(CARMEL, NEW YORK) - Approximately 200 New York State Nurses Association (NYSNA)-represented Nurses employed at Northwell/ Putnam Hospital are fighting for a fair contract that delivers safe staffing for quality patient care.

Safe staffing is a priority for Putnam Nurses who often work short-staffed, NYSNA said.

For example, in December 2025, Nurses working in the Hospital’s two Medical Surgical Units started their shift understaffed nearly half the time, the Union said.  

The Hospital is fighting against having enforceable Safe Staffing Standards in the contract and proposing to make standards even less safe in State Law.

During a Staffing Committee meeting that took place on June 11th, Hospital Executives proposed making Nurse Staffing in their State Staffing Plan, enforceable by the New York State Department of Health, less safe, Union Officials said - proposing an outrageous and unsafe 1-Nurse-to-8-patients standard in Medical/Surgical Units.

The widely recognized Safe Staffing Standard in Med/Surg Units is 1:5.

Putnam’s current standard is 1:6.

Most Hospitals in New York state set their standards at 1:5 or 1:6.

Meanwhile, the Nurses’ contract expired on December 31st, 2025.

Registered Nurse Nicole Cadella, who serves as President of the NYSNA Local Bargaining Unit at Northwell/ Putnam Hospital, said: “I live in this community, and my parents and I have been patients at Putnam. I want this Hospital to be the best it can be, but it can’t be the best if it is understaffed. On our main Hospital floors - the Medical/Surgical Units, Nurses sometimes have eight patients each, when the safe standard is five or six. I just imagine my father in that Hospital bed.”

Nurses believe Northwell Health, the largest private employer in the State and one of the wealthiest Health Care Systems, can well afford to safely staff Putnam Hospital - and put it in writing.

Northwell’s resistance to basic safety standards is raising concerns among Nurses about what other changes Northwell may make now that they have taken over the small Community Hospital, NYSNA said.

NYSNA President Nancy Hagans said: “Northwell should be ashamed that after acquiring a small Community Hospital - and the only Hospital in Putnam Country - they are now trying to lower Safety Standards for Nurses and patients. We know they have the resources to staff safely and deliver the quality care this community deserves.”

NYSNA, which represents 45,000 Members across New York, is the State’s largest Union and Professional Association for Registered Nurses.

NYSNA is an affiliate of National Nurses United, the country's largest and fastest-growing Union and Professional Association of Registered Nurses, with more than 225,000 Members nationwide.

To Read This Labor News Story In Its Entirety, Go To: Putnam Hospital Nurses Speak Out for Safe Staffing and a Fair Contract | New York State Nurses Association

Photo Courtesy Of NYSNA’s Facebook Page.