Dear Nurses,

During this difficult time, hospital leadership may be operating under Crisis Staffing due to the statewide emergency and wildfire conditions impacting communities across Washington, including Spokane. On August 1, 2026, Governor Bob Ferguson declared a statewide state of emergency due to drought conditions, unusually high temperatures, high winds, and record-setting wildfires. The declaration included a statewide burn ban through September 30, 2026. 

As a result, hospitals may temporarily deviate from their adopted staffing plans under Washington law. RCW 49.28.130(7) defines an "unforeseeable emergent circumstance" as including a declared national, state, or municipal emergency, activation of a healthcare facility disaster plan, or another unforeseen disaster or catastrophic event that substantially affects or increases the need for healthcare services.

This means staffing during a crisis may look different than the staffing plans that were developed and approved by your Hospital Staffing Committee. These temporary deviations are permitted under state law during emergencies.

However, safe staffing remains critically important. We strongly encourage nurses to continue submitting Assignment Despite Objection (ADO) Forms and Staffing Concern Forms whenever patient care, nurse safety, or staffing concerns arise. Safe staffing concerns do not disappear simply because a hospital is operating under crisis conditions, and documenting concerns remains essential.

Under RCW 70.41.420(7)(f), if an unforeseeable emergent circumstance lasts 15 days or longer, hospital incident command must report to the co-chairs of the staffing committee regarding staffing needs and plans to address them. The staffing committee must then convene to develop a contingency staffing plan. Any deviation from the staffing plan may not continue beyond 90 days without staffing committee review.

Thank you for your continued dedication, professionalism, and extraordinary service during this challenging time. Your documentation, advocacy, and commitment to patient safety remain as important as ever. If you have questions or concerns, please reach out to Laurie Robinson, Nurse Representative 206-620-4136

In Solidarity,
Laurie Robinson
Nurse Representative
lrobinson@wsna.org