NOVEMBER 2018
A NEWSLETTER FOR NYSNA RNs AT NYC HEALTH + HOSPITALS
NPs in Queens Get Their Due Nurse Practitioners are invaluable in the NYC Health + Hospitals system. With advanced nursing practice and increased responsibilities should come increased pay. Throughout NYC H+H, nurses with BSN, MSN and NP certification are entitled to additional certification pay that is specified in our negotiated contracts. Some Nurse Practitioners at Elmhurst and Queens Hospitals were very concerned when they stopped receiving their certification pay earlier this year. Recently hired NPs were not getting certification pay. When NPs asked payroll why they were no longer getting paid correctly, they were told that NP certification is a requirement of the position, and therefore certification pay would not be paid. Human resource personnel stated this was a new policy from downtown. “I could not find a written policy supporting this punitive action regarding NP certification pay,” said Mary C. Madden, NP, Chairperson of the Nurse Practitioner Council at Elmhurst. “We pursued it with Nursing Payroll, HR, and main Payroll.” NYSNA filed a grievance on the nurses’ behalf, and then
made our voices heard at a payroll task force meeting in July. It was acknowledged that all certified NPs were owed certification pay. Nurse Practitioners were soon made whole, and NYSNA was able to withdraw the grievance. NP Madden concluded, “The disparity in salary between the private sector NP and the public sector NP is tremendous. NPs who choose to work for the poor and underprivileged need to make sure that we get every penny that is contractually due. It’s the hospital’s responsibility to make sure that happens, but it’s also each nurse’s responsibility to know what should be in our paycheck. It is really important for all professional nurses to be aware of how much money they get paid, what categories they’re supposed to get paid for, when their certification paperwork is due, when experience differential is supposed to kick in, and how much that differential is supposed to be.” This year, the American Association of Nurse Practitioner designated November 11-17 National Nurse Practitioners Week, in recognition of the exceptional care that NPs provide. We can’t think of a better way to celebrate NPs than to make sure they receive the proper pay—and respect—they deserve!
WE ARE NURSES, WE ARE NYSNA!
Bellevue Nurses Defend Safe Pediatric Triage Back in mid-October, ER nurses caught wind of a plan to begin handling triage of pediatric emergency patients in the adult ED and in the ambulance bay with adults. This plan was put together by doctors, clerks and admins, without the input of nursing staff, with the stated goal of promoting efficiency. Where administrators predicted efficiency, nurses predicted patient care problems. ED nurses quickly mobilized and put together a survey to assess and express RNs’ concerns with the proposal. We immediately raised our concerns about the proposal in the next Nurse Practice Committee (NPC) meeting. In the NPC, nurses shared our belief that Bellevue’s adult ED, which sees a large population of patients with psychiatric or substance abuse issues, was not a safe or appropriate triage area for children. Bellevue also treats a large population of vulnerable children, because it is home to the City’s only Children’s Comprehensive Psychiatric Emergency Program. These young patients would not be well served in the environment of the adult ED, where violent outbursts are a regular occurrence. The shortage of hospital police at times in the adult ED +would only compound problems.
“Nurses also signed onto an ED Throughput Improvement Request that outlined several alternative solutions to reduce the length of stay without sacrificing patient safety,” explained Christine De Garay, RN. “Once we took our concerns to the Joint Labor-Management Committee meeting, we got agreement from everyone—from cabinet members, to the head of patient experience—and we halted this plan.” Through the seriousness of the concerns that nurses raised, and our organization and unity, we were able to put Administration’s plan on hold indefinitely! Nursing management is on the same page as rank and file staff nurses, and agreed that nurses should be leading this decision-making process. Christine concluded, “Nurses took on this issue, made it our own, and now we’re working on an operation plan to improve the length of stay and protect pediatric patients. We want a safe plan that meets the needs of all staff members—but first and foremost, all patients.”
NYC H+H Nurses Focus on Safety In what other profession are people expected to lift 200 - 300 pounds without the use of machinery? No wonder nurses have higher rates of musculoskeletal injuries than construction workers, warehouse workers, and almost every other category of worker! It is also no wonder that nurses are starting to raise demands about our own safety. On October 30-31, over 300 healthcare workers throughout the state attended the NYS Zero Lift Task Force’s 10th annual Safe Patient Handling Conference in Syracuse. NYSNA public sector nurses attended the conference, and several were expert presenters.
Alicia Butler, RN, of Correctional Health Services, said, “The SPH conference is an awesome opportunity to network and learn with a group of people who share your mission—SAFETY!!!” The next statewide conference will be held on Long Island on March 25. It’s expected to sell out quickly. Stay tuned for registration information. NYSNA also puts on Safe Patient Handling trainings throughout the city. In early October, nurses at Metropolitan Hospital attended a half-day training focused on the safest methods to move patients and the benefits to patients, healthcare providers and healthcare institutions of comprehensive safe patient handling programs. On November 20, H+H nurses attended a free Safe Patient Handling workshop at Gouverneur. To find out what you can do to improve nurse safety in your facility, please contact healthandsafety@nysna. org.
NOVEMBER 2018
A Newsletter for NYSNA RNs at NYC Health + Hospitals
We need to expand our involvement and commitment to successfully fight for the contract our nurses need and deserve. We are currently recruiting CAT members in all our facilities and need everyone to get involved. Bargaining surveys are now being distributed and collected to find out what NYSNA members top priorities are, and to help us formulate our contract proposals and bargaining campaign strategy.
Contract Campaign Heating Up The NYSNA contract with NYC H+H/Mayorals is expiring on June 5, 2019. We are now gearing up to start bargaining with NYC H+H and the City. Member bargaining surveys are being collected and contract action teams are being formed! We need to work together to get a new contract that protects our patients, maintains services for our communities, improves our wages and working conditions, and gives nurses, other health care workers and communities a direct say in the decision making process within the public health system. On November 17th, we held a dynamic training session attended by more than 30 members of our Negotiations Committee and our Contract Action Teams.
We are also holding a NYC H+H/Mayorals Bargaining Conference on January 5, 2019 to fully discuss and develop our approach to the upcoming negotiations. The Bargaining Conference will include the Negotiations Committee, local elected Delegates and Contract Action Team members. We will have further details about the time and location shortly. All members who are interested in joining the Contract Action Team should contact their local representative or Henry Rose at (917) 8438022 for more details.
Know Your Contract: Tuition Reimbursement
SAVE THE DATE!
Have you ever been required to take a course in order to continue working in a specialty field? If so, according to the Guidelines for Tuition Reimbursement for Registered Professional Nurses, NYCH+H is responsible for paying for your course! Recently, five Woodhull nurses working in some areas of maternal child were required to pay for the online portion of an NRP course—a requirement in their work area. Although it was not a lot of money, nurses knew it was not right. We filed a grievance and won reimbursement. If you have questions about tuition reimbursement, talk to your Rep!
H+H/Mayorals Bargaining Conference
SATURDAY, JANUARY 5
UPCOMING EVENTS
(For more information or to register, ask your NYSNA Rep or visit www.nysna.org/events)
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PROGRESSIVE CARE CERT. REVIEW
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NEONATAL NURSING CERT. REVIEW
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NYSNA CONVENTION
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NEPHROLOGY NURSING CERT. REVIEW
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NYC H+H BARGAINING CONFERENCE
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MEDICAL MISSION & DISASTER RELIEF
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MEDICAL MISSION & DISASTER RELIEF
November 27, NYSNA NYC Office November 29-30, NYSNA NYC Office December 7 & 8, Sheraton Times Sq. December 17, NYSNA NYC Office January 5, NYC January 21-29, India Feb 26 - March 6, Philippines
Save the Date: NYSNA Convention December 7 & 8, 2018 RSVP to: mcp@nysna.org
NYC H+H & MAYORAL EXECUTIVE COUNCIL CHAIRS RNS: • Naomi Greene, Administration for Children’s Services • Todd Schultz, Bellevue Hospital Center • Jovana Woodley, Coler Specialty Hospital & Nursing Facility • Ray Briggs, Coney Island Hospital • Audrey Morgan, Correctional Health Services • Florence Exinor, Cumberland D & T Center • Keysha Morris, Department of Correction • Theresa Minarik, Department of Sanitation • Patricia Morris, Dr. Susan Smith McKinney Nursing & Rehab Ctr • Deborah Gatson, East NY D & T Center • Pauline Williams, Elmhurst Hospital Center • James Ambery, Fire Department • Kittie McGee, Harlem Hospital Center • Grace Lee, Gouverneur Healthcare Services • Peter Pacheco, Henry J. Carter Specialty Hosp. & Nursing Facility • Rivka Elyahu, HHC Health and Home Care • Yelena Levin, Human Resources Administration • Mary Simon, Jacobi Medical Center • Curlean Duncan, Kings County Hospital Center • Marsha Wilson, Lincoln Medical and Mental Health Center • Charles Mighty, Metropolitan Hospital Center • Nicole Smith Ferguson, Morrisania D & T Center • Lynne Sanderson Burgess, Police Department • Sharon Greenaway, North Central Bronx Hospital • Lindella Artman, Queens Hospital Center • Stephen Nartey, Renaissance Healthcare Network • Kimberly Yeo, Sea View Hospital Rehabilitation Center & Home • Natalie Solomon, Segundo Ruiz Belvis D&TC • Judith Cutchin, Woodhull Medical & Mental Health Center
GET ANSWERS/STAY IN TOUCH Dental benefit questions: www.Aetna.com, 877-238-6200 Prescription benefit questions: www.optumrx.com, 888-691-0130 For all other benefits: www.ASOnet.com, 888-692-7671 NYSNA NYC Office: www.nysna.org, 212 785 0157 NYSNA Board of Directors: www.nysna.org/board-directors
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