Virginia Mason nurses raise red flags ahead of staffing law implementation

Seattle—With less than 90 days before major enforcement and oversight mechanisms for Washington hospital nurse staffing compliance kick in, nurses at Virginia Mason Medical Center (VMMC) in Seattle are sounding the alarm. 

Nurses represented by Washington State Nurses Association (WSNA) are locked in contract negotiations with management, and the biggest sticking point is nurse staffing. 

“Nurses are simply demanding that Virginia Mason follow the law,” said Hannah Collins-Lewis, a registered nurse in the hospital’s progressive critical care unit and member of the union’s bargaining team. “Nurses regularly work 12-hour shifts without meal and rest breaks. This situation is unsustainable, and nurses don't want patient care and safety to suffer when staff are stretched too thin.”

On January 1, 2027, Washington will begin imposing monetary penalties as part of its compliance enforcement program under the state’s landmark 2023 safe staffing law. Despite having had more than three years to prepare, Virginia Mason management still routinely schedules far fewer nurses and nursing staff than the minimum standards set by the staffing plans they submit to Washington's Department of Health.

Virginia Mason’s leaders have refused to address serious concerns raised by nurses, who report a dramatically increased workload. Nurses cite Virginia Mason’s failure to meet minimum staffing standards set out in state law, while also cutting support positions required under the hospital’s staffing plan and expecting nurses to fill in. Nurses highlighted the conflict between Virginia Mason’s reputation and how hospital management is behaving.

“As a Top 100 hospital and renowned organization within the greater Seattle community, Virginia Mason has a duty and commitment to provide safe, reliable, and excellent health care to their patients when they need it most,” said Barbara Friesen, RN, Director of Labor for WSNA.  “This means providing our community with staffing levels that protect our patients and our nurses.”

The nurses’ contract was originally set to expire on August 31st.  Nurses agreed to extend to October 16th in hopes of securing a deal when the parties meet again for negotiations on October 13th, but stressed that nurses are prepared to mount a public campaign and labor action to secure a contract that meets staffing guidelines and protects patient care and nursing practice.