Dear Friend,

NYSNA Celebrates Emergency Nurses Week

This week, NYSNA sends a big thank you to emergency room nurses! Your vital work saves lives and helps patients on some of their worst days.

NYSNA Members at CVPH Reach Tentative Agreement!

After nearly a year of negotiations, and bargaining late into the night on Thursday, Oct. 15, NYSNA members at University of Vermont Health (UVMH)-Champlain Valley Physicians Hospital (CVPH) have reached a tentative agreement! The tentative agreement, which nurses and healthcare professionals still need to ratify, includes enforceable safe staffing language for the first time, monumental workplace violence protections, retroactive pay increases, and more. Great work, CVPH members!

Kings County Nurses Take Action to Defend Unjustly Suspended Nurse Leader

This week, NYSNA nurses at NYC Health+Hospitals (H+H)/Kings County Hospital jumped into action when their local bargaining unit vice president was unjustly placed on suspension. Kings County nurses immediately recognized that one of their elected leaders was being targeted for union activity, and they organized a petition calling for her reinstatement. While the hospital has not yet lifted the suspension, nurses are continuing to organize across the hospital, calling on doctors, ancillary staff and other union members to sign their petition.

Kings County nurses are organizing a rally outside the hospital on Thursday, Oct. 22, from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m. to call out this union busting and get our member reinstated—download this flyer to learn more!

Show your support for NYSNA nurses at NYC H+H/Kings County by signing their petition here.

Gracie Square Nurses Launch Email Action to Demand Fair Contract

After the success of last week’s informational picket, NewYork-Presbyterian/Gracie Square Hospital nurses are taking action once more to demand a fair contract! This week, nurses launched a new digital action, asking community members to show their support for nurses by emailing hospital executives to demand a fair contract for nurses and patients.

Gracie Square is one of the few dedicated psychiatric hospitals in New York City, but nurses there face the same issues as NYSNA members across the state: They are often understaffed and overworked, and many nurses have reported being injured on the job. Despite this, management has asked for givebacks on workplace violence and refuses to improve staffing. Show your solidarity with Gracie nurses by emailing their executive director and demanding he settle a fair contract now!

Northwell Health/Putnam Hospital Nurses Hold Virtual Town Hall Meeting

For months, NYSNA nurses at Northwell Health/Putnam Hospital have been bargaining for a new contract that protects patient care in their community. But Northwell administrators, like other hospital administrators across the state, are pushing for nurse-to-patient ratios that would make it harder for nurses to deliver the level of care that Putnam County residents deserve. To build support for their contract campaign and to show their community Northwell’s pattern of buying small community hospitals and driving up costs for patients, Putnam nurses are holding a virtual town hall meeting on Monday, Oct. 19, from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. RSVP for the town hall meeting here.

Keep up the good fight, Putnam nurses! It’s time to tell Northwell Health: We want a community hospital that prioritizes patients over profits!

NYP-Hudson Valley Nurses Kick Off Contract Campaign

This week, NYSNA nurses at NewYork-Presbyterian (NYP)-Hudson Valley Hospital had their first bargaining session as they fight for a fair contract that will help them deliver quality care for their community! NYSNA members from across the state, including your NYP siblings, are in solidarity with you in the fight for a fair contract!

Brooklyn, Queens and Staten Island Nurses Gather for Interregional Meetings

This week, NYSNA nurses from Queens, Staten Island and Brooklyn gathered for Interregional Meetings on Oct. 13, 14 and 15, respectively.

At the Queens meeting, led by NYSNA Secretary Michelle Jones, MSN, RN, ANPC, nurses celebrated citywide contract campaigns and discussed regional improvements to staffing and how nurses can enforce their recent contract gains.

At the Staten Island meeting, Richmond University Medical Center nurses celebrated their contract campaign and gains from the citywide cycle. Staten Island University Hospital (SIUH) nurses discussed the challenge that Northwell’s corporate greed poses and built support for a strong campaign ahead of their upcoming contract expiration in March.

At the Brooklyn meeting, led by NYSNA President Nancy Hagans, BSN, RN, CCRN, nurses celebrated staffing victories at Maimonides, The Brooklyn Hospital Center and Wyckoff Heights Medical Center. They also shared lessons from the citywide contract campaign and discussed new challenges that our safety-net hospitals are facing.

Across all three interregional meetings, NYSNA members built nurse power and solidarity — and got excited for our upcoming NYSNA convention, which is just over one week away!

Montefiore Nyack Members Demand Management Return to the Bargaining Table

On Thursday, Oct. 15, more than a dozen Montefiore Nyack NYSNA nurses, led by local bargaining unit President Anna Marie Perkins, delivered "Ready to Negotiate” petitions to HR. The petition, signed by a supermajority of members, demanded more bargaining dates, as management hadn't agreed to a single day to meet in October.

Although administrators were too busy to come and listen to nurses, management got the message—and they called security on us!

But the pressure paid off, and nurses secured an additional date to negotiate in October!

Contracts at Monte New Rochelle, Mount Vernon and Nyack all expire on Dec. 31. Nurses are fighting for better staffing, retirement health, safer working conditions and protections against AI— and they won't stop until the fair contract that nurses and patients deserve!

Join the Next Single-Payer Committee Meeting

Now, more than ever, it is essential that we fight to protect healthcare access. The New York Health Act would guarantee universal, single-payer healthcare for all New Yorkers, creating a healthcare system that addresses healthcare disparities and that covers everyone. As healthcare workers and advocates, it’s our duty to come together and fight for quality care for our communities. To be a part of the fight for healthcare justice, join NYSNA’s Single Payer Committee’s next virtual meeting on Wednesday, Oct. 21, at 8 p.m. All members are invited to attend and can register here.

Let’s Get Out the Vote!

With fewer than two weeks until early voting starts across the state, it's time to get out the vote (GOTV)! Team NYSNA is continuing to hit the phones and doors to elect nurse champions whom we know will stand with us in our fights for safe staffing, fair contracts and health justice!

Sign up for a GOTV canvas or a phone bank near you.

Fight for Our Democracy!

As we get closer to the general election, the efforts to stop our votes from counting and to undermine our free and fair elections are becoming increasingly serious by the day. To counteract these efforts and protect the coming election, NYSNA is joining with our labor and community allies to make sure that every voter is able to cast a vote without fear of intimidation and to ensure that every vote is counted.

On Thursday, Oct. 15, NYSNA Executive Director Pat Kane, RN, CNOR(E), joined approximately 1,000 union members and community allies on the steps of the main post office for the launch of the New York labor movement’s election protection coalition. Speaking alongside union leaders, she said: “The voting rights that 1960s-era civil rights activists fought and died for are under attack like never before. NYSNA nurses are united to protect our patients, unions and communities. That’s why we are proud to join the civil rights and labor movements to defend our voice, our vote and our democracy!”

Join us at one of the upcoming events to take action and defend our democracy:

• No Kings! Nationwide Day of Action

  Saturday, Oct. 17

  No Kings are hosting actions across the country to make clear that in this country power belongs to the people! Click here to find an action near you.

• Democracy Protection March

  Saturday, Nov. 7 — Save the Date!

  Join NYSNA and our allies for a mass march in defense of our democracy should there be any attempts to go against the will of the people in this election. Stay tuned for more information on the timing and location of actions as we get closer to this date!

Our 2026 NYSNA Convention Is Just ONE WEEK Away!

Online registration for the 2026 NYSNA Convention is now closed. If you need to change your existing registration, please contact NYSNA’s Meeting and Convention Planning team at [email protected].

If you are a delegate or alternate who has not registered to attend Convention and would like to attend Voting Body, please notify your NYSNA representative because online registration is closed and on-site registration will not be available.

The two-day agenda and proposed 2026 Convention Resolutions are now posted on the NYSNA website. Please note that you must be logged into the My Membership section of the website to view the proposed resolutions.

Check back for more updates in advance of Convention, and keep an eye out on your inbox for your individual link to log in to the NYSNA Convention App. You can use the app to set your badge picture, choose your schedule, and review important convention documents. If you need any assistance with the app, email [email protected].

Take Action to Support the New York Health Act!

Join NYSNA leaders, advocates and elected officials on Saturday, Oct. 17, at 2 p.m. in the Bronx for a rally in support of the New York Health Act! Our current system, which puts profits over patients, is only getting worse as the cuts to federal healthcare funding take effect. But, at the same time, the movement for single-payer healthcare is getting stronger! NYSNA is proud to join our fellow New Yorkers to make our voices heard and call on elected leaders to pass the New York Health Act!

• New York Health Act Rally
  Seton Park, Independence Ave, Bronx 10463
  Saturday, Oct. 17
  2 p.m. - 4 p.m.

To join the NYSNA contingent email Julia Camagong at [email protected].

Labor Education Trainings — Check Out the Fall Schedule!

NYSNA’s Labor Education Department offers workshops to members on how to be more engaged in the union’s work. Our fall 2026 virtual trainings include learning about NYSNA and the labor movement, how to increase turnout at union meetings and events, how to take control of meetings with management, understanding how AI is being used in our hospitals, how to fill out a protest of assignment and more. View Labor Education’s complete fall schedule.

On Wednesday, Oct. 21, at 8 p.m., join members from across the state for Winning an Issue on Your Unit through a Campaign of Escalating Actions and learn how we can use some of the same organizing strategies we use in our biggest fights — contract campaigns or fights against closures — to make tangible, positive changes in day-to-day working conditions on our own units. Register here, and please share the flyer of upcoming workshops with your coworkers.

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

Finally, our Member Leader Training (MLT) has long been a resource for nurses who want to build union power by advocating for their patients and themselves. This is an accredited training; each part is 3.0 CHs/0.3 CEUs. Please be in touch with us directly at [email protected] to schedule an MLT 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 Support With Immigration Issues

Your union is here to help with immigration issues, including concerns about Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, Temporary Protected Status, residency for you and your household, or Visa and work authorization issues. Fill out the confidential form for more information and consultation. For more immigration resources, visit the New York Immigration Coalition’s website.

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.

Health & Safety Update: Measles Outbreaks Expand Throughout United States

Measles outbreaks are expanding throughout the country, including in New York state. Outbreaks typically start in communities with low vaccination rates. Most at risk are infants under the age of 6 months, the elderly, those with compromised immune systems, those who are pregnant and the unvaccinated. In a current large outbreak in Pennsylvania, five people have died of measles-related complications so far. Check out this resource from NYSNA’s Occupational Health and Safety Team to learn more about measures to control measles transmission in healthcare facilities.

For more information, contact your local department of health, the New York State Department of Health or NYSNA’s Occupational Health and Safety Representatives at [email protected].

How Prepared Is Your Facility for Weather Emergencies?

Weather emergencies have become more frequent and more extreme in the last few years. Preplanning is a must to make sure healthcare facilities are ready under extreme conditions to meet the needs of patients, staff and the community. This list of questions, which NYSNA's Emergency Preparedness Committee developed, is a helpful tool to use when assessing facility preparedness with management. To join the committee, contact NYSNA's Occupational Health and Safety Representatives at [email protected].

For more resources on emergency preparedness, check out NYSNA’s new resource hub for information about wildfire smoke conditions, inclement weather and more.

Protecting Correctional Staff From Hazardous Exposures Fact Sheet

Healthcare workers in correctional settings are contending with new on-the-job health risks from an old hazard: recreational drugs brought into facilities. New synthetic drugs are being developed more frequently and too quickly for testing protocols and technology to keep up. To prepare and protect NYSNA members working in correctional and forensic settings, NYSNA’s Occupational Health and Safety Team has created a new fact sheet, which includes safety measures employers can take to protect healthcare workers. Check it out here.

Sign Up for New NNU Courses Free for NYSNA Members

National Nurses United (NNU) is offering FREE virtual courses for NYSNA members. View the full calendar and register here. When registering for NNU courses, be sure to check the first box, “Yes, I am a CNA/NNOC/NNU member.”

Fall 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”

• “Housing and Health”

• “Health Care and Big Tech”

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

Complete the 2026-2027 NEP Learning Needs Assessment

The learning needs assessment survey 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 the survey to help inform future programs and offerings. Participation is voluntary, and responses are confidential.

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.

NEW ISSUE! The Journal of the New York State Nurses Association

A new volume of The Journal of the New York Nurses Association is out now! This issue includes articles on infection prevention for visiting nurses, how health promotion outcomes for college students have changed since the COVID-19 pandemic, contemporary challenges in nursing, and more. You can read it here.

Read the latest flyer outlining submission categories here. Read the guidelines for submission 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.

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

Download and share the flyer for more information about the partnership and apply here.

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

To ensure your loved ones receive your Basic MetLife insurance 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. 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!

As an affiliate of the AFL-CIO, NYSNA members are also eligible for Union Plus benefits. 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 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. Learn more.

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.

SPAN has partnered with Wellable to offer free wellness activities for NYSNA members! Sign up for Wellable for access to a variety of resources to support you on your wellness journey, including:

• Events: Participate in monthly live, interactive events, including educational presentations and experiential wellness activities, ranging from physical fitness to meditation to trivia.

  • Nov. 3 — Social Wellness

  • Dec. 1 — Healthy Aging

• On-Demand Videos: Access a variety of videos, including stretching, high-intensity impact training classes, meditation, a mindfulness series, a recipe library and sleep stories.

• Guided Breaks: Catch a break to rest, recharge and feel better in just a few minutes.

In solidarity,
Pat Kane, RN
Executive Director, NYSNA