In Brief: December 2016/January 2017
NYSNA Congress of LBUs President demands Paladino resignation
NYSNA joined demands that Trump NYS Chair and developer Carl Paladino be forced to resign his seat on the board of the Buffalo Public Schools due to his remarks about President Barrack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama. His comments were described as “unambiguously racist, morally repugnant, flagrantly disrespectful, inflammatory and inexcusable” by the school board in a resolution demanding his resignation.
“These remarks are outrageous and anathema to civil society. He is the last person in the world to be serving on a school board, where learning and values imparted to our children are at issue. We join the board and local communities in calling for his immediate ouster,” said Lydia Torres, RN, President, NYSNA Congress of LBUs.
Read the Board’s resolution of December 29. http://buffalonews.com/2016/12/28/buffalo-school-board-vote-resolution-aimed-ousting-paladino/
Push for Climate and Community Protection Act
NY Renews, the environmental advocacy group comprised of NYSNA and over 100 other unions and community groups, met on December 8 to urge Governor Cuomo to include funding in the next state budget for the Climate and Community Protection Act, which the Assembly passed in its last session.
NYSNA member and NYC H+H/ Lincoln Hospital Pediatric ED RN Lorraine Pierre spoke on behalf of the children of the South Bronx, which has the highest rates and worst outcomes of childhood asthma. As part of her presentation, she played a recording of an asthmatic child struggling to breathe, vividly illustrating the seriousness of pollutants on healthcare.
Judith Cutchin voted Woodhull MVP
Cutchin, who was voted “MVP” for the month of November by the staff of NYC H+H/Woodhull Medical Center. She was nominated anonymously by a coworker for “the consistent and compassionate care she gives to her patients, her advocacy on behalf of her patients, and for going the extra mile to meet patient needs without eroding their trust.” Ms. Cutchin has worked at Woodhull for 25 and is currently head nurse in the ambulatory specialty practice.
World AIDS Day Observed at NYC H+H
NYC Health + Hospitals held events throughout the city to observe Worlds AIDS Day on December 1. The system as a whole celebrated its near elimination of mother-to-baby HIV transmission; Bellevue Hospital was recognized for its ongoing work to fight HIV/AIDS and its critical role in addressing the emerging HIV/AIDS crisis in the 1980s; and Woodhull Medical Center marked the 30-year anniversary of the installation of lobby murals by internationally renowned New York City street artist and AIDs activist Keith Haring, who died of the disease in 1990 at age 32.
NYSNA Awarded ANCC Accreditation
NYSNA has once again been awarded Accredited Provider Unit status by the American Nurses Credentialing Center. This status enables us to continue to create and credential continuing education courses for nursing contact hours.