About 15,000 registered nurses at several of New York City’s major hospitals walked off the job on Jan. 12 after contract negotiations with hospital systems failed to yield agreements on staffing, benefits and working conditions. Labor leaders called the action the largest nurses strike in city history.
The walkout spans multiple nonprofit systems, including Mount Sinai, Montefiore and NewYork‑Presbyterian, and entered its fifth day this week as union representatives and hospital administrators resumed talks with the help of a mediator. Many nurses at dozens of city hospitals voted to authorize strikes after contracts expired at the end of 2025.
The labor actions have highlighted potential impacts on specialized services such as oncology care, where nurses play central roles in patient safety, symptom management and treatment delivery across inpatient, ambulatory and infusion settings.
Oncology nurses conduct assessments, monitor and manage treatment-related toxicities, and administer complex therapies. They provide patient education on treatment options, side-effect management and follow-up care, supporting informed decision making and adherence to treatment plans.
Nurses also coordinate care across multidisciplinary teams, arrange referrals and oversee transitions between inpatient and outpatient settings. In clinical trials and research settings, oncology nurses monitor protocol adherence and patient safety while facilitating communication among clinicians and patients.
Workforce pressures cited by striking nurses—safe staffing levels, protection from workplace violence and adequate benefits—are closely linked to the quality and continuity of oncology care. Staffing shortages and unsafe practice environments can increase the risk of complications, readmissions and care fragmentation.
The outcome of negotiations, particularly provisions related to safe staffing and workplace protections, will affect how hospitals maintain cancer services, manage patient volumes and support complex outpatient treatment programs. Hospital administrators and union leaders continue mediated talks while clinical teams work to limit disruptions to patient care.
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