WSNA leadership, staff and your Local Unit Officers are in active discussions with the county about the COVID crisis and its impact on nurses. Our primary concerns are the protections of nurses’ safety and livelihoods during this crisis.
As you may be aware, the county is proposing redeploying nurses to do COVID work at other facilities. We are actively discussing the county’s proposal and have another discussion scheduled for this afternoon. If you have already volunteered, please ensure you have been properly oriented and are competent to perform the nursing care you are providing. This is a requirement under your license and is not waived during this crisis. Some of these links may be helpful as you make decisions about your practice.
https://www.doh.wa.gov/portals/1/Documents/6000/QsOfAssign.pdf
https://fortress.wa.gov/doh/opinio/s?s=DecisionTree
https://www.doh.wa.gov/portals/1/Documents/6000/JobTitles.pdf
We are working with the county to reach an agreement regarding compensation for nurses who are at high risk for COVID, have been exposed to COVID, or are ill from COVID-19.
We are also in discussion with jail health services regarding inmate transfers between facilities, staffing, and safety needs.
Some nurses are asking about conditions that place them at serious risk. Please review this information:
https://www.wsna.org/news/2020/nurses-facing-abnormally-dangerous-patient-care-assignments
Please let us know what you are experiencing, what you need us to know and how we can help you get through this increasingly challenging pandemic.
Please contact your nurse rep at sfrey@wsna.org or 206.575.7979 ext. 3039.
Thank you all for the work you do.
In Solidarity,
Your local unit officers Sean Dumas, Lois Schipper and Nurse Rep Sara Frey
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Seattle / King County Public Health - Supervisors
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WSNA Nurse Representative
COVID-19 petition demanding safe working conditions and hazard pay for our nurses
Our nurses deserve adequate protection including PPEs as well as hazard pay in recognition of the extraordinary conditions we are facing on the frontlines.
Sign the petition to demand our employers and our government provide the resources, support and safe working conditions we need to keep our members safe.
Learn more and sign the petition.
COVID-19 Resources
From WSNA
- Nurses facing abnormally dangerous patient care assignments
- Visit wsna.org/covid19 for up to date resources and answers to frequently asked questions.
- Visit wsna.org/ado to document issues in your workplace.
Other helpful resources
- CDC testing guidelines
- CDC criteria for return to work for healthcare personnel with confirmed or suspected COVID
- WA State Hospital Association summary on Contingency and Crisis Capacity for facemasks (PDF)
- CDC strategies for optimizing the supply of facemasks
- Cloth masks do not protect nurses
- CDC healthcare personnel with potential exposure guidance
- WA State Coronavirus Response
- WA State Department of Health – 2019 Novel Coronavirus Outbreak
- WA State Employment Security Department – For workers affected by COVID-19
- Financial Resources for WA residents impacted by COVID-19
Posted Mar 23, 2020
COVID-19 update
Previous updates
Responding to this crises
Mar 17, 2020
Negotiations update
Mar 04, 2020
Latest on COVID-19 in WA
Mar 03, 2020
Important notice regarding your right to privacy
Feb 21, 2020
Bargaining update #9
Feb 11, 2020
Upcoming events
Union Leadership Conference 2020
Nov 8, 2020 – Nov 10, 2020
8.5 CNE contact hours
Resources and tools
Document unsafe conditions
If you find yourself in a situation that you believe creates unsafe conditions for patients or for you, you should complete a Staffing Complaint / ADO Form as soon as possible.
By completing the form, you will help make the problem known to management, creating an opportunity for the problem to be addressed. Additionally, you will be documenting the facts, which may be helpful to you later if there is a negative outcome.
WSNA also uses your ADO forms to track the problems occurring in your facility. When you and your coworkers take the important step of filling out an ADO form, you are helping to identify whether there is a pattern of unsafe conditions for you or your patients at your facilities. This information is used by your conference committee, staffing committee, and WSNA labor staff to improve your working conditions.
Representation rights
If called into a meeting with management, read the following to management when the meeting begins:
If this discussion could in any way lead to my being disciplined or terminated, I respectfully request that my union representative be present at this meeting. Without representation present, I choose not to participate in this discussion.