In this week's update: Public Health Hearings & TV Town Halls, Staffing & Rest Breaks Hearings, School Nurse Supervision Hearing, Right to Work Bill, ACA Protections Introduced in Legislature, Nurse Legislative Day and Upcoming Events
Last fall, WSNA member Justin Gill, MS, ARNP, NP-C and WSNA Nurse Representative Travis Elmore, BSN, RN-BC, were appointed by the American Nurses Association Board of Directors to the ANA-PAC Board of Trustees.
In this week's update: WSNA Statement Regarding Executive Immigration Ban, Paid Family Leave Hearing, School Nurse Supervision Hearing, Staffing & Rest Breaks Bills – Hearings Next Week, Nurse Legislative Day and Upcoming Events
President Trump’s executive order to ban travel and immigration to the United States from seven Muslim-majority countries, including refugees fleeing violence, is antithetical to the purpose of the Washington State Nurses Association and threatens nursing’s ability to meet the health care needs of our patients.
In this week’s update: Staffing & Rest Breaks/Mandatory Overtime Bills Introduced, Secure Medicine Return Hearing, WSNA Member Debt Survey – Thank You!, Student Loan Bills, Nurse Legislative Day and Upcoming Events.
The Washington State Nurses Association Board of Directors announced today that they have selected Washington state nursing leader Sally Watkins, Ph.D., MS, RN, to be the new WSNA Executive Director, replacing Judy Huntington, MN, RN, who is retiring in June after 18 years in the position. Dr. Watkins will join WSNA April 3, 2017.
In this week’s update: Balanced Billing Hearing, WSNA Member Debt Survey, Legislator Newsletters: How to Sign-up, and Upcoming Events.
Organizers of the Womxn’s March in Seattle sent a call for volunteers, which we are sharing with our members for your information.
WSNA is supporting the Women’s Marches being held throughout our state on January 21. Information about marches in Seattle, Bellingham, Olympia, Spokane, Whidbey Island, Yakima, Chelan and Friday Harbor can be found at www.womensmarchwastate.org.
Today, nearly 800,000 people in Washington rely on the Affordable Care Act to get health coverage – and health care. Talk in Congress of repealing the ACA without a viable replacement threatens hundreds of thousands of our family members, friends, neighbors and patients.That’s why WSNA is standing with our national affiliate union, AFT Nurses and Health Professionals, in a National Day of Action on January 15. Join us at noon at Westlake Park in Seattle!
Wishing you the happiest of holidays and a wonderful new year! WSNA's offices will be closed December 26 through January 2, 2017.
Under the terms of the settlement, St. Joseph will pay nurses $5 million in back pay for missed meal and rest breaks. St. Joseph also will establish a “block break relief” system to ensure that nurses are afforded uninterrupted rest periods, and the hospital committed to hiring an additional 26 break relief nurses to safely care for patients while other nurses take their rest and meal breaks.
The WSNA Awards Committee and the Professional Nursing and Health Care Council are seeking outstanding WSNA members as nominees for the 2017 WSNA Recognition Awards. Nominations must be received at WSNA no later than Jan. 16, 2017.
After making little progress in mediation Tuesday, the WSNA-represented Registered Nurses at Tacoma General Hospital are planning a strike advisory vote for December 16, two days after the next scheduled mediation session.
TACOMA--(Nov. 14, 2016) The WSNA-represented nurses at Tacoma General Hospital head back into mediation tomorrow demanding that the hospital address the severe, chronic staffing concerns that imperil patient safety at the hospital. Management’s deceptive “bargaining summary” prompts new Unfair Labor Practice charge. “No Voluntary Overtime, No Voluntary Extra Shifts” job action, which started Nov. 10, is having an impact, with nurses reporting receiving hundreds of text messages over the weekend begging them to come in.
TACOMA – (Nov. 7, 2016) After 11 months at the bargaining table, the registered nurses at MultiCare Tacoma General Hospital will not take voluntary overtime or extra shifts Nov. 10-17. This concerted union action is in response to MultiCare’s ongoing illegal actions against the nurses, as well as its refusal to address staffing issues and break coverage in a way that supports the safe care of patients at the hospital.
You can find your voting information, including a list of drop box locations, by signing into the Secretary of State’s MyVote page. Some counties refer you directly to the MyVote page to find local ballot drop box locations. Many counties also have ballot drop box locations listed on the county elections page. Drop boxes close at 8 p.m. on Election Day, Nov. 8. Here are links to county websites that have drop box information.
Ballots will be mailed this Friday. Keep an eye out, and if you haven't registered to vote, get yourself to your county elections department by Oct. 31!
A Tacoma General physician filed an unfair labor practice charge against MultiCare and WON! That's why you're seeing these official Notices around the hospital promising not to interfere with YOUR RIGHTS under the National Labor Relations Act.
The Washington State Nurses Association is seeking an Executive Director.
Jeruschia Horton, a charge nurse in the critical care unit at EvergreenHealth, was given the LifeSaver Award for the month of May by LifeCenter Northwest.
WSNA-PAC (Political Action Committee) is committed to its mission as a nonpartisan organization representing the interests of registered nurses concerned with promoting quality patient care through the political process. In the Summer 2016 issue of The Washington Nurse, we profiled a number of candidates endorsed by the WSNA-PAC.
As the current Chair of WSNA’s Legislative & Health Policy Council, Lynette Vehrs well understands the tremendous impact state legislation and policies have on nursing and health care. As a past member of several bargaining teams, she knows the importance of collective bargaining to win working conditions that allow nurses to give patients excellent care. And, as a longtime staff nurse and nursing instructor, Vehrs knows firsthand the critical role nurses play in the health care system.
In her 17 years working in school nursing and public education leadership, Robin Fleming has worked to advance the support services she views as essential to supporting learning and eliminating achievement gaps.
