The Washington Nurse magazine (ISSN# 0734 – 5666) is the official publi­ca­tion of the Washington State Nurses Association.

Fall 2021

Download this issue (pdf; 9.3 MB)
WSNA President's letter

Letter from Lynnette Vehrs, WSNA President

I am excited to begin work with our new executive director, David Keepnews. Our six-month search, conducted with the help of a professional nurse consultant, resulted in hiring an outstanding candidate.

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Your voices were heard, and your activism made a difference

WSNA members from every corner of our state came to Olympia — albeit virtu­ally — during the Washington State Legislature’s 2021 Regular Session to share stories from the front lines of the pandemic. You provided testi­mony on legis­la­tion to protect health care workers, expand commu­nity access to health care and require more detailed and trans­parent reporting of hospital systems revenues and expen­di­tures. Your partic­i­pa­tion in the legisla­tive process helped shape impor­tant policy that will have lasting impact.

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Passing the baton

Thank you to the nurses who ran for office in the 2021 WSNA election — leaders like YOU are essen­tial to keeping members’ voices at the forefront of WSNA. Thanks, also, to all of you who exercised your right to vote in the election. Your votes have been tallied and your voices have been heard.

  • The Board of Directors has many respon­si­bil­i­ties, including ensuring the prior­i­ties adopted by the WSNA General Assembly are incor­po­rated in the strategic plan for each biennium. The Board also approves the budget for WSNA and appoints and reviews the execu­tive director. Board members act as ambas­sadors for WSNA, repre­senting the associ­a­tion to the member­ship and other organi­za­tions as appro­priate.

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Congratulations to the 2021 WSNA Recognition Award winners

Every two years, in conjunction with our biennial convention, WSNA and the Professional Nursing and Health Care Council (PNHCC) recognize nurses and community partners who have made significant personal and professional contributions toward the advancement of nurses, the nursing profession and the association. These outstanding nurses were nominated by you, their colleagues, for making Washington a healthier place.

We are proud to recognize and applaud these outstanding WSNA members with 2021 WSNA Recognition Awards.

Stories

Battles at the negotiation table pay off

Despite the challenges of virtual negotiations during a pandemic, WSNA members are organizing and mobilizing to win great contract settlements across the state. Congratulations to these local units who have fought for and won new contracts so far this year (as of July 2021).

2021 Biennial Member Survey

In February, we asked you to participate in a survey to identify ongoing areas of opportunity, improvement and focus for WSNA in the 2021-2023 biennium. This survey, called the 2021 Biennial Member Survey, consisted of 17 multiple-choice questions and an open-ended space for nurses to submit questions or comments.

Letter from Sally Watkins

As most of you know, I announced my decision to retire last October. Since that time, the Board of Directors convened a search committee to engage in a national search for WSNA’s next executive director. I am thrilled to see David Keepnews join the WSNA team, and I am excited to be starting a new chapter in my life!

Making sense of the alphabet soup

Nurses today have more education and certifications than ever before. But how should nurses list those credentials? Should all of them be listed after your name? What about nonnursing credentials? It seems confusing; should nurses even bother?

Pearls for practice - RCWs vs. WACs: What’s the difference?

A nurse’s scope of practice is defined by each state’s Nurse Practice Act. In Washington state, this is encompassed in the Revised Code of Washington (RCW) and Washington Administrative Code (WAC). Let’s unpack each of these and learn how they affect nursing practice in Washington state.

The Future of Nursing 2020-2030 report released

This spring, the National Academy of Medicine released The Future of Nursing 2020-2030: Charting a Path to Achieve Health Equity. This report explores how nurses can work to reduce health disparities and promote equity, while keeping costs at bay, utilizing technology, and maintaining patient and family-focused care into 2030.