News

Run for WSNA office

This story was published in the Fall 2020 and Winter 2021 issues of The Washington Nurse magazine.

Run for wsna office

Did you ever wish you had a greater say in WSNA’s priorities and programs? #

WSNA offers many oppor­tu­ni­ties for members to get involved in consid­ering issues, making decisions and repre­senting the work of the associ­a­tion. You are WSNA, and volun­teer, elected leaders like you are essen­tial to keeping members’ voices at the forefront.

At this time, the WSNA and Economic and General Welfare search commit­tees are seeking nomina­tions for elected offices. Descrip­tions of avail­able offices appear below. Except as noted, terms for all offices are two years. For more infor­ma­tion about each position, refer to the WSNA Handbook for Cabinet, Council and Committee members (PDF).

Eligibility for office #

All members in good standing are eligible for office; however, only those members repre­sented for collec­tive bargaining by WSNA and who meet the WSNA Bylaws defin­i­tion of Staff Nurse may be candi­dates for the Cabinet on Economic and General Welfare, the Economic and General Welfare Nominating/​Search Committee, or Delegates and Alter­nates to the 2022 AFT Convention.

How to nominate yourself #

Nominate yourself by filling out a ​“Consent to Serve” form. Note that the Consent to Serve form also includes the oppor­tu­nity to express interest in appointed positions.

The Consent to Serve form is avail­able online. You may complete the form electron­i­cally, or you may download and print it. Send completed printed forms by mail to: Washington State Nurses Associ­a­tion, 575 Andover Park West, Suite 101, Seattle, WA, 98188.

Nominate by Jan. 31, 2021 for inclusion in the spring issue of The Washington Nurse magazine #

The deadline for receipt of nomina­tions for printing the spring issue of The Washington Nurse magazine, where we will intro­duce the candi­dates, is Jan. 31, 2021. If you wish to be included in the issue, please be sure to include a short candi­date state­ment when completing the Consent to Serve form.

Nominations after Jan. 31, 2021 #

Members who want to self-declare their candi­dacy for an elected office, or express interest in appointed positions, may do so by submit­ting a Consent to Serve form by 5 p.m. on April 28, 2021 (the day of General Assembly) or by being nominated from the floor at the General Assembly. However, these nomina­tions will not be printed in the Spring 2021 issue of The Washington Nurse due to advance time required for printing.

The names of all candi­dates, regard­less of time and method of nomina­tion, will appear on the mailed election ballot, to be sent out following the April 28, 2021 General Assembly. Addition­ally, write-in candi­dates are allowed.

WSNA Board of Directors #

Board members are elected to repre­sent the member­ship of the WSNA. Board members have the legal, ethical and fiduciary respon­si­bility for all Associ­a­tion activ­i­ties and act as trustees of the organi­za­tion on behalf of all Associ­a­tion members.

Three to four one-day meetings per year; may also be appointed to other work groups such as the WSNF board of trustees, etc.

11 members

  • Presi­dent (1)
  • Vice Presi­dent (1)
  • Secre­tary / Treasurer (1)
  • Direc­tors At-Large (3)
  • Direc­tors At-Large Staff Nurse (2) non-manage­rial, non-super­vi­sory, direct patient care provider, repre­sented by WSNA for collec­tive bargaining
  • Chair of the Cabinet on Economic and General Welfare (1)*
  • Chair of the Legisla­tive and Health Policy Council (1)*
  • Chair of the Profes­sional Nursing and Health Care Council (1)*

Note: the chairs of the Cabinet on Economic and General Welfare, Legisla­tive and Health Policy Council, and Profes­sional Nursing and Health Care Council are elected separately and also serve as full members of the WSNA Board of Direc­tors by virtue of their offices.

WSNA Nominations / Search Committee #

Nomina­tions / Search Committee members request nomina­tions for office and review all completed Consent to Serve forms. They prepare the slate of quali­fied candi­dates and recom­mend chair­per­sons and members for special committees.

Two to three one-day meetings per biennium (every other year).

Six members (four elected, two appointed)

  • Members (4)

Professional Nursing and Health Care Council #

The PNHCC forecasts trends, promotes contin­uing educa­tion programs, addresses issues on nursing practice, collab­o­rates with other nursing and specialty organi­za­tions, and develops resources on issues relating to nursing practice, educa­tion, human rights and access to health care.

Three one-day meetings per year; some committee work outside of meetings is also typical.

11 members (seven elected, four appointed)

  • Chair (1) — also serves on WSNA Board of Directors
  • Members (6)

Legislative and Health Policy Council #

Council members serve in a polit­i­cally nonpar­tisan capacity to recom­mend a state legisla­tive agenda to the WSNA Board of Direc­tors; review proposed legis­la­tion and recom­mend responses; educate and assist the WSNA member­ship in under­standing WSNA’s legisla­tive prior­i­ties; and assist in providing infor­ma­tion to legis­la­tors and the public.

Three one-day meetings per year, with the addition of Advocacy Camp and Nurse Legisla­tive Day; weekly phone confer­ence calls while the Washington State Legis­la­ture is in session (usually Jan. through March or April).

Seven members (four elected, three appointed)

  • Chair (1) — also serves on WSNA Board of Directors
  • Members (3)

ANA Membership Assembly #

13 delegates (one is the Presi­dent; others elected)

  • Delegates (13)

Collective bargaining offices #

Offices for the following three bodies are restricted to members repre­sented by WSNA for collec­tive bargaining.

Cabinet on Economic and General Welfare (E&GW)

The Cabinet sets prior­i­ties for WSNA labor relations functions and activ­i­ties and is charged with devel­oping and reviewing policies and proce­dures for the conduct of the E&GW program and collec­tive bargaining. The Cabinet also estab­lishes standards and rules for Local Units.

Four to six one-day meetings and six to eight confer­ence calls per year; additional work outside of meetings.

10 members

  • Chair (1) — Also serves on WSNA Board of Directors
  • Vice Chair (1)
  • Secre­tary / Treasurer (1)
  • At-Large Members (7)

Economic and General Welfare Nominating / Search Committee

Researches and requests names of candi­dates and prepares slate for election to Cabinet and Nominating / Search Committee, and delegates and alter­nates to the governing body of any national or inter­na­tional labor organi­za­tion with which WSNA is affiliated.

Two to three one-day meetings per biennium.

Three members

  • Members (3) — candi­date receiving the highest number of votes serves as Chair

2020 AFT Convention

Delegates must be members in good standing of WSNA and AFT. Delegates attend and partic­i­pate in AFT’s four-day conven­tion. All expenses are paid by WSNA.

  • Delegates (up to 20)

New appointed positions #

The WSNA Board of Direc­tors has added new appointed positions this year. If you’re looking for additional ways to serve, please indicate your interest for the below positions on the Consent to Serve Form.

Washington Center for Nursing (WCN) Staff RN Board position

The WCN is a nonprofit, statewide nursing organi­za­tion that addresses nursing short­ages and builds a robust and diverse nursing workforce to support a healthier Washington. The Board meets quarterly, at minimum, in addition to an offsite strategic planning session. Board members are encour­aged to partic­i­pate on various commit­tees or subcommittees.

Commu­nity and Long-Term Care Committee

The Commu­nity and Long-Term Care Committee identi­fies and addresses issues of impor­tance to nurses working in commu­nity and long-term care settings; increases aware­ness within WSNA and the broader nursing commu­nity about viable employ­ment oppor­tu­ni­ties in these settings; and strengthens transi­tional care processes between these settings and acute care.

Three one-day meetings per year; additional work outside of meetings.

Seven members (including one Chair)

  • Four (4) members must either work or have recent experi­ence in commu­nity and/​or long-term care
  • Three (3) members will have a demon­strated interest in supporting commu­nity and long-term care nurses, as well as improving care transi­tions between acute and long-term care

Related news