Nurses Week Celebration

Drawing Winners!

Codie Barnes ER- cream gift set, Letah Seeley BH- Starbucks gift card, Katrina Peck ER Starbucks gift card, Luz Alvarez- massage gift certificate, Jeff Wise BH-dinner and a movie gift certificate, Midella Ross ER- Starbucks gift card. Evette Kendall BH- custom welcome mat, Chris Sinkula ER- mani/pedi gift certificate.

WSNA T-Shirts
All T-Shirts were delivered to the hospital units, Surgical center and Home Health Hospice. If you did not get a T-Shirt and would like one or you need a different size please contact Laurie Robinson, WSNA Nurse Representative.

Convention

The Washington State Nurses Convention took place 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, enjoying vendors, entertainment, and food. The best was the connections we made with fellow RNs. Astria Toppenish was well represented with Julia Barcott, Clara Bucio, Susie Cervantes, Luz Alvarez, Evette Kendall, Lisa Bullek and Chris Sinkula.

Running for Office:
WSNA Board of Directors: Juila Barcott VP, Legislative & Health Policy Council: Evette Kendall and Nominations & Search Committee Luz Alvarez.
WSNA Cabinet on Economic and General Welfare Member at Large: Susie Cervantes
WSNA Economic and General Welfare Nominating/Seach Committee: Lisa Bullek
ANA Membership and Assembly Representative: Juia Barcott, Clara Bucio, Evette Kendall, Lisa Bullek and Susie Cervantes.
AFT Convention 2024 Delegates: Julia Barcott, Clara Bucio, Lisa Bullek, Evette Kendall, Luz Alvarez and Susie Cervantes.

Staffing Committee

The committee met on March 28 and again for a short meeting on April 13. We are looking at the staffing plans for each unit. A major change was brought forth for the BH. Main change to increase nurse patient ratio from 1:8 to 1:10. We have great concerns over this and have not approved the staffing plan as the BH will trial this over 90 days.

This committee reviews Assignment Despite Objection submissions (ADOs).

RN Staff committee members are Julia Barcott, ICU, Susie Cervantes PACU, Clara Bucio, ER, Cindy Peterson, Acute Care, Maira Gonzalez, Endoscopy and Lisa Bullek, BH.

Assignment Despite Objection:

If you find yourself in a situation that you believe creates unsafe conditions for patients or for you, complete the Staffing Complaint / ADO (Assignment Despite Objection) form as soon as possible.

By completing the form, you are helping to make the problem known to manage¬ment, which creates an oppor¬tu¬nity for the problem to be addressed. Addition¬ally, you are documenting the facts, which may be helpful to you later if there is a negative outcome.

Types of situations where you should complete a Staffing Complaint / ADO form:

• Charge nurse is unable to perform charge nurse duties, secondary to increased patient care assignment
• Inade­quate nurse to patient ratios for patient acuity based on your clinical judgment
• Insuf­fi­cient support staff requires you to assume additional duties
• You are not trained or experi­enced in the area assigned
• You have not been oriented to this unit / case load
• Patient care equip­ment missing or unusable
• Neces­sary equip­ment is not avail­able (e.g.: supplies, IVs, medica­tion availability)
• You are not trained or experi­enced to use equip­ment in assigned area
• System failure (e.g.: computer, phone, pyxis, call system)
• An assign­ment poses a serious threat to your health and safety
• An assign­ment poses a serious threat to the health and safety of a patient under your direct care
• Forced / manda­tory overtime
• Missed breaks

The link for submitting an ADO is on the back of your RN Badge Buddy: https://www.wsna.org/union/ado.

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 (Lisa Bullek) 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 18 days.

Contract issues

We found that ATH was paying an RN who had both an educational premium (BSN, MSN) and a certification one or the other, not both. The language in the contract as listed below is a different under the per diem language. Fortunately, our argument prevailed, and ATH will pay for both. Let us know if you are not receiving both premiums.

 3.5.2.1 Per diem nurses who on average work less than thirty (30) hours per week each month shall continue to receive a sixteen percent (16%) premium above the contract base rate of pay, plus shift differential, worked holiday premium, and premium pay for BSN and/or certification, but shall not be eligible for any additional pay or benefits, with the exception of the 401(k) matching program and Paid Sick Leave. 7.5 BSN/MSN & Certification Pay. Nurses having a BSN, MSN, or Certification through ANA will receive one dollar and fifty cents ($1.50) per hour. 

For any questions or concerns please contact one of the officers or your nurse rep:
Julia Barcott, ICU, Co-Co Chair
Clara Bucio, ER, Co-Chair
Evette Kendall, BH, Secretary/Treasurer
Lisa Bullek, BH, Grievance Officer

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:

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