Dear Friend,

Nurses Week Celebrations Continue Across New York State

Official Nurses Week celebrations may be over, but NYSNA is continuing to celebrate nurses throughout May! Check out more photos from Nurses Week events across New York state celebrating the power of nurses!

Last weekend, two NYSNA nurses from the Brooklyn Hospital Center — Yvette Byer-Henry and Rehanna Lowtan — were honored at New York City Council Member Crystal Hudson’s Mother’s Day celebration. Congratulations, Yvette and Rehanna!

St. Lawrence Health/Canton-Potsdam Hospital Nurses Win Unpaid Shift Differential Arbitration

On Friday, May 8, NYSNA nurses at St. Lawrence Health/Canton-Potsdam Hospital celebrated Nurses Week by emerging victorious in an arbitration over unpaid shift differentials! Earlier this year, Canton-Potsdam nurses noticed a discrepancy in the way evening shift differentials were being applied: While nurses working 10- and 12-hour shifts were receiving the differential after 3 p.m., nurses working 7.5-hour shifts were not if they worked half or more of their shift after 3 p.m. After determining that this pay practice was not a part of their collective bargaining agreement and had not been discussed at bargaining, nurses brought the case to arbitration — and won! The arbitrator ordered payment of the unpaid shift differential for nurses working 7.5-hour shifts dating back to January 2025. Congratulations, Canton-Potsdam nurses — what a way to kick off Nurses Week!

UVM-Champlain Valley Physicians Hospital Members Plan Info-Picket

This week, NYSNA members at University of Vermont-Champlain Valley Physicians Hospital marched on the boss to deliver an informational picket notice. Next week, nurses and healthcare professionals are picketing to demand a fair contract that includes urgent action to ensure safe staffing levels and quality patient care, as well as accountability from management. Last year, management unilaterally changed staffing on several units and are looking to make changes to staffing language in healthcare workers’ contract that would put Plattsburgh patients at risk. At the notice delivery, NYSNA members reminded hospital management that they are patient advocates, first and foremost, and will do whatever it takes to secure the fair contract their community deserves!

NYSNA Nurses Join New York Health Act Lobby Day

This week, NYSNA nurses were back at the New York Capitol to advocate for the passage of the New York Health Act, which would guarantee high-quality comprehensive healthcare for all New Yorkers, regardless of income, employment or immigration status. Nurses joined advocates, allies, and our healthcare champions in Albany for a speak-out, where NYSNA Western Regional Director John Batson, RN spoke about the life-changing impact the New York Health Act would have on our most vulnerable patients and communities.

Nurses joined advocates, allies, and our healthcare champions in Albany for a speak-out to talk about the life-changing impact the New York Health Act would have on our most vulnerable patients and communities. With nearly half a million New Yorkers set to lose their healthcare coverage because of the cuts to federal healthcare funding, we need affordable, universal healthcare now more than ever!

To get involved in the fight for universal healthcare, join the NYSNA Single Payer Committee’s next meeting on Wednesday, May 20, at 8 p.m. Sign up here.

Northwell Health/Putnam Hospital Nurses March on the Boss

On Thursday, May 14, NYSNA nurses at Northwell Health/Putnam Hospital marched on the boss to demand a fair contract! For months, nurses have been fighting for a fair contract that includes enforceable safe staffing ratios and improved retirement and compensation that reflects nurses’ experience and value to the hospital and their community. During their march on the boss, nurses delivered a petition outlining their demands that more than 80% of the Putnam bargaining unit signed. In addition to taking their demands to hospital administrators, nurses are also delivering their demands to the executives at Northwell headquarters on Long Island. Keep up the great work, Putnam nurses!

NYSNA Nurses Gather for Spring Interregionals

This week, NYSNA nurses who live or work in Brooklyn and Queens gathered for their spring interregional meetings. Both meetings were well attended and led by a member of the NYSNA Board of Directors: NYSNA President Nancy Hagans, BSN, RN, CCRN, in Brooklyn, and NYSNA Secretary Michelle Jones, MSN, RN, APRN, in Queens. At the interregionals, nurses listened to updates from facilities in Brooklyn and Queens, a report back from this winter’s historic NYC nurse strike, and highlights from NYSNA victories across the state. Interregionals are always a great time to build relationships with NYSNA members from different facilities, and President Hagans and Secretary Jones encouraged to attendees to continue to get to know their union siblings and get more involved in the union in the lead up to the 2026 NYSNA Convention!

Protesting Your Assignment Self-Guided Course

Just in time for Nurses’ Week, NYSNA’s Nursing Education and Practice department has a new “Protesting Your Assignment” self-guided course. Click here to 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.

2026 NYSNA Primary Election Endorsements

NYSNA is proud to announce our first round of endorsements for the 2026 June Primary Election! Our ability to strengthen our public health infrastructure, our social safety net, and take action to support frontline workers depends on electing candidates who support nurses, healthcare professionals, and our communities. These candidates share our values of community and compassion and will fight for us, our patients and working people everywhere. See our full list of endorsements at nysna.org/endorsements.

Mark the following dates on your calendar; make a plan to vote; and let’s ensure we, as NYSNA members, turn out in record numbers to make our voices heard!

Key Election Dates:

• June 13: Voter registration deadline

• June 13-21: Early voting period

• June 23: Election Day

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!

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!

Save the Date: 2026 NYSNA Convention

Save the date 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. Download and share the flyer, and stay tuned for more information!

Save the Date: 2026 NYSNA Parade and GOTV Calendar

Save the date for upcoming parades and get out the vote (GOTV) opportunities! Download and share the 2026 NYSNA Parade and GOTV Calendar with your colleagues.

Summer 2026 Labor Education Trainings Open for Registration (updated)

The Summer 2026 Labor Education schedule is ready!

Thank you to everyone who attended Member Leader Trainings 1-3 this spring and please note that it’s not too late to sign up for Part 4 of our four-part Leadership Training next week. While taking all four parts is recommended, we encourage members to take as many as possible, with more trainings planned for the future. You can register here and please share with your coworkers!

Our last standard spring workshop, “Learning How to Mobilize Members for Union Events and Actions,” is Thursday, May 21 at 7:30 p.m. via Zoom. Please use this link to register and thanks for sharing with your co-workers.

NYSNA’s Labor Education Department trains members on how to become more engaged in the union’s work. Please email [email protected] directly if you have questions or to schedule a workshop in your facility.

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.

New: Inclement Weather Preparedness Guide

Massive unprecedented rainstorms, wildfires and smoke exposure, higher temperatures and larger snowstorms… is your employer ready for the new reality of severe weather events? Many NYSNA employers are not. Check out the latest from NYSNA Health and Safety, a new guide spelling out what our employers need to do before, during and after severe weather hits. The guide walks through the steps employers should take to be better prepared for severe weather, and it specifically addresses the many issues that arise for nurses during these events.

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 information!

Combatting Workplace Violence

Workplace violence remains one of the biggest concerns for NYSNA members. While workplace violence rates have fallen overall in the U.S., they continue to rise in the healthcare workplace. Unfortunately, nurses are the most frequent victims. A new law and new contract language aim to protect healthcare workers from workplace violence.

Learn more about a new state law that will soon require hospitals and nursing homes to conduct workplace violence assessments and create workplace violence prevention plans. And learn more about how NYSNA members have used their collective bargaining agreements to improve safety.

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”

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.

Spots are limited — register early.

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.

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.

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 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.

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