The pre-bargaining survey is crucial to complete as it allows WSNA and your Officers to gather information from members of the bargaining unit on what issues are most important to them, enabling the bargaining team to develop a strong, unified, and member-driven agenda for negotiations. This process ensures that the contract proposals reflect the priorities and needs of the nurses we represent.

Nurses Week is approaching fast. Your WSNA KVH Officers have elected to purchase t-shirts for all of the WSNA bargaining unit nurses using our local unit funds. Wearing your t-shirt shows solidarity.

Sign up for your WSNA T-Shirt here.

Employers are allowed to offer waivers to skip one of the meal periods. You cannot waive rest breaks.

These waivers must be initiated by the employee, and you cannot be coerced or forced to sign it.

Your waiver can be rescinded at any time by contacting your manager and notifying them to remove it. This should be documented by email (best practice) until such a time that the employer implements an electronic form.

It is important that you complete one and file with your manager as meal periods are considered unpaid and you will be required to stay the extra 30 min. Example: as a 12 hr. nurse who works 7 AM until 7 PM if you do not complete the waiver the second meal period will be added, requiring you to stay until 8 PM.

An example of why you may rescind would be if your manager asks you to stay extra after your scheduled shift and you may want a second meal period.

3/31/25 Meets quarterly.

• Staff Development updates: Health Strem will go live July 2025, Education and Training for wound care, Phillips monitoring, new ED Residency program, Compass, Tele Health, Skills Fair and Evade (WPV Training) is in the works.
• KVH has expressed concern over the WSNA contract language regarding sick time. They see this language as problematic and resulting in numerous sick calls. Normally, this would be discussed at the bargaining table during negotiations, yet they have proposed a MOU (Memorandum of Understanding) that would address that discipline would not occur when there is the use of protected sick leave. This has been reviewed by the Officers and currently has been sent to WSNA for review. If we are agreeable, we would bring this MOU for a vote to the nurses before contract negotiation.   8.3 Absenteeism in the CBA which states   The Employer will not adopt or enforce any policy that counts the use of sick leave as an absence that may lead to or result in discipline against the employee.
• Recruitment and Retention are up. The recent Board meeting minutes are up to review.
• Exploring how to incorporate Lippincott as a resource for protocol. This is a comprehensive tool, and not all procedures are performed at KVH, and it may not align with KVH policies.
• Home Health and Hospice does not have easy access to resource tools on their tablets and the use of their cell phones for this is virtually impossible. This is in the works to be remedied.
• Abortion services- All health care facilities that provide maternity services must provide the full spectrum of services, which includes abortions. KVH recognizes the sensitivity of this subject and encourages nurses to speak individually and privately with their manager. WSNA has asked HR if a nurse who does not wish to participate must seek accommodation, and we have been informed that they are not requiring this.

Scholarship money is available!

The Washington State Nurses Association’s 2025 Convention, set for April 30–May 2, in Tacoma is shaping up to be an unforgettable event. Join us for three days of inspiration, connection, and professional growth alongside fellow nurses and industry leaders.

This year’s lineup features compelling speakers offering diverse perspectives—including a workplace violence advocate who survived a horrific attack, a Washington Department of Health regulator, and a Navy veteran who is also a fellow of the American Academy of Nursing.

CNE 10.5 hrs.

If you are interested in going and would like a scholarship please contact nurse rep. Laurie Robinson, 206-620-4136,  lrobinson@wsna.org.

Kara Henderson, ED, Chair
Donna McCune, FBP, Co-Chair
Hanni Johnson, ED, Secretary
Erik Berkas, ED, Treasurer
Anji Bryant, SOP, Grievance Officer
Jordan Simon, ED, Membership Officer

Questions/Concerns Contact Laurie Robinson, Nurse Representative, 206-620-4136,  lrobinson@wsna.org.

For more information on how you can get involved contact Jenny Galassi, Nurse Organizer, 206-707-2948, jgalassi@wsna.org.