Nurses for Marisol Alcantara at Dominican Day Parade,P. 11
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NEW YORK CITY EDITION | JULY/AUGUST 2016 New York the official publicationnurse of the new york state nurses association NYNSA endorses Marisol Alcantara — a safe staffing champion — for NYS Senate, SD 31, p. 11 Nurses for Marisol Alcantara at Dominican Day Parade, p. 11 New Presbyterian Hospital NYSNA members at the August 14 parade in New York City. From left: RNs Minerva Concepción, Clara Paris, Julia Symborski, and Florangel Benitez-Charles. Members at 3 Upstate hospitals deliver 10-day strike notice, p. 5 2 NEW YORK NURSE JULY/AUGUST 2016 Putting the pieces together orging unity is a critical goal; the Catholic Workers Movement in ist, took in and cared for refugees it can only happen when the last century talked about hope: from El Salvador, teaching her people see their common “What we would like to do is young children the value of stand- interests, instead of focusing change the world — make it a ing up for disenfranchised people. Fon anger, fear and alienation. little simpler for people to feed, Berta followed in her mother’s As nurses, what are our common clothe, and shelter themselves as footsteps, organizing communities, interests? Obvious answers: enough God intended them to do. And, taking on huge corporations who staff to care for our patients, a by fighting for better conditions, had free reign in her country after By Judy Sheridan- functional healthcare system, ben- by crying out unceasingly for the the 2009 Military Coup threat- Gonzalez, RN efits that sustain our families and rights of the workers, the poor, of ened the livelihoods of indigenous NYSNA President livelihoods, a dignified retirement, the destitute…we can, to a certain peoples with environmentally a violence- and intimidation-free extent, change the world...” destructive construction projects, workplace, resources and support dams, mining operations and the that truly enhance our practice. It takes a village intensification of privatization of These are such reasonable needs! Lillian Wald, founder of the rivers and lands. Why must we fight so hard for such Henry Street Settlement and the Berta was brutally assassinated several months ago. The govern- ment has no interest in bringing the murderers to justice. But the Lenca people continue her work. I was privileged to hear her daugh- ter speak at the Climate March in Philadelphia on July 24. There are always international connections to these tragedies: multi-national cor- porations have no boundaries. Berta, in the face of numerous death threats, stated: “I’m a human rights fighter and I won’t give up.” Advocating for patients. Advancing the profession.SM BOARD OF DIRECTORS RN advocacy knows no bounds President sensible goals? Why, in a country Visiting Nurse Service of NY said: Every act of advocacy on behalf Judy Sheridan-Gonzalez, RN, MSN, FNP with extraordinary wealth are “Ever since I have been con- of our vulnerable patients and First Vice President Marva Wade, RN these goals so elusive? scious of my part in life, I have communities are acts of heroism Second Vice President felt consecrated to the saving of as well. These times call for us to Anthony Ciampa, RN We are not an island human life.” make it our business to understand Secretary The answers lie in understanding But Lillian recognized that acting “the bigger picture” and to see the Anne Bové, RN, MSN, BC, CCRN, ANP the links between our workplace alone had its limitations: parallels that exist beyond our tiny Treasurer Patricia Kane, RN and our world. When some people “Reform can be accomplished insulated realities. Not knowing Directors at Large say: “We should only involve our- only when attitudes are changed.” is not an excuse — it only serves to Kevin Donovan, RN Jacqueline B. Gilbert, RN selves with nursing,” or “Why are It may surprise some that Harriet imprison us in ignorance. Nancy Hagans, RN we getting involved in politics,” Tubman was a nurse. After work- Harriet Tubman knew this when Tracey Kavanagh, RN, BSN Lilia V. Marquez, RN they are pretty much missing the ing for years in the Underground she said: Sean Petty, RN, CPEN point. We’ll never achieve these Railroad, she nursed union soldiers “I freed a thousand slaves. I could Nella Pineda-Marcon, RN, BC Karine M. Raymond, RN, MSN things if we are myopic. Injustice during the Civil War. A tireless have freed a thousand more if Verginia Stewart, RN in the workplace cannot be isolated caregiver, she always set her sights only they knew they were slaves.” Mary Ellen Warden, RN from injustices in society. The qual- higher: In today’s world, it just isn’t Regional Directors Southeastern Yasmine Beausejour, RN ity of life at work and at home can- “Every great dream begins with enough to do good deeds. We need Southern Seth B. Dressekie, RN, MSN, NP not be separated from the quality a dreamer. Always remember, to generalize our acts of individual Central Ethel Mathis, RN Lower Hudson/NJ Jayne Cammisa, RN, BSN of life of our broader community. you have within you the strength, kindness to respect and embrace Western Sarah Annabelle Chmura, RN That’s not what history teaches the patience, and the passion to those around us who are fighting Eastern Martha Wilcox, RN us; that’s not what nursing ethics reach for the stars to change the for social justice in its broadest Executive Editor teaches us. world.” sense. Some of us have chosen to Jill Furillo, RN, BSN, PHN In these times, it helps to look join with them in their battles. The Executive Director at pioneers and heroes. As a 95% Taking a stand against injustice struggle for human rights liberates Editorial offices located at: 131 W 33rd St., New York, NY 10001 female profession, we can look Berta Cáceres, a Lenca woman all of us — and it’s serious business. Phone: 212-785-0157 x 159 to nurses and other women for from Honduras, grew up during Dorothy Day’s most famous Email: [email protected] Website: www.nysna.org inspiration: the violence that swept through comment: Subscription rate: $33 per year Dorothy Day, a suffragist, jour- Central America in the 1980s. Her “Don’t call me a saint. I don’t ISSN (Print) 1934-7588/ISSN (Online) 1934-7596 ©2016, All rights reserved nalist, social activist and founder of mother, a midwife and social activ- want to be dismissed so easily.” PUBLIC HEALTH NEW YORK NURSE 3 JULY/AUGUST 2016 NYS holds polluters accountable Cuomo signs bill for Hoosick Falls ew York State Governor water supply. James Donavan suf- Johns Hopkins School of Public Andrew Cuomo signed a bill fers from ulcerative colitis and other Health showed that premature N that extends the statute of illnesses resulting from exposure to births increased by 40 percent when limitations for victims to sue cor- PFOA. His illnesses are consistent mothers lived near fracking wells in porate polluters for personal dam- with findings on the effects of PFOA Pennsylvania. Premature births are ages. The bill was inspired by water exposure, and his suit accuses the the number one cause of infant mor- contamination in Hoosick Falls corporations of failing to protect the tality and disability in America. If and was supported by NYSNA city’s water supply, despite know- other states pass legislation similar nurses who weighed in on the issue ing the potential harm to public to the New York law, the extractive The legislation by holding press conferences and health caused by PFOA contamina- industry could be held accountable “is a win for the testifying at hearings. A NYSNA tion. Other lawsuits have been filed for these atrocious health outcomes. public health nurse in Onondaga by home owners, whose property Our governor, wisely, has also residents of penned an article regarding corpo- values have plummeted in Hoosick banned fracking in our state. Hoosick Falls, but rate liability for water contamina- Falls because of the pollution. Until the makeup of the U.S. tion by corporate polluters several Senate and House shift dramati- (it’s also a win) months ago in City and State. Important precedent cally, these reforms will have to for residents In Hoosick, the main wells of the The law signed by Governor happen at the state level. Both the around New city were found contaminated by Cuomo sets an important precedent Republican controlled House and perfluorooctanoic acid, or PFOA, for victims of corporate pollution Senate have passed legislation to York state who a chemical used in local factories in Hoosick Falls and beyond and block updated Clean Water Act might have an unfortunate situation like Hoosick Falls.” Assembly sponsor John McDonald, D-Cohoes DOUG KERR DOUG Contamination of Hoosick Falls’ water supply spurred Governor Cuomo to sign a law extending New York’s statute of limitations on lawsuits against corporate polluters. manufacturing non-stick items could help to reign in corpora- regulations intended to allow for at levels the EPA says are danger- tions polluting our environment stricter Federal regulations on ous to human health. The factory with toxic chemicals. In the name water quality. More concerned responsible for the contaminants is of profits, the chemical industry with sound bytes than the safety of now owned by Saint-Gobain and continued to expose the public to the American people, Republicans formerly owned by Honeywell. PFOA long after it knew the risks called the Obama administration’s to human health. Their behavior attempts to safeguard our water a Holding polluters accountable is part of a dangerous pattern of “Federal power grab” and said that The State determined that both corporations putting profits before stricter water regulations would companies were responsible for the public health or environmental hurt corporate interests.