ANA Responds to New York Nurses' Strikes
MEDIA CONTACTS:
Keziah Proctor, keziah.proctor@ana.org
Shannon McClendon, shannon.mcclendon@ana.org
SILVER SPRING, MD – This week, thousands of nurses in New York City went on strike to call for safe staffing ratios and solutions to address decades-long work environment challenges that have been aggravated by the COVID-19 pandemic. This statement is attributable to American Nurses Association (ANA) President Jennifer Mensik Kennedy, PhD, MBA, RN, NEA-BC, FAAN:
“The situation in New York reflects experiences that predate COVID-19 and that many nurses share across the country. When a strike of this scale occurs, it is typically indicative of a systemic breakdown to provide safe staffing levels, protect nurses from workplace violence, support nurses’ mental health and well-being, and resolve other work environment challenges. ANA is not associated with the strikes in New York, but I can say this: we support the right of nurses to advocate for themselves, their patients, and communities.
When nurses choose to strike, it is a last resort. Ultimately, this is about the quality of patient care as we know that patient safety and nurses’ work environment are inextricably linked. A supported and protected nursing workforce yields quality and safe patient care. Nurses everywhere need definitive and transformational action immediately.”
For decades, ANA has issued urgent and national calls for action to solve work environment issues that support the nursing profession and the entire health care team. In June of 2022, the ANA Membership Assembly approved a recommendation for ANA to support safe patient standards including ratios that are acuity and setting-specific as per nursing assessment and enforceable. ANA continues its advocacy efforts to prioritize and address the root issues of many challenges facing the nursing workforce.
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About the American Nurses Association
The American Nurses Association (ANA) is the premier organization representing the interests of the nation's 4.4 million registered nurses. ANA advances the profession by fostering high standards of nursing practice, promoting a safe and ethical work environment, bolstering the health and wellness of nurses, and advocating on health care issues that affect nurses and the public. ANA is at the forefront of improving the quality of health care for all. For more information, visit www.nursingworld.org.