Dear Friend,

Nurses Unite to Protect Our Patients, Practice and Union: Highlights From the 2026 NYSNA Convention

On Oct. 26 and Oct. 27, NYSNA members from across the state gathered in New York City for the 2026 NYSNA Convention. Over the course of the two-day Convention, members celebrated NYSNA’s 125th anniversary, built nurse power, furthered their nursing education and voted on our union’s direction for the coming year. Every attendee lived out this year’s Convention theme: “NYSNA Healthcare Defenders: Nurses Unite to Protect Our Patients, Practice and Union.”

The 2026 NYSNA Convention kicked off with a bang! During the opening ceremony, NYSNA President Nancy Hagans, BSN, RN, CCRN, highlighted the incredible work members did this year — from our victories in the historic New York City nurse strike to securing stabilization funds to keep safety-net hospitals across the state open. Hagans also spoke on the work still left to be done, as we push back on cuts to federal healthcare funding and stand against greedy hospital systems that prioritize profits over patients: “Corporate power in healthcare is not going away soon enough. And it definitely won’t go away without a fight. It will take all of us uniting to protect our patients, our practice and our union to continue making real improvements in our work, our lives and our patients’ lives.”

Day 1 of the convention was filled with educational workshops where NYSNA members refreshed themselves on nursing practice skills and built new organizing and communications skills. For the first time, workshop offerings included a stroke-themed escape room — which got great reviews!

During Day 1, NYSNA members also screened “Takeover,” a documentary about the 1970 takeover of Lincoln Hospital by the Young Lords, who were demanding increased access to safe, quality care for their community in the South Bronx. The screening included a tribute to Minerva Solla, who was a member of the Young Lords during that time, a life-long labor activist and community organizer, and former NYSNA Director of Cultural Affairs. You can view the documentary here.

We closed out Day 1 with two guest speakers: New York State Attorney General Letitia James and New York City Deputy Mayor for Economic Justice Julie Su. Both James and Su are huge allies to nurses and workers across the state, and both joined nurses on the picket lines this winter in the fight to protect patient care in New York City.

On Day 2 of Convention, member-observers continued with educational workshops, while NYSNA delegates engaged in a day of union democracy, introducing and voting on resolutions to guide the union’s direction in the coming year. In Hagans’ last Convention as NYSNA president and Voting Body chair, she navigated the delegates through a record 33 resolutions. Nurses stepped into their power at the 2026 NYSNA Convention and left empowered to continue our fight to protect our patients, practice and union! Check out photos from Convention on the NYSNA Facebook page and in this slideshow.

NYC Health+Hospitals/Kings County Nurses Win Reinstatement for Suspended Member

In early October, management at NYC Health+Hospitals (H+H)/Kings retaliated against and suspended, without pay, a nurse practitioner and local bargaining unit vice president for advocating for safe staffing. In response, NYSNA nurses and our allies made our voices heard! More than 1,000 people signed a petition demanding that H+H reinstate the suspended nurse practitioner, and Kings nurses held a speak-out outside the hospital, where members gave powerful testimony about union nurses’ rights to speak to colleagues and advocate for nurse and patient safety.

Nurses received an outpouring of support from elected officials, including letters sent by Senator Zellnor Myrie, Assembly Members Brian Cunningham and Phara Souffrant Forrest, and New York City Council Members Rita Joseph and Farah Louis. Senator Jabari Brisport, Assembly Member Monique Chandler-Waterman and New York City Council Member Mercedes Narcisse also provided strong advocacy.

This week, H+H agreed to reinstate the suspended nurse practitioner — with full back pay! Great work, H+H nurses, rallying for your rights and showing H+H that NYSNA members will never stop advocating for safe staffing and our union rights!

Recognizing the Anniversary of Hurricane Sandy

This week, NYSNA recognizes the anniversary of Hurricane Sandy, which forced the evacuation of multiple hospitals in the tri-state area, displaced entire communities, and changed many people’s lives forever. Nurses were heroic in the face of the devastation, helping to bring more than 1,200 patients to safety and playing a critical role in the recovery efforts.

Since then, hospitals have worked to become more climate-resilient and disaster-ready. Is your facility prepared for this hurricane season and beyond? Honor the anniversary of Hurricane Sandy by reviewing NYSNA’s Weather Emergency Preparedness Checklist, a tool you can use when assessing your facility’s preparedness with management. You can also join the Emergency Preparedness Committee by emailing NYSNA’s Occupational Health and Safety Representatives at [email protected].

Northwell/Putnam Nurses Deliver Info-Picket Notice to Management

Today, NYSNA nurses at Northwell Health/Putnam Hospital delivered an informational picket notice to hospital management! For nearly one year, nurses have been bargaining for a fair union contract that would protect patient care in their community, but Northwell has pushed back on nurses’ attempts to include safe staffing language in their contract. Last week, nurses held a virtual town-hall meeting with elected officials and labor allies to spread the news to community members. Now, nurses are taking the next step to show management they are serious about settling the fair contract that Putnam County nurses and patients deserve — keep up the great work, Putnam nurses!

NYSNA Celebrates Orthopaedic Nurses Week

Happy Orthopaedic Nurses Week! Thank you to our ortho nurse members for all you do to care for your patients’ bones and joints throughout the year.

Remembering Renee Mauro, RN

With deep sadness and heavy hearts, we share the news of the passing of Renee Mauro, RN, former president of the local bargaining unit at NewYork-Presbyterian/Hudson Valley Hospital on Oct. 19, 2026. Renee was a dear friend and colleague to many, and a fierce advocate for nurses and nursing practice throughout her life. Her time, dedication, expertise, and love for her patients and fellow nurses will not be forgotten. Please keep her family and friends in your thoughts during this difficult time. For those wishing to pay their respects, see the arrangements for her services here.

NYSNA Nurses Join Press Conference to Announce the Improving Medicare Coverage Act

On Friday, Oct. 23, NYSNA nurses attended a press conference in Poughkeepsie announcing the introduction of the Improving Medicare Coverage Act. This new legislation would lower the Medicare eligibility age from 65 to 50 and would provide healthcare coverage for millions of uninsured and underinsured Americans. NYSNA Director at Large Christina Evans, RN, spoke at the press conference alongside U.S. Representatives Pat Ryan and Pramila Jayapal, two of the bill’s co-leads. The Improving Medicare Coverage Act would go a long way in combatting the impacts from the cuts to federal healthcare funding we’ve seen over the last year and help some of our most vulnerable New Yorkers get access to essential healthcare coverage. NYSNA nurses are proud to support legislation that improves access to care for New Yorkers!

Early Voting Ends Sunday, Nov. 1 — Let’s Get Out the Vote!

Early voting for the 2026 general election ends on Sunday, Nov. 1, so it’s time to get out the vote (GOTV)! From now until the election, Team NYSNA will continue to hit the phones and knock on doors to help elect nurse champions who will stand with us in the fight for safe staffing, fair union contracts and healthcare justice.

With so much at stake in this coming election, be sure to sign up for a GOTV canvass or phone bank near you!

Make a plan to vote today, and be sure to vote for NYSNA champions on the Working Families Party line — Row D!

Find your New York City voter information and poll site here. Find your New York State voter information and poll site here. For other questions about voter information, call the New York State Voter Information Hotline at 1-800-367-8683.

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.

Join NYSNA and our allies on Saturday, Nov. 7, 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. Learn more and RSVP here.

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].

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.

New From The Wall Street Journal: “Nurses Are in High Demand—But They’re Quitting in Droves”

Last week, The Wall Street Journal wrote about an issue that NYSNA nurses have been talking about for years: nurse burnout and moral injury. While demand for nurses has never been higher, many are leaving the profession due to workplace violence, short staffing and high workloads. Read the full article here.

NYSNA has been fighting — and will continue to fight — these issues at the facility level through safe staffing committees and protections won in contract bargaining. And at the state level, NYSNA will continue to fight via legislative advocacy, like our groundbreaking staffing legislation, which established safe staffing standards at all New York hospitals in 2021.

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