An address from your WSNA chair

On Feb. 18 we had our monthly Hospital Staffing Committee meeting to continue to discuss staffing grids for the following med/surg units of W4, S5, and E5 as plans currently exist with the additional element of the “flex RN” on each of the respective units. Although each unit’s Manager or Supervisor presented each plan, each area was presented as though there currently would be “no change” to the existing staffing plans. However, as you all have become very well aware, the pulling of a flex RN out of the grids has greatly impacted the units, making our work increasingly challenging and unsafe. True, the goal is to give everyone their rest and meal breaks, but the comes with a cost of having 1 less RN per shift. Because of this, Administration/Management attempted to pass these so called, “no change to grids” with the flex RN element added for the Hospital Staffing Committee to approve. This would have been a very dangerous move, making it acceptable to move forward with the recent changes we have come to know; especially now expecting Charge RNs to cover breaks, take a patient assignment, do rounding, be a floor resource, as well as other various Charge RN roles which continue expand as we see “cost-saving” efforts.

Today was a Great Day for RNs! Be very proud of the RNs/PCTs who serve on our Hospital Staffing Committee. None of the proposed grids for each of the med/surg units was voted “to approve” by the RNs of the Committee. Management, of course, voted to approve and move forward with a permanent change. OUR RNs BLOCKED THAT FROM HAPPENING!

Administration also wanted the Committee to also approve to “resolve” numerous ADOs that are being tracked while appropriate solutions are being sought out. Without resolution, RNs chose to keep these ADOs in “open” status until needed changes/resolutions are considered acceptable by the committee. This also did not make Administration happy.

Finally, at the end of the meeting, the staffing petition many of you signed (thank you) was presented & read by our RN colleague. As this was occurring, the Administration/Management simply got up and walked out of the meeting without the Chair officially closing out the meeting, sadly showing disrespect for the RNs. The RNs nonetheless handed the petition to the scribe for submission to the HSC record and minutes, and leadership will also be receiving an electronic copy of the petition.

Be Proud!! RNs refused to be intimidated or swayed into practices detrimental to staff and our patients!! Great work, great advocacy, and way to go making our VOICES heard.

Please thank RNs Kayla Badillo So 5, Jenae Long West 4 and Allison Ricci East 5 and the RN Chair Dulce Chavez East 4 who serve on our Hospital Staffing Committee from these units for standing up for us all. As your Local Unit WSNA Chair, I was extremely impressed and proud of each of them.

Our work is not done; we must stay united. You can be part of these efforts by signing on to the petition. Please see the following link and have your voice heard.

https://forms.office.com/r/4DkQcdXBHa

In Solidarity,

Chris Birchem WSNA @ Overlake Hospital Local Unit Chair

What is next?

Every month a group of units is scheduled to have their plans presented (twice a year) for review and approval (or not). We are encouraged that Overlake is open to looking at “tweak” that could occur at the unit level for So 5, W 4 and E 5, ERU. Please ensure to participate at the unit level.

In March, the following units are on the agenda for the same review and subject to the same parameters for approval (or not):

• Critical Care Unit (South 3) | IMCU
• Cardiac Stroke Tele Unit (South 4)
• Medical Telemetry & Oncology Unit (East 4)
• Short Stay Unit | Infusion
• PCU, PACU, SPA
• IPS,OPS, OPR, SPU

Many ask, what can I do to make a difference?

• Support your HSC by signing onto the petition (the signatures we presented to Overlake are just our first installation, we are still building toward a strong majority of affected units)
• Submit ADOs every shift as necessary
• Always attest 100% accurately if you have missed breaks.
• Do make efforts to take rest and meal breaks and your concern with staffing on your shift.
• Communicate with your charge nurse, supervisor, or manager for their awareness. If there is no way to resolve on that shift, ADO and clock missed breaks. If nurses do not submit ADOs or attest accurately if they have missed breaks, it masks the problem that the HSC and all Overlake RNs are working to correct with the staffing grid changes in 2026.

We have many more HSC members. Stay tuned for a focused update introducing each of them!

Questions about this email? Contact a local unit officer or Nurse Representative Tara Barnes; contact information is found on your WSNA local unit webpage

Heidi Scharnitzke Secretary Labor and Delivery
Crissy Sekine Treasurer IMI
Katie Gugliotta ED Grievance officer
Michael Golembo IMI Membership
Brandon Yokoyama ED Membership