Legislative / Political Action

Patient Safety Reform

As nurses, we know that appropriate staffing protects patients from preventable medical errors, injuries and deaths. Studies show that registered nurses intercept 85% of medical errors before there is harm to the patient. Quality nursing care can mean the difference between life and death, yet the volume and complexity of patient care continues to grow without adequate precautions in place to protect nurses and patients from the dangers of fatigue.

In response to this growing health crisis, WSNA launched a Campaign for Patient Safety in 2012 to ensure safe nursing care for our patients. The campaign is comprised of three legislative bills to ensure Safe RN Staffing, uninterrupted meal and rest breaks, and an expansion of protection against mandatory overtime.

Learn more about the Campaign...

Advocacy for nurses and nursing

Each year there are hundreds of proposed regulations and legislative bills introduced in Olympia with potential to greatly impact nurses, nursing, patient advocacy and your ability to deliver exceptional care. As an individual nurse, it’s nearly impossible to monitor and track all of the issues that affect your practice and livelihood.

As the largest association of registered nurses in the state, WSNA is there to ensure your interests are fully addressed. In fact, our legislative and regulatory staff of lobbyists, attorneys, labor, practice, and health and safety specialists are dedicated to exclusively representing the interests of registered nurses.

Washington State's Nurse Legislators

We are very proud to have so many nurses serving in the Legislature.

With the current and impending nurse shortages, it certainly is an advantage to have RN legislators who understand the strategies needed to address both the recruitment and retention of nurses in Washington State. They have not only raised awareness on nursing but have been champions in health care access and quality patient care.

Here are Washington's RN legislators. To find more information about them, please go to www.leg.wa.gov.

Representative Judy Clibborn, RN

Representative Eileen Cody, RN

Representative Dawn Morrell, RN

Representative Tami Green, RN