WA Safe + Healthy

“I want you to know that I am scared”: Watch as healthcare workers share their stories, fears, and frustrations as they cope with the hospital staffing crisis and call for #WALeg to pass #SafeStaffing legislation. @UFCW21 @SEIU1199NW @myWSNA

A hard-fought victory as @GovInslee signed SB5236 into law, the safer staffing bill made possible by advocacy from healthcare worker members of @UFCW_3000, @SEIU1199NW, @myWSNA & countless other supporters. A meaningful step towards better safety for workers and patients. #waleg

"We need to address the underlying burnout. Strengthening accountability to staffing plans, as well as expanding & enforcing existing overtime and breaks laws, are key to improving working conditions for our healthcare workers.” -David Keepnews, executive director, @myWSNA #waleg

“While this bill isn’t everything we called for, this is a real and meaningful step towards better safety for Washington healthcare workers and patients ... this is progress.” -Faye Guenther, president @UFCW_3000 #waleg

The WA state House just passed SB 5236, the compromise bill to begin addressing the hospital staffing crisis -- the final legislative hurdle in a long process led by healthcare workers, their unions, and patient advocates. #waleg #safestaffing wasafeandhealthy.com/news/wa-house-…

📣 Calling all healthcare workers and supporters! 📣 It takes less than two minutes to sign in PRO for safe staffing standards ahead of the House Appropriations hearing this Thursday 3/30. 1199nw.org/3JSabmm @WASafeHealthy #waleg

“When our hospitals do not play by these rules and provide the protections this bill lays out, they will face corrective actions. They will face consequences,” sponsor Sen. @gruberobinson, D-Everett, said on the floor. #waleg spokesman.com/stories/2023/m…

Statement on #safestaffing committee passage: Under the current SB5236 language, staff-to-patient staffing standards will be set by nurse staffing committees. L&I will step in w/corrective action for hospitals that are noncompliant w/staffing plans #waleg wasafeandhealthy.com/news/healthcar…

“Last week I had a patient who died on my shift, and he should not have." The staffing crisis hospital execs helped create isn't just a crisis for healthcare workers, it's a patient safety crisis. WA patients & workers need #WAleg to step in. #safestaffing heraldnet.com/news/ive-never…

Half of healthcare workers report patient safety events in their hospital leading to harm or death in the last year that they believe was due to short-staffing. Data from @WADeptHealth corroborate what they're reporting. Read more: wasafeandhealthy.com/news/hospital-… #waleg #safestaffing

Who's testified in support of #safestaffing standards in #WAleg? Actual bedside nurses and healthcare workers. Who's testified against them? Hospital executives, their lobbyists, biz groups, staff managers. Who would you trust more to provide quality care for your loved ones?

Licensing data directly from WA DOH show there are ~16,000 actively-licensed nurses with a home address in WA not currently working in nursing. WA requires license renewal every year. That's not a shortage, that's a shortage of nurses who want to work in these conditions. #waleg

Senate Bill 5236 is up now for a public hearing in the Senate Ways & Means Committee. Last week, new polling showed half of WA healthcare workers are considering quitting. This is a crisis, but #WAleg could address it by passing the #staffingstandards workers are calling for.