Olean RNs Win Safe Staffing Guidelines in New Contract!

NYSNA RNs won a game-changing victory for patients a Olean General Hospital this week: a fair contract with safe staffing guidelines. 

Nurse fought hard and stayed united for patient care during 17 months of difficult negotiations -- during which time we rallied, picketed, and even raced to make our voices heard!  

This week we voted overwhelmingly to ratify the new five-year contract. 

In addition to the safe staffing guidelines, nurses won training and certification differentials and tuition assistance for RNs seeking advanced degrees, which will help us to recruit and retain the most skilled nurses for our patients. 

NYSNA leader and Olean RN Kris Powell told the Olean Times Herald: 

“The primary goal we’ve had is to get safe staffing guidelines for what kinds of staff needs to be in each unit, considering what its census is, including LPNs and unit clerks... That in and of itself is going to be such a huge, huge help to handle the caseload and deliver the kind of quality care we want to deliver and focus on our patients.”