Meet with union representatives in the United General cafeteria:

Date: May 7, 2025 

Time: Noon to 2 pm

Please come and bring your questions and concerns. Engage in one-on-one conversations with your local union officers. Snacks will be provided. Union officers will visit the units afterwards to deliver Nurses Week gifts and speak with nurses who were unable to attend the noon to 2 pm session. We look forward to talking with you!

Staffing Complaint / ADO Form

What is a Staffing Complaint / Assignment Despite Objection (ADO) Form?

A Staffing Complaint/ADO is a form that documents a good faith effort by a nurse to call attention to issues affecting patient care, safety, or satisfaction. The goal is to resolve these issues and ensure they do not recur.

What is the purpose of filling out a Staffing Complaint/ADO form?

Staffing Complaint/ADO forms provide documented evidence that a problem exists on a unit and initiate a process for improving the situation. Once management has been presented with an issue, it is incumbent upon them to address it. Additionally, you document the facts, which may be helpful if there is a negative outcome.

The submitted Staffing Concern/ADO also provides the Staffing Committee members with specific details rather than anecdotal examples regarding staffing complaints, assisting them in determining whether a complaint has been resolved. The Staffing Committee holds the legal responsibility to evaluate if staffing complaints are resolved or unresolved. Complaints that show an unresolved trend for 60 days or longer could result in an investigation by the Department of Health and potential fines.

When appropriate, some complaints may be brought to the Conference Committee by our WSNA Local Unit officers to resolve the concern.

Steps to be taken before filling out a Staffing Complaint/ADO:

• Clarify what is being asked of you regarding your assignment.
• Evaluate your capabilities, challenges, patient acuity, and the availability of support staff.
• Identify all possible options to meet patients' needs.
• Decide, communicate the decision to your Charge Nurse or immediate supervisor, and document the decision-making process.

When to fill out a Staffing Complaint/ADO?

• When you find yourself in a situation that raises concerns about conditions for patients, or for you, complete the form as soon as possible.
• Think of it as an S.O.S. – Short on Safety, Short on Supplies, Short on Staff

Examples of when you should submit a Staffing Complaint/ADO form:

• Your unit is not staffed according to its staffing plan.
• Shift adjustments to staffing are inadequate.
• 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.
• You are not trained or experienced in the area assigned, or have not been oriented to this unit / case load.
• Necessary equipment is not available (supplies, IVs, medication availability). or you are not trained or experienced to use equipment in assigned area.
• An assignment poses a threat to the health and safety of a patient under your direct care.

In Solidarity,

Shawna Smith- Chair, Shannon Lauder – Co-Cahir, Jason Hoa – Treasuer, Melonie Miller- Greivance, Holly Swanson- Grievance, Zak Thatcher – Greivance, Sara Lanrock – membership, Katie Owens – Communication.

Please reach out to your local unit officers as well as your nurse rep, Barbara Friesen (bfriesen@wsna.org), with any questions.