For immediate release: August 27, 2024
Contact: Andrea Penman-Lomeli | press@nysna.org | 347-559-3169
Joseph Celestin | press@nysna.org | 518-776-8337
ALBANY MED REFUSES TO ADDRESS STAFFING CRISIS IN BARGAINING AND SHARE DOH REPORT
THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH FINALLY DELIVERED ITS STAFFING DEFICIENCY REPORT TO ALBANY MEDICAL CENTER. WEEKS AFTER CONTRACT EXPIRATION, MANAGEMENT CONTINUES TO DRAG ITS FEEL AND REFUSES TO ADDRESS SERIOUS STAFFING CONCERNS.
Albany, N.Y.—On Monday, August 26 nearly four weeks after their contract expired, New York State Nurses Association (NYSNA) nurses and Albany Medical Center continue to remain far apart on safe staffing and recruitment and retention issues in a mediator-led bargaining session. NYSNA nurses came to the bargaining table with proposals to address key recruitment, retention, and training issues. Management did not come to the table with a single proposal or counter proposal.
On Friday afternoon, the Department of Health finally delivered a Staffing Deficiency Report to Albany Medical Center, which was confirmed at the bargaining table. Management refused to provide NYSNA nurses with a copy of the report, as required by the Department of Health. In addition to sharing the report, they are required to work with NYSNA nurses to correct deficiencies, which they have failed to do.
Albany Med refuses to discuss staffing or implement a plan to address recruitment and retention issues that would help alleviate understaffing at the hospital. At this time, Albany Med has provided no indication about when or how they will resolve these serious DOH patient safety violations or how they will include frontline NYSNA nurses in addressing these problems.
Albany Medical Center is the region’s only Level 1 trauma center, yet Albany’s ED was found to have the highest wait times in New York State. Over the past year, nurses have tracked staffing ratios in the hospital and found that the hospital is repeatedly in violation of agreed-upon staffing standards. In 2023, the hospital hired 277 nurses but 315 left (source: hospital-supplied data). Albany Med’s nurse vacancy rate is nearly 25%, while a study found that the average national vacancy rate is 10%.
NYSNA nurses want a contract that includes enforceable staffing ratios, fair pay, good benefits, and a voice in patient care. Nurses insist that Albany Med share the report with nurses and take immediate and comprehensive steps to fix these serious patient care concerns. Frontline NYSNA nurses who work daily at the bedside are the experts in their work and know what is best for patient care.
NYSNA President Nancy Hagans, RN, BSN, CCRN, said: “Nurses have been on the frontline demanding better for their patients. Their fight against high turnover and nurse burnout is a fight for the resources and support they need to be able to provide the best care for the patients they see, which are some of the sickest patients across the region. They are demanding that Albany Medical Center take seriously the quality of the care the hospital offers, instead of putting its profits over patients. Nurses are experts in the work they do and know that safe staffing saves lives.”
Nurses at Albany Medical Center have been in negotiations since April and have seen little movement on these key issues. Last week, NYSNA nurses held an informational picket and vigil to bring attention to the staffing crisis and were joined by allies, elected officials, and community members. Over the last year, NYSNA nurses at Albany Medical Center have hosted community forums, delivered petitions to hospital leadership, and held speak-outs for safe staffing.
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The New York State Nurses Association represents more than 42,000 members in New York State. We are New York’s largest union and professional association for registered nurses. NYSNA is an affiliate of National Nurses United, AFL-CIO, the country's largest and fastest-growing union and professional association of registered nurses, with more than 225,000 members nationwide.
