This morning Carmen, our WSNA Nurse Representative and the officers met with HR/Admin "to discuss a pending restructure" to meet staffing needs related to shortages and HB1868. Specifically, they wanted to discuss the restructuring of the resource department and the utilization of STAT nurses. They proposed two options: 1. Folding the STAT nurses into the resource department tiers or 2 Creating a separate vascular department with a more limited scope of duties. The slack would “have to be picked up elsewhere".

No details beyond were offered. They did say that they would like to "come together" on this issue to find a workable solution. There are 13 STAT nurses right now. It was asked how repurposing these 13 STAT RNs would fix the staffing issues created by the 140 some vacant RN positions within the organization; there was not much of an answer to that inquiry.

WSNA supports the STAT nurses and will continue to stand by them. We will be following the restructure very closely and are developing a plan with our Unit Representatives and others at WSNA to ensure developments are communicated as they occur.

Article 13.3, on page 29 of our Collective Bargaining Agreement states that a restructure is within the “exclusive rights of management”.

Questions? Contact WSNA Nurse Represenative Carmen Garrison at cgarrison@wsna.org.