Nurses at Albany Medical Center, supported by the New York State Nurses Association (NYSNA), held a picketing event last month to protest ongoing staffing shortages and contract disputes.

The demonstration comes amid new research from the Center for Health Workforce Studies in partnership with the Mother Cabrini Health Foundation, which highlights burnout and inadequate training for new graduates as critical factors contributing to New York's nursing shortage.

Kathryn Dupuis, a registered nurse with nearly 30 years of experience, expressed concerns about the current staffing situation.

"The problem with new grads and travelers is they don't have the experience," Dupuis said. "They don't have nurses to turn to for guidance."

The Center for Health Workforce Studies spoke with providers from more than 50 hospitals across the state, emphasizing retention strategies as a solution to combat these issues.

Albany Med responded with a statement affirming its commitment to fair negotiations and safe staffing practices.

"Our staffing plans are compliant with state laws," the statement read. "We invited the union to the table in April to work toward a contract that respects all members of our workforce."

The hospital's clinical staffing committee, including NYSNA nurses, developed a staffing plan for 2025 that was submitted to the state Department of Health on July 1.

As negotiations continue, Albany Med says it has proposed more than 20 measures over 14 sessions, including wage increases and tuition reimbursement programs. The hospital maintains that its workforce is its most important asset, dedicating more than half of its budget to salaries and benefits.