Jan 14, 2021
COVID-19: Voices from the front lines
In October, as a winter surge of COVID-19 cases loomed ahead, we spoke to five nurses about their experiences on the front lines over the past year. Here are their stories.
COVID-19 #
As Washington state confronts the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, WSNA is working around the clock to advocate for your safety at all levels – with federal leaders and partners, with the Governor, state and local health officials, and directly with health care facilities.
Frequently asked questions #
Personal protective equipment (PPE) #
- Should the general public wear facemasks?
- What is the CDC recommendation for cleaning a facemask?
- What is the time period that the air inside an examination room (occupied by a patient with confirmed or suspected COVID-19) remains potentially infectious?
- What is the best way to clean my disposable N‑95 mask?
- Are there FDA-approved methods to clean N‑95 facemasks?
- Do cloth masks offer any protection? Since there are no surgical facemasks available, should I wear a cloth mask?
- Should I wear a homemade mask over my mask (e.g., surgical facemask or N‑95 respirator) to keep it clean?
- There is a severe shortage of personal protective equipment. Organizations are using a variety of strategies to preserve PPE. What are the CDC recommendations?
- Can PAPRs be cleaned without eventually destroying their integrity?
Assignments #
- Can an employer force a nurse to work on a designated“COVID-19” floor? Management is denying us masks saying they are not needed when we have to take care of symptomatic patients, what are my rights?
- When can I refuse an assignment based on personal health circumstance (pregnant, auto immune disorder, etc.)?
- What will happen now that my hospital is closing units and stopping elective surgeries?
Staffing #
Benefits/Low Census #
- What will happen now that my hospital is closing units and stopping elective surgeries? Can I get unemployment?
- If I am unable to work while waiting for COVID-19 test results, are benefits available? What if there is a longer separation?
Illness #
If I am sick with a high fever and my employer tells me I have to go into work, what should I do?
Other
#
If I have a COVID related complaint, how do I go about having my voice heard?
Resources #
General resources #
Healthcare Provider Recommendations/Resources | WA DOH | |
2019 Novel Coronavirus Outbreak | WA DOH | https://www.doh.wa.gov/Emergencies/Coronavirus |
Corona Virus Response | WA State | |
Information for Healthcare Professionals | CDC | https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-nCoV/hcp/index.html |
Coronavirus Technical Guidance | WHO | |
Coronavirus Disease | ANA | |
Resources on Coronavirus | AFT | |
HEAL-WA Literature Search Engine | WA RN Library | |
HCP: Current Medical Information | WA RN Library | Dynamed.com; Assistance available: Kathryn.lebo@wsu.edu. |
The DOH has established a call center to address questions from the public. If you have questions about what is happening in Washington state, how the virus is spread, and what to do if you have symptoms, please call the DOH at 1−800−525−0127 and press #.
The Washington State Department of Health is recruiting volunteer health practitioners #
The time is now for nurses to do what we do. We get involved. We don’t sit on the sidelines while our communities suffer. We get things done. This pandemic will not subside without the dedication and effort of our nation’s nurses.
Updates #
Jan 9, 2021
Washington hospitals must do better to keep nurses on the job
Washington hospitals must do better by nurses and health care workers to keep them safe and keep them on the job, where we all so desperately need them.
Dec 18, 2020
Letter from Governor Inslee to hospital administrators: Listen to workers for COVID-19 vaccine rollout
"I strongly encourage you to work closely with the health care workers and their unions in your facilities as you are developing your COVID vaccine distribution and prioritization plan," wrote Governor Jay Inslee in a letter to hospital administrators on Dec. 15.
Dec 7, 2020
WSNA statement on COVID vaccine
We believe that healthcare workers should be prioritized to receive the vaccination and strongly recommend that registered nurses be vaccinated against COVID-19 as a key component of a comprehensive prevention effort.
Nov 25, 2020
Unions praise Governor Inslee for addressing concerns of frontline workers in new proclamation
Representing more than 64,000 nurses and frontline health care workers, the Washington State Nurses Association, SEIU Healthcare 1199NW and UFCW 21 applaud Governor Jay Inslee for listening to and addressing the concerns of our members.
Nov 13, 2020
WSNA statement on COVID surge and frontline nurses
Nurses will continue to step up and take care of patients through this pandemic; state health officials and hospitals need to step up and make sure nurses have what they need to stay safe and healthy
Oct 29, 2020
AFT, AFSCME, WSNA, and UNAC/UHCP sue Trump admin for shelving standard that would protect America’s healthcare workers from exposure to infectious diseases
Unions representing 500k+ nurses, health professionals demand Trump’s OSHA stop unconscionable delay and issue workplace protections against COVID-19, influenza, Ebola, and more.
Sep 2, 2020
Health care unions statement on COVID-19 outbreak at St. Michael Hospital
The leaders of WSNA and SEIU Healthcare 1199NW today called on state officials to address the serious shortcomings in oversight and transparency that we believe contributed to the severe outbreak of COVID-19 among staff and patients at St. Michael Hospital in Bremerton.
Jul 29, 2020
Governor updates vulnerable worker protections
On July 29, Governor Jay Inslee updated the proclamation that provides protections for vulnerable workers in Washington state and extended it through the duration of the current state of emergency.
Jul 21, 2020
Don’t call me hero … call me scientist
The world we live in today is forever changed. That’s a good thing in some ways. Historically, nurses have been framed as the caring ones or the angels at the bedside. These aren’t bad descriptors, but they don’t accurately describe today’s nurse. Today’s nurses are scientists, too.
Jul 21, 2020
Nurses campaigning in a time of coronavirus
In this election year, the pandemic has made one thing crystal clear: nurses are vitally important to the health of our communities. We need nurses — in our hospitals, in our long-term care facilities, in our schools and in our state legislature.
Jul 14, 2020
What are Crisis Standards of Care?
While Washington state has not needed to implement Crisis Standards of Care, a second surge of COVID-19 cases could require our state officials to revisit these standards.