In Brief: May 2016

Safe staffing momentum growing!

Nearly 30 NYSNA members who live and/or work in Rockland County were on hand April 26 and again on May 3 to champion a safe staffing resolution through the Rockland County Legislature. Retired NYSNA member from Nyack Hospital and current Rockland County Legislator Aney Paul, RN, introduced the resolution to the County’s Multi-Service Committee, which gave a unanimous endorsement following passionate testimony by Carol Massaro, RN and Nyack NYSNA Executive Committee member. A week later, the full legislature approved the resolution, calling on the state legislature to pass the Safe Staffing for Quality Care Act.

The next day, on May 4, similar resolutions passed in the both Utica and the Village of Kenmore in Western New York, where NYSNA and CWA nurses worked together to urge passage. Once again, we saw that when nurses talk, people listen – both measures passed with unanimous votes!

Students for safe staffing

NYSNA’s Campaign for Patient Safety got a boost in early May when the Filipino-American Youth and Students’ “Kapit Bisig Kabataan Network” signed a petition addressed to Speaker Heastie and Majority Leader Flanagan urging them to pass the Safe Staffing for Quality Care Act.

2016 Irene Youtz Nursing Award

The Nursing Practice Committee at NYC H+H Bellevue presented the 2016 Irene Youtz Award to NYSNA member Pushpa Jalal, RN, on May 13. The award recognizes nurses who have made significant contributions to nursing practice at the hospital. Irene Youtz graduated from Bellevue School of Nursing in 1930 and served a distinguished career teaching new nurses and caring for patients.

The Committee recognized Ms. Jalal’s tireless advocacy to improve staffing and create a safe environment for both patients and nursing staff in her role as supervisor of ambulatory care nurses.

In addition, the Committee gave “in appreciation” recognition to RNs Christine DeGaray, Marion Machado, Marion Spector, and Rosana Tambis-Te.

Queensland makes safe staffing the law

At our April 13 Lobby Day, we heard from Beth Mohle, Director of Australia’s Queensland Nurses’ Union, about their campaign to achieve legislated nurse to patient ratios. On May 12, the deal was signed, and Queensland became the fourth governmental body in the world to enact a law governing staffing ratios. Congratulations to our sisters and brothers in the Land Down Under!

Celebrating Medical Laboratory Technician Week in Dunkirk

Members at Brooks Memorial Hospital in Dunkirk, where both nurses and other professionals are members of NYSNA, celebrated Medical Laboratory Technician week at an April 28 lunch recognizing their contributions to quality patient care.