The Physician Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment (POLST) form has been revised, based on months of discussion. The POLST is the medical order form that allows any individual with a serious illness or frailty to summarize their wishes regarding life-sustaining treatment.
The American Nurses Association and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have teamed up to inform registered nurses in the United States about the problem of antibiotic resistance and facilitate their expanded and clearly recognized role in hospital antibiotic stewardship programs (ASPs) and activities. Just out: a new white paper on the topic.
The Washington State Nurses Association joins the American Nurses Association, the Utah Nurses Association and registered nurses across the country in expressing outrage over the treatment of a registered nurse in Utah who was handcuffed and arrested by a police officer for following her hospital’s policy and the law.
Our thoughts are with the people affected by Hurricane Harvey. We especially recognize the dedication and efforts of the registered nurses providing care in the disaster zone under catastrophic circumstances.
Nurses who wish to volunteer in Texas for Hurricane Harvey relief can register through the Texas Department of State Health Services’ Texas Disaster Volunteer Registry. The registry has set up a “2017 Hurricane Harvey” option under the “organization” category. The American Red Cross is seeking health and mental health professionals to volunteer.
The HNHN Grand Challenge is an American Nurses Association initiative to connect and engage nurses, employers and organizations around improving health in five areas: physical activity, nutrition, rest, quality of life and safety. You can join now and jump in with the Do It In 10 Days! Hydration Challenge!, which aims to help you improve your hydration.
Opioids have become a leading cause of unintentional injury death in Washington, even more than motor vehicle accidents or firearm fatalities, according to 2016 state data. Nationwide, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that overdose deaths related to prescription opioids have quadrupled since 1999. Nurses can play an important role in reducing these deaths, as well as addiction problems, through their assessments and monitoring of patients.
Betty M. Anderson, one of the founders of the Washington State University College of Nursing and one of the first inductees into the Washington State Nurses Hall of Fame, died August 13, 2017 at the age of 99.
The WSU College of Nursing has been named a Center of Excellence by the National League for Nursing, an honor given to only 15 schools and health care facilities nationwide in 2017.
Special Olympics Washington is looking for Health Promotion volunteers August 19 and 20, and Camp Kesem University of Washington is looking for camp nurses for the week of August 20-25.
WSNA is pleased to offer legal and identity theft protection at a reduced rate through LegalShield, which has been providing legal services for more than 40 years.
A group of Washington State nursing leaders has banded together to form a statewide initiative called Action Now! to tackle address challenges and transform the state’s nursing education system.
The State of Washington has recently addressed the ongoing problem with prescription opioids through two recent actions: the signing of Executive Order 16-09 and the passing of Engrossed Substitute House Bill (ESHB) 1427 and its subsequent signing into law. Included in these actions are a series of seven workshops held around the state to create prescribing rules as well as rules on PMP reporting and metrics.
A new federal grant received by the WSU College of Nursing will help train nurse practitioners and address a critical shortage of primary-care providers in Eastern Washington rural areas.
Have you ever experienced a violent incident or assault at work? Is needed personal protective equipment (PPE) readily accessible? Is lift equipment for safe patient handling available on each acute care unit? WSNA’s Health and Safety Survey is a critical first step in making your workplace safer and healthier.
The American Nurses Association, represented by President Pamela F. Cipriano, PhD, RN, NEA-BC, FAAN, is among 20 professional and educational organizations committed to the National Academy of Medicine’s initiative to address burnout.
The 2017 Seattle/King County Clinic is only 12 weeks away, and they are still looking for nurse and general support volunteers. The clinic will be held Oct. 26 – 29 in KeyArena at Seattle Center.
Three Washington nurses have been selected for induction as Fellows in the American Academy of Nursing.
Close to 100 Americans are killed by opioids each day, a figure that could rise to 250 - or more than 650,000 over the next decade - if potent synthetic compounds such as fentanyl and carfentanil continue to proliferate while waiting time for treatment lengthens in the hardest-hit areas. Experts predict mortality will not stabilize until after 2020, because it will take several years to see if government interventions are effective.
Make your voice heard today in support of safe hospitals! Deadline for comments is June 13th. Federal Government Proposes Adopting New Consumers Tool Increasing Transparency on the Critical Role of Nurses in Measuring Patient Outcomes
The Nursing Commission sent out the following information on behalf of Washington State Agency Medical Directors Group: The Washington State Agency Medical Directors Group (AMDG) developed a comprehensive Guideline on Prescribing Opioids for Pain in June 2015. The Guidelines were subsequently adopted by the Bree Collaborative at the July 2015 meeting. The AMDG workgroup will design and carry out strategies to implement the Guidelines. Your feedback is requested on the Bree Collaborative draft opioid prescribing metrics. Call for Public Comments by June 23, 2017.
Patty Hayes, MN, RN, a member of WSNA’s Nursing Hall of Fame and Director of Public Health – Seattle & King County, is among thosechosen to be part of The Kresge Foundation’s Emerging Leaders in Public Health Initiative. Hayes and Carina Elsenboss, the department’s Preparedness Director, will be working to transform public health in the communities they serve.
The Governor's proclamation makes it official: May 6-12, 2017 is Nurses Week in Washington state, and May 6, 2017 is Nurses Day. Read the Proclamation!
In this week’s update: 2017 Budget Priorities, 2017 Policy Priorities and 2017 Other Bills of Interest
