HB1714 ensures transparency and accountability for hospital nurse staffing plans The Washington State Nurses Association applauds the legislature for passing the Patient Safety Act today, addressing WSNA’s top issue of safe staffing. The bill creates greater transparency and accountability for nurse staffing plans and the work of nurse staffing committees in hospitals.
Nursing Commission guidance on the suicide prevention training requirements for health care providers, including registered nurses, enacted in Engrossed Substitute House Bill 1424, which modified the law enacted in 2014 (RCW 43.70.442).
For National Nurses Week, May 6–12, ANA will explore this year’s theme, “Nursing: the Balance of Mind, Body, and Spirit.” Download resources for your recognition planning and Nurses Week celebrations from the ANA website.
The FDA on Friday issued an additional recall on EpiPens sold in the U.S. and abroad due to a potential defect that could make the device difficult to activate in an emergency (failure to activate or increased force needed to activate) and have significant health consequences for a patient experiencing a life-threatening allergic reaction (anaphylaxis).
Patient Safety Awareness Week, a highlight of the United for Patient Safety Campaign, is time dedicated to raising awareness about patient safety among health professionals and the public. Join the Twitter chat or watch the free webinar.
Applications are open for the Northwest Public Health Leadership Institute, a nine-month program offered through the University of Washington School of Public Health designed to build collaborative leadership skills for professionals committed to improving health equity.
A new Sentinel Event Alert from The Joint Commission says that leadership’s failure to address a safety culture is a contributing factor to adverse events.
Washington is experiencing an opioid crisis. To help address this crisis, UW Medicine and the Washington State Health Care Authority have partnered to offer two services to assist community-practice providers with managing patients with challenging chronic pain problems.
The Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act, signed into law on July 22, 2016, expanded the privilege of prescribing buprenorphine in office-based settings to qualifying Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRNs) through October 1, 2021.
As a nurse, you have likely seen the same person get readmitted to your facility over and over again, or perhaps you have wondered what led to a certain patient’s illness. What did the person do or fail to do to stay healthy?
In November 2016, the Washington State Chapter of the Association of Nurse Attorneys was one of two state chapters to receive the Outstanding Chapter Award at the American Association of Nurse Attorneys annual conference in Dallas, Texas. The award was based on work developing and presenting our Nursing and the Law continuing education programs.
This past year has been a busy one for the Washington State Nursing Quality Assurance Commission, with many updates to various rules, potential legislative bills and advisory opinions and policies.
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) released a final rule granting full practice authority to three of the four established Advance Practice Registered Nurses (APRNs) roles, effective January 13, 2017.
Do you want to eat healthier, be more active, get better sleep and have more joy? This is your year! ANA is declaring 2017 to be the Year of the Healthy Nurse and will be addressing specific wellness issues every month.
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is considering whether to develop a new standard to prevent workplace violence in health care and social-assistance settings. The agency has issued a public Request for Information on the extent and nature of workplace violence in the industry and the effectiveness and feasibility of methods used to prevent such violence.
The 2017 schedule, approved by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), was published online today on the CDC website and in Pediatrics. The updated schedule was also approved by the American Academy of Family Physicians and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.
WSNA is playing a leadership role in a new campaign, Public Health is Essential, designed to educate lawmakers and the public on the critical role public health plays.
The CDC has set the adult immunization schedule for 2017 based upon recommendations made by the agency's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices.
Mumps cases reported in Washington state are up to 349, according to the most recent numbers released by the Department of Health on Feb. 1. Local county health departments have reported increases in recent days, however, which would increase that number by at least 8 cases. More are expected in coming days.
The Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act (CARA) (Public Law 114-198) extending the privilege of prescribing buprenorphine in office-based settings to qualifying nurse practitioners (NPs) and physician assistants (PAs) until Oct. 1, 2021. CARA requires that NPs complete 24 hours of training to be eligible for a prescribing waiver.
Parity reimbursement and the Comprehensive Addictions and Recovery Act.
The influenza season is in full swing in Washington! Currently, it appears we are near the peak of a moderately severe season. Several hospitals, particularly those located in the I-5 corridor, are reporting limited to no bed availability along with the need to board patients in emergency departments and other locations. Several emergency departments are also experiencing large volumes of patients and long wait times.
Mumps has spread and health officials urge immunization. The Washington State Department of Health reminds people across the state to take precautions to help stop the spread of mumps. It’s especially important for you as a health care professional to take precautions.
The Center for Opioid Safety Education has just released a new opioid overdose training video specifically for WA State.
