MultiCare Good Samaritan Hospital

See the answers to these questions and more below:

What is a Staffing Complaint/Assignment Despite Objection (ADO) form?

A Staffing Complaint/ADO is a form that documents a good faith effort on the part of a nurse to call attention to problems that affect nurse and/or patient care, safety, or satisfaction. The goal is to fix these problems and ensure they don’t reoccur.

What is the purpose of filling out a Staffing Complaint/ADO form?

Staffing Complaint/ADO forms provide documented evidence that a problem exists on a unit and initiates a process for improving the situation. Once management has been presented with an issue, it is incumbent upon them to address it. Additionally, you are documenting the facts, which may be helpful to you if there is a negative outcome.

The submitted Staffing Concern/ADO also provides the Staffing Committee members with specific details, rather than with anecdotal examples about staffing complaints, and helps them determine if a complaint has been resolved or not. The Staffing Committee has the legal responsibility to determine if staffing complaints are resolved or unresolved. Complaints that show an unresolved trend for 60 days or more could result in an investigation by the Department of Health and possible fines.

When appropriate, some complaints may be taken to Conference Committee by our WSNA Local Unit officers to try to resolve the concern.

Steps to be taken before filling out a Staffing Complaint/ADO:

• Clarify what is being asked of you regarding your assignment
• Assess your capabilities, obstacles, acuity of patients, and availability of ancillary staff
• Identify all possible options for meeting patient’s needs
• Decide; communicate the decision to your Charge Nurse, or immediate supervisor, and document the decision-making process on the form

When to fill out a Staffing Complaint/ADO:

• When you find yourself in a situation that creates concerns about conditions for patients, or for you, complete the form as soon as possible.
• Think of it as an S.O.S. – Short on Safety, Short on Supplies, Short on Staff

Examples of when you should submit a Staffing Complaint/ADO form:

• Your unit is not staffed according to its staffing plan.
• Shift adjustments to staffing are inadequate.
• Charge nurse is unable to perform charge nurse duties, secondary to increased patient care assignment
• Inadequate nurse to patient ratios for patient acuity based on your clinical judgment; insufficient support staff
• You are not trained or experienced in the area assigned, or have not been oriented to this unit / case load
• Necessary equipment is not available (supplies, IVs, medication availability), or you are not trained or experienced to use equipment in assigned area
• An assignment poses a threat to the health and safety of a patient under your direct care
• Coerced/Mandatory overtime, or missed breaks

Our WSNA contract and the law both prohibit retaliation against nurses for filing a Staffing Complaint/ADO.

Questions? Contact your WSNA Nurse Representative Barbara Friesen at bfriesen@wsna.org or 206-575-7979, ext. 3056.

Our current contract between WSNA and Good Samaritan expires March 31, 2020. The pre-negotiation survey is the first step in our preparation for contract negotiations. The information we get from the survey is data we use in determining our priorities as we head to the bargaining table. For that reason it is crucial that we know every nurse’s issues and concerns prior to the start of the negotiations.

Our power comes from the willingness of registered nurses to stand together; our strength is in unity!

Remember, in order for WSNA to be an effective, strong and influential voice at the negotiation table, we need every member involved and working together.

Please click on the link below to take the survey now, and make sure every nurse at Good Samaritan you know and work with to takes it too.

In Solidarity,

Cheryll Howe-Chair, Aaron Bradley – Treasurer
Christina Swan - Secretary, Dawn Morrell – Grievance Officer

Questions? Contact WSNA Nurse Representative Barbara Friesen at bfriesen@wsna.org or 206-575-7979 ext. 3056.

When: Friday, Feb. 22 from 9-11 a.m.
Where: Pierce County Nurses Assoc. office (223 Tacoma Ave S, 98402)

This event is for you if:

1. You are a WSNA elected officer or grievance officer who has not yet had this training (officers learn how to attend investigatory meetings).
2. You have already had grievance officer training and would like a refresher.
3. You have lots of experience with the grievance process and are willing to share your knowledge and experience with those new to the role.
4. You have an interest in advocating for your colleagues in investigations and would like to learn more.

Your colleagues need your advocacy and support!

RNs from various Tacoma-area facilities will be attending and space is limited. You must pre-register for this training.

Register today with WSNA Nurse Rep Sydne James at SJames@wsna.org. Include your name, contact info and where you work.

Please be on time!

Please welcome your new WSNA nurse representative, Barbara Friesen, MS, BSN, RN.

Beginning Jan. 4, 2019, Barbara Friesen will take over all new issues as they arise at MultiCare Good Samaritan Hospital. Barbara can be reached at bfriesen@wsna.org or 206-575-7979, ext. 3056. I will assist Barbara with this transition in the coming months as needed.

For those of you who have matters that I have been assisting you with, I will continue working with you until resolution.

Although I will no longer be the WSNA nurse representative for you at Good Samaritan Hospital, my work continues as a WSNA nurse representative.

It has been both an honor and a pleasure working with all of you and I wish you the best. I know you will be in good hands with Barbara.

Sincerely,

Michele Rose, BSN, RN
WSNA Nurse Representative
mrose@wsna.org

Come to the window seating area next to the Good Samaritan Starbucks on Thursday, May 24, 2018 from 9:30-11:30 a.m. to receive the WSNA water bottle that we handed out during Nurses Week. If you have your bottle already, stop by if you have any contract questions or concerns.

Want to increase your knowledge of the contract and be more active in our local unit? We are looking to recruit a new local unit secretary. Krystal Young has left for a new career growth opportunity. If you are interested, please contact one of us, WSNA Nurse Representative Michele Rose, or stop by to learn about this wonderful leadership opportunity.

In solidarity,

LU Chair Marilyn Sterling, LU Vice Chair Cheryll Howe, LU Treasurer Aaron Bradley and LU Grievance Officer Dawn Morrell. 

Contact WSNA Nurse Representative Michele Rose at 1 (206) 575-7979, ext. 3012 or mrose@wsna.org.

Let's talk. Come to the windowed seating area next to the Good Samaritan Starbucks on Thursday, April 26 from 9:30 - 11:30 a.m.

In Solidarity,

Marilyn Sterling – LU Chair, Aaron Bradley – LU Treasurer, Krystal Young – LU Secretary and Dawn Morrell – LU Grievance Officer

Contact WSNA Nurse Representative Michele Rose at 1 (206) 575-7979, ext. 3012 or mrose@wsna.org.

We will be in the seating area next to the GS Starbucks on March 22 from 9:30 - 11 a.m. Please come and chat with us.

In solidarity,

Marilyn Sterling – LU Chair, Aaron Bradley – LU Treasurer, Krystal Young – LU Secretary and Dawn Morrell – LU Grievance Officer

Contact WSNA Nurse Representative Michele Rose at 1 (206) 575-7979, ext. 3012 or mrose@wsna.org.

Our nursing Code of Ethics calls upon nurses to promote and advocate for the protection of health, safety and right of our patients.

This means advocacy at the bedside for the individual patient as well as advocacy in Olympia and Washington, D.C., for public policy that promote safe and quality care.

Uninterrupted meal and rest breaks and limiting mandatory overtime means you can provide the highest quality patient care.

In addition to working to ensure that MultiCare provides real rest breaks to our nurses at Tacoma General and Good Samaritan Hospital, WSNA is also advocating for #breaks4nurses legislation in Olympia (House Bill 1715).

WSNA is aware that MultiCare and Bill Robertson released a letter to employees on Jan. 16, 2018 titled, “MultiCare Government Relations and Professional Advocacy.” In this letter, Mr. Robertson stated that prior to contacting legislators, employees must, “coordinate any potential contacts with elected official directly with Ingrid Mungia, Director of Government Relations for MultiCare Health System.” In addition, the letter instructs nurses to “inform Ingrid anytime one of these groups asks you to make contact with policymakers.”

Direct communication with your elected officials is considered by the Supreme Court to be protected concerted activity under the National Labor Relations Act.

Let us be clear:

• Nurses have the right to appeal to lawmakers and to advocate on specific issues/legislation such as our rest breaks bill.
• Employers cannot require nurses to notify employers or coordinate response when contacting legislators.
• Employers cannot prohibit or discriminate against nurses for advocating on issues and appealing to lawmakers.
• Nurses cannot be required to divulge their union activities and communication to an employer.

Please contact WSNA immediately should you face any investigation or retaliation related to your protected activities.

Latest update on #breaks4nurses legislation: House passed HB 1715 which would guarantee uninterrupted meal and rest breaks, and close the mandatory overtime loophole. The bill passed 56 – 42 with bipartisan support.

It’s not too late, join us in Olympia on Monday, Jan. 22, for Nurse Legislative Day and meet with your lawmakers face-to-face!

Michele Rose, RN
Good Samaritan Nurse Rep
206-575-7979 x3012
mrose@wsna.org