Pass Safe Staffing Legislation – Take Action Now

Text “WSNA” to 52886
House Bill 1868 and its companion Senate Bill 5751 call on lawmakers in Olympia to:

• Pass safe staffing standards that will protect us from dangerously high patient loads
• Enforce existing overtime and meal and rest break laws
• And hold employers accountable with enhanced enforcement mechanism.

Take action to pass our bill
Text "WSNA" to 52886 to receive the latest action and stay up to date on how you can help. From contacting your legislators to sharing information with your colleagues, actions take less than one minute and have a powerful impact.
For a detailed summary of the legislation use the link button below.

For more on current and past legislative action WSNA has supported please visit : https://wsna.to/2021LegRep

Join advocates such as Holy Family ER Nurse Emily Troyer in speaking up for staffing. Please read an article published in the Spokesman Review here: https://wsna.to/EmilyTroyer

Assignment despite objections (ADO):

If you have an objection to your assignment please take a moment to complete the electronic assignment despite objection form. This can be done electronically and only takes a moment to complete.

What happens to my ADO once I have submitted the form?

A copy of the form goes to your direct manager, local unit officers, your WSNA representative and administration. All ADOs are reviewed in staffing committee and provide a written record of your working conditions for the assignment. We also suggest for matters of patient safety/staff safety you complete an incident report as well as an ADO. The time it takes to complete these forms can assist in investigations and document conditions to protect you and your patients.

Staffing committee met on 1/20/2022 and we were unable to resolve ADOs that were submitted due to the conditions reported by nurses willing to submit ADOs.

FAQs about ADOs:
Q: My charge/ANM said the situation was safe, but I disagree. Should I still submit an ADO?
A: Yes! If you are taking an assignment despite your objection the assignment is unsafe or you don’t feel you have the equipment, or ancillary staff to care for your patients you should submit.

Q: I’m worried that I may face retaliation for filing an ADO. Should I still submit?
A: Yes! And additionally contact your nurse representative Shawn Reed at sreed@wsna.org to discuss your concerns.

Types of situations where you should complete a Staffing Complaint/ADO form:

• Charge nurse is unable to perform charge nurse duties, secondary to increased patient care assignment
• Inade­quate nurse to patient ratios for patient acuity based on your clinical judgment
• Insuf­fi­cient support staff requires you to assume additional duties
• You are not trained or experi­enced in the area assigned
• You have not been oriented to this unit / case load
• Patient care equip­ment missing or unusable
• Neces­sary equip­ment is not avail­able (e.g.: supplies, IVs, medica­tion availability)
• You are not trained or experi­enced to use equip­ment in assigned area
• System failure (e.g.: computer, phone, pyxis, call system)
• An assign­ment poses a serious threat to your health and safety
• An assign­ment poses a serious threat to the health and safety of a patient under your direct care
• Forced / manda­tory overtime
• Missed breaks

Benefits

Providence has changed how benefits are charged during the plan year. In previous benefit years on months that have three pay periods, one of those pay periods would not reflect payment for benefits however the change affects how benefits are charged.

All benefits are now deducted equally over the 26 pay periods in a year which means in the months of April and September 2022 on the third pay period you will see a deduction for benefits however the total amount over the course of a plan year remains the same. If you feel you have had an error and need assistance in working with HR please contact your nurse representative Shawn Reed at sreed@wsna.org.

Your officers completed two meetings required by our MOU with Providence to allow them to present a transitional plan for sick and vacation leave. We will have a minimum of two meetings in 2022 as well and continue to advocate for the best possible benefits packages for members. Through the life of the contract there are no changes to the current structure.

Incentives by shift and temporary schedule changes have been extended to Feb. 28, 2022. We have advocated and will continue to advocate for an increased and meaningful retention bonus and increases in incentives.

We have also recently learned that IV therapy has been excluded from incentives and are in discussions now with administration regarding the exclusion of some care units from incentive pay.

Providence has notified WSNA they intend to collect the Long Term Care tax while awaiting the final legislative action. They have stated they will reimburse caregivers should there be changes or cancellations to this.

Association grievance update:

As previously communicated WSNA Is deeply troubled over the language employed by Providence for nurses seeking a religious or medical accommodation from vaccination from the COVID-19 vaccination mandate and have advanced our grievance to arbitration.

We have also filed a separate grievance on behalf of the association due to the same aggressive language on the influenza accommodation form and have advanced this grievance to step three.

COVID 19 – News and updates:

As of Jan. 13, 2022, Gov. Inslee has called on the national guard to support overwhelmed hospitals across the state. A four week pause in elective procedures has also been mandated to help manage the influx of patients.

Presumptive eligibility is here! Now as a healthcare worker in WA state during a time of emergency such as a pandemic you are eligible for L&I benefits on day one. L&I makes the determination on your claim – not the employer or a third-party administrator such as Sedgwick.

As many of you are aware the CDC has changed its guidelines for healthcare workers with high-risk exposure, asymptomatic COVID infections and mildly symptomatic employees.

A complete webinar will be available on the WSNA.org website covering these changes soon.

Emotional trauma and COVID19:

The Mayo Clinic lists signs and symptoms of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder as:

Intrusive memories
Symptoms of intrusive memories may include:

• Recurrent, unwanted distressing memories of the traumatic event
• Reliving the traumatic event as if it were happening again (flashbacks)
• Upsetting dreams or nightmares about the traumatic event
• Severe emotional distress or physical reactions to something that reminds you of the traumatic event

Avoidance
Symptoms of avoidance may include:

• Trying to avoid thinking or talking about the traumatic event
• Avoiding places, activities or people that remind you of the traumatic event
• Negative changes in thinking and mood
• Symptoms of negative changes in thinking and mood may include:
• Negative thoughts about yourself, other people or the world
• Hopelessness about the future
• Memory problems, including not remembering important aspects of the traumatic event
• Difficulty maintaining close relationships
• Feeling detached from family and friends
• Lack of interest in activities you once enjoyed
• Difficulty experiencing positive emotions
• Feeling emotionally numb

Changes in physical and emotional reactions
Symptoms of changes in physical and emotional reactions (also called arousal symptoms) may include:

• Being easily startled or frightened
• Always being on guard for danger
• Self-destructive behavior, such as drinking too much or driving too fast
• Trouble sleeping
• Trouble concentrating
• Irritability, angry outbursts or aggressive behavior
• Overwhelming guilt or shame

If you are struggling do not suffer in silence – you are not alone.

“Anything that’s human is mentionable, and anything that is mentionable can be more manageable. When we can talk about our feelings, they become less overwhelming, less upsetting, and less scary.” – Fred Rogers

Questions? Contact your nurse representative Shawn Reed – sreed@wsna.org.