By Assemblymember Karines Reyes, RN, Assemblymember Phara Souffrant Forest, RN and Connie Perkins, PhD, RN, CNE, President, American Nurses Association – New York (ANA-NY)
As registered nurses, we strongly support A5208-A/S2278-A, which would require hospitals to have a registered professional nurse as a sitting and voting member of the governing entity responsible for developing a hospital’s strategic plan, structure, systems, policies and programs.
Nurses make up the largest part of the healthcare workforce and spend more time with patients than anyone else. Still, that crucial perspective is often missing when decisions are made about staffing, operations, and long-term planning. Nurses see what others do not see. We hear what others do not hear. We develop a deeper understanding of how decisions made in a boardroom affect patient care every day.
Many boardroom conversations focus on cost and cost saving measures, such as efforts to reduce the use of travel nurses, the high cost of staff turnover, and how to contain costs by using less expense supplies. Those conversations matter, and they should include the nursing perspective. Nurses look beyond immediate costs and consider the underlying complexities that could present challenges in the future. Short term cuts can lead to long term consequences, and nurses are the ones in the best position to recognize this.
While Chief Nurse Officers are often present at board meetings, their participation is typically limited to presenting their report, rather than influencing voting outcomes. Their insight is critical but is often not part of the final decision-making process. As nurses, if we were to serve on a hospital board, we would be able to speak openly about what we collectively are witnessing and experiencing and do so in a way that Chief Nurse Officers sometimes cannot.
We understand the importance of bringing a nursing perspective to the board. That is why legislation like A5208-A/S2278-A matters. This is not just about representation. It is about making better decisions and improving patient care across New York.
If we want stronger healthcare systems, nurses need to be part of the decisions that shape them.
About the Authors:
Assemblymember Karines Reyes, R.N., is a member of the New York State Assembly, sponsor of A5208-A, and works as a registered nurse in the Oncology Department at Montefiore Einstein Hospital.
Assemblymember Phara Souffrant Forest, R.N., is a member of the New York State Assembly. Before being elected, she worked as a maternal child field nurse, caring for new mothers after childbirth.
Connie Perkins, PhD, R.N., CNE, is President of the American Nurses Association – New York (ANA-NY) and a registered nurse with extensive experience in healthcare leadership and education.
Media Contact:
American Nurses Association – New York
communications@anany.org