Tacoma General nurses have submitted a flood of Assignment Despite Objection (ADO) forms over the past week. Thank you to everyone who has taken the time to document what is happening on your unit.

ADOs give us a record of unsafe assignments, missed meal and rest breaks, and other working conditions that put patients and nurses at risk. We are especially concerned about the lack of break nurses on units and the use of hallway beds that may push units beyond their capacity.

WSNA has requested information from MultiCare to determine how widespread these problems are. We will bring them to the Hospital Staffing Committee and pursue grievances where appropriate. If the staffing concerns remain unresolved, we will bring them to the Department of Health.

File an ADO whenever you experience or observe concerns such as:

• A missed meal or rest break
• Being asked or expected to use a break buddy
• Too few nurses or other staff for the assignment
• Patient acuity that exceeds the available staffing
• No staff available to provide break relief
• Hallway beds or assignments that exceed your unit’s capacity
• Security concerns, equipment that does not work, or other safety concerns

When staffing is the concern, include the number of nursing staff required for your unit and the number actually present. Those details are especially useful if we need to file a complaint with the Department of Health.

Complete an ADO at WSNA.org/ADO.

Every ADO helps us show what nurses are facing and press MultiCare to address it. If you have questions about completing one, contact a union officer or Nurse Representative Jared Richardson at JRichardson@WSNA.org.

In solidarity,

Therese Juntunen, Chair
Michelle Stevenson, Co-Chair
Rachel Ballou-Church, Secretary
Christina Nicholson, Treasurer
Anna Vermaire, Grievance Officer
George Murray, Grievance Officer
Jamaica Corpuz, Grievance Officer
Michelle Stevenson, Co-Chair
Sarah Huber, Grievance Officer
Saudah Ssemakula, Grievance Officer
Belinda Laju, Membership Officer
Jaime Carym, Membership Officer

Jared Richardson, WSNA Nurse Representative