Union urges Seattle Children’s to invest in permanent nurses more than travel workers
Published by BECKER'S HOSPITAL REVIEW on 6/29/22 (Source)
Seattle Children's Hospital is facing pressure from the Washington State Nurses Association to pay its staff nurses more instead of paying travel nurse wages and offering hiring bonuses.
The union represents 1,766 nurses at the hospital and is bargaining for a new contract that addresses wages, among other issues.
In a June 28 news release, the WSNA cites Seattle Children's data showing the hospital's vacancy rate increased from 4.96 percent as of Dec. 28, 2020, to 19.24 percent as of Jan. 31, 2022.
"Seattle Children's is now short approximately 395 permanent nurses, which is concerning," the union wrote.