Twelve nurses at Montefiore hospital in the Bronx were laid off on Sunday and replaced with AI-powered software, according to the New York State Nurses Association (NYSNA), which represents nurses at the hospital. The layoffs come after a massive nurses' strike across several New York City hospitals in January 2026, which resulted in new union contracts that included safeguards against artificial intelligence.
Nurses Express Shock and Disappointment
Marilyn Shuler, a utilization review nurse who worked at Montefiore for 39 years, said she and her colleagues were blindsided. “I’ve always, always taken so much pride in the organization that I’ve worked for all these years, and just to be treated this way,” Shuler said. “It’s disrespectful, and it’s very disheartening, and my colleagues feel the same way as well.”
Shuler’s job involved reading patient charts and communicating with insurance companies over coverage. She said that after returning to work in February following the strike, their workflow had changed without explanation. The nurses notified the union, which sent an email to management but received no response until 28 May, when all 12 nurses in her department received 45-day notices of layoff.
Union Alleges Contract Violation
Shaiju Kalathil, a fellow nurse at Montefiore and a union executive committee member, said the layoffs violate the new contract. “We are outraged about these layoffs because these dedicated nurses are being replaced by AI,” Kalathil said in a statement. “This is a violation of the contract that we recently won by going on strike. It should also concern every practitioner and patient who cares about the future of healthcare and the quality of care they receive.”
National Nurses United (NNU), the parent union of NYSNA, has been raising alarms about AI's effects on nurses. The union developed an AI bill of rights for patients and nurses and has pushed for protections in contracts and legislation. “NNU nurses, like the nurses at Montefiore, have been on the frontlines of fighting hospital employers’ efforts to force unregulated and untested AI into patient care settings,” said Jamie Brown, a registered nurse and president of NNU. “Nurses know from experience that hospital employers will find any opportunity to cut costs and cut corners on patient care and nurse staffing.”
Hospital Defends Technology Investment
Montefiore hospital did not comment specifically on the layoffs but said its technology changes are being used in a nonclinical program involving paperwork. “As is often the case, the claims by NYSNA are inaccurate and misleading,” said Joe Solmonese, senior vice-president for government relations and strategic communications at Montefiore, in an email. “What is true is that we are always investing in new technology to ensure the best care and outcomes for our patients and will continue to do so for the betterment of the people we serve.”
Nurses Warn of Risks to Patient Care
Shuler emphasized that AI should not replace human expertise. “AI should be a tool used in conjunction with the clinical expert, not to replace,” she said. “We’re not against technology. There are several advances in healthcare utilizing technology. The issue is with new tech without evidence.” She noted that her job often requires complicated communications over medication changes and discharge planning that would be difficult for AI to handle.
