Dear Friend,

NYSNA Champions Win Big in the 2026 General Election

This week, our union-backed labor and healthcare champions won big in the 2026 general election! At the top of the ticket, our statewide candidates led a blue wave that will help us in our campaigns for safe staffing, workplace safety, union rights and healthcare for all. And our work knocking on doors and hitting the phones proved crucial lower down the ticket in ensuring that priority districts remain labor strongholds, led by allies who will fight for nurses, stand with us in our contract campaigns and protect working people. Over the course of this election season, Team NYSNA made 60,000 calls and knocked on 15,000 doors — great work to everyone who joined in the fight to protect our democracy, our patients and our practice!

The work done during this election cycle was hugely impactful and will, without question, make a difference in the lives of New Yorkers and people across the country. The shifts in both our state legislature and Congress could prove to be the difference in the many fights ahead. But it is reassuring to see so many Americans come out to the polls and take a stand for working people.

Despite Tuesday’s victories — across the state and the country — there’s still more work to be done. In the coming legislative session, we will continue to work with our key allies, and alongside our newly elected allies, to address the federal healthcare cuts and secure funding for our safety-net and rural-access hospitals. And in the new year, we’ll begin planning for future battlegrounds and the 2028 presidential election. This election has made it clearer than ever: When nurses make our voices heard, our communities win!

Northwell Health/Putnam Hospital Nurses Launch Email Action Ahead of Info-Picket

This week, after holding a successful virtual town-hall meeting and ahead of their informational picket on Nov. 12, NYSNA nurses at Northwell Health/Putnam Hospital launched an email action, encouraging community members to email their hospital president to demand a fair contract for nurses and patients. Putnam nurses have been bargaining for over a year, but Northwell continues to drag its feet at the bargaining table and push for nurse-to-patient ratios that would make it harder to deliver safe, quality care. Putnam nurses will never accept a contract that puts patient care at risk, so they are ramping up their campaign to tell Northwell: It’s time to listen to your nurses and prioritize patients over profits! Keep up the great work, Putnam nurses!

NYSNA Nurses Gather for Hudson Valley Interregional Meeting

On Tuesday, Nov. 3, NYSNA members from Northwell/Vassar Brothers Medical Center, Northwell/Putnam Hospital, HealthAlliance Hudson Valley and the Arlington Central School District gathered for their holiday interregional meeting to discuss recent wins, share issues across facilities, and opportunities to work together in ongoing and upcoming contract campaigns. This election night was a fitting time for nurses to come together and reflect on the victories we’ve won by working together as a union!

Convention Reminder and Resolutions

While NYSNA’s annual Convention is still fresh in our minds, it’s a good time to remind attendees to complete your continuing education forms on the NYSNA Convention app to ensure you receive credits for attending! Today, Nov. 6, is the deadline for submission. We welcome your feedback, because it helps us plan workshops for next year!

The approved Convention resolutions are now available on the NYSNA website. We can’t wait for our Convention delegates to put all these ideas into action! Stay tuned for updates and ways you can take action on the resolutions that will guide the direction of our union for the next year!

NYSNA Celebrates Forensic, Med-Surg and Urology Nurses Weeks

This week, NYSNA celebrates Forensic Nurses Week, Medical-Surgical Nurses Week, and Urology Nurses and Associates Week! Thank you for all you do to keep New Yorkers safe and healthy!

When We Fight, We Win — Now We Have to Make It Count!

With the midterm elections behind us and much to celebrate as NYSNA-endorsed champions won, we still need to ensure that every vote is counted. To protect our elections and take a moment to celebrate our victories before we start the hard work ahead of fighting for social, economic, racial and healthcare justice, join us this Saturday, Nov. 7! NYSNA will march with our labor and community allies to make sure that every vote is counted and to unite for the fights ahead.

Join NYSNA and our allies on Saturday, Nov. 7, for a mass march in defense of our democracy. Learn more and RSVP here.

NYSNA Nurses Join Senator Chuck Schumer to Announce New Legislation to Restore Healthcare Coverage for New Yorkers

On Thursday, Oct. 29, NYSNA nurses from HealthAlliance Hospital joined U.S. Senator Chuck Schumer for the announcement of the Restoring Essential Plan Coverage Act, which would reverse the cuts to federal healthcare funding and restore health insurance for New Yorkers who do not qualify for job-based insurance or Medicaid. Nearly 450,000 New Yorkers were kicked off the Essential Plan last year, as a result of the funding cuts, and this new legislation would go a long way in reducing the number of uninsured or underinsured people in our state.

The cuts to healthcare funding are already having a negative impact on patients and communities across New York, and they are only set to worsen in the new year. NYSNA nurses will continue to advocate for and support legislation that reverses the devastating cuts to healthcare funding, provides new funding for our safety-net and rural-access hospitals and increases access to care for New Yorkers.

Join the Healthcare for All Statewide Town Hall!

On Tuesday, Nov. 10, join NYSNA nurses, healthcare advocates and community members from across New York for a statewide town hall on the NY Health Act. The town hall will cover how the NY Health Act will change the lives of every day New Yorkers by creating a universal, single-payer healthcare system. RSVP here.

Labor Education Trainings — A Few More Trainings Left This Fall!

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 Thursday, Nov. 12, at noon, join members from across the state for our Staffing Enforcement: Collecting Protests of Assignments 90-minute virtual training. Protests of Assignment (POAs) are an important organizing tool in the fight to win safe staffing. POA forms are used to track patterns and provide a record that will help nurses build their case and organize action plans for better staffing on their unit, at labor-management meetings and staffing committees, and during contract negotiations, among others. Join us for a session to go over the details of filling out the form and how to engage more members to do the same in a coordinated POA campaign. Register here, and please share the flyer of upcoming workshops with your coworkers.

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 of the four parts is 3.0 CHs/0.3 CEUs. Please be in touch with us directly at [email protected] if you have any questions or 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 the United States

New York saw our first measles-associated death earlier this week — the first in over 30 years in our state. 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”

Reporting Child Abuse Course Addendum Deadline: Nov. 17, 2026

The deadline to complete NYSNA’S NYS Child Abuse: Identification and Reporting, 8th Edition — Addendum online course is just around the corner. 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. The deadline to complete the addendum is Tuesday, Nov. 17, 2026.

The addendum course is free for NYSNA members. If you are eligible, you may access the addendum course by logging onto E-LeaRN, 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.

If you have any questions about your E-LeaRN account, please contact NEP at [email protected].

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 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 before the end of the year! 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.

  • 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.