NYSNA Gets Political

To the Editor:

I believe that the New York State Nurses Association's strength comes from being open, tolerant and united.

In THE CHIEF-LEADER's Oct. 12 issue, NYSNA announced that Karen Ballard became the president-elect of the New York State Nurses Association by defeating Anne Bove with 55 percent of the vote.

I do not know much about Karen Ballard, but I do know Anne Bove, RN, one of the most caring, passionate and skilled nurses who I have worked with in my 27-plus years in nursing. For myself and other bedside nurses who know her, Anne Bove is the genuine article: a career nurse who is a tireless advocate for nurses, patients and potential patients in our communities locally and around the country. Therefore, it is painful to see what I perceive as a possible attempt to force her out of the union.

Prior to the president-elect election, NYSNA had a vote (or poll) on whether NYSNA should disaffiliate from the national nurses union, the American Nurses Association, or the ANA.

Apparently, Ms. Bove and approximately 21 other concerned nurses signed a statement against disaffiliation, calling themselves "NYSNA Nurses for Unity."

My understanding is that NYSNA is claiming that the "NYSNA Nurses for Unity" fooled the members of NYSNA into believing that they were officially representing the view of NYSNA itself, thereby duping a potentially significant number of members into voting against disaffiliation.

In contrast, NYSNA claims it was neutral on the issue, and was only conducting a "poll."

As a professional and highly-educated registered nurse, I cannot understand how NYSNA can imply that I could be duped into believing that my union, with its professed neutral stance, was against disaffiliaton from ANA.

I appeal to the NYSNA to work with all its nurses, including those who disagree with them, instead of trying to force them out of the union.

We cannot afford to lose the knowledge, wisdom, passion and dedication of union members like Anne Bove.

We need to keep vigil, which means always striving to be open, tolerant and unified.

DEREK DeFREITAS, RN, Bellevue Hospital