Dear Friend,

Victory! Montefiore and Mount Sinai Nurses Ratify Contracts After One Month on Strike!

After four long weeks, last weekend nurses reached tentative agreements that protect nurses and patients. Nurses put everything on the line — time, healthcare, money and more — and came out victorious. Nurses at Montefiore, Mount Sinai Hospital, and Mount Sinai Morningside and West ratified agreements on Tuesday and Wednesday by an overwhelming majority and began returning to work as early as Thursday morning.

Hospital bosses who claim they “want their nurses back” are now playing games with seniority, targeting union leaders, blocking APRNs from keeping appointments with patients who need care, and violating the agreement — which clearly states that no nurse’s return can be delayed because of an agency nurse. We will vigorously defend our members’ rights and hold management accountable to the agreement.

Nurses are excited to get back to their patients, and now the hard work of enforcing the contracts begins. While nurses’ employers tried to cut corners on patient care, nurses fought hard and won new positions and maintained strong staffing enforcement language that helps them hold employers accountable. One month on the strike line showed us all how strong we as nurses are and that when we use our voices, anything is possible!

Our NewYork-Presbyterian (NYP) nurses made their voices heard this week. They rejected the mediator’s proposal and voted to continue their unfair labor practice strike. NYP has not agreed to the safe staffing and layoff protections that our members are demanding. It’s shameful that one of the richest hospitals in the city and state could not do better. Now it’s time for all of us to support NYP nurses on the picket line. This fight is not over!

The media has been following the strike closely. Some of the highlights include The New York Times, Bloomberg, Documented, The Associated Press, Reuters, AMNY, 1010Wins, Crain’s, The City, Univision, WNYC, The Daily News, The Associated Press, and ABC7.

Our allies at ALIGN penned an opinion editorial in amNY in support of the nurses. And the New York Daily News published an opinion editorial that our member Diana Torres, RN, wrote. To see more photos, visit our Facebook page.

Support NYP Nurses on Strike!

Our work continues against the city’s greediest bosses. To secure the contract that NYP nurses and patients in New York City deserve, we need all our members to support and take action. Our union siblings have shown tremendous solidarity in the first month of this strike. Now, we need to direct that energy toward NYP nurses who will be up against a lot in the coming weeks.

Here are ways you can support NYP nurses. Take a moment to send a message to NYP CEO Brian Donley; donate to the NYSNA Protected Action Hardship Relief Fund; and, most importantly, join us on the picket line!

Recognizing Donors to NYSNA Hardship Relief Fund for Striking Nurses

We want to thank all our community supporters who have made donations to the NYSNA Protected Action Hardship Relief Fund. We’ve had an outpouring of support.

Some highlights from the last few weeks have been donations from 1199-SEIU, the New York State United Teachers, Minnesota Nurses Association, UCFW Local 1500 and individual union members from CWA, LIUNA, UFT, SEIU, Massachusetts Nurses Association, PSC, PEF, NYSUT, IBEW, SAG-AFTRA, UFCW, HPAE, DC37, APWU, OPEIU, TWU, UAW, IATSE, and Teamsters, and from members of the DSA. We’ve also received many donations from NYSNA members, retirees, and staff. Thus far, we’ve received donations totaling nearly $337,000.

We truly appreciate all the support. We are now sending our popular red NYSNA winter hat to supporters who make a donation of $50 or more to the Hardship Fund. Please share the link with friends and family.

Nominate Members to Join the NYSNA Statewide Staffing Committee

Nominate two members of your local bargaining unit and local staffing committee to serve on NYSNA's Statewide Staffing Committee! The committee will meet quarterly on Zoom to discuss strategies for making the 2021 staffing laws work for our members. The inaugural meeting will convene at the end of February. Use the form to nominate!

NYSNA Testifies on Executive Health Budget Proposal

On Tuesday, the NYS Joint Legislative Public Hearing on the 2026 Executive Health Budget Proposal was held in Albany. NYSNA submitted written testimony outlining our priorities for protecting patient care, strengthening the nursing workforce, and investing in safe staffing across New York.

If you’d like to watch the full hearing, you can view the video and read the testimony.

Save the Date! Lobby Day 2026

Save the date for NYSNA Lobby Day on March 10. NYSNA members know that the fight for safe staffing, health equity and more requires allies. That’s why, every year, we meet elected officials in Albany to share our goals and ask them to join our fight. Sign up here, and make sure the elected officials in Albany hear nurses’ voices!

This year, we will push for an equitable budget and needed changes in Albany to support the hospitals, workers and communities that need it the most. This will include pushing legislators to pass the New York Health Act, demanding increased state revenue for healthcare by taxing the rich, increasing reimbursement rates for safety net providers, and protecting immigrant New Yorkers’ access to healthcare. We will also continue to fight for the protection of the nursing practice from outsourcing and temporary gigs and for artificial intelligence regulations, safe staffing law enforcement, a fixing of Tier 6 public sector pension benefits, and improved recruitment and retention of nurses throughout the state.

Public Sector Nurses — Fix Tier 6 Rally Update!

We’re at capacity! Thank you to everyone who signed up to join the March 8, Fix Tier 6 Rally to fight for fairer pensions for public sector workers. So many public sector workers have signed up to demand legislator fix Tier 6 that the AFL-CIO now has a waiting list!

If you already signed up and your plans change, please let us know so we can offer your spot to someone on the waiting list.

Save the Date: Albany Takeover on Feb. 25

Tax the rich for a city we can afford! Working New Yorkers are being stretched to the breaking point, while billionaires get even richer. Albany must tax the rich to fund the

affordability agenda that New Yorkers need, deserve and voted for. On Feb. 25, thousands of New Yorkers will descend on Albany to make officials do it. We’re taking over Albany — marching through the streets, rallying outside of the Capitol, lobbying elected officials and making the demand for a more affordable New York impossible to ignore. Download the flyer and sign up to get on the bus!

Make Your Voice Heard Against the Department of Education’s Proposed Rule to Limit Loans for Grad Nurses

In November, the U.S. Department of Education proposed new federal loan rules that would remove nursing from “professional degree” loan programs. That means nurses pursuing graduate degrees to become nurse practitioners, certified registered nurse anesthetists, or midwives, or serve in other positions requiring advanced degrees would be limited in the amount of funding they would be eligible for. This exclusion from the “professional” category would further put advanced degrees for nurses out of financial reach. However, before the Department of Education can make this change, it needs to hear from the public. The comment period just opened and continues until March 2. NYSNA has submitted a comment as an organization, but you can also submit a comment as an individual. Please visit this link to learn more and submit your comment.

Your Rights to Advocate for Patients When Encountering ICE

Nurses’ first duty is to care for and advocate for our patients. NYSNA nurses care for all New Yorkers regardless of immigration status, income or insurance status, race, religion, ability or disability, sexuality, or gender identity or expression — simply regardless. Read our statement regarding the federal policy change on immigration enforcement in “sensitive locations,” including hospitals and schools.

Our allies at the New York Immigration Coalition developed this toolkit to provide a comprehensive list of resources for community members, partners and allies who work with immigrants. The toolkit covers health, community safety, family resources, financial empowerment and more.

Learn your rights and get answers to frequently asked questions here to know what to do if you encounter ICE officers in your facility.

NYSNA has also prepared this list of legal resources related to immigration. Please review and share widely.

Sign Up for New NNU Courses Free for NYSNA Members

National Nurses United (NNU) is offering FREE virtual courses for NYSNA members. New Winter/Spring 2026 courses have been added. View the full calendar and register here, or click on the links below to learn more and register for the courses you’re interested in. When registering for NNU courses, be sure to check the first box, “Yes, I am a CNA/NNOC/NNU member.”

Winter/Spring offerings:

• “Our Patients Are Safe When We Are Safe: Workplace Violence and Back Injury Prevention in Health Care Facilities”

• “Trust and Doubt in the Fight for Health”

Seasonal Flu Alert and Resources

Flu season in New York state is continuing in full force. In addition to the expected A and B strains, an additional flu strain mutation (influenza A H3N2 mutated from a “J” subclade to a “K” subclade) has emerged recently. Subclade K has quickly become the dominant strain in the U.S. and a number of other countries. It is not unusual for mutations like this to happen, but because the flu vaccine must be produced many months in advance, this type of change can result in a mismatch between the seasonal flu vaccine and the currently circulating flu strains. While this means the vaccine’s effectiveness may be lower, it can still decrease the incidence of severe disease, hospitalization and death.

Read more on this year’s flu and how to best protect yourself here and use this checklist to assess your facility’s response to the surge. If you have any questions or concerns regarding flu activity and infection control in your facility, please contact the NYSNA Occupational Health and Safety Representatives at [email protected].

Long COVID Guide

Read NYSNA’s Long COVID Guide to help you stay informed on the diagnosis, treatment options, benefits and rights for workers with long COVID.

Applications for 2026 Secor Scholarships Now Open

The Secor Scholarship Fund, established in 2007, was made possible by a generous bequest by long-time NYSNA member Jane Secor, PhD, RN. Dr. Secor stipulated that the endowment be used for furthering nursing education. Two Secor Scholarships are awarded annually, and applications are now open. One $5,000 scholarship is given to a NYSNA member pursuing a baccalaureate (or higher) degree in nursing. Another $5,000 is awarded to a family member seeking a first degree in nursing. The degree can be at any level, but it must be the first degree in nursing sought by the applicant. Click on this flyer for more information, and visit our website to apply.

The Therapeutic Role of Music in Healthcare Settings

We know that stress-relief interventions boost engagement and resilience among both staff and patients. Healthcare providers, especially nurses, face high stress levels from long hours, heavy workloads and emotional demands. Critically ill patients also face similarly high stress levels.

Music therapy has become a cost-effective, nondrug intervention that benefits both healthcare staff and patients by fostering feelings of support and value. Evidence shows that music can lower anxiety, heart rate and blood pressure; improve mood; and strengthen resilience. In intensive care unit settings, music reduces patient stress and sedative needs, while for healthcare workers, it aids emotional regulation, reduces stress and promotes psychological resilience during demanding shifts (Sowicz et al., 2020; MDPI, 2021). Recently, NYC Health+Hospitals’ Arts in Medicine department, in collaboration with Juilliard Extension, launched the Harmonizing for Health program to address healthcare provider burnout and compassion fatigue. The program reflects the growing recognition of arts-based interventions as meaningful tools for promoting emotional well-being in high-stress clinical environments. It exemplifies how creative interventions can support mental health, reduce occupational stress and enhance the quality of care. The integration of music therapy into healthcare practice represents a practical, low-risk approach to building a more resilient, healthy workforce and patient-centered environment. Music is a therapeutic tool with measurable benefits for patients and healthcare workers in high-stress clinical environments. Programs like Harmonizing for Health exemplify how creative interventions can support mental health, reduce occupational stress and enhance the quality of care.

NYSNA NEP ACP Educational Needs Survey

We value your input! Your feedback is essential and will help us enhance the NYSNA Nursing Education Program (NEP) and create new continuing education opportunities designed specifically for our Advanced Clinical Providers/Practitioners (ACP) members. Please take a moment to complete our survey. Your participation is entirely voluntary, and we sincerely appreciate your time and insights. All responses are completely confidential and will directly inform the future programs and offerings we develop. If you have any questions, call 212-785-0157, ext. 377, or email [email protected]. Thank you for your participation in this survey and for your dedication to lifelong learning!

Reporting Child Abuse Course Addendum Is Live on E-LeaRN

NYSNA’s Nursing Education and Practice (NEP) is happy to announce that NYSNA’S NYS Child Abuse: Identification and Reporting, 8th Edition — Addendum online course is now live on our E-LeaRN platform.

Anyone who completed the NYSNA course, NYS Child Abuse: Identification and Reporting, 8th Edition, through the NYSNA E-LeaRN platform between Oct. 1, 2023, and Sept. 30, 2025, is eligible to complete the addendum course with us. The addendum course is free for NYSNA members. If you are eligible, you may access the addendum course by logging onto E-LeaRN by clicking “Browse Catalog” and searching for “addendum.”

Every person who is required to take the mandated training related to child abuse must take either the full three-hour course or the one-hour addendum portion of the training by Nov. 17, 2026.

Check out the NYSNA website for the latest updates to this requirement. If you have any questions about your E-LeaRN account, please contact NEP at [email protected].

Call for Submissions! The Journal of the New York State Nurses Association

The Journal of the New York Nurses Association is calling for submissions. Authors are invited to submit scholarly papers, research studies, brief reports on clinical or educational innovations, and articles of opinion on subjects important to registered nurses. Of particular interest are papers addressing direct care issues. New authors and student authors are encouraged to submit manuscripts for publication. Read the latest flyer outlining submission categories here. Read the guidelines for submission here.

The latest volume of The Journal of the New York State Nurses Association is out now! You can read it here.

Med-Ed Continuing Education Discount

NYSNA has partnered with Med-Ed Continuing Nursing Education to provide NYSNA members with full access to the complete Med-Ed catalogue at a 50% reduced rate. These are all self-study programs that members can access and complete at their leisure. You can access these course offerings by going to NYSNA’s members-only website here, then clicking on the Med-Ed website link, and entering the Promo Code NYSNAMEMBER at checkout, where the discount will apply.

Please do not share this information with any nonmembers.

2026 Nurse Education and Practice Workshops

The 2026 Calendar is now live! NYSNA members can take advantage of FREE E-LeaRN courses, including state-mandated offerings, standard of practice and certification review courses, as well as nursing practice workshops. Take a look at the 2026 complete course offering, and register for the courses directly here. You must create an account and be signed in to search the full catalog of classes and register for them at no cost!

Calling All Nurse Practitioners

The NYSNA Nursing Education and Practice Department has added required and important educational offerings specifically for nurse practitioners (NPs). The courses include new, updated and mandated courses. Learn more and register for these classes for NYSNA NPs.

Nurses’ Rights to Be Whistleblowers and Protest Your Assignments

NYSNA members should be empowered with the knowledge of laws that have been passed with NYSNA’s input to protect them and empower them to speak up when patient safety is compromised, either due to unsafe staffing or other factors, such as a lack of personal protective equipment, as was the case throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.

Take a moment to learn about your rights in this flyer.

NYSNA Life Insurance — It’s Time to Designate Your Beneficiary!

NYSNA already provides members with a great benefit at no cost: Basic MetLife Life Insurance! This coverage provides $20,000 of Basic Life Insurance and $20,000 of Basic Personal Accidental Death and Dismemberment (AD&D) Insurance. All active members in good standing represented for collective bargaining through the union will automatically be enrolled in the plan. This union benefit is in addition to any other insurance provided by your benefits fund, your contract or through your employer.

But for your loved ones to receive this benefit, you must designate them as a beneficiary! To enroll and receive instructions on designating a beneficiary for your new Basic Personal AD&D Insurance, go to nysnawinstonbenefits.com or call 1-866-483-1124.

Sign up with your NYSNA Member ID to set up and access your account and benefits. If you need your Member ID, please contact the NYSNA Membership department at [email protected]. Download the flyer for additional details.

NYSNA Will-Writing Benefits From MetLife

The NYSNA Benefits Fund gives NYSNA members who are covered by the NYSNA Benefits Fund access to personal will preparation services that MetLife Legal Plans offer — at no additional cost.

Having a will prevents unnecessary stress and ensures final wishes are clear. The Benefits Fund offers valuable legal resources through MetLife Legal Plans to assist with creating or updating a will with a member’s Basic Life coverage. As part of this benefit, members get legal guidance and unlimited consultations with network attorneys. Learn more here.

NYSNA Members Are Eligible for AFL-CIO’s Union Plus Benefits!

The benefits of being a NYSNA member extend beyond your NYSNA benefits. As an affiliate of the AFL-CIO, NYSNA members are also eligible for Union Plus benefits to help current and retired labor union members and their families save money and support them through major milestones, celebrations and hardships. These benefits include discounts on wireless plans, credit card deals, mortgage deals, insurance plans and more! Find out more on the AFL-CIO Union Plus website.

The Talkspace Go App Is Mental Health on the Go!

The Talkspace Go app is a great resource that provides daily mental health support on the go! Talkspace Go is a clinician-created, self-guided app so you can address mental health challenges and build mental fitness on your own schedule. It empowers couples, individuals and parents to take progress into their own hands in as little as five minutes a day. Access 400-plus self-guided classes and live weekly therapist-led, anonymous classes. Enjoy assessments, meditation exercises, journaling, reminders and more.

Talkspace Go app is available at no cost to members and their eligible household members! Click here for the instructions and passcode to access the app.

Free Benefits for NYSNA Members: Union Assistance Program and SPAN

The Union Assistance Program (UAP) is a confidential self-help program, independent from NYSNA, that is available to NYSNA members and their families as a membership benefit. When an employee or family member (18 or older) faces a significant personal problem, they can call UAP’s experienced counselors at 800-252-4555 for assistance at any time. Read more information on phone counseling services here.

Check out the February 2026 newsletter here on investing in your relationships.

Statewide Peer Assistance for Nurses (SPAN) is a confidential education, support and advocacy program for all nurses licensed in New York state who are dealing with substance use issues. Visit the SPAN website for more information or to sign up for one of its upcoming classes. Check out SPAN’s new Compassion Project.

In solidarity,
Pat Kane, RN
Executive Director, NYSNA