The New York State Nurses Association on Tuesday endorsed Gov. Kathy Hochul's campaign for a full term ahead of her June Democratic primary.
Hochul's endorsement from the group, announced at a rally at an Albany hotel near the Capitol, comes after a state budget that included bonuses for health care workers and funding for health care worker training.
Hochul also pointed to work by health care workers and nurses during the COVID-19 pandemic over the last two years.
"The wellbeing of every New Yorker depends on a strong, accessible, and equitable healthcare system, and NYSNA’s 42,000 members are the very heart of its foundation,” Hochul said. “Whether it’s higher wages, safer working conditions, or greater resources, we’ll continue to deliver for the frontline heroes who’ve shown up for New York during our darkest hours. I’m honored to have earned NYSNA’s endorsement, and look forward to furthering our progress to protect workers and ensure New Yorkers receive the highest quality of care possible.”
The endorsement from the labor union comes after many health care workers have left the profession, a loss of staff that has been blamed on COVID-19 vaccination requirements as well as burn out from the stress of the public health crisis. Hochul has called for a 20% increase in the health care workforce over the next five years.
The worker shortage was acutely felt during the winter surge in COVID-19 cases, and hospitals struggled with staffed bed shortages.
"Kathy has already shown her commitment to frontline and essential workers by strengthening COVID health and safety protections in her first few days," said Nancy Hagans, the union's president. "She understands the need to recruit and retain more nurses to ensure quality care, and that’s why she introduced historic investments in healthcare in the state budget. These investments are needed to support nursing education programs in the state and shore up our public and safety-net hospitals that were under-resourced and understaffed throughout the pandemic."