Know your contract

Low Census

There has been some recent confusion about how low census works. For better or worse, the contract contains an order in which low census is allocated. If you volunteer for low census, you can opt for unpaid time or elect to use time off pay. If you report to work and are placed on low census prior to working 4 hours, you get paid for a full 4 hours, even if you volunteer for low census. Volunteering for low census does not waive your report pay under 6.14.4 Low Census Report Pay in your Collective Bargaining Agreement. If you have suggestions for changes in the process in the next contract, please let us know when the negotiation survey comes out next year.

6.14 Low Census.
Low census is defined as a decline in patient care requirements resulting in a temporary staff decrease. During temporary periods of low census, the Employer will:
1. Cancel Agency nurses.
2. Cancel Travelers
3. Cancel Incentive shifts.
4. Cancel Overtime shifts.
5. Cancel per diem nurses
6. Cancel part-time nurses working above their assigned FTE.
7. Ask for volunteers.
8. Rotate regular full-time and part-time nurses by seniority within the Low Census Grouping starting with the least senior nurse first, providing skills, competence and ability are not overriding factors.

If an individual volunteers to take a low census day off, that day off shall be counted for purposes of the rotation list. The rotation list will reflect all low census days taken whether or not the nurse chooses to use annual leave, and will be restarted each six (6) months, beginning with the least senior nurse. Nurses who are scheduled to work but are released from duty due to low census shall continue to receive medical and dental insurance coverage. Low census hours taken shall be considered hours paid for the accrual of all benefits and seniority.

Weekends

WSNA recommends that you read the entire section on weekend work. This is an area we frequently receive questions. If it is not clear or you don’t believe you are being scheduled or paid correctly, please promptly notify WSNA for assistance.

7.9 Weekends - The Employer will make a good faith effort to schedule all regular full and part-time nurses for every other weekend off. In the event a nurse works two successive weekends, all time worked on the second weekend shall be paid at the rate of time and one-half (1½x) the regular rate of pay.

Supervision by non-RNs

It is not common for non-RNs to be in direct management positions, but it does occur. If your manager or even a co-worker, is not an RN, it is important to understand who you can take nursing practice direction from and who cannot direct your practice and what their role is limited to. It is also important to know which RN manager is in your chain of command that you can contact should you have practice questions or issues. Below are excerpts from a Department of Health Nursing Care Quality Assurance Commission Advisory Opinion. You can read the entire opinion at https://doh.wa.gov/sites/default/files/legacy/Documents/6000/NCAO13.pdf,

Registered Nurse The RN practices nursing care independently using the nursing process. The RN functions interdependently when carrying out a medical regimen under the general direction of an authorized health care practitioner: Licensed physician and surgeon (MD), dentist (DDS), osteopathic physician and surgeon (DO), naturopathic physician (ND), optometrist (OD), podiatric physician and surgeon (DPM), physician assistant, osteopathic physician assistant (PA), advanced registered nurse practitioner (ARNP), or midwife.

Supervision The definition of supervision in WAC 246-840-010 states that, "supervision" of licensed or unlicensed nursing personnel means the provision of guidance and evaluation for the accomplishment of a nursing task or activity with the initial direction of the task or activity; periodic inspection of the actual act of accomplishing the task or activity; and the authority to require corrective action. The RN practices nursing independently and does not require supervision by another RN or other health care practitioner. The LPN practices interdependently when practicing nursing and dependently when carrying out a medical regimen. It is beyond the LPN’s scope of practice to assign nursing responsibilities to the RN. The LPN may supervise the RN in aspects of human resources and administrative functions. A non-nurse may supervise the RN or LPN in aspects human resources and administrative functions. It is beyond the scope of the LPN to independently perform training, performance appraisals, or competency validation related to nursing practice of a LPN, RN, ARNP, nursing assistant (NA), home care aide (HCA), or other assistive personnel (AP). The LPN may assist in providing training, performing appraisals or competency validation related to nursing practice within the scope of the LPN and under the direction of the RN or ARNP. This restriction does not apply to employment within the organization related to organizational, administrative, and human resources.

WSNA Leadership sponsorships

Join us for the WSNA Leadership Conference at Campbell's Resort in Chelan April 24 – 26!

Your local unit officers are generously sponsoring ten RNs from the UWMC-Northwest bargaining unit to attend WSNA Leadership Conference this year.

Join nurses from around the state as we convene to build robust local units, become more effective leaders, learn more about the national and state labor scenes, celebrate our successes, and strategize for what's coming next.

To find more information, including registration, visit https://www.wsna.org/calendar/union-leadership-conference/.

Here's how:

1. Email Will Nesper, WSNA Nurse Organizer, at wnesper@wsna.org to inquire about availability. Ten nurses will be eligible for reimbursement from the local unit funds; it will be on a first-come, first-serve basis and only available to members in good standing.
2. Register for the conference by visiting the link provided above.
3. Book your stay in Lake Chelan. If staying at Campbells Resort, be sure to mention you are attending the WSNA Leadership Conference to obtain the block room rate.
4. Arrive on April 24 before noon to embark on the first day of Leadership.
5. Save all original receipts to include them with your local unit voucher for direct reimbursement from the local unit funds. Will Nesper will have the signed vouchers and walk you through the process. Be sure to connect with him to expedite the process.
6. To submit for reimbursement, attach your receipts for up to $400, along with a WSNA local unit voucher. Purchases of alcohol are not eligible for a refund.

Questions? Comments? Please contact your Nurse Representative Sara Frey -sfrey@wsna.org.