As announced on Nov. 15, WSNA and UWMC concluded bargaining the Retention Incentive Program to incentivize RNs to commit to staying at UWMC for a period in return for monetary compensation. The final agreement is for a onetime payment of $5850, pro-rated for those below a 0.9 FTE, for a two-year commitment. This is an optional program. WSNA bargained for weeks to get this to a place where it would be meaningful and persuasive to any RN considering opportunities elsewhere. Your team felt a shorter commitment with more of an incentive would have been more persuasive. Each nurse will need to decide if this agreement is right for them.

Since the announcement of the start of bargaining this program, many RNs reached out to WSNA expressing their discontent noting Sign-On bonuses upwards of $30K as well as higher pay scales. There has also been an expressed disappointment since Travelers are making so much and new hires a getting $10K for a one-year commitment. We also understand that in this ever-changing environment we live in right now, many will not be able to commit to a 2-year agreement and one-year would have been more palatable and a benefit to the organization however, UWMC would only agree to a 2-year program. We were also disappointed that the UWMC would not include per diem RNs given the monthly shift requirements. We already heard from many of you and those comments were shared (no names) with management. If you would still like to comment, please direct those to your upper management at NW.

Again, this is an optional program. It is likely going to be rolled out near Dec. 1, with a 30-day period to decide whether to participate. The amount you receive will be based on your FTE as of Nov. 1, 2021. Please read the MOU carefully so you fully understand the commitment you are making. If you have questions about the MOU, we are here to assist. The payback conditions are also included in the MOU. The MOU can be found by following the link in the document bar above.

Your commitment and loyalty to the patients you serve are greatly appreciated by everyone at WSNA during these truly unprecedented times.

Questions? Contact one of your local unit officers found at https://www.wsna.org/union/northwest-hospital or Nurse Rep Sara Frey 206.575.7979 ext. 3039 sfrey@wsna.org

From the Nursing Care Quality Assurance Commisssion

Office of Rural Health: Nurse Corps LRP application is NOW OPEN!

2022 Nurse Corps Loan Repayment Program Application Cycle

Across the United States, many communities are facing a shortage of health care providers, especially nurses. There are many factors that impact the supply of and demand for nurses, such as population growth, an aging population, overall economic conditions, and the aging of the nursing workforce.

The Nurse Corps Loan Repayment Program (LRP) helps address the health care needs of those in underserved communities and supports the ongoing development of the nursing workforce in our country by offering funding to registered nurses and advanced practice registered nurses towards payment of their qualifying educational loans.

In exchange for the payment of these qualifying educational loans:

• Nurses (RNs and APRNs) serve a two-year service commitment at a health care facility facing a critical shortage of nurses.
• Nurse faculty serve a two-year service commitment at an eligible school of nursing.

Additional loan repayment is available for both groups with a third year of service commitment.
Learn more about this opportunity.

The application cycle closes on January 13, 2022.

Technical Assistance Webinars

The webinars will:

• Review eligibility requirements
• Provide information about the application process
• Review deadlines
• Provide answers to Frequently Asked Questions and allow you to get your questions answered in real time

To participate, use the access information below:

• Technical Assistance Webinar #1 Thursday, December 9, 2021 2:30 – 4:00 PM ET Join via Zoom Dial in: 833-568-8864 | Meeting ID: 160 600 1560
• Technical Assistance Webinar #2 Thursday, January 6, 2022 2:30 – 4:00 PM ET Join via Zoom Dial in: 833-568-8864 | Meeting ID: 160 943 0547

Customer Care Center

For additional application questions, call the HRSA Customer Care Center at 1-800-221-9393 (TTY: 1-877-897-9910) Monday through Friday (except federal holidays) 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM ET.

Visit Nursing Commission News for previous GovDelivery news messages.
Need this message in another format? Please call 800-525-0127.
Deaf or hard of hearing customers:

• Call: 711 (Washington Relay)
• Email: civil.rights@doh.wa.gov