WSNA will be holding a Unit Rep meeting on February 23, 2023, from 7:30 – 8:30 p.m. This will be a meet and greet for current and new unit reps as well as a time to bring forward any comments, concerns, and questions about issues you are facing in your units.

We do have a need for more unit reps on many of the units and a unit can have more than one unit rep. Are you interested in becoming a unit rep for your unit? Please come to the meeting! We are opening this meeting to all nurses who have an interest in representing their unit.

This meeting will be held virtually.

COFFEE TALK

WSNA will also be at VM on Tuesday, March 7 and will be available to talk with nurses from 10:30 a.m. – 1 p.m. Food and drink will be available as well as WSNA swag. Come meet with your WSNA officers, nurse rep and organizer. Location TBD and will be announced soon.

Got Breaks?

WSNA is receiving a lot of ADOs that indicate that with the current staffing inadequacies, nurses are not getting their required breaks and meals. You are entitled to one uninterrupted 15-minute break for every 4 hours you work. Eight-hour nurses get two breaks, twelve-hour nurses get three 15 min. breaks. You must be completely relieved of duty i.e.. not required to remain on the unit or carry signaling devices, phone, etc. Your break must start within the first 3 hours of a 4-hour block. If it is missed, late, interrupted or you have to remain “available,” you are entitled to be paid for that break. PLEASE be sure to enter it into KRONOS as a missed break. Lunches are the same – uninterrupted, starting within the first 5 hours of a shift, and you must be completely relieved of duty otherwise, you are entitled to be paid. Please fill out an ADO if you are missing breaks or meals. Please also consider filing a complaint with Labor and Industries if this is ongoing issue on your unit.

If you receive any pushback from a manger for missing breaks when you could not safely leave your patients, please fill out an ADO and contact WSNA.

SAFETY COMMITTEE MEMBER NEEDED

Are you interested in serving on the safety committee? WSNA is need of a nurse who would like to join this hospital-wide committee. This is on paid time and your manager will need to work with you to ensure you can attend. If you are interested, please contact one of your local unit officers or Nurse Rep.

Questions? Contact WSNA Nurse Representative Sara Frey, JD, BSN, RN, at sfrey@wsna.org.