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Meet David Keepnews

David Keepnews has a long track record and distinguished career as a nurse, labor proponent, professor, policy specialist and advocate for our practice. He joins WSNA at a critical time for our members, our union and our profession. David is already bringing his experience, skills and passion to the job.

January 17, 2022

WSNA in Olympia – Legislative Session Week 1

This was a busy week of hearings on policy bills and WSNA was well repre­sented with several members providing testi­mony on key bills. As a reminder, all hearings and meetings with legis­la­tors are taking place over Zoom and are being aired on TVW.

January 14, 2022

Symptomatic health care workers must not be forced to work

Press release Statement

We call on employers to clarify their policies, and we call on the state to ensure workers cannot be forced to return while sick, or disciplined for refusing to work while symptomatic with COVID.

January 14, 2022

In memoriam: Martha Galvez

Martha Alicia Cortés Galvez passed away peacefully at home the morning of Jan. 8, 2022, just in time to see her final sunrise, her favorite time of day. A loving mother, wife and friend, she left behind a legacy of compassion and strength.

January 12, 2022

Support each other, learn from each other, build each other up

"I became a nurse in 1994 — I feel very fortunate to have had such a rewarding career as a nurse and union member for the last 27 years. I feel nursing is a calling and vocation and not just a job."

January 11, 2022

In memoriam: Dr. Joyce Valborg Zerwekh

Dr. Joyce Valborg Zerwekh passed away on Dec. 20. She taught many students over the years at the University of Washington, Seattle University, Pacific Lutheran University, and helped found Hospice of Seattle.

January 7, 2022

Healthcare workers launch campaign for safe staffing legislation

Press release

Today a coalition of healthcare workers launched the WA Safe + Healthy campaign calling on Washington legislators to pass safe staffing standards that protect healthcare workers from dangerously high patient loads.

December 13, 2021

Nurses at St. Joe’s Tacoma Launch Strike Petition

Press release

Following the 11th bargaining session with St. Joseph’s Medical Center, nurses represented by the Washington State Nurses Association are launching a strike petition, the first step towards a potential strike if a contract cannot be reached.

November 18, 2021

Washington State Nurses Association supports Kaiser strikers

Press release

WSNA stands with 32,000 nurses and health professionals including members of our AFT-affiliated nurses at Oregon Federation of Nurses and Health Professionals who intend to begin their strike at Kaiser Permanente locations in Washington, Oregon and California starting November 15.

November 10, 2021

Nurses and community picket for nurse and patient safety at St. Joe’s Tacoma

Press release

Hundreds of nurses, patients and community leaders gathered outside St. Joseph Medical Center in Tacoma on Nov. 3 to demand the hospital improve conditions so nurses can provide safe, high-quality care to every patient.

November 3, 2021

Washington state health care workers call on hospitals to mitigate the staffing crisis

Press release

Nurses and other frontline workers are calling on hospitals to use the tools and resources they have available to finally begin mitigating this crisis for workers and patients.

October 19, 2021

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.

September 15, 2021

Meet the 2021 WSNF scholarship recipients

The Washington State Nurses Foundation (WSNF) is pleased to announce the recipients of academic scholarships for the 2021-22 year.

September 15, 2021

Congratulations to the 2021 WSNA Recognition Award winners

We are proud to recognize and applaud these outstanding WSNA members with 2021 WSNA Recognition Awards. These outstanding nurses were nominated by you, their colleagues, for making Washington a healthier place.

September 15, 2021

Election results for 2021 – 2023 biennium

Congrat­u­la­tions to these WSNA members elected by their peers to serve in positions of leader­ship during our 2021 – 2023 biennium!

September 15, 2021

Your voices were heard, and your activism made a difference

The Washington State Legislature’s 2021 Regular Session adjourned sine die on April 25, marking the end of the 2021 legislative session. While the remote session presented new challenges, it also allowed for greater public participation — and the legislature made significant accomplishments.

September 15, 2021

Union statement on vaccination requirement for health care workers

Press release Statement

As unions repre­senting nurses and health care workers in Washington state, WSNA, SEIU Health­care 1199NW and UFCW21 support science-based public health direc­tives on COVID-19 vacci­na­tion require­ments for front­line health care workers, with medical and religious exemp­tions.

August 9, 2021

High-risk worker proclamation to be replaced by new law June 28

On June 21, Governor Inslee announced that three coronavirus pandemic-related proclamations would be rescinded in anticipation of Washington state's June 30 reopening date. One of these proclamations, the High-Risk Worker Proclamation, will be rescinded June 28 and transition to the new Health Emergency Labor Standards Act.

June 24, 2021

Washington State Nurses Association appoints David Keepnews as new Executive Director

Press release

The WSNA Board of Directors is pleased to announce the appointment of David Keepnews, PhD, JD, RN, FAAN as Executive Director. He will join the WSNA staff and begin orientation on September 15, 2021.

June 10, 2021

Olympic Hot Tub raises $45K to support Nurses Emergency Assistance Grant Fund

Thanks to Olympic Hot Tub for raising $45,050 in support of the Washington State Nurses Foundation's Nurses Emergency Assistance Grant Fund in April 2021.

May 28, 2021

Congratulations to the 2021 WSNA Recognition Award winners

The WSNA Awards Committee and the Professional Nursing and Health Care Council are proud to recognize and applaud these outstanding WSNA members with the 2021 WSNA Recognition Awards. Join us in celebrating this year's winners.

May 19, 2021

Health care worker presumptive eligibility becomes law

On May 11, Governor Jay Inslee signed Senate Bill 5190 into law — which goes into effect immediately and provides presumptive eligibility for workers’ compensation and unemployment insurance.

May 12, 2021

Happy National Nurses Month

Never before has the critical role of nurses been so clear. Never before have we been so proud of our profession. To the nurses who have carried us through, thank you and happy National Nurses Month.

May 6, 2021

Governor Jay Inslee proclaims May as Nurses Month in Washington state

“I encourage all people in our state to join me in honoring the nurses of Washington, especially recog­nizing the critical and live-saving role that regis­tered nurses have filled around our state, country, and world through the current coron­avirus pandemic.”

April 30, 2021