Summer has arrived in Whatcom County and so have some important wins for nurses at St. Joe's. From grievance victories to progress on insurance issues and ongoing work to improve patient and staff safety, WSNA nurses have been busy advocating for positive change across the hospital.

Keep reading to learn what has been happening and what is coming up in July.

Conference Committee Updates

WSNA leaders met with hospital leadership this month and discussed several issues that impact nurses and patient care across the organization.

SECU Safety Concerns

Significant time was spent discussing the patient-on-patient assault that occurred in the SECU. Everyone involved recognizes the devastating impact this incident has had on the patient, family, caregivers, and community.

The hospital continues to conduct its root cause analysis, and WSNA looks forward to reviewing the findings. Nurses have long raised concerns regarding safety in behavioral health settings, and this remains an issue that deserves serious attention. We remain committed to ensuring meaningful changes are made to improve safety and reduce the risk of a similar event occurring in the future.

Low Census Practices

WSNA also addressed concerns about inconsistent application of the low census process across units.

Questions have been raised about how volunteers are sought, how per diem nurses are utilized, and when FTE nurses are placed on low census or mandated. To address these concerns, a joint working group has been established to develop a more consistent and transparent approach across the hospital.

Timecard Corrections

Management confirmed that the policy limiting manual edits to timecards applies only to scheduled shifts and should not restrict manual corrections for non-shift work. This clarification should help prevent confusion and ensure nurses are properly compensated for all work performed.

Insurance Forum Continues to Deliver Results

One of the many gains won in the new contract was the creation of an insurance forum, and it continues to provide a valuable avenue for addressing concerns and improving access to benefits.

At the June meeting, several important issues were discussed:

Durable Medical Equipment (DME)

Concerns were raised regarding the difficulty many members experience when obtaining durable medical equipment.

Leadership reported that efforts are underway to move DME providers into Tier 1 status and explore a process where claims are filed directly by vendors instead of requiring nurses to seek reimbursement. More information is expected in the coming months.

Tier 1 Lab Concerns

Issues that occurred after the Tier 1 laboratories opened were also discussed, including specimen problems that resulted in some employees and community members requiring follow-up testing at the hospital.

Leadership stated that the underlying issue has been corrected and confirmed that individuals requiring follow-up care because of these errors will not be billed.

FSA Card Issues

Members have reported difficulties using Flexible Spending Account cards at certain PeaceHealth facilities, including outpatient laboratories.

Leadership explained that some vendors are recognized directly by Fidelity while others are not. They also noted that separate transactions may be necessary when purchasing both eligible and non-eligible items, such as medications and retail products.

The outpatient laboratory issue remains under review, and additional information is expected at a future meeting.

Grievance Updates

Contract enforcement remains one of the most important functions of WSNA, and several significant grievances are currently moving through the process.

Recently Filed Hospital-Wide Grievances

Grievances have been filed regarding:

• Holiday standby not being paid at 1.5 times the appropriate rate
• Incorrect overtime calculations
• Failure to pay excess-of-shift overtime when missed meal periods occur

Recent Wins

There have also been several important victories, including:

• A settlement ensuring nurses who worked in the Pediatric Resource role receive the correct premium pay
• Resolution of excess-of-shift overtime issues within Hospice
• Successful settlements in multiple individual grievances, including termination cases

The grievance process can be slow, but momentum continues to build. Several hospital-wide grievances are expected to move to hearings in late July and early August.

Hospice Leadership Update

Whatcom Community Hospice and Hospice House have experienced years of leadership instability and turnover. That instability reached a tipping point this month when the most recent manager departed PeaceHealth.

In response to widespread concerns regarding bullying, intimidation, retaliation, and unprofessional conduct, WSNA hospice nurses, along with dozens of non-WSNA hospice caregivers, signed an open letter to PeaceHealth CEO Sarah Ness demanding action.

Although the manager left before the letter could be delivered, the work is not finished. WSNA will continue pressing PeaceHealth leadership to address the concerns raised by staff and ensure a healthy, respectful, and professional work environment moving forward.

The solidarity demonstrated by hospice nurses and caregivers was inspiring and serves as a powerful reminder of what can be accomplished when caregivers stand together and demand better.

Hospital Staffing Committee

The next Hospital Staffing Committee meeting will take place on July 1 at 0800.

The HSC belongs to all nursing staff, and participation matters. Nurses are encouraged to attend virtually, learn more about the staffing challenges affecting the hospital, and help shape solutions that improve patient care and working conditions.

Use the link below to join the meeting.

Upcoming Union Events

Cafeteria Time

July 7 | 1130-1330

Stop by, ask questions, share concerns, and enter to win a $25 Fred Meyer gift card.

Monthly Union Meet-Up

July 7 | 1830-2030

Join fellow WSNA nurses for the monthly in-person gathering at:

Beach Cat South Paw
1010 C St Suite 107
Bellingham, WA 98225

This is a great opportunity to connect with coworkers outside the hospital, meet with local unit leaders, and discuss workplace issues in a supportive environment.

The Contract Is Only as Strong as the Nurses Who Enforce It

Every grievance filed, every staffing concern raised, every committee meeting attended, and every workplace improvement achieved begins with nurses who are willing to speak up.

The victories highlighted above did not happen because management decided to do the right thing. They happened because nurses documented problems, shared concerns, filed grievances, attended meetings, and stood together.

As we move into the second half of the year, there is still important work to do. Whether that means filing an ADO, attending the HSC, becoming a steward, serving as a local unit leader, or simply speaking up when something is not right, every nurse has a role to play.

When nurses stand together, nurses win.

Have a safe and enjoyable summer, and we look forward to seeing many of you in July.

In solidarity,
Laura Bayes, Co-Chair
Amber Pouley, Co-Chair
Jenn Engelhart, Co-Secretary
Laura Sherwood, Co-Secretary
Tracy Pullar, Treasurer
Stacy Gaggia Libby, Grievance Officer
Celeste Montoy-Seimears, Membership Officer
Tracy Taylor, Membership Officer
Kristin Malmo, Communications Officer
Kelly Carroll, Communications Officer
Errin Hull, Co-Occupational Health and Safety Officer
Jessica Moran, Co-Occupational Health and Safety Officer

Questions? Contact WSNA Nurse Representative Jared Richardson, jrichardson@wsna.org.