Staffers at Tacoma hospital with COVID outbreak work while awaiting surveillance test results

“With the flu season approaching and the potential for another surge of COVID-19, we really have to get these issues solved now,” Jayson Dick, WSNA’s associate director of labor advocacy, told The News Tribune.

WSNA represents more than 1,200 registered nurses at St. Joe’s.

Dick said it had been a “whirlwind” since his office learned of the outbreak from its members.

“We’ve had several nurses report that they were tested last Friday, the 23rd, and still have not seen results,” he told The News Tribune on Oct. 30. “As of today, some of our nurses are turning to outside testing facilities to get the results faster within a 24-hour period.”

This is in contrast to the hospital’s remarks. In a Friday afternoon update it announced that “All results from this first round of testing have been received.”

With the spread of cases this week, he said, WSNA met with members Friday who work in the affected areas of the hospital.

“Hospital managers must listen to our nurses and other front line workers and make changes our members need to see so they can feel safe coming to work,” Dick said.