November 13, 2025
A nurse’s scope of practice is defined by each state’s Nurse Practice Act. In Washington state, this is encompassed in the Revised Code of Washington (RCW) and Washington Administrative Code (WAC). Let’s unpack each of these and learn how they affect nursing practice in Washington state.
September 15, 2021
This spring, the National Academy of Medicine released The Future of Nursing 2020-2030: Charting a Path to Achieve Health Equity. This report explores how nurses can work to reduce health disparities and promote equity, while keeping costs at bay, utilizing technology, and maintaining patient and family-focused care into 2030.
Nurses today have more education and certifications than ever before. But how should nurses list those credentials? Should all of them be listed after your name? What about nonnursing credentials? It seems confusing; should nurses even bother?
Despite the challenges of virtual negotiations during a pandemic, WSNA members are organizing and mobilizing to win great contract settlements across the state. Congratulations to these local units who have fought for and won new contracts so far this year (as of July 2021).
The Washington State Nurses Foundation (WSNF) is pleased to announce the recipients of academic scholarships for the 2021-22 year.
We are proud to recognize and applaud these outstanding WSNA members with 2021 WSNA Recognition Awards. These outstanding nurses were nominated by you, their colleagues, for making Washington a healthier place.
Congratulations to these WSNA members elected by their peers to serve in positions of leadership during our 2021 – 2023 biennium!
The reality cannot be overstated: Washington hospitals are on the brink of a crisis, and without immediate and impactful action to retain and attract critical workers the state’s health care system could face an unprecedented collapse in capacity and care.
September 13, 2021
Because Governor Inslee has issued this mandate, health care employers – public and private – have to abide by the mandate. However, all employers still have to bargain with WSNA over the effects of the mandate.
August 10, 2021
As unions representing nurses and health care workers in Washington state, WSNA, SEIU Healthcare 1199NW and UFCW21 support science-based public health directives on COVID-19 vaccination requirements for frontline health care workers, with medical and religious exemptions.
August 9, 2021
On June 21, Governor Inslee announced that three coronavirus pandemic-related proclamations would be rescinded in anticipation of Washington state's June 30 reopening date. One of these proclamations, the High-Risk Worker Proclamation, will be rescinded June 28 and transition to the new Health Emergency Labor Standards Act.
June 24, 2021
The WSNA Board of Directors is pleased to announce the appointment of David Keepnews, PhD, JD, RN, FAAN as Executive Director. He will join the WSNA staff and begin orientation on September 15, 2021.
June 10, 2021
Thanks to Olympic Hot Tub for raising $45,050 in support of the Washington State Nurses Foundation's Nurses Emergency Assistance Grant Fund in April 2021.
May 28, 2021
The WSNA Awards Committee and the Professional Nursing and Health Care Council are proud to recognize and applaud these outstanding WSNA members with the 2021 WSNA Recognition Awards. Join us in celebrating this year's winners.
May 19, 2021
On May 11, Governor Jay Inslee signed Senate Bill 5190 into law — which goes into effect immediately and provides presumptive eligibility for workers’ compensation and unemployment insurance.
May 12, 2021
Never before has the critical role of nurses been so clear. Never before have we been so proud of our profession. To the nurses who have carried us through, thank you and happy National Nurses Month.
May 6, 2021
“I encourage all people in our state to join me in honoring the nurses of Washington, especially recognizing the critical and live-saving role that registered nurses have filled around our state, country, and world through the current coronavirus pandemic.”
April 30, 2021
Gloria Brigham, WSNA director of nursing practice, received a key to the city of Federal Way on April 6 from Mayor Jim Ferrell. Brigham, representing WSNA, was one of seven people who accepted the awards on behalf of healthcare workers, law enforcement officers, firefighters, and grocery workers.
April 22, 2021
WSNA applauds the guilty verdicts delivered against former police officer Derek Chauvin for the killing of George Floyd. The jury’s conclusion supports what we know to be true: that Black Americans, especially Black men, are too often victims of systemic racism in law enforcement in this country, and the consequences can be deadly.
April 21, 2021
As a volunteer for the nonprofit organization The Bridge of Hope, Kyla Arama has helped create a self-sustainable medical system in Sierra Leone, a developing country on the southwest coast of West Africa.
April 16, 2021
In 2019, the WSNA Board of Directors approved seven strategic priorities to focus the work of the association on areas of greatest importance to registered nurses and the organization. Within those priorities, WSNA staff developed specific goals and action steps and reported back to the Board on a regular basis.
April 14, 2021
During this year’s Washington State Nurses Convention, we hope nurses across Washington state will feel connected to and supported by others who have also felt the heavy weight of the pandemic on their shoulders.
Nurses say PeaceHealth Southwest Medical Center needs to do more to attract new nurses and retain the nurses it has after a brutal year on the front lines of the coronavirus pandemic. On April 10, hundreds of registered nurses and supporters rallied at the Vancouver Waterfront to call for safe nurse staffing at Southwest.
April 10, 2021
The national theme for Public Health Week 2021 is “Building Bridges to Better Health,” a recognition that making communities safe and healthy is public health’s top priority and that COVID-19 has made that even more important.
April 7, 2021
