You may have heard about the WSNA Assignment Despite Objection (ADO) form, but this newsletter is intended to give you a better idea of when to use one, what the process is after an ADO form is submitted, and what you can expect after you fill one out. ADO forms are located on the WSNA website so anyone can fill one out at any time, whether they are at work or at home. You can follow this link or scan the QR code below to access the online form.

Why should I fill out an ADO?

If you find yourself in a situation that you believe creates unsafe conditions for patients or for you, complete the ADO form as soon as possible. It documents the issues, even if they are already well known and happen consistently and keeps the union and administration aware of whether issues have been resolved or are ongoing. Please check out this quick guide for reasons to submit an ADO: https://www.wsna.org/union/update/the-importance-of-ados.

No one, including the house manager, your leadership or your NTL, is allowed to discourage you from filling out an ADO. You do not need to ask permission to fill out an ADO. Please report any concerns surrounding these issues to your nurse rep and/or one of your local unit officers. We strongly encourage all nurses to escalate issues in real time to their Team Lead, then to follow the chain of command if it's not resolved, but escalation is never a requirement to fill out an ADO.

What's the difference between ADOs and Staffing Concern Forms?

ADOs are done through the union website and are forwarded to your manager as well as to your union rep and the staffing committee co-chairs. Staffing Concern Forms are completed on the hospital's website and are managed by the hospital. Both are valid methods of submitting your issues to be discussed at the Staffing Committee, but ADOs are preferable at this time to ensure transparency with the union automatically receiving them. Make sure you put in the correct email address for your manager to ensure your ADO is addressed in a timely manner. You are not required to fill out any of the information on the form aside from the ones with a star (*) beside them, but if you have time to do so, we appreciate all the information you have the ability to provide so we can investigate the issue thoroughly.

What happens after I submit an ADO?

With the new staffing law that went into effect this year, there are some changes to the ADO/Staffing Concern Form process to ensure follow-up occurs in a timely manner. The Hospital Staffing Committee has been working diligently to get through the large backlog of issues that were submitted over the past six months as we had to create a new process in how we address and code ADOs that are presented to the committee. If you submit an ADO, you can expect your leadership to follow up within 10 days. If you do not hear from your manager within that time frame or if the follow-up you do receive feels accusatory, discouraging or threatening, please let your nurse rep know. You may be asked to provide more information about the situation and will be given the optional opportunity to share the details at our monthly staffing committee meeting. The person submitting an ADO is protected from retaliation for escalating the issue, even if you do not follow the chain of command for reporting issues in real time for whatever reason. We understand that when things are hectic, it's hard to stop and take the time to fill out the form. You are welcome to fill out an ADO after the issue has been resolved or your shift ends, but we do encourage you to submit it as soon as possible so your account of the events is as accurate as possible.

Thank you for your support and commitment in helping the Hospital Staffing Committee, local unit officers and your nurse rep in supporting you and your coworkers to achieve and maintain safe working conditions. We are all in this together!

Contact Grace Chesterman, WSNA Nurse Representative (gchesterman@wsna.org) or your local unit officers if you have questions.