Providence has announced that they will be “rolling out” a new virtual nursing program to 8 hospitals:

 St. Peter's Medical Center (Olympia), Regional Medical Center (Everett), Alaska Medical Center (Anchorage), Providence Centralia Hospital (Centralia), Swedish Cherry Hill (Seattle), Providence Medford (Ore.)  Kadlec Regional Medical Center, (Richland), Holy Family Hospital (Spokane)

Currently, the virtual nurse is being trialed on the surgical unit. This has been quite concerning, coupled with leadership demanding that RNs take a 6:1 patient load. WSNA has sent a Cease and Desist with a demand to bargain over the implementation of the virtual nurse program. We have questions that need to be answered. The letter included a Request for Information.

Until such a time that we can meet with the employer to discuss the virtual nurse program we ask that you do the following:

• In your professional opinion the patient assignment is of cause for concern-File an ADO
• In your professional opinion, there is a safety concern for self, staff or patients- File an ADO and QRR.

Link for ADO or look for QR on the back of your RN Badge Buddy. https://www.wsna.org/union/ado

• If you remain concerned: 
  GUIDELINES FOR GIVING, ACCEPTING, OR REJECTING AN ASSIGNMENT (See PDF via link below)

Staffing Committee:

This meeting meets monthly and is co-chaired by Meri Bukovinsky and Kirk Harper. It is mandated by law and described within the collective bargaining agreement. (See 15.3-15.3 in the Collective Bargaining Agreement)

The Staff nurse committee members:
Meri Bukovinsky-CDU, Jamie Woodall-FSED, Anita Dennis-PAU, Melissa Morris-ED, FESD, KCHO, Christina Rodriguez-Resource, Brent Knutzen-CCU, Nikki May-CCU and Kaitlyn Meyers-Resource.

This committee reviews Assignment Despite Objection (ADOs) submissions. Every time a nurse submits, it is sent to WSNA and Nurse Rep. It then is emailed to Kirk Harper, Meri Bukovinsky, and the Unit Manager. It is the responsibility of the manager to have a verbal conversation about the ADO as well as submit a written response to the nurse and the committee. If this is not happening to you, we want to know. 

If there is any patient harm or safety concern, this includes staff safety, please file a QRR in addition to an ADO.

The committee to review or in the process of reviewing:
April: FSED-2, ICU-2, Resource-1, Surgical-1
May: FSED-1, Resource-1, ED-2, BC-1, ICU-2, CL Pre/Post-1 

The committee reviewed the Staffing Plan for The Surgical Unit. It contains wordings that the unit has the staffing matrix of 5 patients but can flex up or down. The key word is flexing UP. Meri and Kaitlyn both called this to the attention of the committee. Management was unwilling to take out the wording “flexing up” despite the many objections. This was voiced over and over again that taking more than 5 patients in an already heavy care unit can be unsafe. It was also voiced that by doing this could potentially lead to high nurse burnout in a unit that has 11 RN open positions (one of the top units with the most openings)

The committee reports current positions:
April open positions: 88
May open positions: 96

Conference Committee:

This committee meets monthly with the Officers, Kirk Harper, Toby Sutton HR. The many topics that we have been discussing: 

• Lactation- A joint facility walk through by Meri Bukovinsky (Chair and CDU RN and Toby Sutton HR agreed that there is need for additional locations and are looking at Mamava-pods.
• Incentive Shift renewal- Kadlec leadership had no desire to extend the LOU.
• OR-Cath lab hybrid cases- OR crew coming to CL for cases under CL cost center.
• Foreign RN experience adjustment step- Currently, no RNs have been identified as meeting criteria.
• LPN RN experience. The employer has told us that they are planning on recognizing the experience. WSNA survey for RNs with LPN experience is in the hands of HR.
• PACU-Lockers and bulletin board.
• ACLS/PALS education reimbursement. A manager has been denying pay for the time the RN has spent on the course. The rationale being, “other staff can complete in 4 hrs., so should you.”
• TAVR/Hybrid cases where OR is having to clock into Cath Lab. This is not in their float cluster.
• 2 VP overflow and what departments would receive float pay if RN is required to work in this area.
• 1910 policy. Recent concerns have warranted a review and update of this policy.

Investigatory Meetings:

If you are notified by you manager that you must attend an investigatory meeting, please invoke your Weingarten Rights (On the other side of your badge buddy) You have the right to have your Grievance Officer (Anita Dennis) or your Nurse Representative (Laurie Robinson) to attend. If there is an outcome meeting with any corrective action, a grievance may be filed, it MUST be done so within 14 days.

Grievances:

Currently there are 4 active grievances, with 4 that have moved to arbitration.

BIG WINS!

• The CDU RNs who were forced to work out of their float cluster while Kadlec was opening 3 OP in July of 2021 have had their grievance settled with Kadlec agreeing to pay float pay to 31 RNs that were affected.
• Resource RNs: The regular rate of pay includes the Resource pay premium. Therefore, when a Resource RN is in an OT or DT shift the calculations will be made accordingly.

SANE RNs are being denied further training beyond the initial training and denied the bonus when performing a non-fatal strangulation examination.

OR RNs are being told that they must float to Sterile Process Department before they can take Low Census.

Rate of Pay/Wage Step placement-Review of service hours and the inability for Per Diem RNs to view lifetime hours.

Education/Certification premium- Pay missed related to Genesis. Certification uploading issue.

Genesis- The calculation of OT is running amok as an FLSA calculation is being used to determine the rate, not what the CBA clearing states.

Regular Rate of Pay- The CBA defines the RN’s regular rate of pay as base, education and certification premiums, per diem premium. This is how rates of OT should be calculated, not separate. It makes a difference when OT is calculated!

Education/Certification premium- Pay missed related to Genesis. Certification uploading issue.

Unit Reps:  

We are still looking for Unit Reps. The training is free. If you are interested in keeping your unit quickly informed sign up for a class today!

If you have questions, contact Ryan Rosenkranz, our Nurse Organizer, at rrosenkranz@wsna.org or 206-867-4627.

Nurses' Brunch

Drawing Winners! Sylvia Marion-Flower Basket Patricia Madrigal-Treat yourself basket Rob Shadduck- Movie Gift Card Nicki Morgan- Herber Hatchet Gift Card Letha Berndt- Cookie House Erin Merrill- Foodies Adrian Melo-Nouvea Shade Cafe: Adrienne Hurd, Lauren Schwaiger, Rachel Bosic, Amyme Bird, Taylor Barnett. Coffee Bean: Deb Tousley, Lily Little, Keri Smart, Dan Hernandez, Dawn Clark

Convention:

WSNA Convention was May 17-19 at the Greater Tacoma Convention Center! 

We had three beautiful days at the Tacoma Convention Center soaking in the phenomenal speakers, gaining CNEs, visiting vendors, and enjoying the entertainment and food. The best was the connections we made with fellow RNs. Anita Dennis, PACU RN and Grievance Officer represented Kadlec.  

This was Anita’s first time attending the Convention. While she admits to being a cautious person, she was motivated to commit to doing more. Anita stepped up and threw her hat in the arena as an AFT delegate nominee!

For any questions or concerns please contact one of the Officers or Nurse Rep
Meri Bukovinsky (CDU) Chair  
  Cell: 208-739-3439   hart.meri@gmail.com
Jamie Woodall (FSED) Co-Chair
  Cell: 509-572-1091  jamie.orr237@gmail.com
Vanessa Douglas (ICU) Secretary/Treasurer  
  Cell: 352-682-0342  vanessa.p.douglas@gmail.com
Yaamen Aldaas (9 RP) Member at Large  
  Cell: 509-771-0326  yaamen.aldaas@gmail.com
Anita Dennis (PAU) Grievance Officer  
  Cell: 509-781-3011  ardennis@rocketmail.com
Zak Gagnon (ICU) Member At Large
Cell: 509-551-5264 zak.gagnon@yahoo.com (WELCOME ZAK!)

Laurie Robinson Nurse Representative
Cell: 206-620-4136  lrobinson@wsna.org

WSNA Membership:

If you are not a WSNA member please consider completing a membership application today! Just click on the link!

YOU ARE WSNA