Incentive Plan

We have heard your feedback regarding the Incentive Plan and recognize that it has not been applied to all units. Our team will continue to advocate for incentives that are effective, clearly communicated, and equitable. Please read below for context on plan development.

In December, we started meeting with leadership in response to the short staffing and high census. Through these meetings, we advocated for a more structured, transparent and responsive incentive plan. They agreed to collaborate on development of this plan. Our team introduced a tiered system similar to other WSNA hospitals that also featured a ‘just in time’ component to respond to day-of staffing needs. We proposed certain levels of compensation and ideal staffing targets for all areas of the hospital. Ultimately, the hospital moved forward with the overall structure of our proposal, but they developed the application of the plan (staffing targets, using extra shifts vs. call, breaking down the day into 4-hour staffing blocks, and the units involved in the new plan). They presented it to us on February 1st, and we continued to advocate for changes to the plan and broader application to more areas of the hospital. The hospital decided to introduce the plan as presented to us.

We will continue to advocate for modifications that make the plan more impactful, easier to understand and more equitable. Additionally, we will seek clarification from the hospital on different aspects of the plan. It is anticipated that the hospital will send out an FAQ to bargaining unit nurses by next week. Please continue to provide us with your feedback. Feel free to email any of the Officers or to reach out via Instagram.

Nurse Conference Committee (NCC)

The local unit officers and Children’s leadership meet every 6 weeks for NCC. The next meeting will take place on February 15. Agenda items for the meeting include: Leadership’s plan to address issues identified in the PICU petition/letter, update on the new Short Stay Unit (MA 6), Incentive Plan, PBMU patient population overflow, Parental Leave clarification, Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP), hospital magnet status and more.

Contract Article 14.1 provides:

14.1 Conference Committee. The Employer, jointly with the elected representatives of the nurses, shall establish a Conference Committee to assist with personnel and other mutual problems. The purpose of the Conference Committee shall be to foster improved communications between the Employer and the nursing staff, and to address collaboratively issues affecting the nursing staff. The function of the committee shall be limited to an advisory rather than a decision-making capacity. The committee shall be established on a permanent basis and shall consist of not more than seven (7) representatives of the Employer and not more than seven (7) representatives of the nurses. One of the Employer representatives shall be the Chief Nursing Officer. All members of the committee shall be employees of the Employer. Representatives on the Conference Committee may request meetings of the Committee to discuss nurse staffing issues and suggestions for constructive improvement relating to utilization of nursing personnel. At least one week prior to scheduled Committee meetings, the nurse representatives of the Conference Committee may add to the agenda completed Assignment Despite Objection forms (“ADOs”), provided that the particular staffing issue has been raised and escalated to nursing management properly at the time of the incident. At each Conference Committee meeting, the Employer shall provide lists of new hires and transfers by name unit and date, as well as the number of separations in each unit since the last Conference Committee meeting.

Time for a local unit meeting

Your local unit officers are planning a meeting for the nurses to get together. Date to be announced soon!

Sincerely,
Kara Yates, Co-Chair
Annika Hoogestraat, Co-Chair
Lindsey Kirsch, Secretary
Stefanie Chandos, Treasurer
Erin Doyle, Grievance Officer
Samantha Lake, Grievance Officer
Te’onna Adams, Grievance Officer
Katie Podobnik, Grievance Officer
Therese Hill, Membership Officer