Your voice is more essential than ever
This story was published in the Winter 2021 issue of The Washington Nurse magazine.
This story appears in WSNA’s priorities for the 2021 Legislative Session.
The legislaÂtive session may look different this year, but one thing will remain the same: Your voice is essenÂtial to the process! Nurses are the most trusted profesÂsion, and your voice carries much crediÂbility and weight with lawmakers. It is imporÂtant that your legisÂlaÂtors hear from you about your experiÂences on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic. Your voice is crucial as legisÂlaÂtors make diffiÂcult decisions about where to spend and where to cut governÂment funding.
This year, nurses have faced extreme challenges — from lack of suffiÂcient PPE and long delays for COVID-19 test results to the upending of your personal lives with remote school, closed child care and the fear of bringing COVID-19 home to family members. It is more crucial than ever that legisÂlaÂtors know your stories.
LegisÂlaÂtors will be deciding on critical issues relating to the nursing profesÂsion, such as hospital transÂparency, worker protecÂtion, public health funding and school nursing funding. We need you to share your stories. Lawmakers listen — and they want to help find solutions.
Three tools to help you advocate during this legislative session #
WSNA Action Alerts #
Watch for email alerts asking you to act on WSNA’s legislaÂtive priorÂiÂties. We only send these alerts when it is critical for lawmakers to hear from nurses at key moments during session — to move a bill out of committee or to encourage a floor vote. Please click on the ​“Take Action” button in these emails!
You can also sign up to receive action alerts via text message. Look for this option when you click through to the ​“Take Action” link in our action alert emails.
Legislative Hotline #
Call your legisÂlaÂtors using the toll-free LegislaÂtive Hotline: 1 – 800-562‑6000. You will connect with an operator who can deterÂmine your legislaÂtive district (using your home address) and connect you directly to your legisÂlaÂtors’ offices. Your lawmaker’s legislaÂtive assisÂtant will answer the phone and can ensure your legisÂlator is briefed on your concerns.
Attend WSNA Lobby Day (online event) #
Meet with your legisÂlaÂtors during WSNA Lobby Day on Feb. 4, 2021. This event is free and will provide you with the training and tools you need to effecÂtively advocate during small-group Zoom meetings with your lawmakers in the afterÂnoon. This year’s Lobby Day will be online, allowing you to meet with your legisÂlaÂtors while wearing pajama pants (we recomÂmend wearing a nice top)!
Register to attend WSNA Lobby Day at wsna​.org. LegisÂlaÂtors value seeing you during session (even if it is on their computer screen!), and it’s a good reminder why they should support our priority issues.
Which legislative district do I live in? #
Use your smartphone to look up your legislative district in two easy steps.
#
Both your legislaÂtive district and congresÂsional district will be displayed with links to your elected officials’ contact information.
- Visit https://​app​.leg​.wa​.gov/​d​i​s​t​rictfinder.
- Enter your home address.
