Dear Friend,

Catholic Health/St. Charles Nurses Vote to Authorize Strike

This week, nearly 300 NYSNA nurses at Catholic Health/St. Charles Hospital voted unanimously to authorize a strike! The vote comes after nurses’ contract expired at the end of March and after more than a dozen bargaining sessions with management. Now, the St. Charles Executive Committee has the authority to call a strike with a 10-day notice if hospital management fails to settle a fair contract.

On Friday, June 11, nurses held a press conference to announce the results of the strike vote and to call attention to the ongoing staffing crisis at St. Charles. Despite agreeing to safe staffing standards during nurses’ previous contract campaign, hospital management has consistently disregarded the previously agreed-upon ratios and New York’s safe staffing law. Ryan Stanton, executive director of the Long Island Federation of Labor, joined nurses at the press conference. See photos from this week’s strike vote and today’s press conference at facebook.com/nynurses.

Keep up the good fight, St. Charles nurses! Your community is relying on you to safeguard patient care in Port Jeff!

NYSNA nurses at Catholic Health/St. Joseph Hospital are also continuing bargaining after their previous contract expired in March. Nurses at Catholic Health/St. Catherine of Siena are set to begin bargaining this week, though their contract does not expire until the end of July. Nurses at all three Catholic Health hospitals are united for fair contracts that deliver safe staffing, protections from workplace violence and fair wages.

BronxCare Special Care Nurses Ratify New Contract!

This week, NYSNA nurses at BronxCare Special Care voted overwhelmingly to ratify a new contract! Highlights of the contract include improvements to staffing enforcement language, protections against discipline when using contractual sick time, and 4% wage increases in each year of the contract. Congratulations, BronxCare Special Care nurses!

NYSNA Nurses at The Brooklyn Hospital Center Continue Staffing Victories

Last week, through the new staffing enforcement process won in their latest contract campaign, NYSNA nurses at The Brooklyn Hospital Center (TBHC) secured another staffing victory! The emergency department will add 12 new full-time nurses, a much-needed increase in staffing that will bring the department to the staffing levels that NYSNA members fought for and are contractually entitled to.

Over the last three weeks, NYSNA members at TBHC have won increased staffing on three units: the intensive care unit, cardiac-telemetry and the emergency department. In total, these three staffing victories will add 37 new NYSNA nurses to the ranks at TBHC. Congratulations, TBHC nurses!

CVPH Members Take Action for a Fair Contract

On Wednesday, June 10, UVM-Champlain Valley Physicians Hospital (CVPH) members marched to deliver a strong message to the CEO: "Stop playing games and get serious about our contract!" CVPH nurses and healthcare professionals continue to fight for enforceable safe staffing, no change to health benefits, layoff protections, and fair wage increases. To continue the pressure, members are placing lawn signs in the community, wearing stickers, and plan to hold management accountable at the next bargaining session.

Staffing Committee Talks New Resources and Strategy

On Thursday evening, NYSNA members gathered on Zoom for the second meeting of NYSNA's Statewide Safe Staffing Committee. NYSNA Healthcare Staffing Coordinator Margaret Franks, RN, opened the meeting with a presentation that included a demonstration of the new safe staffing resources on the NYSNA website and highlights of the recent The Brooklyn Hospital Center staffing enforcement victories. Michelle Corda from Montefiore Nyack presented how nurses tracked 90 days of staffing data to build three staffing arbitration cases. Joanna Classen from Northwell/ Peconic Bay Medical Center presented how nurses submitted six months' worth of their staffing committee's unresolved staffing complaints to the New York State Department of Health, prompting an investigation. Nurses expect to see the results from both safe staffing campaigns very soon. Read more about the robust discussion in the meeting on the My Membership section of the NYSNA website. The next Statewide Staffing Committee meeting will take place on Sept. 10.

Get Out the Vote With NYSNA!

It’s election season, and early voting begins tomorrow! We are proud to have endorsed candidates who share our values of community and compassion and will fight for us, our patients and working people everywhere. From the Bronx to Buffalo, we’ve already been hitting the doors and phones across the state to make sure our endorsed candidates win. You can still sign up for a canvas or phone bank shift between now and Election Day at https://bit.ly/NYSNAGOTVsignup.

You can also find NYSNA’s list of endorsed candidates and a tool to find your polling location at https://www.nysna.org/endorsements.

Make a plan to vote, and let’s ensure that we, as NYSNA members, turn out in record numbers and make our voices heard!

Free Workers’ Compensation Town Hall for NYSNA Members

NYSNA has been fighting to protect the right to medical care and wage replacement for frontline nurses through New York’s workers’ compensation system.

If you have filed for workers’ compensation and need help navigating the system or simply want to know what your rights are under the law, join us Wednesday, June 17, at 8:00 p.m. for NYSNA’s latest workers’ compensation town hall. Register here.

Compassion Recharged: Navigating Nursing Stress and Burnout and Cultivating Connection and Resilience

On June 24, at noon, join Statewide Peer Assistance for Nurses (SPAN) for a free Wellness Wednesday workshop! Attendees will learn to identify the impact of nursing stress and burnout, practice strategies for managing emotions and sustaining self-care, and develop an individual path of cultivating connection and resilience! Register here.

Join the Fight for Healthcare for All!

The fight to guarantee healthcare for all is just getting started. Momentum is growing with the release of the Campaign for New York Health report about how much money cities and municipalities around New York will save when the NY Health Act is passed into law. Get involved in the fight for universal healthcare--join the NYSNA Single Payer Committee’s next meeting on Wednesday, June 17, at 8 p.m. Sign up here.

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. Visit the Convention page on the NYSNA website to download and share the save the date flyer and find important information for delegates and attendees. Online registration, course listings, and hotel and travel information are coming soon, so stay tuned!

Save the Date: NYC Puerto Rican Day Parade

Save the date for the 2026 New York City Puerto Rican Day Parade! Join the vibrant celebration of culture and community on Sunday, June 14, 2026. March with your fellow NYSNA nurses along Fifth Avenue to honor the rich heritage and contributions of Puerto Ricans across the country! RSVP today!

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.

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: 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.

New Report Details Rising Tide of Gun Violence in Healthcare Settings

A new report from researchers at the Mayo Clinic documents the continued rise in the number of healthcare-based shootings in the United States. NYSNA nurses know this to be true: In recent years, shootings have taken place at Brooklyn Methodist Hospital, BronxCare, Westchester County Medical Center, Erie County Medical Center, Ellenville Regional Hospital, NYC Health+Hospitals/Jacobi Medical Center and outside the emergency department of Mount Sinai Hospital. That’s why nurses are taking action to implement protections against workplace violence at the facility, local and state levels. Read more about the new report and NYSNA’s contract and legislative victories on workplace violence here.

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.

NYSNA at the National AFL-CIO Convention

As National Nurses (NNU) United delegates, NYSNA President Nancy Hagans, RN, BSN, CCRN, and First Vice President Dr. Judith Cutchin, RN, DNP, traveled to Minneapolis to participate in the national AFL-CIO Convention. This was the first time NYSNA members participated in the largest gathering of union leaders in the country. Hagans presented Resolution #8, Healthy Life and Safe Workplaces, advocating for Medicare for All. The convention featured new organizing efforts from unions around the country as well as prominently displayed pictures and videos from NYSNA’s New York City nurse strike.

New Data Shows There Is a Nurse Retention Crisis, not a Nurse Shortage

Recently released data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics confirms what frontline nurses already know: There is no shortage of registered nurses in this country. Instead, increasingly poor working conditions are driving nurses away from the bedside. Check out this recently released fact sheet from National Nurses United (NNU), which analyzes nursing workforce data and shows how safe nurse-to-patient staffing ratios can improve nurse retention in hospitals.

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.

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 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