are committed to protecting maternal and child healthcare and will continue to sound the alarm until these services and positions are preserved.