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We know, and research confirms, that inadequate nurse staffing leads to medical errors, poorer patient outcomes, nurse burnout and injuries to nurses. Our approach to improving nurse staffing is multifaceted, encompassing legislation and policy, staffing committee tools, education and the latest research.
We work with the State Legislature, regulatory agencies and the Governor’s Office to advance stronger laws and policies on safe nurse staffing.
Recent achievements include:
The 2017 Staffing Transparency & Accountability Act, which amends the 2008 staffing law to hold hospitals accountable for nurse staffing plans the work of the staffing committee.
Research consistently confirms that safe nurse staffing is critical to quality of care and patient safety.
We’ve compiled the most significant research findings that support safe staffing and that you can use to make the case for safe staffing in your hospital and with policymakers.
Staffing committees only work well when nurses get involved and understand their role and responsibilities.
Explore this toolkit with information and work samples to help registered nurses serving on staffing committees.
Apr 10, 2021
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.
Apr 30, 2019
The latest report on the Rest Break settlement with St. Joseph Medical Center - Tacoma
Jun 8, 2017
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
Apr 20, 2017
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…
Jul 5, 2016
WSNA is pleased to announce that the Health Care Authority, through its State Innovation Plan, has broadened their “Starter Set” of Performance Measures to now include three Nursing Sensitive Measures in their Medicaid Quality Incentive program. Achievement of measure benchmark goals is tied to the incentive payments to hospitals…
May 12, 2016
ANA continues to share their ongoing work on safe staffing, as well as encouraging all advocacy efforts. ANA declared May 12th a National Day of Advocacy and created a webpage highlighting all the things nurses can do to advocate for safe staffing.
Feb 1, 2016
Nursing’s role in solving the state’s mental health crisis will be the top issue at the Washington State Nurses Association’s Nurse Legislative Day on Monday, Feb. 1. With 700 attendees, WSNA hosts the largest lobby day in Olympia. In his keynote address, Governor Inslee is expected to discuss nursing’s role in helping solve the…
Jul 20, 2015
The Washington State Department of Health has found that Whidbey General Hospital is violating the state’s “Safe Nurse Staffing” law, created in 2008 to ensure that hospitals and nurses work together to develop nurse staffing plans adequate to keep patients safe.