Centennial

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Pride in Our Past

In 1908, a group of fourteen courageous, visionary nurse leaders officially formed the Washington State Graduate Nurses Association (WSGNA). The WSGNA was renamed the “Washington State Nurses Association” in 1940.

It was concern for the public’s welfare that prompted these nurses to organize. They formed the WSGNA so that working together, nurses could effectively achieve the following goals:

1. Bring into one compact organization the nursing profession of the State of Washington,
2. Extend, advance and elevate the standards of Nursing Practice (Nursing Practice and Education),
3. Secure enactment and enforcement of just nursing laws (Legislation and Public Policy),

On May 6, 2008, hundreds of nurses and dignitaries came together to celebrate our WSNA Centennial anniversary. And what a celebration it was! The all day festivities included a special showing of the movie “Mrs. Reynolds Needs a Nurse”, various historical displays, as well as a dinner celebration. WSNA is one of only 65 incorporated organizations in Washington State still in existence since 1908.

1. To promote friendship among the nurses (Networking and Mentoring),
2. Guard and foster the material interests of nurses (Economic and General Welfare and Professional Development of Nurses), and
3. Enlighten and direct public opinion.

We can look back with great pride and have great confidence in our future as we celebrate our first Centennial. The major programs of WSNA – Legislative and Health Policy, Nursing Practice and Education, and the Economic and General Welfare of Nurses – all had their roots in the early efforts of nurses to regulate nursing practice, raise the standards of nursing, standardize and regulate nursing schools and respond to the first nursing shortages.

Confidence in Our Future

Throughout our 100 years as an association, the purposes of the Washington State Nurses Association have remained essentially unchanged: 1) to work for the improvement of health standards for all people, 2) to foster high standards of nursing, and 3) to stimulate and promote the professional development of nurses and advance their economic and general welfare.

We can look back proudly and thank those early pioneer leaders and those who came after, who left us the legacy of WSNA as it is today. There have been many remarkable achievements, advancements and major victories along the way as well as a number of challenges and yes, even a few set-backs. But we remain a strong, dynamic, powerful, progressive, democratic organization, prepared and proud to serve registered nurses, the profession and the interests of the citizens and residents of Washington State.

About WSNA

2007-2009 Biennial Report

Introduction

• Introduction
• Overview
• Centennial

Areas of Achievement

• Safe Nurse Staffing
• Nurse & Patient Safety
• Public Health
• Environmental Health & Safety
• Nursing Shortage
• Collective Bargaining

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