NY's Largest Nurses Union Ventures to Albany to Push for Safe Staffing in Hospitals Citing Staffing Crisis; Not Enough RNs and Caregivers To Do the Job For Safe Patient Care
**MEDIA ADVISORY--TUES, APRIL 21**
Apr 20, 2015, 10:00 ET
ALBANY, N.Y., April 20, 2015 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Thousands of registered nurses (RNs), caregivers and nursing students from Buffalo to Brooklyn are heading to the State Capitol on Tuesday, April 21 to lobby legislators to support safer staffing ratios in our hospitals. State legislators are considering the Safe Staffing for Quality Care Act, a bill that would set safe minimum nurse staffing levels in all New York hospitals. This legislation has been supported by the New York State Nurses Association (NYSNA) and other labor, community and patient advocate groups. RNs and caregivers from the NYSNA will hold an outdoor rally at West Capitol Park in downtown Albany and then make lobby visits to lawmakers to underscore the hospital staffing crisis.
RNs throughout New York have been advocating for safe staffing levels, knowing that these new regulations will save lives and that the research is on our side. Last week, thousands of nurses and caregivers from NYC and Westchester picketed outside of area hospitals bringing attention to the staffing crisis in community hospitals. Nurses, also, call for supports to end healthcare disparities through single payer legislation and to keep regulations in place that protect patients and communities.
Clinical and academic studies have consistently shown that safe staffing improves patient outcomes and even saves money. "Right now, in our state, nurses in some facilities are being forced to care for 10, 15, even 20 patients at once. That's dangerous! Lives are placed in jeopardy when there are not enough nurses at the bedside," said Judy Sheridan-Gonzalez, a registered nurse at Montefiore Medical Center and NYSNA President. "That's why we're fighting for safe staffing ratios in all of our hospitals. We have no choice—our patients' lives depend on it!"
WHAT: An outdoor rally calling on state lawmakers to join NYSNA and advocate for patient care and improved RN staffing levels throughout New York's hospitals
WHO: More than 1,000 NYSNA members, patient advocates, labor allies, NYS Assembly members and Senators (list in formation), healthcare workers
WHEN: Tuesday, April 21st from 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 noon.
WHERE: West Capitol Park, South Swan Street (btwn State St. and Washington Ave.)
Downtown Albany
The New York State Nurses Association (NYSNA) represents more than 37,000 members in New York State. We are New York's largest union and professional association for registered nurses. For more information, please visit our website at www.nysna.org.
Contact:
Tara L. Martin I [email protected] I Phone: 212.785.0157 x179 I Cell: 646.334.8146
Carl Ginsburg I [email protected] I Cell: 917.405.1060
SOURCE New York State Nurses Association