Schedule

 

Saturday, September 27, 2008

1:00pm - 5:00pm

Cabinet on Economic and General Welfare meeting

 

Sunday, September 28, 2008

9:00am - 12:00pm

Cabinet on Economic and General Welfare meeting

12:00pm - 1:00pm

Early Registration

1:00pm - 3: 00pm

Fall Local Unit Council Meeting
(All are welcome to attend.)

3:00pm - 4:00pm

Practice Update - Current Issues

Sally Watkins, PhD, RN, Dir. of Nursing Practice, Education & Research

Emergency management. Patient safety. Continuing competency. Master Plan for nursing education. Consumer advocacy and data transparency.These are a few of the hot issues facing nurses today. Join our new Director of Nursing Practice, Education and Research, Dr. Sally Watkins, for a stimulating update and discussion of these sometimes controversial and hotly debated topics.

4:00pm - 6:00pm

Local Unit Council Networking

 

Monday, September 29, 2008

8:00am - 8:30am

Welcome

Jeanne Avey, Chair, Cabinet on E&GW
Barbara Frye, Dir. of Labor Relations

9:00am - 12:15pm (with break from 10:30am - 10:45am)

A. “Harassment and Bullying in the Workplace”

Labor Education and Research Center, University of Oregon

Bully bosses, tension between coworkers, harassment and even violence - these are the situations that occur with alarming frequency in our workplaces. This workshop, taught by the University of Oregon Labor Education and Research Center, will help you recognize bullies and give you strategies for dealing with bullies of all kinds, and tools for dealing with workplace harassment issues.

B. 2008 Safe Staffing Law Overview and Update

Anne Tan Piazza, Dir. of Governmental Affairs, Communications, & Membership
Sally Watkins, PhD, RN, Dir. of Nursing Practice, Education & Research
Barbara Frye, Dir. of Labor Relations

Be an advocate for safe nurse staffing at your hospital! Hear the requirements of the new law and how you can be involved as a staffing committee member; gain the knowledge to really make an impact in your hospital. If you are already a member of your hospital’s staffing committee, share your experiences with other members and learn from their experiences. Hear about WSNA’s staffing educational programs designed to help you.

12:15pm - 1:45pm

Lunch break

Group photo in our scrub shirts

1:45pm - 5:00pm (with break from 3:15pm - 3:30pm)

A. “Harassment and Bullying in the Workplace”

[Repeat of the morning class]

B. “2008 Safe Staffing Law Overview and Update”

[Repeat of the morning class]

6:00pm - 6:45pm

Welcome Reception
Join old friends and new

7:00pm - 9:00pm

E&GW Awards Banquet

The highlight of the Leadership Conference, when we honor the outstanding nurses who represent WSNA and their fellow nurses in their Local Units.

Theme for this year’s banquet: “At the Hop!”

Join us for a celebration, a no host bar, a great meal with good friends, and lots of fun, and don’t forget your poodle skirts, saddle shoes and ponytails!

 

Tuesday, September 30, 2008

8:30am - 10:00am

“Fatigue”

Janice Ellis, PhD, RN, ANEF
Barbara Frye, Dir. of Labor Relations
Anne Tan Piazza, Dir. of Governmental Affairs, Communications, & Membership

Finally, research and data validating what we as nurses have always known: fatigue affects our ability to provide safe care for our patients, and can put us at risk.Hear Dr. Janice Ellis, PhD, RN, ANEF, present the WSNA-sponsored white paper on fatigue. Discuss the latest research about work schedules and fatigue, the implications for patient safety and nursing practice, and discuss evolving recommendations for the nursing profession and how WSNA is leading the way.

10:00am - 10:45am

Break for checkout

10:45am - 12:30pm

A. “Addressing Bullying & Harassment”

WSNA Labor Specialists

The contract doesn’t say anything about bullying-or does it? Learn how to use your contract language to prevent or stop bullying and harassment in your workplace.Learn how to examine employer policies, use conference and safety committees and contract language effectively

B. “Recent Legal Decisions Impacting the Work Environment”

WSNA Attorneys

The National Labor Relations Board, the Ninth Circuit Court, arbitrations and PERC Board rulings are issued every day. Hear and discuss some recent decisions that affect union rights, individuals, and rights of worker throughout this country.

12:30pm - 1:30pm

Lunch Break

1:30pm - 3:00pm

“The National Labor Scene – Ever Changing - Ever the Same”

On December 21, 2007, WSNA, Oregon Nurses Association, Ohio Nurses Association and New York State Nurses Association, four of the founding members of the United American Nurses, disaffiliated from the UAN, our national Union. What led to this painful and historic split? What happens now? What about our relationship with ANA and the AFL/CIO? What about CAN and SEIU?

Join members of each of the “Four States” in a frank and open panel discussion about our relationship with the UAN and what went wrong, our future, the future of the Labor movement, and the future of Nursing in the labor movement.

3:00pm - 3:15pm

Wrap Up