New York City Public Schools Emergency Operations Plan (EOP) for Nursing Staff Labor Action

1. Purpose and Scope

This Emergency Operations Plan (EOP) provides a structured response to a labor action (strike) authorized by the New York State Nursing Association (NYSNA) or other nursing unions that impact contract agency nurses assigned to New York City Public Schools (NYCPS). The plan aims to minimize disruption to health services in schools by coordinating coverage, prioritizing critical student needs, and ensuring clear communication.

The plan is applicable to:

  • All schools  who utilize contracted agency nurses for general school health services.
  • 1:1 nursing.
  • Transportation support.

It outlines procedures for managing nurse absences, reassigning NYCPS and DOHMH nursing staff, and communicating with families and school leaders. The goal is to maintain a safe environment and essential nursing services to the greatest extent possible during the labor action.

2. Key Objectives

  • Service Continuity: Minimize disruption to essential nursing services in schools through strategic reassignment and prioritization.
  • Student Safety: Ensure the health and safety of students, particularly those with mandated 1:1 nursing or medical needs during transportation.
  • Stakeholder Communication: Provide clear, timely, and coordinated information to school leaders, staff, families, and nursing personnel.
  • Resource Management: Effectively deploy and manage available NYCPS, DOHMH, and remaining contract nurse resources across the district.

3. Roles and Responsibilities

  • Office of School Health (OSH): Leads the daily operational response, managing the citywide nurse assignment pool, coordinating with nursing agencies, and directing borough-based coverage.
  • NYCPS School Leadership: Report nurse absences through established channels, implement school-based contingency plans, and communicate with their school community using provided guidance.
  • Nurse Supervisors & Borough Nursing Directors (BND): Execute coverage plans, reassign nurses within their boroughs as needed, and serve as the primary point of contact for school leaders.
  • Contracted Nursing Agencies: Required to communicate anticipated absences and work with OSH to minimize disruption, as per their contract obligations.
  • Families: Contact their assigned nurse or nursing agency directly for questions about 1:1 or transportation coverage, then escalate to designated NYCPS emails if needed, listed below.

4. Response Procedures

  • Activation & Monitoring: This EOP is activated upon official notice of an authorized nursing strike. OSH will monitor citywide nurse absence levels and coverage gaps in real-time.
  • Tiered Coverage Strategy:
    • Level 1 (Minimal Disruption): Use per-diem and float nurses to cover individual call-outs. School-based NYCPS/DOHMH nurses report as usual.
    • Level 2 (Significant Citywide Absences): If coverage gaps emerge, NYCPS/DOHMH nurses from schools with multiple nurses may be temporarily reassigned to cover high-need schools. OSH and BNDs will manage these reassignments directly.
  • Priority Setting: Coverage will be prioritized for:
    1. Medically fragile students with mandated 1:1 nursing.
    2. General school health services (medication administration, urgent care).
    3. Transportation nursing.
  • Family Communication: OSH will provide a standard "backpack letter" template for schools to send to families of students who may be impacted by nurse absences.

5. Communication Plan

Clear and timely communication is critical to managing uncertainty during a labor action.

  • Internal Channels: Direct emails from OSH and NYCPS Central to school and district leaders and Borough Nursing Directors. Nurse Supervisors/BNDs will contact principals directly if their school's coverage is affected.
  • Family Channels: School leaders will distribute official NYCPS communications (letters, emails) to their communities. Families of students with 1:1/transportation nurses will also be contacted directly by their nursing agency.
  • Escalation Path for Families: If issues are not resolved with the agency or assigned nurse, families will be directed to email individualizednursing@schools.nyc.gov and specialeducation@schools.nyc.gov with their child’s details (OSIS, DOB, Name, DBN).

6. Contingency Planning & Resources

To minimize disruption, the following contingencies are in place:

  • Staffing Pool: A central pool of available per-diem and float nurses is maintained by OSH for deployment.
  • Priority Reassignment: A citywide view of nurse staffing allows for the temporary reassignment of NYCPS/DOHMH nurses from multiple-nurse schools to cover critical shortages elsewhere.
  • School-Based Plans: School leaders should prepare non-medical staff (e.g., administrators) to support with non-clinical tasks (parent contact, log-keeping) if nursing coverage is delayed.

7. After-Action Review

Following the conclusion of the labor action, OSH leadership should conduct a review.

  • Assessment: Key areas include the effectiveness of the coverage strategy, communication timeliness and clarity, and inter-agency coordination.
  • Feedback: Input will be gathered from school leaders, Nurse Supervisors, BNDs, and nursing agencies.
  • Implementation: Lessons learned should be documented and used to update this EOP, contact lists, and protocols for future incidents.