NYSNA Nurses Advocate for a Healthier New York

On Tuesday, March 11, nearly 600 NYSNA members met with over 100 state legislators in Albany to advocate for safe staffing and urge legislators to pass a budget that invests in safe patient care for all New Yorkers. Among nurses’ top concerns were safe staffing enforcement, fair hospital funding, and expanded nurse recruitment and retention programs, as well as healthcare for all in light of recent attacks on healthcare at the national level.  

Between meetings, NYSNA members held a press conference to reissue their call to protect healthcare in New York state. NYSNA President Nancy Hagans, RN, BSN, CCRN, said, “We know what’s happening in Washington, D.C. right now puts patient safety at risk. We know devastating cuts to Medicaid; defunding of our public health system; and discrimination against patients based on insurance status, immigration status, gender, gender identity or any other status is wrong and harms US ALL! Nurses, healthcare workers and our healthcare champions are here today to say, ‘Not in New York!’”

President Hagans was joined at the press conference by NYSNA First Vice President Judith Cutchin, RN, DNP; NYSNA Director at Large and Nathan Littauer Local Bargaining Unit President Marion Enright, RN; NYSNA Director at Large and President of NYSNA’s NYC H+H/Mayorals Executive Council Sonia Lawrence, BSN, RN; President of NYSNA's Executive Committee at Albany Medical Center, Jennifer Bejo, RN; and Executive Director Pat Kane, RN, CNOR(E). Also in attendance were many elected officials, including nurse champions Karines Reyes and Phara Souffrant Forrest, and our allies at 1199SEIU.  

Lobby Day received coverage in CBS6, among other outlets.   

With the April budget deadline quickly approaching, NYSNA nurses will continue to advocate for safe patient care and a budget that invests in a healthier New York for all. Already our advocacy is having an impact; the State Senate and Assembly have rejected the Interstate Nuse Licensure Compact, which would have eroded patient care standards in New York state.  

Thank you to all of our powerful members who made the trip to Albany for this critical day of advocacy. NYSNA will continue to monitor the budget and legislative processes to ensure that nurses’ voices are heard when it comes to issues that impact our patients and our profession. NYSNA members will advocate for our patients and lobby for a healthcare system that works for all on April 28-30 for the National Nurses United Lobby Day in Washington, D.C.