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A NEWSLETTER FOR NYSNA RNs AT WESTCHESTER MEDICAL CENTER
A Letter from your Executive Committee
Dear colleagues,
The Executive committee and I thank you for your commitment and dedication to our patients as the Nurses and Nurse Practitioners of Westchester Medical Center. Together we deliver the highest level of care to the sickest patients coming from all over the Hudson valley and beyond.
We are fortunate to have The New York State Nurses Association as our professional nursing union. NYSNA is the largest Nursing Union in the region now representing over 42,000 nurses in New York State. Together, we are strong!
The nurses at WMC are the heart and soul of patient care. We should get the respect we deserve and be supported in every way to deliver the best care to our patients. Is that not the business we are in? Patient care? We meet with nursing leadership every two weeks and your input or presentations are welcome.
As we begin 2020, we see challenges with management’s harsh changes in dealing with many individual disciplines—many of which we continue to fight for in the grievance process.
The Executive committee and delegates are available and want to hear what you have to say. More importantly, Nursing Leadership needs to hear your words.
Some of the items we have consistently brought to the agenda and remain unresolved by management are:
• Adding front line full time nurses
• Creating an incentivized float pool
• Security / visitation process and locked units
• Adding / improving training for ancillary staff
And most recently, we raised our concerns about the loss of many agency nurses who staffed our ED, leaving our level 1 trauma center in a staff crisis! We hope the 20 plus positions are filled and forever remain NYSNA nurses as they should be, along with our STAT ground team.
While we struggle with management to improve some of these conditions, we ask for your participation in our nurse practice days and future actions!
Best practice always, in solidarity,
David Long, RN
President, your NYSNA Executive Committee at Westchester Medical Center
Save the Date! NYSNA Lobby Day Tuesday, March 3
RSVP: http://bit.ly/rnld2020
Know Your Rights: Weingarten Rights
Under the Supreme Court’s Weingarten decision, when an investigatory interview occurs, the following rules apply:
RULE 1 The employee must make clear request for union representation before or during the interview. The employee cannot be punished for making this request.
RULE 2 After the employee makes the request, the Employer must choose from among three options. The Employer must either:
Grant the request and delay questioning until the Union representative arrives and has a chance to consult privately with the employee; or
Deny the request and end the interview immediately; or
Give the employee a choice of (1) having the interview without representation or (2) ending the interview.
RULE 3 If the Employer denies the request for Union representation and continues to ask questions, it commits an unfair labor practice and the employee has a right to refuse to answer. The Employer may not discipline the employee for such a refusal.
CALL NYSNA If you are called into a meeting where you believe discipline may happen, you have the right to have a NYSNA Representative present.
Invoke your rights and call us at 914-493-8329!
Nurses Connect at Westchester/Hudson Valley Inter-regional
On February 5, more than 70 nurses from Westchester Medical Center, Health Alliance Hudson Valley, the County of Westchester, St. John’s Riverside Hospital, St. Joseph’s Medical Center and Montefiore Mount Vernon Hospital joined together with more than 15 state and local elected officials at the annual Westchester/ Hudson Valley Inter-regional Winter Party. RNs shared their 2019 accomplishments, as well as strategies on moving forward to achieve their common goals of safe staffing, stopping hospital closures, and protecting our patients and communities from threats, such as the novel coronavirus. At the end of the night, members committed to many actions including attending our upcoming Albany Lobby Day on Tuesday, March 3.
WELCOME NEW MEMBERS!
Harry Meade 4N
Cynthia Mixson 4N
Nicholas Russo 4S
Kiera Green 7NE
Kate Pedersen 7NE
Judy Commen 7S
Carly Knight 7S
Sharice Lim 7S
Athena Michalatos 7S
Shannon Voelke B3
Margarita Salazar BHC
Kymouye Williams-Gourdine Burn Unit
Hayne Belmonte CT ICU
Deanna Cacioppo CT ICU
Anna Katrina Loftus CT ICU
Katherine Somefun CT ICU
Alexandra McHugh ED
Marielle Celicourt-Toussaint High Risk OB
Nosazena Iyekegbe L + D
Nina Joseph L + D
Ann Marie Wangenstein LTD
Faith Redmond NESICU
Kaylee Hart Neuro ICU
Noreen Reilly Neuro ICU
Veronica Knapp NICU
Christina Mayo NICU
Lauren Tierney NICU
Julianne Ventura NICU
Sandra Hernandez OR
Marcelina Pires OR
Nashalyn Rodriguez OR
Kerin Fazio PICU
Matthew Holden SICU
Audrey Fossett Stat Ground
UPCOMING EVENTS (For more information or to register, ask your NYSNA Rep)
✚TELEMETRY MONITORING REVIEW February 27, NYSNA Tarrytown Office
✚LOBBY DAY March 3, Albany
✚CHARTING WITH A JURY IN MIND PT. 1 March 31, NYSNA Tarrytown Office
✚REDUCING VIOLENCE IN HEALTHCARE April 7, NYSNA Tarrytown Office
✚ELECTRONIC FETAL MONITORING CERT. April 13, NYSNA Tarrytown Office
✚MINI LOBBY DAY April 21, Albany
✚OPERATING ROOM CERT. REVIEW May 11, NYSNA Tarrytown Office
Executive Committee
David Long, RN President, CCU
Zina Klein, RN 1st Vice President, EICU
Liesl Van Ledtje, RN 2nd Vice President, BHC/B2
Mary-Lynn Boyts, RN Grievance Co-Chair, OR
Corinne Noonan, RN Grievance Co-Chair, 4N
Jayne Cammisa, RN Secretary & NYSNA Release Time Representative
Deb Cava, RN Night Chairperson, Nursing Supervision
GET ANSWERS/STAY IN TOUCH HEALTH BENEFITS
NYSNA WMC Office: Phone 914-493-8329 Fax 914-493-7175 Email jayne.cammisa@nysna.org
Integrated Disability: Phone Lisa Okoro 914-493-2630 Email IntegratedDisability@WMCHealth.org
NYS Retirement System: Phone 866-805-0990 or www.osc.state.ny.us/retire/retirement_online/customers.php
NYSNA Welfare Funds: Phone 800-537-1237 or www.asonet.com
Payroll Services Hotline: Phone 914-493-2704 Email Payroll_Services@WMCHealth.org
Kronos Help Hotline: Phone 914-493-246793 Email KronosHelp@WMCHealth.org
Corporate Compliance: Phone 866-545-0038 or 914-493-2600
Personal Protection and Safety Hotline 24/7: Phone 844-492-1321
SPAN: Phone 800-457-7261
WMC Health Benefits: Phone 914-493-7144 Email BenefitsHelp@wmchealth.org
Aetna Medical/Rx: www.aetna.com and www.aetnanavigator.com
Aetna EAP: www.resourcesforliving.com
Teladoc: www.teladoc.com/aetna
Cigna Dental: www.mycigna.com
EyeMed Vision: www.eyemedvisioncare.com
WageWorks FSA & Commuter Benefits: www.wageworks.com
