For Immediate Release: Nov. 16, 2021
Contact: Carl Ginsburg, carl.ginsburg@nysna.org, 917-405-1060
Nurses from Five Different Facilities Plan Rolling Events to Highlight Dangerous RN Understaffing
Events to Begin Nov. 17 and Continue Through Mid-December
New York - Across the country, nurses have spoken out about the challenges of providing care in a pandemic. They urged health systems to provide more resources to care for patients and themselves, including hiring more nurses to address staffing shortages. Now, nurses from five different facilities, representing over 10,000 workers, are hosting a series of rolling actions to detail dangerous understaffing at some of New York’s most prominent care facilities. They allege the short staffing is a direct consequence of hospital systems failing to hire enough nurses, compensate them appropriately, and improve overall working conditions. Beginning on Nov. 17, the workers will host weekly actions. The schedule is below.
“Since nurses enter the profession to help others, we are particularly distressed when short staffing compromises quality care,” said NYSNA President Nancy Hagans, RN. “In hospital systems across the country, nurses are caring for far more patients, of varying acuity, than state law allows. What we are seeing is not a matter of fate, it is a matter of political will; and despite the rhetoric, many hospital systems lack the will to do what is right for caregivers and patients alike.”
In addition to nurses, local elected officials and community activists are expected to participate in some of the actions.
New York Presbyterian Columbia
Who: NYSNA nurses from New York Presbyterian Columbia, elected officials and community activists
What: Day of Action and Speak Out on understaffing in ER and potential harm to patients
When: Nov. 17 from 8 a.m. to 10:00 a.m.
Where: Across the street from 177 Fort Washington Ave., New York, NY 10032 (across from hospital main entrance)
New York Presbyterian Hudson Valley Hospital
Who: NYSNA nurses from New York Presbyterian Hudson Valley; and elected officials:
Vivian McKenzie, Mayor of Peekskill
Colin Smith, Westchester County Legislator
Pat Riley, Teachers’ Union Common Council
Ramon Fernandez, Peekskill City Councilman
Jay Forbes, Community Activist
What: Informational picket to protest poor working conditions and severe understaffing
When: Tuesday, Nov. 23 from 8:00 - 10:00 AM and 12:00 to 2:00 PM
Where: 1978 Crompond Road, Cortlandt, NY 10567
Mount Sinai Morningside/West
Who: NYSNA nurses at Mount Sinai Morningside/West
What: Day of Action and Speak Out on understaffing in ER and Labor & Delivery
When: Dec.1 from 11:30 AM to 1:30 PM
Where: 1000 10th Ave, New York, NY 10019 (At 59th St. and 10th Ave)
Staten Island University Hospital/Northwell
Who: NYSNA nurses at Staten Island University Hospital/Northwell
What: Day of Action and Speak Out by nurses on understaffing and other hospital conditions
When: Dec. 2 from noon to 1:30 p.m.
Where: 475 Seaview Ave, Staten Island, NY 10305
Montefiore Bronx
Who: NYSNA Nurses at Montefiore Bronx
What: Day of Action and Speak Out on work conditions for nurses
When: Dec. 9 from noon to 2:00 p.m.
Where: TBD
VISUALS
Nurses will share completed Protests of Assignment documents, which detail unsafe conditions and the steps they’ve taken to seek remedy from the hospital system.
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The New York State Nurses Association (NYSNA) represents more than 42,000 members in New York State. We are New York’s largest union and professional association for registered nurses. For more information, visit nysna.org.
