Become a WSNA Local Unit Officer!

We currently have vacancies on the Executive Board consisting of the WSNA Officers.

Co-Chair (1)

Co-Secretary (1)

Treasurer (1)

Co-Membership (2)

If you are interested in learning more, please email WSNA Nurse Rep Hanna Welander at hwelander@wsna.org. No experience is necessary, all training is provided. Think about nominating a nursing colleague, too.

Newly Established PPE Committee

Because of the Governor’s mandate, this committee was started in collaboration with hospital administration, and members of SEIU 1199NW and WSNA. Four of your colleagues sit on this committee: Cassie Nichols, MCU COVID unit; Lindsay Taylor, ICU COVID unit; Laura Bayes, WSNA Co-Chair; and Tracy Pullar, WSNA Co-Communications. Its function is to address concerns about PPE availability, safety and function and determining burn rates. We hold virtual meetings every other week. We discuss issues brought forward by staff. Here are some updates from our meetings:

1. PAPRs are available in Regular and Large now. The outside packages might be labeled as small, but the PAPRs are marked with an R.
2. There are various options to choose from for eyewear. All you need is the description and product number and request that your manager order it for you. The Honeywell UVEX Astrospec 3001 has extendable arms and can be worn over regular glasses. The HexArmor LT3000 is new and has very limited supply at this time but is reportedly VERY comfortable. The OptiPlus Anti-Fog Lens Wipes can be requested because they work on both glasses and shields.
3. The hospital reports increased availability of N95s. Please note that CPR is an aerosolizing procedure and needs a higher level of PPE protection, at least a N95 and face-shield or PAPR. The code carts and isolation carts should be equipped with PAPRs as this is standard.
4. Face shields are disposable. If you are wearing a shield instead of glasses, you can clean and reuse it throughout your shift for care of non-COVID patients. However, if you are using this as COVID PPE, you must doff your face-shield as you would your other PPE. It should not be cleaned and put back on the cart.
5. Product Concern Forms are currently available for anyone to complete if they have problems with their PPE. This can be found on the Crossroads website. Select “SUPPLY CHAIN” from under the System Departments Menu. Then click on “PRODUCT CONCERN FORM”, fill it out and submit it. Please keep the original packaging if this involves a defective product. This helps them track down others that may be defective within the same batch.

If you have any questions or concerns related to PPE, access, burn rate, supply, problems, please email one of your Local Unit Officers directly or you can email your WSNA Nurse representative, Hanna Welander at hwelander@wsna.org.

Contract Corner:

Remember to review contract language on the order of low census in article 11. The order was negotiated to protect your hours and wages.

11.2 Low Census. The Employer retains the right to determine which nursing units may be combined either prior to or after the start of shift, for purposes of low census. For filling regularly scheduled staffing needs, the Employer will use its best efforts to give priority to regular full-time and part-time nurses working up to their scheduled FTEs over per diem, full and part-time nurses working above their scheduled FTEs and/or registry nurses, provided the full-time or parttime nurse is available and skill, ability, experience, competency or qualifications are not overriding factors. Within this context, the following guidelines apply to the normal order in which nurses are to be called off due to low census:

1. Nurses working at an overtime or premium rate of pay during a non-regularly scheduled shift.

2. Volunteers. Voluntary low census granted to individual nurses will be subject to staffing needs on the unit.

3. Agency and traveler nurses.

4. Per diem nurses.

5. Nurses working in excess of their scheduled FTE at their straight time rate of pay.

6. Nurses working during their regularly scheduled shift. Placement on mandatory low census will be rotated equitably among such nurses based on total number of low census hours within a six (6) month period, provided that skill, ability, experience, competence or qualifications are not overriding factors.