Utica Nurses

03/14/2026

Great news! The way a hospital staffs its nurses is absolutely a reflection of the care you will receive.

Historic Decision on Nurse Staffing Ratios: Joint Commission Sets New National Performance Goal

In a historic move for the healthcare industry, the The Joint Commission has announced that nursing staffing levels will be recognized as a National Performance Goal starting in 2026.

This decision marks a major shift in how hospital quality and patient safety are evaluated across the United States. From now on, hospitals will be assessed not only on clinical outcomes but also on whether they maintain adequate nurse staffing levels.

Healthcare experts say this step reflects growing evidence that proper nurse-to-patient ratios directly affect patient outcomes. Research has consistently shown that when nurses are responsible for too many patients, the risk of medical errors, complications, and patient dissatisfaction increases.

By making staffing a national performance standard, the Joint Commission aims to push hospitals to prioritize safe staffing practices. Hospitals accredited by the organization will now need to demonstrate that they are maintaining appropriate staffing levels as part of their quality and safety evaluations.

Nursing organizations and patient safety advocates have welcomed the decision, calling it a major victory for frontline healthcare workers who have long argued that staffing shortages are one of the biggest threats to patient care.

Many nurses hope this new policy will lead to stronger accountability, encouraging healthcare systems to invest more in recruitment, retention, and workplace support for nurses.

Ultimately, the move signals a growing recognition that adequate staffing is not just a workforce issue—it is a patient safety issue.

Hashtags

03/06/2026

The largest and longest nurse strike in New York City history concluded last month.

A rank-and-file nurse leader writes in Jacobin about how the 15,000 striking nurses beat giant hospitals to win major victories on safe-staffing and other issues: jacobin.com/2026/03/nyc-nurses-strike-historic-victory

01/29/2026

Alex Pretti, a registered nurse, was killed in a horrifying shooting at the hands of federal law enforcement. Alex’s life mattered, and the American Nurses Association (ANA) denounces his killing and the circumstances surrounding it.

We ask all nurses to visit https://ow.ly/sGMn50Y3L57 to send a letter to your members of Congress. Let them know that nurses demand immediate action.

01/25/2026

It is not uncommon to find a nurse who will put themselves in harms way to protect a life. We should not be surprised at this man’s actions as he placed himself between this dangerous mob of out of control ICE and a woman they were attacking. Alex Pretti had the heart of a nurse and I’m certain that there was no other option in his mind but for him but to help. May your name forever be written in history as the hero you are.

11/06/2025

🚨 Urgent ‼️ Our communities support is needed right now to improve the safety of the healthcare workers at the Mohawk Valley health system. The current policy allows printing of healthcare workers badges with both both first and last names visible. This poses a potential threat to the workers who care for our community every single day. As seen in the news, violence against healthcare workers is a growing threat all over our country and has been exemplified recently in our local hospital. There are certainly steps that can be taken for patients to receive the full names of their caretakers if the need arises, however, ensuring the safety of our local healthcare workers is nonnegotiable. Click the link below to sign the petition, supporting our healthcare workers and share this petition with your friends and family!!!

https://c.org/x2YQY8G7R9er

Change work badge name policy at the Wynn Hospital and MVHS Healthcare Group.

09/20/2025

Scientists have achieved a groundbreaking milestone in the fight against HIV by developing a CRISPR-based therapy that removes HIV DNA from infected human cells and prevents the virus from returning. This revolutionary approach targets the viral genetic material directly, effectively erasing HIV from the cell’s genome and halting its ability to replicate.

In laboratory studies, treated cells showed no signs of viral rebound, offering a potential pathway toward a permanent cure for HIV, a disease that has affected millions globally. Unlike traditional antiretroviral therapies, which only suppress the virus, this CRISPR therapy tackles the root cause, providing hope for a one-time treatment with long-lasting effects.

Researchers emphasise that while early results are promising, further studies and clinical trials are required to ensure safety and efficacy in humans. If successful, this therapy could transform HIV treatment and bring the world closer to ending the HIV/AIDS epidemic once and for all.

08/11/2025

Have you seen Nancy Gotay down in the East Concourse @ the Wynn? She’s got some really cool shirts and glassss made to order right here!! Check her out! She’s here until 5pm tonight!

07/11/2025

‼️ Here is some solid and super important HYDRATION information from registered sports Dietitian Natalie Robertello!

🎉 Good luck to all this years runners!

Sunday is looking like it’ll be a warm day, according to WKTV Weather! According to registered sports dietitian Natalie Robertello of BeFueled Sports Nutrition, hydration should start NOW, not just race morning! Take in extra fluids and up your electrolytes through salty snacks, foods like bananas, oranges & potatoes or consider an electrolyte supplement in days leading up to the race.

We have you covered with 21 (!!!) water/ice stations on the 9.3-mile course, plus Sqwincher electrolytes at the Integrated Community Alternatives Network (ICAN)/Utica Children's Museum water stop! We also are fully staffed with 34 medical aid stations across the course, thanks to Oneida County Emergency Services, Mohawk Valley Health System, and countless local fire and ambulance services.

Hydrate and pace yourself - you’ve got this 💪

06/13/2025

Today, I am proud to announce that Assembly Bill A.6055, legislation I proudly co-sponsored, has officially passed in the New York State Assembly.

This bill takes a meaningful step toward standing with the healthcare heroes who stand with us every day. In hospitals, emergency rooms, nursing homes, and care facilities across our state, healthcare professionals face not only emotional and physical exhaustion; but, far too often, workplace violence. For many of them, the trauma doesn’t end when the shift does.

Until now, healthcare workers who were assaulted on the job were often required to travel to the police station after hours to give their statements, forcing them to relive their trauma in unfamiliar settings, on their own time, and often without support.

This legislation changes that.

Under A.6055, healthcare professionals who are assaulted in their workplace now have the right to provide police statements directly at their place of employment, removing unnecessary barriers to justice and making the reporting process more humane, accessible, and trauma-informed.

It’s a commonsense reform that acknowledges the grueling schedules and emotional toll our frontline workers endure, and it helps ensure that no victim is silenced by bureaucracy or burnout.

To every nurse, technician, EMT, and healthcare worker who has ever walked into a shift not knowing what they might face, this bill is for you. Your safety matters. Your voice matters. And your service to our communities will never go unnoticed.

As your Assemblywoman, I will always fight for policies that protect the people who protect us.

05/13/2025

Nurse of Distinction Award Winner Spotlight!

We’re honored to announce Pamela Fess as one of this year’s recipients of Utica Nurse’s Nurse of Distinction Award! Pamela’s career spans decades, with a legacy rooted in excellence, compassion, and lifelong dedication to the nursing profession. From critical care to dialysis, emergency rooms to education, Pamela has done it all—never losing sight of her mission to care, lead, and inspire. Now a respected clinical supervisor at Wynn Hospital and a nursing professor, Pamela holds her students to high standards—instilling both skill and heart in the next generation of nurses. She earned her doctorate close to age 60 and continues to stay active and engaged in both healthcare and life, proving that passion has no age limit. Her influence reaches far beyond any one hospital or classroom—she has shaped the field itself. Congratulations, Pamela, and thank you for your extraordinary service!

05/13/2025

Nurse of Distinction Award Winner Spotlight!

Join us in celebrating Brandy Pasquale, one of this year’s Nurses of Distinction! Brandy is a shining example of selflessness, compassion, and resilience—both at work and at home. As an RN on the Ambulatory Surgery floor at Wynn Hospital, she is known for delivering exceptional care with calm, confidence, and heart, no matter how demanding the day. Outside the hospital, Brandy is a dedicated mom to three energetic boys and still finds time to mentor aspiring nurses, sharing her knowledge and passion with the next generation. Her ability to balance it all—while consistently putting others first—makes her not just an outstanding nurse, but an incredible role model. Congratulations, Brandy! Your heart is truly in everything you do, and this honor is so well deserved.