Over the past few weeks, we’ve had a lot of nurses reach out telling us about their unsafe assignments. Many night shift workers are reporting that there is no second charge, which is a requirement of our mutually agreed staffing plan. Nurses are reporting shifts without house supervisors or manager support. Should our nurses be comfortable with repeatedly not having staffing that should be guaranteed by the approval of our staffing plan?

Our answer is NO! Management and nurses agreed to the staffing plan, and we believe management should hold up their end of the deal. Your officers have repeatedly asked for shift bonus pay to incentivize RNs which haven’t been approved. We are a team at St. Luke’s, and we all need to speak up for these conditions. Keep reading below to find out how to report these situations.

What can you do to help?

File an ADO (assignment despite objection) aka unsafe staffing form. If you find yourself in a situation that you believe creates unsafe conditions for patients or for you, complete the Staffing Complaint / ADO form as soon as possible.

By completing the form, we are helping to make the problem known to management, which creates an opportunity for the problem to be addressed. Additionally, these forms document the facts, which may be helpful to you later if there is a negative outcome. We can even back date ADOs, though we strongly suggest filling one out as soon as possible.

After you complete the online form, your WSNA Nurse Rep, Staffing Committee, and Local Unit Chair / Co-Chair will be notified immediately.

Please help spread the word. Nursing staff shouldn’t have to work short staffed.

You can also find QR codes on your blue WSNA badge buddy that link to ADOs, your local unit page, and membership applications.

Join the Hospital Staffing Committee (HSC)

Nominations are open for the hospital staffing committee through May 27, 2025. Nurses can nominate themselves or their peers. Nurses can also nominate an LPN or CNA they think would be a good fit for this committee.

What is the commitment as a member of the HSC?
You can read about the law that speaks to this committee and find it in Article 17.4 of your WSNA contract but in short, members can expect the following

• Monthly meetings on paid time
• Intermittent meetings prior to HSC meetings to prep
• Encouraging peers to file ADOs
• Help build unit staffing plans
• Engage in committee to evaluate ADOs file

We asked Erika Lee RN, pictured above with HSC Co-chair Jeff Dubrawski and HSC member Macy DuCouer, about her experience on the HSC. Read about it below.

“It’s been a good experience being on the hospital staffing committee, I feel like it gives our nurses a voice. We have been able to make improvements to our staffing plans and hold them accountable in meetings to those plans. It is interesting to sit at these meetings and listen to management’s perspective of our staffing situation and staffing complaints. I am excited that more nurses are filing ADOs so we can see what our compliance measures to.”

Nominate yourself and a colleague today. Results will be posted in the first week of June to prepare for the June meeting.

Nurses Week Event 

Our local officers are continuing to plan our local celebration for St. Luke’s nurses, but we want you to know about a fun opportunity for ALL WSNA nurses in Spokane. On Monday May 12, 2025, at 10am, all St. Luke’s nurses are invited to join Holy Family nurses for a hike at Bowl & Pitcher at Riverside State Park. Please submit your RSVP for this event so we have a head count. This park does require either a discovery pass; nurses can carpool or purchase a day pass.

Questions? Contact your local officers or WSNA Nurse Representative Alle Machorro at amachorro@wsna.org.