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WSNA in Olympia – Legislative Session Week 8

Yesterday, the Legislature reached the final cutoff for policy bills. All bills that did not make it past this deadline and are not necessary to implement the budget are no longer viable. Unfortunately, WSNA's number one priority, safe staffing legislation, didn't make it past this week's deadlines.

March 5, 2022

The Senate failed us, but we’re not done

The Senate Ways and Means Committee did not pass our safe staffing bill out of committee by the deadline, meaning HB 1868 is very unlikely to pass this legislative cycle. We are deeply disappointed, but this is a delay, not defeat.

March 4, 2022

Anne Tan Piazza to take on new role as Executive Director of Oregon Nurses Association

Senior leader accepts new position after nearly 25 years at the Washington State Nurses Association.

February 28, 2022

WSNA in Olympia – Legislative Session Week 7

Both legislative budgets were released this week on Monday. We were excited to see funding for WSNA priorities, including school nurse funding, sexual assault nurse examiner training and workforce development. The Legislature also reached the second policy cutoff of the year on Thursday.

February 25, 2022

WSNA in Olympia – Legislative Session Week 6

On Monday, the Legislature reached the house of origin cutoff. Most of our priority bills made is past this crucial deadline. Because most of our bills started in the House, we will now be working on moving those bills through the Senate.

February 18, 2022

Nursing commission seeks members

The Office of the Governor is recruiting to fill vacancies on Washington state's Nursing Care Quality Assurance Commission.

February 18, 2022

WSNA in Olympia – Legislative Session Week 5

On Monday, the Legislature reached fiscal cut off for the house of origin. The rest of the week was spent on the Legislature caucusing and voting bills off the House and Senate floors. We are expecting the safe staffing bill to be voted on by the house any day now.

February 11, 2022

David Keepnews, WSNA executive director, featured on RN Mentor podcast

Listen to David discuss his path to WSNA and current issues in nursing like safe staffing in this hourlong conversation.

February 11, 2022

Hospital staffing crisis caused by working conditions, not lack of qualified nurses

A review of recent national and Washington State nurse staffing data and survey results indicates that there are enough nurses to safely staff hospitals, but that the quality of jobs is leading many qualified registered nurses to leave their Washington hospital jobs.

February 10, 2022

Nominate an outstanding local unit leader for 2022 Local Unit Awards

The WSNA Cabinet on Economic and General Welfare is proud to announce the Local Unit Awards to be presented during the 2022 Leadership Conference on April 24 - 26. Please nominate someone that you feel has done an outstanding job as a local unit leader.

February 7, 2022

WSNA in Olympia – Legislative Session Week 4

The Legis­la­ture reached major milestone this week. Thursday was the cutoff for policy bills in their house of origin. This means that no new bills will be intro­duced this session unless they are neces­sary to imple­ment the budget.

February 4, 2022

Announcing the 2022 inductees into the Washington State Nurses Hall of Fame

On March 17, WSNA will add a new class of leaders to the Washington State Nurses Hall of Fame — our highest honor.

February 3, 2022

NCQAC: Notice to graduates of nursing education programs

Washington State Nursing Commission determines that graduates of five Florida schools do not meet minimum requirements for licensure in the state of Washington.

January 31, 2022

WSNA in Olympia – Legislative Session Week 3

This week the House Labor Committee took executive action on the safe staffing bill, HB 1868. The Senate Labor Committee heard testimony from two WSNA nurses on a bill that would provide COVID-19 hazard pay to hospital-based health care workers. The first cutoff of session is next week on Feb. 3.

January 28, 2022

WSNA in Olympia – Legislative Session Week 2

This week the House Labor Committee heard the safe staffing bill, HB 1868. Check out the WSNA members who testified in support of the bill.

January 21, 2022

'We can't keep doing this'

WSNA nurses share firsthand accounts of understaffing from the front lines.

January 17, 2022

Taking on the nurse staffing crisis

The public is becoming increasingly aware of a problem nurses have known about for a long time: the nurse staffing crisis that is dangerously depleting our hospitals. The COVID-19 pandemic has both highlighted and accentuated this crisis.

January 17, 2022

Standing together for real staffing solutions

WSNA and the other two primary health care unions in Washington state call for a sustain­able, account­able commit­ment to safe staffing in every depart­ment of every hospital in the state.

January 17, 2022

Responding to the COVID-19 pandemic through partnering within community

Mary Mahoney Professional Nurses Organization was established in 1949 to provide community services and education to student nurses.

January 17, 2022

Pearls for Practice - What you should know about nurse technicians

In the last 18 years, nurse techs have been welcomed into many health care facilities in Washington — although some nurses may have never worked with a nurse tech. So, what does a nurse need to know when working with a nurse tech?

January 17, 2022

Disaster preparedness: Start the new year prepared

The start of a new year is the perfect time to ensure your disaster supplies are up to date. While disaster planning isn’t usually at the top of everyone’s to-do list, a small amount of planning now can make a big difference when you’re faced with a natural disaster or emergency.

January 17, 2022

Union solidarity and perseverance win fair contracts

WSNA members are raising their voices and standing together to win the contracts they deserve. Congratulations to these local units who recently won at the bargaining table (as of November 2021).

January 17, 2022

Meet David Keepnews

David Keepnews has a long track record and distinguished career as a nurse, labor proponent, professor, policy specialist and advocate for our practice. He joins WSNA at a critical time for our members, our union and our profession. David is already bringing his experience, skills and passion to the job.

January 17, 2022

WSNA in Olympia – Legislative Session Week 1

This was a busy week of hearings on policy bills and WSNA was well repre­sented with several members providing testi­mony on key bills. As a reminder, all hearings and meetings with legis­la­tors are taking place over Zoom and are being aired on TVW.

January 14, 2022