You are on the front lines in the treatment and containment of the COVID-19 virus outbreak. We appreciate your hard work and dedication in this effort to support your community.

Report from Evergreen nurses
WSNA has received over 100 survey responses and dozens of phone calls from RNs sharing their experiences and concerns. Here’s what you have reported to us:

• Concerns regarding availability and use of appropriate Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)s in this most uncertain environment.
• Experiencing known exposures from days ago and not hearing from the employer as to what to do next.
• Concerns about exposure and transmission to other patients, your family and the larger community.
• Worries of missed pay and uncertainties regarding quarantine and testing for COVID-19.

If you haven’t filled out our COVID-19 survey, we want to hear from you!

Follow up with management
In response to the outcry from nursing staff, WSNA arranged a conference call on Wednesday, March 4 with CNO Mary Shepler and HR directors to share concerns and attempt to get answers to many of the questions that our members have expressed. Hospital administration has relayed:

• The landscape of detection, treatment and exposure are changing daily.
• They have been inundated with inquiries and efforts to notify staff that have been potentially exposed.
• They are working closely with the CDC to determine appropriate actions multiple times per day.
• They are devoting all available resources to this effort.
• While they are currently experiencing delays in contacting employees, they are working to put systems in place to notify potential exposures asap.
• They agree to place nurses on paid leave if quarantined due to exposure.

Special Tele Townhall on COVID-19, Friday, March 6 11 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
As a union nurse on the front lines of this crisis you deserve to have the latest and most pertinent information at your fingertips. WSNA, SEIU1199NW, and UFCW21 have arranged for one such opportunity.

Join us for a union healthcare worker tele-townhall to exchange information, hear updates from state and local public health officials, and understand our unions’ role in ensuring workplace safety.

Dial (for higher quality, dial a number based on your current location):
US: +1 408 638 0968 or +1 669 900 6833 or +1 646 876 9923
Webinar ID: 419 635 168

See our event on Facebook

WSNA wants you to know that we are dedicated to the safety of our registered nurses and all staff providing care for these patients and the greater community. We are working alongside the other unions representing staff to maximize our efforts and be the catalyst for the safest working environment possible at EvergreenHealth.

In case you missed it: KUOW coverage “ Hospital at the center of U.S. coronavirus deaths hasn't been upfront about staff risk, nurses claim.”

WSNA continues to work with local and national authorities in an effort to pass along the most up to date and applicable information: Check our website for the key links.

Questions? Contact WSNA Nurse Representative Ed Zercher at ezercher@wsna.org or 206-575-7979, ext. 3022.