Upcoming Events

Negotiation Kick-Off! Donni’s House on April 9 from 5-7:30 p.m. Details in the image below.

Conference Committee update

At each meeting we talk about productivity and the mental toll it is having on the nurses. Nurses are feeling torn between doing what is best for the patient and trying to meet  productivity expectations.

Unfortunately, due to the unrealistic expectations, something gets cut. It may be quality patient care; it may be the nurse’s personal time away from work. The constant stress of worrying about productivity has lowered morale.  When a nurse is forced to behave in a way that is contrary to their values, the cognitive dissonance it creates is uncomfortable for the nurse. When a person in authority sets expectations that are unreasonable, (e.g. doing two starts and a repeat visit in one day that include a perfect OASIS, going over everything in the SOC packet, full medication reconciliation, calling the doctor at SOC for a med issue, creating a complete individualized care plan—all in 8 hours), it causes mental distress for the nurse who is trying to work within those expectations and boundaries. We are calling on Management to address these issues!

We will continue to advocate for appropriate assignments that do not comprise patient care or force nurses to work beyond their FTE.

At our last Conference Committee meeting we discussed the new Complex Case Review (CCR) process and the concerns that nurses have about potentially unsafe situations. We do not believe Management is hearing our concerns about the link between drug use and violent crime.

The National Institute of Drug Abuse found that drug abuse is associated with one in three crimes committed in America. Drug addicts often commit crimes to fund their habits or get more drugs. They also commit crimes when they are high or coming down from a high, leading to irrational decisions that can have severe consequences for themselves and others.

Addicts are more likely to commit crimes because addiction drives them to do harmful and illegal things. Addiction affects the brain and changes how it functions, and it can also change how people think and behave.

A study in the Journal of Forensic Sciences found that a person who has used cocaine within the past year is five times more likely to commit a violent crime than someone who has not used cocaine in that same period.

Violent crime and substance abuse disorder are closely related. Substance abuse disorder is a risk factor for violence. Alcohol and drug use can lead to aggressive behavior and violence.

We remain concerned that not all management staff who are part of the decision-making process make an effort to attend Conference Committee to hear and address these important issues. Despite offering to move the Conference Committee meetings to a time Ann said she could attend, it appears as though Ann still refuses to attend our meetings. This makes for inefficient meetings as no decisions can be made during our time together. They unfortunately, are only put off.

If you have been assigned a patient assignment that you believe is either undoable in an 8-hour day (and you do not want to work overtime) or you believe is unsafe, please voice your concern to the scheduling staff to adjust your assignment. If scheduling is not able to change your assignment, then please complete the Assignment Despite Objection (ADO) form. If you have not already put the QR code on your RN badge buddy for the ADO form, see Kathleen or Amanda to get the QR code sticker or bookmark the link to your phone here https://wsnaado.powerappsportals.com/.

Nurse Practice Committee update

The Nurse Practice Committee consists of Amanda, Susan, Donni, Tamera, Kathleen, Phyllis and Gin. Through the Nurse Practice Committee, we were able to secure small BP cuffs and begin development on a streamlined procedure for ordering initial wound care supplies. Last month we discussed each “triangle” page in the My Home Health Journey booklet to get a better understanding of what is expected of us. Please note that all of the pages listed below will be moved to the beginning of the booklet in the near future.

Page 3 My health journey: Not essential. No photo required. Patient or family could be asked to complete the page.

Page 5 Individualized Care Plan: We were told it is not essential during the Nurse Practice meeting. No photo required.

Page 19 Medications: ESSENTIAL. No photo required. Completing this page is one option to comply with requirement. Another option is to print and bring a med list to the next visit (and write that on page 19). A third option is to use the printed AVS if the patient has one (and write that on page 19). You can add medications that the patient is taking that are not on the AVS list and cross out medications on the AVS list that the patient is not taking. It was recommended to write on the AVS the date that it was reconciled by the nurse as being accurate.

Page 40 Hazard List: Not essential. No photo required. You only need to point out this page to the patient; point out your observations.

Pages 50-51 Emergency preparedness: ESSENTIAL. No photo required. You can have the family complete it as you are talking about each section, but it may be faster for you to do it.

• Call the EMS or Red Cross section: Check at least one box
• Create an Emergency Plan section: Check at least one box. One that would pertain to everyone is “Pick two emergency meeting places”.
• Prepare a Disaster Supplies Kit section: Point it out to the patient and check ate least one box, such as medications and battery powered radio and flashlight.
• Emergency Plan section: Write the evacuation location and who will pick up the patient. Have the patient fill in the local contact, and out of state contact.  We asked that management update the Resources list included in the SOC packet to include the local non-emergency phone numbers for police and fire, local hospitals, and local oxygen suppliers as this section that will take the place of the bottom half of this page as it is too time consuming for the RN to complete. It was noted that if patient has a Life Alert, documenting that on this page covers some of this section. If the patient lives in AFH or ALF, document that the patient is to follow the EP plan for the ALF or AFH.

Page 60 My Discharge Plan: Tell the patient to complete. No photo required. We also asked that this page be moved next to the My health journey page.

Page 61 Discharge Instructions: Complete at DC. No photo required.

Grievance resolution update - WE WON!

The two grievances which were filed last year for the issues of requiring Donni and Janice to work weekends has been settled. This is a win for VNA nurses! The settlement will allow Donni and Janice to continue not working weekends and forgo a premium. If we want to maintain this right, the issue will be presented at the bargaining table. Your negotiating Team is interested in keeping this benefit.

Congratulations to Donni and Janice!

Inland Empire Nursing Association – Opening on Board of Directors

Did you know by being a part of WSNA, you are automatically a part of IENA also? Want to have a say in how our dues money is spent in the region? Join the IENA Board of Directors. Not ready for a monthly commitment? Join a committee that only meets a few times (1-3) a year for specific reasons. The level of commitment depends on you, but help is needed! Talk to Kathleen if you are interested.

Keeping this relationship is vital. Kathleen has been the only elected representative to the SRLC since Marilee retired and she is having difficulty attending the monthly meetings. She is asking for at least one other person to alternate meetings with her.

 They meet on the fourth Tuesday evening of the month, beginning at 7 p.m. at 510 S. Elm St. (except July and December).

The commitment to help is small. If you can help to serve as a delegate, every other month, contact Jaclyn Smedley BSN, RN to find out how at jsmedley@wsna.org.

Questions? Contact WSNA Nurse Representative Jaclyn Smedley, BSN, RN at jsmedley@wsna.org.