In this update, you can find the following information.

• Training opportunity for HR investigations
• January Staffing Committee Update
• 20% Health Insurance Discount update
• Membership information 
• WSNA 2025 Convention

Investigation Interview Training

Join us on January 28, from 1-2 pm for our HR investigation interview workshop! This free hybrid format training is co-led by Tristan Twohig RN from Holy Family and Alle Machorro WSNA Nurse Rep. The goal of this workshop is to equip our nurses if they are ever called to an HR meeting or to support a colleague in their interview. We will have content prepared and a practical demonstration of an investigation meeting. RSVP here if you can attend in person or virtually.

January Staffing Committee Update 

On January 14, 2025, we had our monthly staffing committee meeting. We did not have enough member attendance for a quorum and so voting items were moved to February. The bulk of the discussion was focused on ultrasound services and staffing challenges associated with ultrasound. OB nurses shared recent patient situations where an MD had ordered ultrasound, but patients couldn’t receive it due to zero call coverage during the hours of 0100-0530. Austin, director of imaging, came to present information to this committee. He described significant challenges in recruiting staffing for ultrasound technicians and shared he’s been operating with travelers largely for the last 2 years.

Leadership stated they would follow up on two items for February related to this

• Developing a protocol for no call coverage
• Meet with OB team about dedicated ultrasound machine for OB and its utilization (or lack of)

WSNA also asked for leadership to provide the RN contact for Palouse Medical that will be joining our committee. Palouse Medical recently became fully incorporated under the hospital’s license and by law, must have an accompanying staffing plan.

RCW 70.41.420 also states that the CEO “Provide a status report on implementation of the staffing plan including nursing sensitive quality indicators collected by the hospital, patient surveys, and recruitment and retention efforts, including the hospital's success over the previous six months in filling approved open positions for employees covered by the staffing plan.”

We did not receive this in December and have asked for it to be provided in February. WSNA agreed to send examples we have received from other facilities. 

20% Employee Discount for Benefit Coverage 

WSNA has heard from nurses that Pullman decided to take away the 20% discount for receiving medical services at Pullman facilities. This has been a benefit in place for over 40 years to our nurses. WSNA feels this is a unilateral decision resulting in the elimination of a nurse benefit. We recently requested information related to this change- here are some of the Employer’s responses.

When asked whose decision it was to remove this benefit.

Response: The decision to discontinue the 20% employee discount was an administrative decision

When asked why Pullman Regional Hospital unilaterally decided to not offer a 20% employee health discount as of January 1, 2025? 

Response – The medical insurance plans offered at Pullman Regional Hospital are High Deductible Health Plans (HDHP’s) with a Health Savings Account (HSA). In working with our brokers for the 2025 renewal, we learned that the 20% employee discount that had been classified as an employee benefit are not allowed by HDHP/HSA plan designs. The IRS has stated that the employee/dependent must pay 100% of the deductible (excluding designated preventive care services) before any payments can be made. By providing the 20% employee discount, employees/dependents were potentially not paying 100% of their deductible which could jeopardize the pre-tax benefit status of the HSA plan. Pullman Regional Hospital has added a domestic tier to the 2025 medical plan designs. The new tier provides 0% employee coinsurance, after applicable deductible has been met, for all providers under the Pullman Regional Hospital EIN which includes the hospital and clinics. Pullman Regional Hospital also added in 2025 a $500 employer contribution to enrolled employee’s HSA. Employees contribute a minimum of $20 per pay period ($480 per year) and Pullman Regional Hospital will contribute $20.83 per pay period ($500 per year). Finally, as this is being done for all employees, past practice and Article 15.3 of the collective bargaining agreement permits this action: “Nurses will receive the same level of benefits as other non-administrative employees of the Hospital.”

More to come on this issue.

Membership matters

Membership in your union is crucial because it provides workers with a collective voice. By banding together, we gain strength and leverage to address your important workplace issues and advocate for your rights effectively. Your longtime CNO Jeannie Eylar has now retired, and Pullman Regional has a new CEO starting in March, which means new administration for the next contract bargaining. WSNA remains a constant partner to weather these potential storms with you.

Why should you join WSNA now if you haven’t before? 

This is your year! Your labor contract expires at the end of September, and we need every nurse to stand up and join us in advocating for their workplace conditions.

What do you love about working at Pullman Regional Hospital? Maybe it’s the wages or the stackable certification premiums. Maybe it’s lower nurse to patient ratios or your ability to request low census. These are all conditions of your work that WSNA nurses in your hospital have helped secure. These achievements are possible largely in part due to nurses being WSNA members.

The number of nurses involved in their local unit and engaging in committees and events shows Pullman Regional that nurses know their rights. Management knows every nurse who joins the union is another nurse who won’t back down. Management also knows how many nurses participate since they manage your payroll deductions. Join TODAY!

WSNA Convention and General Assembly registration is OPEN

Are you interested in attending the WSNA Convention? Hear from some powerful names in nursing nationally. Then, dive into the biggest issues facing nursing today: safe staffing, workplace violence prevention, and health equity. Panels include government officials and top experts who will give you the knowledge and tools to act. Lend your voice to resolutions to make workplaces safer and speak out on the future of WSNA. The early bird rate has been extended through January 31, 2025 and there are scholarships funds available for nurses to attend. Register today and gain 10.5 CNE hours by attending. Contact your nurse rep at Alle Machorro at amachorro@wsna.org if interested.

Check out the most recent edition of your nurse’s newsletter here. This edition contains a recap of our fall festival event, the December staffing committee update, and a message from Acacia Prather on why you should get involved with your union and her experiences.

Questions? Contact your nurse rep at Alle Machorro at amachorro@wsna.org.

In Solidarity,

Janine Lawrence WSNA Chair
Amy Gifford WSNA Co-Chair 
Katy Schmidt WSNA Secretary
Trina Partain WSNA Grievance