NYSNA Nurse Reinstated at New York City Health+Hospitals/Kings County
For Immediate Release: Monday, Nov. 2, 2026
Contact: Kristi Barnes l press@nysna.org | (646) 853-4489
NYSNA Nurse Reinstated at New York City Health+Hospitals/ Kings County
Nurses demand and win immediate reinstatement of a nurse leader who was suspended for engaging in protected union activity
NYSNA nurse practitioner walks back on the job surrounded by supporters, committed to continuing to advocate for safe staffing
Brooklyn, N.Y.–New York State Nurses Association (NYSNA) nurses and allies celebrated as a nurse leader who was suspended for engaging in protected union activity was returned to work today. Nurse Practitioner Sarah Dowd, RN, walked back into the hospital for her early morning shift and again at noon with the support of several NYC Health+Hospitals(H+H)/ Kings County colleagues, NYSNA nurses from other NYC H+H facilities, and elected officials.
“NYSNA nurses across H+H stood up to demand management respect our right to organize,” said Dowd. We will enforce our safe staffing ratios and will not be silenced. Any further efforts to silence or intimidate nurses will be addressed with the power of our solidarity. With our rights firmly established, we can get back to the invaluable work of ensuring every patient gets cared for by a nurse with a safe and appropriate workload.”
After NP Dowd was retaliated against and suspended without pay for advocating for safe staffing at NYC Health+Hospitals/ Kings County, NYSNA members and our allies made their voices heard! More than 1,000 people signed a petition demanding that H+H reinstate Dowd. NYSNA held a speak-out at H+H/Kings where members gave powerful testimony about their rights as union nurses to speak to colleagues and advocate for nurse and patient safety.
Community and labor allies spoke out in solidary, including Brendan Griffith, President of the New York City Central Labor Council, AFL-CIO, Carolyn Martinez-Class, Co-Executive Director of Citizen Action of New York, and Rob Solano, Co-Founder and Executive Director of Churches United for Fair Housing.
Griffith spoke out strongly at the rally for our rights, stating, “Nurses have the right to advocate for their patients and hold management accountable to the contracts they've negotiated, without fear of retaliation. The New York City Labor Movement stands with NYSNA in demanding that H+H lift this suspension, respect nurses' union rights, and honor its staffing commitments.”
Elected officials showed strong support; State Senators Zellnor Myrie and Jabari Brisport, Assembly Members Brian Cunningham and Phara Souffrant Forrest, and New York City Council Members Rita Joseph and Farah Louis all sent letters of support to H+H administrators. Assembly Member Monique Chandler-Waterman and New York City Council Member Mercedes Narcisse also provided strong advocacy.
Assembly Member Phara Souffrant-Forrest, RN, said: “I’m thrilled to hear that NP Sarah Dowd has been reinstated and her unjust suspension is over. I will continue to stand with Sarah and all nurses until our safe staffing laws are properly followed.”
After NP Dowd’s investigatory meeting last week, H+H agreed to reinstate her — with full back pay.
NYSNA President Nancy Hagans, RN, BSN, CCRN, said: “When we fight, we win! We rallied for our rights, and now our member is back at work where she can continue her strong patient advocacy. Every patient deserves safe, quality care, and NYSNA is proud that strong union nurses are advocating to make that promise a reality at H+H, the nation’s largest public hospital system.”
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The New York State Nurses Association represents approximately 45,000 members in New York State. We are New York’s largest union and professional association for registered nurses. NYSNA is an affiliate of National Nurses United, AFL-CIO, the country's largest and fastest-growing union and professional association of registered nurses, with more than 225,000 members nationwide.