News

Advocacy and policy and COVID-19

COVID-19: Voices from the front lines

In October, as a winter surge of COVID-19 cases loomed ahead, we spoke to five nurses about their experi­ences on the front lines over the past year. Here are their stories.

WSNA statement of support for Dr. Benjamin Danielson

WSNA joins the prominent individuals and groups who have expressed concern and support for Dr. Benjamin Danielson in his recent resignation from Seattle Children’s and the Odessa Brown Clinic over ongoing racist and discriminatory practices at Seattle Children’s.

WSNA statement on COVID vaccine

We believe that healthcare workers should be prioritized to receive the vaccination and strongly recommend that registered nurses be vaccinated against COVID-19 as a key component of a comprehensive prevention effort.

WSNA statement on COVID surge and frontline nurses

Nurses will continue to step up and take care of patients through this pandemic; state health officials and hospitals need to step up and make sure nurses have what they need to stay safe and healthy

WSNA-PAC Endorsements

WSNA-PAC endorses in many statewide races but does not endorse for Federal Elections such as Congres­sional or Presi­den­tial races.

Asking for an upgrade

WSNA has long opposed the Nurse Licensure Compact for a variety of reasons — and in 2019, WSNA spent nearly 20 hours meeting with the members of the Nursing Care Quality Assurance Commission to discuss those concerns. In the end, many of our key concerns remained.

Thinking about running for office?

Nurses make outstanding lawmakers, and right now we don’t have enough of them. If you are thinking about running for office, taking these steps in advance will help you succeed.

TAKE ACTION: Our census is our power!

A few weeks ago, the U.S. Census Bureau announced that the 2020 Census will end early on Sept. 30, which will result in an incomplete and inaccurate count of people. We cannot let that happen.

Governor updates vulnerable worker protections

On July 29, Governor Jay Inslee updated the proclamation that provides protections for vulnerable workers in Washington state and extended it through the duration of the current state of emergency.

Don’t call me hero … call me scientist

The world we live in today is forever changed. That’s a good thing in some ways. Historically, nurses have been framed as the caring ones or the angels at the bedside. These aren’t bad descriptors, but they don’t accurately describe today’s nurse. Today’s nurses are scientists, too.

Nurses campaigning in a time of coronavirus

In this election year, the pandemic has made one thing crystal clear: nurses are vitally important to the health of our communities. We need nurses — in our hospitals, in our long-term care facilities, in our schools and in our state legislature.

What are Crisis Standards of Care?

While Washington state has not needed to implement Crisis Standards of Care, a second surge of COVID-19 cases could require our state officials to revisit these standards.

Confronting COVID-19: Nurses on the front lines

Nurses across the state have stepped up and cared for COVID-19 patients under extraordinarily difficult circumstances. From the first chaotic days when guidance and protocols seemed to change on a daily basis, through extreme shortages of PPE and a lack of testing, you have served, and you have cared.

ANA, AFT pass resolutions on racial justice

The American Nurses Association and the American Federation of Teachers both passed resolutions last week calling for racial justice and action to combat racism.

Racism is a public health emergency

A letter from Lynnette Vehrs, MN, RN, WSNA President, and Julia Barcott, RN, Chair of the WSNA Cabinet on Economic and General Welfare.