Dear Friend,

Happy Easter!

Wishing you and your loved ones a happy holiday!

Nurses at WMC-HealthAlliance Ratify Contract!

After months of bargaining for a fair contract that protects nurses and patients, NYSNA nurses at Westchester Medical Center (WMC)-HealthAlliance Hospital in Kingston ratified a strong contract on Monday. Nurses at WMC-HealthAlliance have been demanding protection from workplace violence, an issue that has only been growing over the last several years. Nurses spoke out on March 11 and secured a contract agreement that makes significant steps toward addressing nurse and patient safety and secures strong wage gains and protected benefits. Spectrum, Becker’s, Times Union, Crain’s and the Daily Freeman covered the nurses’ ratification.

Nurses at UVM-Elizabethtown Ratify Contract and Secure Life-Changing Benefits!

After months of bargaining for a fair contract that helps recruit and retain nurses, NYSNA nurses at University of Vermont (UVM)-Elizabethtown Community Hospital ratified a contract that secures life-changing benefits. After months of bargaining and years of fighting for improved benefits, nurses secured entrance into the NYSNA Benefit Fund, a win that will cut monthly payments for health benefits for some nurses by over 90%. Nurses at Adirondack Medical Center, UVM-Alice Hyde Medical Center and UVM-Champlain Valley Physicians Hospital continue to fight for fair contracts.

NYSNA President Nancy Hagans Speaks at Tax the Rich Rally

Last weekend, NYSNA President Nancy Hagans, RN, BSN, CCRN, spoke alongside Senator Bernie Sanders and other elected officials at the Tax the Rich rally in the Bronx. Community allies, elected officials and the Bronx community joined NYSNA nurses. Together, they showed that a just future requires the ability to fund our basic necessities. President Hagans said, “To have a healthy and thriving New York, we need everyone to contribute their fair share. We need to tax the rich to fund healthcare for all, to fairly fund our hospitals and to deliver the services that support our communities. It’s not enough to beat back the attacks from the Trump administration. We also have to show who we are as New Yorkers — by putting our money where our mouth is!”

NYSNA Nurses March in No Kings March!

Last Saturday, NYSNA nurses joined thousands of New Yorkers in last Saturday’s No Kings march in New York City, one of thousands of actions that took place across the country to protest federal attacks on our communities. Organizers say it was the largest day of protest in U.S. history. NYSNA nurses rose up to defend our communities from the recent federal attacks on healthcare, workers’ rights, immigrant rights, healthcare funding and access to care. President Hagans was one of the keynote speakers at a press conference kicking off the New York City march. Other key speakers included New York State Attorney General Letitia James, the New York Immigration Coalition, Padmie Lakshmi, Make the Road New York, NAACP New York State Conference, New York Civil Liberties Union, Working Families Party, Rev. Al Sharpton and the National Action Network, Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, Common Defense, Pop for Climate, Invest in Our New York, Amadou Ly Foundation, New York City Trans and Queer Coalition, and Robert de Niro. To see more photos of this historic day, visit our Facebook page.

NYSNA Emergency and Disaster Preparedness Committee

NYSNA is forming an Emergency/Disaster Preparedness committee and is seeking representation from each NYSNA facility. NYSNA Health and Safety will lead the committee, with the goal of encouraging collaboration and information sharing between NYSNA facilities. Sign up to join and learn more info!

Spring 2026 Labor Education Trainings Open for Registration

NYSNA’s Labor Education Department trains members on how to become more engaged in the union’s work. On Monday, Apr. 6, join members from across the union via Zoom to learn about a contract campaign. The workshop will cover the basic concepts and skills involved in building a strategic, escalating campaign around staffing, wages, and benefits for healthcare workers! Check out additional workshops in April and May that include learning about NYSNA and the labor movement, how to increase turnout at union meetings and events, how to win issues on your unit, how to take control of meetings with management and more. Here is Labor Education’s updated full spring schedule here.

Registration is also open for our four-part Leadership Training taking place on four consecutive Thursdays: April 30, May 7, May 14 and May 21.

Please share the flyer of upcoming workshops with your coworkers and email [email protected] directly if you have questions or to schedule a workshop in your facility.

Take Action to Fix Tier 6!

All workers deserve to retire with dignity and respect. That’s why New York state needs to take action now to Fix Tier 6! Tier 6 is the retirement plan for New York state’s public employees who joined the program after April 2012. This plan makes enrollees pay into the program for their entire careers at higher rates than previous plans and prevents enrollees from retiring before age 63 without facing heavy penalties. Tier 6 leads to significantly reduced pensions, which disincentivize New Yorkers — including nurses — from working in the public sector. In light of federal attacks on healthcare funding, our state legislators must do everything possible to help public sector hospitals recruit and retain enough nurses to safely care for the New Yorkers who need it most! To take action to fix Tier 6, use this form to email your legislators today!

Join the Fight to Stamp Out Hunger on Long Island

On Saturday, May 9, the National Association of Letter Carriers will be running the Stamp Out Hunger food drive to end hunger on Long Island. To participate, leave any non-perishable food items by your mailbox, and a letter carrier will collect them and bring them to Island Harvest, an organization dedicated to attacking hunger across Long Island. For more information, or to find out ways you can contribute to the mission to end hunger and food waste, click here.

Tell Albany: Don’t Leave Patients Home All Alone!

There is a proposal in the state budget to leave patients Home All Alone instead of in hospitals with 24/7 quality care. Under Hospital at Home programs, healthcare professionals monitor patients virtually in their homes instead of receiving around-the-clock expert care. Help us sound the alarm about this proposal that puts patient safety at risk. Learn more and sign the petition today!

Join Our Union Coalition Call: Protecting Patients and Workers

Healthcare workers in New York City and around the country have seen an increasing presence of ICE in our hospitals. It’s important that we know how we can prepare, advocate, and inform ourselves and our communities. Join your fellow union members from NYSNA, 1199 SEIU, Committee of Interns and Residents, Doctors Council, and Communications Workers of America on Zoom on Wednesday, Apr. 16 at 7 p.m. to learn more about worker and patient rights and the policies that can keep us safe. Register here.

Take Action to Pass the New York for All Act!

All New Yorkers, regardless of immigration status, should be able to lead open lives in our state, participate in their communities, provide for their families and access healthcare without intimidation. The New York for All Act will allow immigrant New Yorkers to lead more open lives and take care of family; preserve state and local resources for our communities; and ensure that our administration cannot divert New York dollars to carry out a cruel, politicized immigration agenda. Passing this legislation would prohibit New York’s state and local government agencies, including police and sheriffs, from colluding with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), disclosing sensitive information, and diverting personnel or other resources to further federal immigration enforcement. Learn more and sign the petition to urge Governor Kathy Hochul and the New York State Legislature to pass the New York for All Act!

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.

Join Long Island Federation of Labor and NYCOSH for a Forum

On Wed., April 22, at 6 p.m., join Long Island Federation of Labor and New York Committee for Occupational Safety and Health (NYOSH) for a Zoom forum, “Health and Safety for Healthcare Workers.” Healthcare workers face unique hazards and require specific workplace protections. In this forum, presenters from NYSNA, including Lisa Baum and David Pratt, and NYCOSH will speak about these hazards, collective bargaining wins for nurses, documenting unsafe conditions, and protests of assignment for workers. To register, click here.

Take Action and Purge Palantir

Software giant Palantir Technologies has a long history of partnering with the federal government to enable brutal and illegal attacks on immigrants, observers and the public, including our patients and coworkers. Reporting has also shown that Palantir technology gives ICE access to sensitive patient Medicaid data. At the same time, some healthcare corporations, including Mount Sinai, have begun working with Palantir to boost profits by pushing unsafe staffing in our hospitals. Now at least 15 hospital systems in the U.S. use Palantir, and it is estimated that Palantir manages 21% of all U.S. hospital beds. Not only does this infiltration endanger our patients, it endangers care by undermining clinical judgement. If we don’t take action now, this could have far-reaching consequences for our patients and our communities.

NYC Health + Hospitals recently announced that it is ending its $4 million contract with Palantir this October. It’s time for other hospitals to follow suit. To demand that CEOs keep Palantir out of hospitals, sign the petition here.

Sign Up for New NNU Courses Free for NYSNA Members

National Nurses United (NNU) is offering FREE virtual courses for NYSNA members. New 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.”

Spring offerings:

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

• “Our Patients are Safe When We Are Safe and Environments of Harm”

• “Nursing Practice in Our Current Moment & Some Cuts Don’t Heal”

• “Immigrant Justice, Global Migration, and Public Health & Increasing Danger of Workplace Violence in Health Care”

• “Hospital Staffing and Bearing Witness, Building Power”

• “Housing and Health-and-Health Care and Big Tech”

Notice to 2026 Seminar at Sea Participants

We are excited to see our 2026 Seminar at Sea participants! For those who will be joining us, here are a few reminders and tips for the upcoming trip:

1. Entry Requirements: If you have not already done so, review the email from Continuing Education, Inc., about entry requirements for China and proceed, if desired, to obtain a visa.

2. CE Program Prerequisites: Please visit the E-LeaRN (insert link) platform and access the Seminar at Sea prerequisite program (six contact hours/0.6 continuing education units). Complete the assigned tasks. NOTE: Prerequisites will result in 80% completion; upon completion of the course evaluation after the trip, you will attain 100% completion and access your certificate.

3. Critical Items to Pack: Please remember to pack your ID badge and participant workbook for the seminar. Download (through E-LeaRN resources) the presentations for the four-day program.

4. Forecasted Weather: Temperatures are expected to range from 54 degrees F to 75 degrees F. Expect warm days and cool mornings and nights. It is recommended that you dress in layers.

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.

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

Sign up for Nurse Education and Practice Workshops in 2026! 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.

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 Compassion Project.

In solidarity,
Pat Kane, RN
Executive Director, NYSNA