TAKE ACTION: Our census is our power!
A few weeks ago, the U.S. Census Bureau announced that the 2020 Census will end early on Sept. 30, which will result in an incomplete and inaccurate count of people. We cannot let that happen.
WSNA in OIympia #
We stay on top of issues and bills in that impact the nursing profession, health care and collective bargaining. Through regular updates and opportunities to participate in the political process, WSNA helps nurses stay informed and have a say in the decisions that impact your practice.
2020 legislative session #
This year we worked on…
Budget priorities
- School Nurse Corps funding
Improve the health and safety of K‑12 students across Washington by funding OSPI’s request for an additional $2.75 million for the School Nurse Corps which funds nurses in Class II (small, rural) school districts. - Nursing education funding
Increase funding for four-year university nursing faculty salaries to recruit and retain well-qualified educators. Provide scholarship and loan repayment funding that allows financial stability while giving underserved communities additional providers. Increase training opportunities for sexual assault nurse examiners.
Policy priorities
- Sexual assault nurse examiners
Increase access to training, improve reimbursement and call payments, and create uniformity around the state to ensure victims receive the care they deserve. - ARNP reimbursement parity
Require health plans to reimburse ARNPs at the same rate as physicians when the same service is provided, aligning with the practice of Washington State Medicaid and the Department of Labor & Industries. - Health system transparency
Require increased transparency of health system financial reporting, including disaggregation of data.
Downloads
- 2020 legislative priorities (pdf; 69.2 KB)
- School Nurse Corps funding (pdf; 533.4 KB)
- Health systems financial transparency (pdf; 372.8 KB)
- 2020 Budget Grid (March 13) (pdf; 218.9 KB)
Advocacy toolkit #
Legislator voting record
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The 2020 Legislator Voting Record was developed based on priority bills that WSNA supported during the 2020 state legislative session. Not all WSNA priority bills were voted on in both chambers, which is why the bills lists differ from Senate to House. As the voting records indicate, most nursing issues have bipartisan support in Olympia.
- 2020 Legislator Voting Record (pdf; 224.2 KB)
Find your voting district
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Look up bill information on the legislature’s website #
Register to vote #
News #
WSNA statement on immigrant sterilizations taking place at Georgia detention center under ICE
Like so many others, we are horrified by recent claims of immigrant sterilizations taking place at a Georgia detention center under the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
Governor updates vulnerable worker protections
On July 29, Governor Jay Inslee updated the proclamation that provides protections for vulnerable workers in Washington state and extended it through the duration of the current state of emergency.
Nurses campaigning in a time of coronavirus
In this election year, the pandemic has made one thing crystal clear: nurses are vitally important to the health of our communities. We need nurses — in our hospitals, in our long-term care facilities, in our schools and in our state legislature.
ANA, AFT pass resolutions on racial justice
The American Nurses Association and the American Federation of Teachers both passed resolutions last week calling for racial justice and action to combat racism.
WSNA statement calling for an end to systemic racism, racial violence and police brutality
WSNA stands in solidarity with all those who are calling for an end to systemic racism, racial violence and police brutality. We also are calling on our profession to look hard at the many ways racism manifests itself in our health care system and in patient care. We must do better.
Governor Jay Inslee proclaims May as Nurses Month in Washington state
Thank you, Governor Jay Inslee for recognizing May 2020 as Nurse Month."I encourage all people in our state to join me in honoring the nurses of Washington, especially recognizing the critical and live-saving role that registered nurses have filled around our state, country, and world through the current coronavirus pandemic.
Gov. Inslee issues memo on workers compensation and proclamation on high-risk workers
On April 10, Gov. Inslee sent a memorandum clarifying how L&I should handle workers compensation claims for COVID-19. On April 13, he issued a proclamation protecting high-risk employees.