Providence VNA Home Health

"Hello fellow nursing colleagues! It’s my true pleasure to be a part of your WSNA team at PVNA. My name is Jaclyn Perkins, and I have been a registered nurse for 15 years, and a WSNA Nurse Rep for 10 years. Before coming to work for WSNA, I specialized in the operating room, where I had the pleasure of serving as a WSNA Local Unit Rep, sitting on the negotiating team, and felt the experience of being a grievant for an unsafe working condition. Since my time at WSNA, I have enjoyed representing nurses through negotiations, the grievance process, labor management committees, and disciplinary situations. This only skims the surface of the work that I have done to support nurses voice in the profession that we know and love. I find that together we will make change for the greater good. I love the nursing profession, and I love nurses. To be able to help support the very people on the frontline who make the magic of patient care happen is my passion. Please never hesitate to call me with a question or an issue you may have, or to simply say hi! We are united, and we are one!”

Contact me at: jperkins@wsna.org or 1-800-231-8482, ext. 3118.

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Annette M. Thomas, WSNA Local Unit Chair (Not pictured)

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Val McCanna – WSNA Local Unit Vice Chair

“I had several conversations with other nurses at work before deciding to become a union rep. We now have a strong progressive group who together with my insights can bring unity and support to the PVNA nurses. I am excited to be part of this WSNA Union.”

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Kathleen Thompson – WSNA Local Unit Secretary

“I am the new Secretary for our local bargaining unit. I have been at PVNA for one year (I am the Certified Diabetes Educator-CDE), but it still seems like I am in orientation. I learn something new every day! So much has changed since I worked in home health in the early 90s! Besides home health, I worked for a year in PICU in Las Vegas; a year in the critical access hospital in Omak, a few years in hospital case management, and nearly 20 years in quality improvement in 2 federally qualified health centers in Okanogan and Moses Lake. Leading improvement initiatives is one of my ninja skills. I volunteered to run for office because I have the time and the skill set. I think I have been the Secretary in every organization I ever joined.”

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Lisa Figg – WSNA Treasurer

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Marilee Naddy – WSNA Local Unit Grievance Officer

“I graduated my nursing program in 1974. I have appreciated the flexibility of the profession as it has related to my personal life. Yes I have had many positions.... and each selected to fit with my family. My experience ranges from hospital bedside, chem dep. , Associate Program Director of a brain injury program CPHQ QI insurance, Director of 150 bed SNF (no sanctions or decubs in my building) to consulting, insurance review, case management in insurance, rehab, and hospital based and then documentation analysis. I landed at PVNA in 2013 and started Case Management in central and now the south hill. I like to think I have the wisdom of the years... and it will be helpful in the role of Grievance Officer. I look forward to working with Administrators and my colleagues as we journey through these dynamic times in home health. Please feel free to contact me with issues or concerns. Together we will walk the walk.”

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Local Unit Meeting: Come for a “meet and greet”

Not sure what the union does?

Not sure what might rise to the level of a "concern" to share with the union?

Come to the next Local Unit meeting to find answers to these questions and to meet your new Union Representatives.

Location: Frankie Doodles
313 E 3rd Ave, Spokane, WA 99202

Date: Sept 24
Time: 5:00 pm

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Staffing Concern/ADO forms

Having to work lots of overtime? You can help yourself and your colleagues by completing an ADO form.

By completing the form, you are helping to make the problem known to management, which creates an opportunity for the problem to be addressed. Additionally, you are documenting the facts, which may be helpful to you later if there is a negative outcome.

These are other reasons to complete the ADO form, though some may not apply in a home health setting:

• 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 to the Staffing Complaint/ADO form can be downloaded and saved onto your personal cell phone so that it is available all the time. To access the form, go to http://www.wsna.org/union/ado.

Once you complete the online form, your WSNA Nurse Rep, and Local Unit Chair / Co-Chair will be notified immediately by email. Be sure to write in your manager’s email address at the bottom of the form so that they receive a copy as well. ADO’s will be discussed during Labor Management Meetings.

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Overtime, Overtime and More Overtime

We are continuing to have conversations with management about this issue and we believe that they are hearing us! We will continue to monitor this situation.

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Are you a Coug fan? Been meaning to attend a game? WSNA Nurses get a discount on tickets during medical appreciation night! Call, tell them you are a WSNA Nurse and receive the officer today! (UCLA vs WSU game only)

P: (509) 315-9392

Offered to you by:

WASHINGTON STATE
Athletics

At WSNA, we don’t want you to miss out on important upcoming events. Much is happening with our Coalition work. Read below to find out how you can offer your support.

Renton Rally:
It’s time to stand together and rally for fairness!

When: July 26 at 12:30 p.m.
Where: Providence Headquarters at
1801 Lind Ave SW, Renton, WA 98057

Buses will be available for transport to and from Spokane for a $10 fee. Buses will leave at 6:30 a.m. and return at 7 p.m.

Hot dogs/snacks will be served!

UNITED WE STAND! DIVIDED WE BEG!

Your Conference Committee team of nurses met with Management on May 21 for our routine meeting. During this meeting, your survey results were anonymously presented and the topic of overtime was discussed along with the issues we see that surround it. One issue identified was bullying. Management has communicated to us they do not promote nor foster an environment that is conducive to bullying They also told WSNA they would reinforce the “open door” policy with their managers so all nurses feel welcome to discuss any barriers they have as pertains to scheduling and/or overtime.

Like you, we want to see these issues resolved, but we can’t go about it alone. If you are feeling bullied or feel you cannot approach your manager, fill out an ADO form (Assignment Despite Objection) and make sure your Local Unit Chair and Nurse Rep get a copy. (The online version goes to them automatically.) The ADOs will be taken to Conference Committee and discussed if they are not resolved prior. The ADO form can be found on the WSNA website at https://www.wsna.org/union/ado/.

We also recommend using the Providence Integrity Line at 1-888-294-8455 to report any issues of bullying and harassment in the workplace.

As we continue to move forward, we will work on this issue and keep you posted with updates. Our next Conference Committee is scheduled for July 9.

Questions? Never hesitate to contact WSNA Nurse Rep. Jaclyn Perkins BSN, RN at 1-800-231-8482, ext. 3118 or jperkins@wsna.org.

We have heard from you that overtime is becoming a large issue for various reasons. Please take a moment and fill out the following survey. This is an initial step in gathering information from you, in an effort to help address this issue!

Questions? Contact WSNA Nurse Rep. Jaclyn Perkins, BSN, RN at jperkins@wsna.org.

Go to the Contracts & Documents tab to view or download.

Please contact WSNA Nurse Rep Jaclyn Perkins with questions at jperkins@wsna.org or at 1-800-231-8482, ext. 3118.

Dear WSNA nurses,

WSNA Nurse Rep Jaclyn Perkins, BSN, RN will be WSNA/Providence VNA Home Health's representative beginning Nov. 1. Jaclyn comes with experience and years of practice. I know you will all welcome her and together, you will continue to make positive changes for Providence VNA nurses!

I look forward to continuing the unity at other WSNA facilities, and I stand with you in solidarity – always.

Jaclyn can be reached at jperkins@wsna.org or at 1-800-231-8482, ext. 3118.

In solidarity,

Debi Bessmer, BSN, RN
WSNA Nurse Rep

Please thank your negotiating team for volunteering their time and doing such a great job. Some major wins in the new contract are wage, premium and education increases!

Your new contract will be posted in the Contracts & Documents tab in the near future.

If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact WSNA Nurse Representative Debi Bessmer, RN at 1 (800) 231-8482, ext. 3112 or at dbessmer@wsna.org.

In this issue:

1. Officer of the Quarter
2. Spokane Leadership Summit
3. Did you know by being a WSNA represented nurse in Spokane you are a member of the Spokane Alliance?
4. Negotiation updates
5. We are on Facebook! Upcoming events

“My name is Stevie Lynne Krone. I am a Registered Nurse at Sacred Heart Medical Center and the current WSNA Co-Chair representing the nurses in the SHMC/WSNA bargaining unit. I have been a member of WSNA for over five years and have been an energetic participant in my local unit activities including pickets, walks and petitions. I am now serving my first term in office as we head into contract negotiations for 2018, utilizing both voice and action from my experience working alongside a powerful and strong brigade of nurses. I have practiced on nearly all the units of my hospital as a Float Pool nurse and now I can dedicate more time in supporting my occupational brothers and sisters as a supplemental on the Cardiac Medical Unit.

I have also utilized my skills as a music artist to benefit and promote a sense of unity, especially with the release of my song “We Are the People.”

It is my passion to serve my community with wholesome medical care as well as focus my allegiance to protect and promote the safety of the nurses that serve beside me.”

If you are a local unit rep or a local unit officer, please contact jperkins@wsna.org to be featured in the next regional newsletter. We are constantly looking for leaders to feature!

Thanks to those of you who attended the Spokane Leadership Summit on April 14, 2018, at the Red Lion. Not only was it a great opportunity to network with fellow nurses in your area, all nurses walked away with 6 CNEs. Nurses from Sacred Heart, Holy Family, Spokane Veterans Home, Spokane Regional Health District and St. Luke’s Rehab were all there. Topics that were covered: Janus vs AFSME, workplace violence and the new Staffing Law.

Thank you for your participation!

In case you missed it, there are more Summits to come! Go to www.wsna.org/union/leadership to find out more. Registration incentives are being offered by the WSNA cabinet including a $50 reimbursement credit for one night’s stay. The next Summit is at Campbell’s Resort on Lake Chelan on Sept. 30-Oct. 1. Registration is open now

Spokane Alliance is a group of nonpartisan, proactive, everyday citizens dedicated to making Spokane a better place for all to live and thrive. You’ll find them working for change in churches and classrooms, in living rooms and union halls, in City Hall and in Olympia.

For more than 10 years, Spokane Alliance has worked to improve public transportation, increase job opportunities and green building requirements among other issues. They are a non-profit supported by the dues of our member organizations, individuals and foundations. The Alliance is affiliated with the Industrial Areas Foundation, a coalition of like-minded organizations in cities across the United States, the UK, Germany, Canada and Australia.

At Spokane Alliance, they believe that by working together we have the power to change our communities for the better. And they do more than just sign petitions and protest; together, they take action. If you’re interested in helping with the Spokane Alliance as a WSNA nurse, please contact jperkins@wsna.org. WSNA is actively partnering to create opportunities to help improve the community through access to medical care for patients. Visit iafnw.org/spokanealliance to find out more about what is currently being worked on. We can direct you on how you can help!

Lots of work is being done by your WSNA staff and officers in the region. Get the bigger scoop:

• St. Luke’s Rehab – 7 sessions complete. Lots of issues still on the table and we are disappointed at the amount of progress. There are still a lot of items to work through including wages, benefits, staffing, rest breaks and layoff language. Next day to bargain is Sept. 7. The negotiating team of nurses is: Fran Castillo (CVA), Linda Spurgeon (CVA) and Jonelle Polley (Infection Control RN).
• Spokane Regional Health District – currently gathering a team of nurses and prepping the contract. Surveys are complete. First day of negotiations is Sept. 6. Negotiating team of nurses is: Jan Yoder, RN, Melissa Charbonneau, RN, Amy Cross, RN and Deborah Taylor, RN.
• Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center – preparations and bargaining will begin fall of 2018. The negotiating team members are: Stevie Lynn Krone (9N), KT Raley-Jones (CICU), Clint Wallace (ICU), LaDonna Reel (MB), Nonie Kingma (AGPU), Debbie Cameron (5S), Linda Clanton (IV Therapy), David Emerson (7N), Darryl Johnson (Cath Lab), Lee Ayres (PACU), Abigail Berry (OR), Vicki Benson (Radiology) and Inga Matheson (CICU).
• Providence Holy Family Hospital – recent grievance settlement for vacation/sick accrual for FT 12-hour nurses.
• Pullman Regional Health District – organizing local unit reps for each unit.
• Providence Visiting Nurses Association – a Tentative Agreement has been reached. Vote is upcoming.

Some of the WSNA local units in Spokane have Facebook pages which are kept up to date on happenings in labor, or within the local unit. Please take the time to “like” them and check them out! This is a great way to show solidarity for your labor brothers and sisters within your region.

WSNA Coug Football Night – save the date!

The Washington State University Cougars take on the Eastern Washington University Eagles on Sept. 15! WSNA nurses will receive a discounted rate on tickets, don’t miss out.

2019 Washington State Nurses Convention

Come join us on May 1-3, 2019 for Washington’s only statewide convention dedicated to nurses and the issues we face. We are focused on transforming health care through the power of nursing.

We are happy to announce that we have reached a tentative agreement on a contract! Your bargaining team recommends this contract for ratification.

SUMMARY OF 2018 TENTATIVE AGREEMENT

Wage Increases:

First paycheck following ratification – 2%; 6/1/2019 – 2%; 6/1/2020 – 2%.

PVNA had argued that wage increases should be reduced in light of the wage steps in our contract. The bargaining team rejected this argument and achieved wage increases that are on par with increases won by nurses in other facilities around the state.

New Premiums/Premium Increases:

(New) Preceptor premium – $1/hour for time assigned to work as a preceptor of newly hired nurses.

Charge Nurse premium – Increase from $1.25/hour to $1.50/hour.

Work on day off – Increase the incentive for part time nurses from $25 to $35.
0.9 FTE nurses and up will continue to receive time and a half.

Education Allowance:

Increase from $225 per year to $250 per year.

Weekend back-up/On call:

The new contract eliminates the weekend back-up language.

The bargaining team proposed an increase to on call pay. While we were unable to achieve the increase, PVNA has informed us that they are exploring options to contract out this work so PVNA nurses will no longer have to be on call.

Equal Employment Opportunity:

Added gender to the list of protected classifications.

Paid and Unpaid Leave:

PVNA proposed language that would have negatively affected our access to leaves of absence due to illness or injury. The bargaining team resisted these proposals and PVNA withdrew its proposals. There will be no changes to the leave language in the new contract.

Your Negotiation Team: Donni Heidenson, Carolyn Chandler, Brenda Willoughby

For any questions, contact WSNA Nurse Representative Debi Bessmer at dbessmer@wsna.org.

We had our 5th day of negotiations on July 26, 2018 and after many hours and hard work from your negotiating team, we are eager to tell you that we have a tentative agreement.

Please thank your WSNA negotiation team for all their hard work, hours and dedication.

We are now in the process of reviewing language and getting the contract finalized. We will get a summary of the changes out to all of you as soon as we can. Thank you for all your support and unity during these negotiations.

Come vote on your contract! Your WSNA negotiation team and attorney will be present to review the changes and answer any questions.

For any questions, contact WSNA Nurse Representative Debi Bessmer at dbessmer@wsna.org.

• We have had another day of negotiations on June 4, 2018.
• We have continued to work on non-economic issues and have come to a few more agreements.
• We are still waiting for management’s economic proposals and really hope to have them at our next session.
• Our next negotiation session is scheduled for July 9, 2018.

Thank you for your continued support,

Your Negotiation Team: Donni Heidenson, Carolyn Chandler and Brenda Willoughby

• Your negotiation team had its first day of bargaining with management on April 30.
• We have given our full initial proposal and are anticipating managements responses and proposals at the next dates.    
• We have two more negotiation dates set for May 29 and June 4. 
• Your team is ready to work hard on improving our contract. 
• Please keep an eye out and be prepared to attend future meetings and actions.

Your negotiation team members are; Donni Heidenson, Brenda Willoughby and Carolyn Chandler.