We’re counting down the days until your party

We’re working hard to celebrate you. In preparation of mailed invitations, we are asking for as many advanced RSVPs as possible. Will you and yours be joining us on September 27 from 4 – 9 p.m.? Let us know by submitting an RSVP.

Nurse Staffing Committee

The nurse staffing committee was on August 16 from 3:30 – 4:50 p.m. in conference rooms A&B. CFO Tom Legal was in attendance and answered questions from nurses in attendance. He shared stories regarding a cultural shift where every Confluence employee is a caregiver. 

Mr. Legal was asked if there were plans to still purchase the Hastings building as was indicated in negotiations – Yes, secondary to the condition and location of provider clinics. 

Mr. Legal was asked to educate the nurse staffing committee regarding the current bond rating, days of cash on hand and the financial health of Confluence. 

For a hospital or a healthcare system, days of cash on hand is how many days to run all operations without any additional revenue. Mr. Legal reported 130 days cash on hand. 

We would like to thank nurses who showed to the staffing committee to ask questions first hand with a special shout out to those that joined us from night shift. 

Do you have questions you would like to submit? Please send them to any one of your officer team or to your nurse representative. 

Ever thought about being a WSNA officer? 

We will be sending nomination notifications with the next update scheduled on or around August 30. If you are a dues-paying member in good standing you are eligible for office.  

Floating

Article 6.12 of your contract speaks to floating. We have received reports of nurses stating they have been informed by management that if they are floated for less than four hours this is not a float.
“The Hospital will extend good faith efforts to ensure nurses will float no more than one time (1x) during a nurse’s shift, unless mutually agreed otherwise between the nurse and the Hospital.”
If you, or your unit are struggling with multiple floating assignments in one shift or have been told a float less than four hours is not a float, please contact your nurse representative – sreed@wsna.org or reach out to any WSNA officer.

Central Washington Nurses are patient centered.

Brittney Lamb, WSNA Grievance officer

Q: Why did you become a nurse?

A: I became a nurse because I had two children with cystic fibrosis and watching the cystic fibrosis providers work with my kids inspired me to want to give back and help. I became a nurse to help people in the most vulnerable times of life, to help them feel better, and to make a difference.

Q: What does it mean to be a patient advocate?

A: Being an advocate means that I am the one monitoring them, watching for changes in their status, communication with the treatment team, learning what makes them feel better, what makes them comfortable. Advocating for changes when things are not working, voicing concerns on behalf of the patient. Being honest with patients about things impacting their healthcare and making sure they know the plan.

Next update on or near 8/30/2023 – Do you want to be featured for this series? We’d love to hear from you! Send your answers (1-2 sentences) and a photo to sreed@wsna.org

Contract Corner 

Is everyone working for the weekend? Section 5.9 of your contract speaks to weekend work Central Washington Hospital - WSNA

All full-time and part-time nurses will be required to work their share of weekends. Weekend work will be scheduled on an equitable basis among all nurses. The Employer will make a good faith effort to schedule all full-time and part-time nurses to at least every other weekend off. In the event a nurse works two (2) weekends in a row, the second (2nd) weekend shall be paid at the overtime rate. The third (3rd) consecutive weekend shall be paid at the regular rate of pay, unless overtime is required by law or some other provision in this Agreement. If the nurse works a fourth (4th) consecutive weekend, and the nurse had agreed to work at least eight (8) hours in one day on the second (2nd) and fourth (4th) weekends, regardless of the number of hours actually worked on those weekends, all hours during the fourth (4th) weekend, and all weekend work thereafter shall be paid at the overtime rate until the nurse has received at least one (1) complete weekend off. This section shall not apply to part-time nurses or to full-time nurses who voluntarily agree to more frequent weekend duty or altered weekend duty prior to the posted schedule.

Questions? Contact your WSNA nurse representative Shawn Mork at sreed@wsna.org.