Home
News

Infectious diseases
Showing 49 to 72 of 83 articles

COVID-19 petition demanding safe working conditions for nurses and health care workers

WSNA, UFCW 21 and SEIU Healthcare 1199NW are coming together to demand our employers and our government provide the resources, support and safe working conditions we need to keep our members safe during the COVID-19 pandemic.

March 26, 2020

Cloth masks don’t protect nurses

Homemade masks will not meet criteria for the state stockpile and procurement standards – and should not be used by health care providers in lieu of approved PPE.

March 24, 2020

WSHA PPE checklists for CDC contingency and crisis capacity use of Personal Protective Equipment

These checklists from WSHA simplify directions on how to use PPE when we have a shortage requiring either Contingency or Crisis level intervention.

March 23, 2020

Health care unions reach agreement with MultiCare

WSNA is working hard with our partners at UFCW21 and SEIU Healthcare 1199NW to keep our members safe. We reached an agreement this weekend with MultiCare that addresses paid time off during COVID-19 as well as floating within and outside of home facilities.

March 22, 2020

Lessons learned from the front lines: Washington State Nurses Association’s recommendations for other states

Our members have been on the front lines of the COVID-19 crisis in the United States. As we work to manage a public health crisis unlike any of us has ever seen, it is our duty to share the key lessons we are learning on the ground.

March 20, 2020

Unions representing nurses and health professionals applaud steps to focus on safety

Press release

Unions representing nurses, health professionals, and health care service and maintenance workers today responded to Gov. Inslee’s emergency declaration on health and safety rules.

March 19, 2020

ANA met with President Trump to discuss coronavirus prevention strategies

Today, ANA Chief Nursing Officer Debbie Hatmaker met with President Donald J. Trump to urge the administration to provide a sufficient supply of appropriate personal protective equipment for nurses and to share the need for creative staffing strategies to sustain the nursing workforce so they can continue to provide care during this…

March 19, 2020

Nurses facing abnormally dangerous patient care assignments

You may have to make a decision about accepting an assignment involving abnormally dangerous conditions that pose an imminent risk to your safety and health, and could potentially cause serious injury or death.

March 18, 2020

State resources for workers who miss work due to COVID-19

We believe that hospitals should provide employees affected by COVID-19 with paid administrative leave but in the absence of those benefits, there are state resources available.

March 18, 2020

Washington State Department of Health recruiting volunteer health practitioners

While an emergency proclamation from the Governor is in effect, a volunteer health practitioner licensed in another state may practice in Washington if they are in good standing in all states of licensure and are registered in the volunteer health practitioner system.

March 16, 2020

Strategic care assignments: patients with known/presumptive COVID-19 and immunosuppressed patients

Due to evolving knowledge of COVID-19 and standards regarding PPE usage, and the risk of severe outcomes that immunosuppressed persons face, it is not recommended that healthcare providers care for both COVID-19 patients and immunosuppressed patients at the same time during their shift.

March 16, 2020

Joint statement from SEIU Healthcare 1199NW, Washington State Nurses Association and UFCW 21 on prohibition of large events during COVID-19 outbreak

Press release Statement

As nurses and healthcare workers providing essential care to patients in hospitals, clinics, and housing and shelters across Washington state, we applaud Gov. Jay Inslee and the leaders of King, Pierce and Snohomish Counties for taking the necessary step of limiting large gatherings during this stage of the COVID-19 outbreak.

March 11, 2020

Joint statement from Washington State Nurses Association, SEIU Healthcare 1199NW and UFCW21 on personal protections for healthcare workers

Washington state’s largest hospital and clinic unions call for the highest possible level of personal protection for caregivers during the COVID-19 outbreak.

March 10, 2020

Joint statement from Washington State Nurses Association, SEIU Healthcare 1199NW and UFCW21 on personal protections for healthcare workers

Press release Statement

The CDC has announced new interim recommendations on the use of personal protective equipment (PPE) for situations where adequate supplies are unavailable.

March 10, 2020

COVID-19 - WSNA advocating for you: Demanding action from top health officials and answering your questions

WSNA is continuing our advocacy at the highest state level. We shared your stories and concerns on Saturday in two conference calls with officials from the Washington State Department of Health (DOH). We emphasized that some hospitals appear to not be following any standard protocols (CDC or WHO).

March 9, 2020

Statement by WSNA Executive Director Sally Watkins on COVID-19

Statement

We are all working together under extraordinary circumstances to deal with this public health crisis in our state.

March 9, 2020

Unions representing healthcare professionals call on CDC to maintain protections during coronavirus outbreak

Press release Statement

Leaders of several local and national unions issued a joint statement following the expected guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that will weaken protections for healthcare workers on the frontlines of fighting the coronavirus outbreak.

March 6, 2020

Coronavirus highlights school nurse role in public health prevention and response

During this outbreak and every day, our students deserve the security of having a regis­tered professional nurse on campus. Please join us in urging Washington state lawmakers to invest $1.7 million in new funding in the School Nurse Corps during the 2020 legisla­tive session.

March 6, 2020

WSNA statement on nurses and COVID-19

Press release Statement

Nurses are on the frontlines of caring for patients, including those with COVID-19, and nurses represented by the Washington State Nurses Association have been caring for COVID-19 patients here in Washington state. Nurses feel a tremendous professional and ethical calling to care for every patient, and they are doing just that. We…

March 3, 2020

FAQ on Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19)

Symptoms of COVID-19 include fever, cough, and shortness of breath. Senior citizens and people with underlying health conditions or compromised immune systems are at increased risk of severe disease.

March 3, 2020

WSNA, WSMA, WCAAP Joint Statement on COVID-19 Outbreak

Press release Statement

The Washington State Nurses Association (WSNA), Washington State Medical Association (WSMA), and Washington Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics (WCAAP), representing more than 30,000 health professionals in the state, today issued a joint statement on the COVID-19 outbreak.

March 2, 2020

Update on statewide response to 2019 novel coronavirus

As the investigation into 2019 novel coronavirus continues, the Washington State Department of Health is sharing important data points to help the public understand and track the progress and the work being done statewide.

January 27, 2020

Update on statewide response to 2019 Novel Coronavirus: contact investigation continues

If you have questions about what is happening in Washington state, how the virus is spread, what to do if you have symptoms, and need a phone number or website for additional information, read more.

January 22, 2020

DOH: Across Washington, flu taking a toll on people and medical facilities

State health officials issue recommendations for when and where to get medical care.

January 19, 2018