TOMORROW: Putnam Hospital Nurses Speak Out for Safe Staffing and a Fair Contract
**MEDIA ADVISORY FOR TUESDAY, JUNE 16 AT 11 A.M.**
Contact: Kristi Barnes | press@nysna.org | 646-853-4489
Joseph Celestin | press@nysna.org | 518-776-8337
PUTNAM HOSPITAL NURSES SPEAK OUT FOR SAFE STAFFING AND A FAIR CONTRACT
With Contract Expired and Hospital Management Proposing Outrageous and Unsafe Staffing Standards, NYSNA Nurses at Northwell/ Putnam Hospital Speak Out
Carmel, N.Y. – Approximately 200 nurses at Northwell/ Putnam Hospital are fighting for a fair contract that delivers safe staffing for quality patient care. Safe staffing is a priority for Putnam nurses, and nurses often work short-staffed. For example, in December 2025, nurses in the hospital’s two medical surgical units started their shift understaffed nearly half the time.
The hospital is fighting against having enforceable safe staffing standards in the contract and proposing to make standards even less safe in state law. In a staffing committee meeting on June 11, hospital executives proposed making the nurse staffing in their state staffing plan, enforceable by the New York State Department of Health, less safe. They proposed an outrageous and unsafe 1-nurse-to-8-patients safe staffing standard in medical/surgical units. The widely recognized safe staffing standard in med/surg units is 1:5. Putnam’s current standard is 1:6. Most hospitals in New York state set their standards at 1:5 or 1:6.
WHAT: Putnam Nurses Speak Out for Safe Staffing and a Fair Contract
WHO: NYSNA nurses from Northwell/ Putnam Hospital and allies, including State Senator Pete Harckham, Assembly Member Matt Slater, Westchester/Putnam Central Labor Body Vice President Marty Sommer, and Westchester/Putnam Central Labor Body Executive Director Jen Puja.
WHEN: June 16 at 11 a.m.
WHERE: Northwell/ Putnam Hospital, 670 Stoneleigh Ave, Carmel Hamlet, NY 10512
Near the hospital entrance off the main road
**Visuals: Nurses and allies gathered in front of the hospital. Media availabilities with nurses.**
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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.