Bronx Sen. Ruth Hassell-Thompson (right), an aide by her side, meets with (from left) UFT Legislation and Political Action Director Paul Egan and Vice President-elect Anne Goldman.
Augustine Balaram, an RN from the Visiting Nurse Service in Manhattan, was a first-time lobbyist who joined nearly 100 nurses on a mission to fight for things like ending mandatory overtime.
Queens Assemblyman Andrew Hevesi (right) with members.
Balaram and his colleagues realize that longer hours might be necessary during emergencies, but said they shouldn’t be part of one’s scheduled daily shifts.
These nurses also explained their support for bills to require:
- safe patient handling (using mechanical lifts instead of relying solely on nurses, who, along with their patients, sustain many injuries);
- safe nurse-patient staffing ratios in hospitals;
- a school nurse in every school building in New York City.
“Our members shared real-life anecdotes that showed our elected officials why these things are so important,” said Anne Goldman, the vice president-elect for non-Department of Education members, including health care professionals.
Bronx Sen. Ruth Hassell-Thompson, a former nurse, told the group that “nursing is part of my lexicon and my DNA. It’s a noble profession.”
She praised the nurses for providing the chance to hear their side of how the health care industry could be improved.
“We need you to be able to spend time to explain the bills,” Hassell-Thompson said.