Dear Friend,

NYSNA Celebrates Caribbean American Heritage Month

June is Caribbean American Heritage Month! We honor Caribbean Americans’ contributions and achievements in healthcare, labor and our country.

Register for the 2026 NYSNA Convention

Online registration is now open for the 2026 NYSNA Convention! This year, NYSNA members will gather for Convention on Oct. 26 and 27, at the New York Hilton Midtown in New York City. You can register and save your spot today. After you register, you’ll receive information to reserve your room if you’re staying on-site. Check out the NYSNA website for our Convention Delegate reimbursement policy, guidelines for submitting resolutions and more.

Major Staffing Victory at Maimonides Medical Center

NYSNA nurses at Maimonides Medical Center won another major staffing victory. Through the hard work, determination and advocacy of NYSNA nurses on surgical units 8 East and 8 West (8E/8W), together with the NYSNA Executive Committee, they successfully utilized the new staffing enforcement process to hold management accountable and improve safe patient care.

As a result of this victory, management agreed to reduce the nurse-to-patient ratio on these units from 1:5 to 1:4, a very significant improvement that will enhance patient safety; improve working conditions; and support nurses in providing the quality care our patients deserve. Most importantly, this change will require the hospital to hire a number of additional full-time NYSNA nurses to properly staff 8E/8W and meet the new ratio requirements.

This victory did not happen by accident. The strong staffing enforcement language that the Executive Committee negotiated, the dedication of nurses who raised concerns and documented staffing issues, and the persistent advocacy of NYSNA nurses on the Staffing Committee made this all possible. Every staffing victory sends a clear message: When nurses stand together and use the tools we have fought to secure, we can win meaningful improvements for our patients and our profession.

Congratulations to the 8E/8W nurses and to the entire NYSNA Executive Committee for your leadership, commitment and perseverance. When we fight, we win!

UVM-Alice Hyde Medical Center Nurses Ratify New Contract

On Wednesday, June 24, NYSNA nurses at University of Vermont (UVM)-Alice Hyde Medical Center voted overwhelmingly to ratify a new four-year contract! Highlights of the contract include fair wages to help recruit and retain nurses for safe staffing, new protections against artificial intelligence and improved protections against workplace violence. Congratulations, UVM-Alice Hyde nurses!

Now, it’s time for UVM-Champlain Valley Physicians Hospital (CVPH) to negotiate a fair contract! UVM-Alice Hyde nurses will join their UVM-CVPH union siblings next Tuesday, June 30, to speak out for a fair contract and against UVM’s proposed closure of the Adirondack Blood Donation Center.

Join the Town Hall to Fight Back Against Montefiore Replacing Nurses with AI

Montefiore is planning to lay off real nurses and replace them with artificial intelligence (AI)-powered software. These are nurses who use their decades of bedside experience and clinical judgement to review insurance denials and make sure insurance covers the care that patients need.

NYSNA nurses are hosting a virtual town hall with directly impacted nurses to discuss Montefiore’s plan, its negative impact on jobs and patient care in the Bronx, and how healthcare practitioners and communities can fight back against untested AI in their hospitals. Join the virtual town hall on Wednesday, July 1, at noon and help us spread the word by downloading and sharing the flyer.

Montefiore Nurses Demand Respect During Labor-Management

On June 18, more than a dozen NYSNA nurses attended the Montefiore labor-management meeting to deliver an important message: “We demand respect!”

In the lead-up to the meeting, more than 500 Monte nurses signed a petition demanding accountability from a nursing director who insinuated that nurses had abandoned their patients and forgot their professional purpose during this winter's strike. NYSNA nurses spoke out about the damage these inaccurate and irresponsible comments have caused.

Despite nurses’ actions, management failed to apologize for the harm caused and wouldn’t commit to a public response. NYSNA nurses at Montefiore are going to ensure their demands are met by continuing to apply pressure until Montefiore remedies this director’s behavior!

Catholic Health/St. Charles Nurses Escalate Campaign for a Fair Contract

NYSNA nurses at Catholic Health/St. Charles Hospital are continuing to ramp up the pressure on management in their fight for a fair contract! On Thursday, June 25, nurses arranged for a mobile billboard to circle the hospital during contract negotiations, demanding that administrators take action to address chronic understaffing and protect patient care. In addition to the mobile billboard, nurses also launched a new video on social media calling attention to the widespread understaffing at their hospital. Keep up the great work, St. Charles nurses!

Major Staffing Victory — 21 New Emergency Department Nursing Positions Won!

After years of fighting for safer staffing, Wyckoff Emergency Department nurses have secured a major victory: NYSNA nurses and the Executive Committee successfully held management accountable for chronic understaffing in the Emergency Department (ED).

After a mediation session, multiple canceled dates and extensive negotiations, Wyckoff management has agreed to hire 21 new NYSNA nurses for the ED in the coming months. As part of this agreement, ED nurses and the NYSNA Executive Committee will also return to mediation in October to pursue hiring an additional 10 nurses to achieve the overall staffing levels that our patients, community and nurses deserve.

Congratulations, Wyckoff nurses! This victory belongs to every nurse who documented unsafe conditions, attended meetings, participated in the staffing process, and stood together day in and day out working throughout this fight. The victory also belongs to the Wyckoff Executive Committee, which fought hard to win stronger and faster staffing enforcement language during negotiations!

NYSNA Champions Win Big in Primary Elections!

NYSNA had strong victories in this week’s primary elections throughout the state. Team NYSNA knocked on over 5,000 doors and made over 40,000 calls urging union members to vote for labor champions. We participated in Get Out the Vote (GOTV) activities, including phone banking and canvassing. We are thrilled to see that many of our NYSNA-endorsed healthcare champions won, and we look forward to working together to create a better New York for all.

Our work isn’t over. Stay tuned for more information on our general election endorsements and GOTV initiatives.

Join NYSNA Nurses at the NYC Pride March This Weekend

This Sunday, June 28, join NYSNA nurses as we celebrate Pride, diversity and union solidarity! Register here.

Save the Date: NYC Dominican Day Parade

Join NYSNA nurses on Sunday, Aug. 9, for a celebration of Dominican heritage and culture at the NYC Dominican Day Parade! RSVP today, and download and share the flyer.

Summer 2026 Labor Education Trainings Open for Registration

NYSNA’s Labor Education Department offers workshops to members on how to become more engaged in the union’s work. For more information, please visit the NYSNA Labor Education webpage.

The Summer 2026 Labor Education schedule is ready! In our next statewide workshop on Tuesday, June 30, we’ll cover “Identifying How Artificial Intelligence is Being Used in Your Hospital.” In July and August, join members from across the union to learn about NYSNA and the labor movement, your legal rights as a union member, 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! Please register here.

Finally, please email [email protected] directly if you have questions or to schedule a workshop in your facility.

Protesting Your Assignment Self-Guided Course

NYSNA’s Nursing Education and Practice department has a new “Protesting Your Assignment” self-guided course. Read more about the course and how you can use protests of assignment to improve safe, quality healthcare. To access the course, go directly to the E-LearRN website.

NYSNA Condemns Supreme Court Ruling

On Thursday, June 25, the Supreme Court allowed the Department of Homeland Security’s discriminatory targeting of Haitian refugees to stand. The ruling makes 350,000 Haitian immigrants who have built lives here in the U.S. subject to deportation, even as conditions have worsened in their country of origin. Their work permits will expire imminently, and their jobs and driver’s licenses are threatened. The ruling also leaves other temporary protected status holders vulnerable to deportation. Read a response to the ruling from NYSNA President Nancy Hagans, RN, BSN, CCRN.

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.

Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire Memorial Scholarships

The Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire Memorial provides scholarships of $6,000 per academic year to qualified applicants. The applicant must meet one of these criteria:

1. A child or dependent receiving workers’ compensation death benefits due to the loss of a parent.

2. The child of an injured worker who is receiving workers’ compensation benefits for:

a. Permanent total disability

b. Permanent partial disability OR

c. Other serious work-related injury that resulted in approval for Social Security Disability benefits

3. An injured worker who meets the above requirements

A school official must nominate scholarship applicants, and scholarships are paid directly to the qualified college or university. Learn more here.

Infectious Disease Update: Hantavirus, Ebola and Measles

Two big, scary infectious diseases have been in the news lately — hantavirus and Ebola. While neither currently presents a risk in the U.S., healthcare facilities should always be ready for both predictable and unpredictable emergent conditions. Measles outbreaks continue throughout the U.S., including 27 outbreaks so far in 2026 alone. Read the full update from Health+Safety about symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, infection control protections and other resources on these infectious diseases.

NNU Report Finds That a Majority of Nurses Experienced Workplace Violence in the Past Year

A new report from National Nurses United (NNU) found that nearly 85% of nurses have experienced at least one type of workplace violence, with more than one-third seeing an increase in the past year. This confirms what NYSNA members know to be true: Nurses and other healthcare workers continue to experience increasing rates of workplace violence. Read the full report 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:

• “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”

• “Some Cuts Don’t Heal: Protecting the Right to Care”

• “Immigrant Justice, Global Migration, and Public Health”

Upcoming July Workshops—Register Today!

We are excited to invite you to join our upcoming continuing education workshops, designed to support your professional growth and certification preparation.

These workshops are free of cost for all NYSNA members. They are held online via NYSNA E-LeaRN (with Zoom sessions occurring 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. each day).

July Workshops:

• July 7-8: Heart Failure Nursing Certification Review

• July 7-8: Pediatric CCRN Certification Review

• July 14: Introduction to Telehealth for Nurses

• July 15-16: Maternal Newborn Certification Review

• July 22-23: Trauma Care Certification Review

Space is limited — please register as soon as possible on NYSNA E-LeaRN.

Deadline Reminder: 2026 Secor Scholarship Applications Due on July 10

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.

The application deadline is July 10, 2026. Click on this flyer for more information, and visit https://www.nysna.org/nursing-practice/nysna-secor-scholarship to apply.

2026-2027 Learning Needs Assessment Survey for NYSNA Nurses and Advanced Clinical Practitioners

The 2026-2027 Learning Needs Assessment Survey is now available and helps NYSNA Nursing Education and Practice (NEP) understand nurses’ learning and professional development needs to improve patient care, workplace safety, job satisfaction and union strength. Please take a moment to complete this confidential survey to directly inform NEP’s future programs and the offerings we develop. We sincerely appreciate your time and insights.

2027 Seminar at Sea — Registration Now Open

Registration for the 2027 Seminar at Sea is now open! Join NYSNA members for an exclusive program that combines professional development with an unforgettable Mediterranean cruise experience. Enjoy expert-led sessions, meaningful networking and premium accommodations while exploring stunning destinations. Learn more about the course here.

Class attendance is open to the following only:

• NYSNA members

• NNU affiliate members

The cruise is open to public attendance; the restriction applies to the class/seminar.

Spots are limited — register early.

Applications for 2026-27 Senator Patricia K. McGee Nursing Faculty Scholarship Now Open

Attention registered nurses! The 2026-27 Senator Patricia K. McGee Nursing Faculty Scholarship application is now available.

This scholarship provides up to $20,000 per year for registered nurses licensed in New York state who are pursuing a graduate degree leading to a career as a nursing faculty or adjunct clinical faculty.

Eligibility highlights include:

• Enrollment in a graduate degree program that qualifies you to work as a nursing faculty or adjunct clinical faculty in New York state, in the year for which you are seeking an award.

• A minimum GPA of 3.0 if you have already completed at least one semester in a qualifying graduate program.

• Commitment to live and work in New York state as a nursing faculty or adjunct clinical faculty for four years.

• Recipients must complete the FAFSA and Tuition Assistance Program applications or DREAM Act application each year they are applying for aid.

Deadline:
June 18, 2026, for the 2026-27 academic year

For full eligibility details and to apply, please visit hesc.ny.gov/mcgee.

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 catalog 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.

NEW Discounted Online Degree Programs for NYSNA Members!

NYSNA members and their family members will soon be eligible for a 20% discount on online degree programs from Post University. Nursing programs offered include:

• Registered Nurse to Bachelor of Science in Nursing (RN to BSN)

• Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) with five specializations

• RN to BSN/MSN

• Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) with four leadership specializations

• Graduate Certificate in Infection Prevention and Control

• Master of Business Administration-Healthcare (MBA-Healthcare)

• MSN/MBA-Healthcare

Register today for a July 13 webinar to learn more about how to take advantage of this new opportunity for NYSNA members. Download and share the flyer for more information about the partnership.

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