JUNE 2018
A NEWSLETTER FOR NYSNA RNs AT WESTCHESTER MEDICAL CENTER
Nurses Win More Staff for 4North In December, Westchester Medical Center management decided to decrease the beds in 4 North, a dynamic and fast-paced trauma/bariatric unit that also cares for general surgical patients. The change was intended to increase patient satisfaction by renovating and modernizing rooms. The plan was to create private rooms instead of double rooms, which would become cramped with all the equipment, staff and visitors. Beds were cut from 42 to 20 to create the private rooms, and four swing rooms remained to accommodate any unexpected rise in patient census. Eight new RNs volunteered and were transferred to 6 North. The change lasted about three shifts—or 36 hours—before the census surged. Suddenly four nurses were caring for a consistently high number of patients—over thirty on most shifts. The census remained in the 30’s, but the unit was only staffed with 4 RNs per shift. “It felt like we were being set up for failure,” said Corinne Noonan, RN, an Assistant Manager on 4N and NYSNA Release Time Representative. “Our patients have high acuity and sometimes high-risk behaviors. We were see-
ing an increase in codes, an increase in rapid response, and an increase in patient complaints. It was so disheartening. Nurses got the job done, but not up to the level we know we can deliver and want to deliver for our patients.” Nurses began speaking up, but upper management didn’t seem to recognize that the changes they made to the unit were negatively impacting patient care. Nurses took it to the next level, writing a joint letter to outline the problems and presenting the letter at the April Labor-Management meeting. We kept up the pressure, and the new Interim Director of Nursing finally admitted that the change was not working and started opening up lines. Management agreed to hire four new nurses for 4N—two for the day shift, and two for the night shift. Westchester Med also agreed to hire 28 agency nurses to cover several units that are chronically understaffed, including 4N, until the new hires are trained and complete orientation. Corinne explained, “We have a good starting point, so we’re feeling hope for the first time in a while. The nurses are not surrendering. We have power in numbers. Being here and doing our best under the circumstances is a show of our strength and our commitment to nursing.”
WE ARE NURSES, WE ARE NYSNA!
Based on our size, Westchester Medical Center will be able to send 16 delegates to the NYSNA Convention. Nominations for delegates were made at the June 6 monthly LBU meeting, and voting will take place outside the main cafeteria on these days in June: 18, 20, 22, 25, 26, and 27. Check out the list of nominees and don’t forget to cast your vote!
Delegate Nominees
A Message from Your Executive Committee: Get Ready to Vote for Your New WMC Convention Delegates! At NYSNA’s 2017 Convention, the union took a big step forward. After years of discussion and debate, members voted to restructure the Convention, our highest governing body, to make it more democratic and accountable. Starting in the Spring of 2018, each local bargaining unit will vote for co-workers to represent them at our annual Convention. This is an exciting opportunity for NYSNA members to have a greater voice in decisionmaking and shape the direction of our union. For more background, visit: https://www.nysna.org/delegate
Lyssy Alex Jane Barrett Mary Lynn Boyts Sam Caquias Deb Cava Deb Coyne Jessica Cronin Kathy Drogan Terry Edwards Zina Klein David Long Lori Maruschak Philip Mattioli Jeries Nesheiwat Corinne Noonan Lorena Padilla Francesa Palma Jessy Paul Mary Pat Salsbery-Stoller Liesl Van Ledtje Wilma Wynter
Political Corner We need more elected officials who understand the need for safe staffing, and will do the right thing and get this bill passed. That’s why NYSNA is proud to endorse two outstanding members who are running for the State Assembly, NYSNA Treasurer Pat Kane, RN and Karines Reyes, RN. Learn more about their campaigns, volunteer, or just help us spread the word to friends and family who live in Staten Island and the Bronx! Visit http://bit.ly/2kO4wlW
JUNE 2018
A Newsletter for NYSNA RNs at Westchester Medical Center
nurses signed onto a giant POA. We plan to continue collecting signatures and POAs and delivering them to management at their July Board of Directors meeting, and until we see the new job postings and influx of new nurses that we need.
Safe Staffing in Every Hospital
WMC Nurses Launch Hospital-Wide Staffing Campaign The fight for safe staffing is heating up in Albany, and it’s heating up right here at Westchester Medical Center. Westchester nurses have been speaking out and filling out Protests of Assignment (POAs) to raise the alarm about safe staffing throughout the hospital. In a review of POA data from January to May, we found some units were logging POAs on 60% of shifts! More than half the entire medical center had staffing protests filed on more than 10% of shifts, and 4 of those 19 units were critical care units. The Neonatal ICU had almost 250 POAs filed over nearly 25% of day shifts. So not only was 1 in nearly 4 days unsafe, practically every RN in the unit was experiencing unsafe conditions on unsafe shifts. The Trauma ICU had nearly the exact same experience on night shift.
The shortage of nurses at Westchester is not unique: patients throughout New York State suffer from inadequate nurse-to-patient staffing ratios. That’s why with the state legislative session ending on June 20, nurses need to urge the State Assembly and Senate to pass safe staffing now! Check out our latest ad: http:// bit.ly/2syqduN. Westchester Med nurses rallied in support of the Safe Staffing for Quality Care Act on June 15. We were joined by State Senator Terrance Murphy, State Senator Shelley Meyers, Assembly Member David Buchwald, Westchester County Legislator David Tubiolo, Yonkers City Council Member Michael Sabatino, SEIU Committee of Interns and Residents, and CSEA Local 860 Westchester County. Jack Mace, a retired nurse from Westchester Med, emphasized, “This is about safe patient care. Safe staffing is important to nurses, but it’s something that should be important to everyone. You or your family will likely need hospital care some day, and you should expect to receive quality care.” Time is running out, but with one phone call you can make your voice heard!
We have been in active discussions with Westchester Med management about our POA data and the staffing shortages throughout the hospital. We are seeing some progress, for example in new hires for 4N, but we need to see more. At our June LBU meeting,
Make Your Voice Heard! Call (844) 534-SAFE Leave a message that we will deliver to your State Senator and to Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie. • • • •
Say your NAME Where you LIVE Why safe STAFFING MATTERS PASS the Safe Staffing for Quality Care Act now!
UPCOMING EVENTS
(For more information or to register, ask your NYSNA Rep)
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MEMBERSHIP MEETING (6-9PM)
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MEMBERSHIP MEETING (6-8:30PM)
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MEMBERSHIP MEETING (6-9PM)
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LEADERSHIP TRAINING PT. II
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MEMBERSHIP MEETING (6-8:30PM)
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MEDICAL MISSION & DISASTER RELIEF
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MEMBERSHIP MEETING (7-9AM & 12-2PM)
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MEMBERSHIP MEETING (6-8:30PM)
July 5, Main Hospital Cafeteria July 18, Main Hospital Cafeteria August 1, Main Hospital Cafeteria August 9, NYSNA WMC Office August 15, Main Hospital Cafeteria September 4-14, Philipinnes Sept. 5, Taylor Care Conference Hallway September 19, Main Hospital Cafeteria
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE Claire Maggio, RN, President Nursing Operations, 4N, 4S, 5S, 6S, 6N, 7S, 7NW, Burn Unit Jules Hatzel, RN, 1st Vice President PACU, Main OR, AMB SURG, Children’s PACU, Children’s OR, VIR, ENDO Debra Coyne, RN, 2nd Vice President CCU, Cath Lab, Heart Institute, MICU Zina Klein, RN, Grievance Chairperson EICU, PMR, CDU, ER, 3SW, Neuro ICU, NSDU, TICU David Long, RN, Grievance Co-Chairperson CCU, CCU,CTICU, 5 N, 7NE, SICU Jayne Cammisa, RN, Secretary & NYSNA Release Time Representative PICU, NICU, Peds 31, Peds 32, Outpatient Radiology, OPD, outpatient Transplant Coordinators, 2 South. L&D Deb Cava, RN, Night Chairperson Nursing Operations, BHC-A1, A2, B1, B2, B3
WELCOME TO OUR NEWEST MEMBERS Sheba Baby 6N Anna Kanbouns 6N Dorcas Cruz 7NE Bihar Darunday CTICU Nicole Kahn CDU Kristin Williams 4S Sharia Mohammed OR
Payne Gralla ED Linda Santoro NICU Anna McCall NICU Ashly Oommen NICU Marisa Larson NICU AnnMarie Scalzo Case Management
Elizabeth Poggioreale Heart Institute Philip DiNapoli 7NE Tiffany Smith 7NE Martina Muller 5N Trish Anna Bunsie 7NE
GET ANSWERS/STAY IN TOUCH NYSNA WMC Office: Phone 914-493-8329, Fax 914-493-7175 WMC Health Benefits: 914-493-7144 or BenefitsHelp@wmchealth.org NYSNA Welfare Plan Benefits: 800-537-1237 or www.asonet.com SPAN: 800-457-7261 NYSNA Nursing Rep: Christine Laperche, RN, BSN, Cell 914-819-8513 christine.laperche@nysna.org
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