Safety news you can use!
Posted Oct 7, 2024
This newsletter addresses the contractual break relief role, mandatory reporting requirements of missed breaks and meal periods and a recent notice regarding intent to use tasers by Overlake security as a last resort to deescalate violence.
From 2024-2027 WSNA contract (CBA) article 10.7.1 on pg. 31:
Break Relief Role for Nurses Staffing plans will include strategies to consistently enable nurses to take meal periods and rest breaks as required by the Agreement, and to encourage nurses to use their meal period and rest break opportunities. The topic of break relief shall be discussed at Staffing Committee meetings, including effectiveness of relief approaches and priorities for improvement when needed. Each unit shall assign on each shift at least one nurse to the break relief role with appropriate skills and abilities to cover rest breaks and meal periods. Current break relief nurses in the float pool (as of May 1, 2024) will continue to provide break relief in BHU, Short Stay, Tele/Critical Care and Med/Surg units. These float/break relief nurses shall not replace or be used to supplement the break relief nurse systems in place as of May 1, 2024, in the Emergency Department and Perioperative Services.
We have discussed this consistently at staffing committee on a monthly basis. Some departments have begun to incorporate the role and others are struggling. Nurses are strongly encouraged to participate in unit-based staffing committees or work groups dedicated to implementing this contractual win for break relief.
What can every Overlake WSNA RN do?
To experience a real difference and gain the benefits of your legal rights to breaks, it is crucial to clock that you have missed rest breaks and meal periods, every shift that it occurs. By law, Overlake is a licensed hospital that is required to submit their first report of missed breaks and meal periods to the state on October 30, and quarterly thereafter. For compliance to be correctly evaluated by regulatory agencies and really show where and how often missed breaks occur, it is essential to attest accurately to clock your missed breaks and meal periods. You can quickly and easily file an ADO to document in a legally discoverable way the staffing deficiencies that lead to the missed rest breaks and meal periods, including when the nurse-to-patient ratio increases if the break relief role is pulled from core staff. Your negotiations team was clear in securing a shared understanding with Overlake that the break relief role would represent an addition to the number of nurses in of the staffing plan, not taken away.
Please note that if you cover another nurse’s break using the break buddy system, that increases your nurse-to-patient ratio and is in violation of the staffing plan, another applicable reason to submit an ADO. Always communicate with the charge or shift administrator about these various reasons for a staffing complaint/concern whenever feasible, to at least provide an opportunity for resolution during your shift. Remember, if it is not documented, it’s like it didn’t happen. Nurses are to be free of coercion or discouragement with respect to documenting missed breaks and meal periods. Please contact your WSNA officers or Nurse Rep Tara at tbarnes@wsna.org if you experience this or have questions.
Body cameras and taser implementation at Overlake:
Overlake first communicated early in 2024 that they were considering use of body cams and last resort use of tasers and may be implemented to deescalate violence at the facility. We have discussed at conference committee and requested that Overlake cease and desist amid safety concerns for staff, patients, and visitors. The employer paused implementation of the tasers and provided some information they believe shows the safety of tasers as a last resort that was reviewed by medical, risk management and leadership. While there are differences of opinion in literature in this regard, we have insisted that education and easily accessible signage in public areas regarding these practices at Overlake are a bare minimum that the hospital must provide. You have a right to be informed. You have a right to a safe workplace free of hazards.
Article 8.1 in the CBA Safety on pg 16:
The Hospital will maintain a safe and healthful workplace in compliance with Federal, State and Local laws applicable to the safety and health of its nurses. WSNA shall select a nurse to serve on the Hospital's Safety Committee, who may use paid release time for such Committee meetings. Further, safety may be a periodic agenda item at Conference Committee, including such possible subjects as: infectious diseases, ergonomics, chemical hazards, security and physical safety, radiation, reduction of latex in the workplace, safe needle devices, back injuries and safety education.
It has come to our attention that the employees were recently notified that the implementation of last resort use of tasers will occur and that training for security has taken place. We have requested that Overlake provide not just notice but education for nursing staff and signage in public areas. We will discuss again at the October Conference Committee and provide updates as we receive it. Nurses are encouraged to send their questions and concerns directly to Overlake leadership, as well as share concerns with WSNA officers or Nurse Representative. It is especially important if you have medical conditions or other concerns that may place you at risk of injury if you were inadvertently tased. Nurses are encouraged to discuss with their health providers, as well. At present, 3 WSNA RNs are listed as participants in the Overlake Workplace Violence prevention and safety committee.
One more thing 😊
Officer election ballots were mailed last week to WSNA members in good standing. Please return your completed ballot post-marked no later than October 16! We will report the results to you in an update.
In unity,
Your WSNA Officers and Nurse Representative Tara Barnes tbarnes@wsna.org
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Join the private Facebook Group WSNA-Overlake RN’s. Search the name and click join to be admitted. Only WSNA RNs at Overlake will be admitted to the group.
Questions? Contact Tara Barnes Nurse Representative tbarnes@wsna.org.