News Briefs
Vigil at Shore Medical Center
Nearly 100 RNs at Shore Medical Center in Somers Point, N.J. and community supporters held a vigil in mid-February to protest management’s bullying and retaliation tactics against RNs who speak out for quality care. (Shockingly, a car accidentally hit Emma Concina, a recently retired RN, just after she participated in the vigil. Talk to your union rep about how to donate to Emma’s recovery fund.) Within 24 hours a nurse who helped lead the speak out was suspended in retaliation. RNs won’t be intimidated into stopping to defend quality patient care and nurses’ rights.
Standing up for patients at Carthage
NYSNA RNs and 1199SEIU caregivers are working with the community to save vital patient care services at Carthage Area Hospital. Holding up his broken arm at a recent vigil, Jefferson County Legislator Jonathan Hirschey dramatically illustrated that the next closest hospital, Samaritan Medical Center, 18 miles away, is too far in an emergency.
EHRs worsen care
As nurses well know from our own experience, electronic record keeping takes precious time from patients. Doctors agree. In a recent survey, almost half said that electronic health records (EHRs) are making patient care worse.
Peconic Bay NYSNA members ratify contract
Nurses and other professionals at Peconic Bay Medical Center on Long Island ratified a three-year agreement in March that brings NYSNA benefits to the facility for the first time, improves staffing, and puts healthcare professionals on the nurses’ experience pay scale.
No snow days for RNs
A winter of snowstorms did not stop NYSNA RNs from delivering quality care. RNs at Westchester Medical Center were mandated to stay on duty four different times, forgoing meals to maintain bedside coverage and sleeping in the gym, and sometimes staying in rooms with broken windows and snow falling inside. NYSNA is pushing the hospital administration to provide better accommodation and to pay RNs correctly when such emergency mandates occur.
Bronx first
NYSNA held its first-ever Inter-regional Meeting in the Bronx on March 20. These meetings are an important vehicle for RNs to stay informed and to build participation in our contract fights and safe staffing campaign.
Making NY work
Our own Verginia Stewart, RN at Metropolitan Hospital and NYSNA Director at Large, was featured recently in the New York State AFL-CIO Making New York Work campaign.
People power saves Glen Cove Hospital
When North Shore-LIJ proposed closing Glen Cove Hospital and turning it into an outpatient and emergency center, the community mobilized to fight back – and won: Glen Cove Hospital will remain open for care as a full-service facility.
Petition at A.O. Fox
RNs at A.O. Fox Memorial Hospital in Oneonta took their safe staffing message to the public with a petition drive in February. Patients and neighbors showed support and agreed with us that quality depends on safe staffing and must come before hospital profit.
NYPD Reset
NYPD Commissioner Bill Bratton recently told the department’s non-uniform staff that he wants a new relationship with them. That was welcome news to RNs. “We look forward to working with the new police commissioner,” says Karen Mauney, NYPD RN (left), “to ensure a new day that honors and recognizes civilian nurses.” Here with fellow NYPD RNs Lynne Sanderson-Burgess (center) and Evette Simmons.
Single-payer bill in Albany
The bill that Assembly Health Committee Chair Richard Gottfried (front right) and State Senator Bill Perkins (front left) introduced last year that would create universal, single-payer health coverage in New York State has growing support. Here, NYSNA RNs and others lobbied for the bill in February.
NYSNA Workshops
NYSNA offers workshops on many subjects all over the state. Topics include:
- Critical Care Nursing Review
- Emergency Nurse Certification Review
- Environmental Issues for RNs
- Respiratory Protection for RNs
- Violence in the Workplace
and more...
Ask your union rep for a complete list of workshops or call NYSNA’s Meeting and Convention Planning Dept. at 800.724.NYRN, ext. 277.
Apply now for a Secor Scholarship
Each year, the Secor Scholarship Fund awards two scholarships to further nursing education:
- $5,000 to a NYSNA member seeking a bachelor’s degree or higher in nursing
- $5,000 to a family member of a NYSNA member seeking a first degree in nursing
For an application, go to www.nysna.org/news/secor.htm or call Deb Grebert at NYSNA’s Latham office: 518.782.9400, ext. 240. Application deadline extended to June 1