Potential NYC Nurses’ Strike Puts Hospital Safety in Focus
As New York City approaches what could become the largest nurses’ strike in its history, hospital safety and violence prevention are emerging as central concerns alongside staffing and benefits.
The potential strike, organized by the New York State Nurses Association, could involve over 20,000 nurses across 15 hospitals in New York City and Long Island. Affected facilities include major campuses operated by Mount Sinai Health System, NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital, and Northwell Health.
Contracts for these nurses expired on December 31. If no agreement is reached by 6:00 a.m. on January 12, nurses have given legal notice that they may walk out.
The Scale of the Workforce at Risk
The scale of the potential strike shows how many frontline healthcare workers could be impacted at the same time.
- Approximately 20,000 nurses could participate citywide
- 12 private hospitals in the five boroughs are included
- 3 additional hospitals on Long Island are affected
- The last NYSNA strike, three years ago, involved about 7,000 nurses and lasted three days
This time, the number of nurses involved would be nearly three times larger, amplifying concerns around patient care continuity, staff safety, and hospital operations.
Violence and Safety Concerns Drive the Discussion
Beyond wages and staffing ratios, workplace safety has become a topic in negotiations.
Attention intensified after a November active shooter incident at Mount Sinai Hospital, where police fatally shot a suspect who had allegedly threatened violence inside the facility. Following the incident, the nurses’ union publicly renewed calls for weapon detection systems at hospital entrances, stating that nurses face ongoing risks from weapons entering healthcare settings.
Nurses argue that with tens of thousands of staff working long shifts, often in emergency departments and high-stress units, preventing weapons from entering hospitals is a critical safety measure, not an optional upgrade.
Why Weapon Detection Matters at This Scale
NYC hospitals employ thousands of nurses and care for large volumes of patients and visitors each day, meaning even a single security lapse can have far-reaching consequences.
Modern weapon detection systems can:
- Screen large volumes of visitors efficiently
- Help identify concealed weapons before they reach care areas
- Reduce dependence on manual bag checks
- Support security teams without slowing patient flow
- Help protect nurses, clinicians, patients, and visitors
For hospitals managing staffing shortages, high patient volumes, and public access points, weapon detection helps create safer environments without adding burden to already stretched staff.
OPENGATE’s Role in Staff Safety, Retention, and Patient Trust
Hospitals across New York have cited staffing shortages, rising costs, and increased patient demand. At the same time, nurses continue to report concerns about safety and exposure to violence.
Weapon detection alone does not resolve labor disputes, but it represents a concrete step hospitals can take to address one of the most urgent concerns raised by frontline workers.
OPENGATE is a weapons detection system designed specifically for high-traffic environments. By identifying potential threats before they reach patient care areas, OPENGATE supports safer conditions for nurses, clinicians, patients, and visitors while preserving the open and accessible atmosphere hospitals require.