Health Benefits Update
All NYSNA members should be aware that Empire Blue Cross merged with Anthem. We should’ve received new medical cards. After discussion in the January Labor management meeting, we were assured that there were no changes to our health benefits. However, there have been numerous reports of individuals who’ve experienced changes to the benefits. NYSNA is in the process of securing meeting dates with the health benefits team to review and examine how our health benefits are being managed.

If you have any issues that need to be brought forward please contact your union representatives, so that we can understand what your issue is and forward those issues to management prior to the meeting. We also ask that once the meeting date is secured, and you are notified, that you join us over zoom to review and understand our health benefits.

Reimbursement Contact Information
So many nurses are taking advantage of our hard won Tuition Reimbursement CE, continuing Ed, as well as completing whatever is necessary to work. Much of this work is done outside of Montefiore Medical Center with a cost. Our contract allows for these costs to be reimbursed, however, navigating repayment has proven to be difficult. We have been successful in securing the names and contact information of Departments associated with repayment. We also asked for the reimbursement document to be updated to reflect the new mileage rates.

Facility Update: Pediatric Behavioral Health
Management updated the union on the Waters Place Pediatric Behavioral Health Facility. This facility is pending OHS and DOH approval, expected sometime in April 2024 and a proposed opening date in the first quarter of 2025. NYSNA requested information regarding the staffing of this facility. Management expects they will need nurses, nurse practitioners, PCCs and specialized behavioral life tech. Stay tuned, more to come.

NYSNA members are experiencing increased violence in the workplace.

Your union on your behalf has requested the resurrection of the violence in the workplace committee it will be reconvened with a tentative date of April 12, 12 PM to 1 PM monthly.

Do not hesitate to contact your executive committee or NYSNA reps if you experience any type of violent exchange threat or abuse. We must demand a safe work environment for all.

NA Break Coverage
We want to know if management is directing you to cover NAs for breaks instead of ensuring adequate staff coverage. This cannot become our job. It is dangerous for patients when nurses are covering EOs/COs as their other patients are not being care for.

Parking
The parking and access situation at the Moses campus is stressful, 🧟‍♂️🧟‍♀️ horrendous, and horrific. As a result, and not surprisingly, some of the Moses campus nurses are late to work, resulting in disciplinary action from management who don’t know how to take mitigation into account. Moses staff - labor relations should be sending out emails
inviting nurses to park at the botanical gardens, to be shuttled to Moses. If there’s demand, we can expect it will be implemented, please respond to the email.

Health and Safety
Moses SICU nurses reported again this month on safety issues on their unit.
Our NYSNA health and safety officer Lisa Baum was present to assist in presenting. Safety Officer Baum had conducted a safety walkthrough and was present to review her findings. Maria Arias, Moses AVP of nursing, assured the nurses of the Moses SICU that all the safety issues identified would be reported to the necessary departments and remedied. Fingers crossed 🤞🏽 for a safer work environment

Violence Reports
Labor relations provides NYSNA with monthly violence reports. Of late, NYSNA has had to question the validity and accuracy of the violence reports. The increase in Dr. Strong’s and mental illness, have created many concerning incidents of violence and near misses in the workplace that have not been captured on the reports until we remind security🙄.
NYSNA Questioned Moses Security Leaders (Weiler security leader was absent) What prompts a submission onto the violence report, the protocol was explained to us but is clearly not being followed.
NYSNA also reported out and questioned Security about the protocol for our law enforcement offices carrying their weapons onto our nursing units. Apparently retired and ACTIVE DUTY OFFICERS may carry a CONCEALED WEAPON. Its a police officer protocol. Our nurses at the Moses campus reported a gun sitting on the inpatient side table 😲🤦🏼in broad daylight. Any such incidents must and should be reported not only to Security but to Nursing leadership police officers guns MUST BE CONCEALED per the Law enforcement officers safety act.

NYSNA demanded from Labor relations and nursing leadership, that they place alerts on patients charts if they have a history of challenging, behavioral issues. Security and nursing leadership get alerts but frontline staff members do not. We are most at risk from attacks and should be prepared. We heard from Lisa Lefalce they are reviewing a protocol/mechanism to implement such a mechanism, NYSNA demanded something sooner rather than later.