In this edition of WSNA news, you will find the following information

• Hospital Staffing Committee (HSC) Updates
• Internal vs External Reporting
• Grievance Updates
• Contract Bargaining Survey
• IENA Gala Opportunity

February HSC Updates

Three of our nurses filed our union’s assignment despite objection (ADO) or unsafe staffing form about a patient on MSU that physically chased nurses around the unit and into the nurse’s breakroom. In these complaints it was noted that nurse’s called the police for help as the patient wasn’t responding to facility security. It was also noted that nurses hadn’t been provided with any debriefing despite filing internal care alerts. Leadership said the following things about this incident.

• There is a monthly, large, workplace violence meeting that occurs. There is also a smaller, leadership driven workplace violence committee that is meeting weekly.
• Security is not 24/7 and is not trained in take downs or managing violent patients aside from verbal de-escalation
• The ER manager is working very hard to garner support from local PD and other agencies to find ways to reduce workplace violence
• Code gray and restraint policies are being reviewed. It appears a seclusion policy was violated.
• There is no plan at this time in the expansion to add or modify any rooms on inpatient units to include a seclusion room

The committee evaluated a birthplace complaint from the previous month where birthplace was short one nurse. We found the hospital was out of compliance with their staffing plan. Leadership shared that they have created a charge nurse binder to increase communications about scheduling errors.

Our union monitors and trends all staffing complaints when the hospital is out of compliance with the staffing plan.

March HSC 

Pat from security came to the staffing committee and shared some of the security operations at the hospital. We had a robust discussion about security’s role and leadership reiterated that they are having frequent meetings to address workplace violence

Care Alerts vs WSNA Unsafe Staffing Form 

Our union has met MANY nurses who are filing care alerts about situations that may be unsafe for themselves or for their patients. When our nurses file these internal forms, these only go to an internal person at the hospital. Our union has no access to care alerts. We have heard that some nurses hear back from these filings and some don’t. Our union recommends filing our assignment despite objection (ADO) or unsafe staffing form, when these situations arise. When our nurses file these forms, they go IN REAL TIME to our WSNA Nurse Representative, the five nurses on the staffing committee, and leadership. They are maintained in a database, and they are addressed every month by the staffing committee. Under the RCW, when staffing complaints are filed, management is

Grievance Updates 

We met with leadership on Wednesday, March 19 to address two grievances recently filed that affect all nurses in Pullman. The two issues included the removal of the 20% health discount and temporary positions in Birthplace.

Regarding removing the 20% discount.

• The Employer confirmed what we suspected- that the removal of this discount was a unilateral decision from management.
• Articles 24 and 25 of our union contract appear to be violated by their actions
• We demanded the Employer send us a proposal to make all of our nurses whole.

Nursing leadership was presented in December by our union, short term contract language that would incentivize part time and supplemental nurses to work full time hours under certain criteria. This language would offer lump sum incentives to those who would have helped in these positions. The Employer did the following after receiving this.

• Never responded to our union’s offering after that meeting
• Unilaterally created temporary positions which are not in the current contract, and they are obligated to bargain

Nurses need to know- if management offers something that relates to or affects our wages, hours, and working conditions- it should be in your contract or management is mandated to bargain it with our Union.

Contract Bargaining Survey

Our pre-negotiation survey is LIVE! This survey is our nurse’s chance, member or nonmember, to give feedback on what matters in this next contract cycle. Fill it out here and make your voice heard today.

IENA Gala Event 

As a due paying member, you are welcome to join us in Spokane for the Inland Empire Nurses’ Association Gala. See the flyer below. If you’d like to join, contact your WSNA Nurse Representative to see about having your costs reimbursement.

Reach out to your WSNA Nurse Representative Alle Machorro at amachorro@wsna.org with any questions.