WSNA opposes the Nurse Licensure Compact, SB 6209
The Washington State Nurses Association is committed to supporting nurses and reducing barriers to licensure, especially for military spouses and partners. However, WSNA does not support the NLC.
2020 Legislative Session Week 4
What a week! WSNA nurses were at the Capitol this week – advocating for nursing priorities and working families. On Thursday, nurses from around the state joined WSNA’s Lobby Day and spoke with their legislators on our priority issues.
Legislature invests $40 million to retain and recruit nurse educators
Around the state, more than 800 qualified nursing school applicants are turned away each year. The primary reason? Vacant faculty positions mean there are not enough nurse educators to teach the courses, even though programs have available student slots.
Nurses Climate Challenge: Educating 50,000 Health Professionals by 2022
To activate nurses, the Alliance of Nurses for Healthy Environments and Health Care Without Harm launched the Nurses Climate Challenge in May 2018, a national campaign to educate health professionals on climate and health. We are aiming to educate 50,000 health professionals by 2022.
What does professional activism look like?
Professional activism is the engagement of skilled and competent professionals utilizing strategic campaigning to achieve a goal. In nursing, it is nurses coming together to assess a need and identify the problem, design and implement a plan to address the issue, evaluate that plan, and repeat until the problem is solved.
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.
2020 Legislative Session week 2
It was a busy week of hearings in Olympia, with WSNA weighing in on many bills. We continued meeting with legislators about our priority issues, including funding for the School Nurse Corps. This week we are highlighting movement on our policy priority related to the need for a more uniform, but also community-based, response system for sexual assaults and making sure that the Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners we represent are included in conversations that affect their work.
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.
2020 Legislative Session Week 1
2020 Legislative Session Week 1 update The 2020 legislative session kicked off on Monday. It’s the second year of the biennium which means that it is a “short” 60-day session. New House Speaker Laurie Jinkins was sworn in on Monday – she is the first woman and first out lesbian Speaker of House. She is a strong advocate for access to health care, public health, as well as nursing and patient safety issues. Former Speaker Frank Chopp remains a member of the House of Representatives and is now sitting on several committees including House Health Care.
Press release
Bankruptcy court allows Astria Regional to remain closed despite concerns raised by nurses and physicians
The U.S. Bankruptcy Court of Eastern District of Washington allowed Astria Regional to remain closed after a hearing this morning requested by the Washington State Nurses Association.
Statement
UNITY STATEMENT: Union coalition continues push for agreements at all Providence hospitals
Unity of Unions Leads to Tentative Agreement for WSNA – Coalition Continues Push for Agreements at All Providence Hospitals
Press release
Tentative Agreement reached in Sacred Heart nurses contract negotiations
After 14 months of negotiations with Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center, Washington State Nurses Association reached a Tentative Agreement with management at 3 a.m. on Tuesday, January 7 that protects sick time and includes staffing and workplace safety language.
Press release
Progress in negotiations results in postponement of strike date
After ongoing discussions, the three unions representing 13,000 health care workers at 13 Providence hospitals statewide have agreed to pause plans to announce a strike. The parties have made significant progress on key issues.
Press release
Strike date set: Nurses and healthcare workers at Sacred Heart, Holy Family to announce strike plan Jan. 3
The nurses and healthcare workers of the Washington State Nurses Association, UFCW 21 and SEIU Healthcare 1199NW will announce their intent to strike in press conferences Friday, Jan. 3 to be held in Seattle and Spokane.
What does it mean to be a nursing leader?
Some say you must earn accolades for your accomplishments, be highly educated or hold a formal title. I disagree with all the above being a requirement to call yourself a leader. I say it matters more what you do.ws
10 years after the IOM’s Future of Nursing Report: How is Washington measuring up?
The Future of Nursing report in 2010 gave states a set of goals to aim for as they developed their nursing workforce. Now, almost a decade later, how is the state of Washington measuring up?
Press release
Kadlec nurses ratify contract
By an overwhelming majority, the WSNA-represented registered nurses at Providence Kadlec Regional Medical Center have ratified a new 3-year contract.
The push to recognize the U.S. Cadet Nurse Corps as veterans
It was June 1944, the country was at war, and Marge Batey was graduating from St. Patrick’s Academy in Sidney, Nebraska. The boys from her high school class were heading into the military, off to the battlefields of World War II. Batey was heading to the Sacred Heart School of Nursing in Spokane.
By Ruth Schubert, APR, Director of Marketing and Communications
Press release
Tentative agreement a major victory for Kadlec nurses
In a major victory for Kadlec nurses, the Washington State Nurses Association and Providence Kadlec Regional Medical Center reached a tentative contract agreement last night.
In Memoriam: Barbara Frye, BSN, RN
A consummate nurse and union leader who believed that nurses must represent nurses, Barbara served on the staff of the Washington State Nurses Association for 20 years.
Press release
15,000 nurses and healthcare workers at Providence-owned hospitals ready to strike
SEATTLE—In a press conference held today outside Swedish Medical Center First Hill Campus, nurses and other healthcare workers representing caregivers from three unions announced their readiness to strike if parent company Providence does not come back to the bargaining table with fair contract proposals.
Washington State Nurses Hall of Fame nominations due Nov. 30
Is there someone who has changed your professional life and the lives of others? Now is your opportunity to nominate a person you admire for inclusion in the Washington State Nurses Hall of Fame for 2020!
It’s Election Day – Turn those ballots in!
A friendly reminder from the WSNA-PAC Board that today, Tuesday, November 5, is Election Day – no postage is required to mail your ballot!
Press release
MEDIA RELEASE: Providence Kadlec nurses vote to authorize strike
RICHLAND, Wash – After two days of voting, Kadlec members of the Washington State Nurses Association voted by an overwhelming majority to authorize a strike.
