CONTRACT RATIFIED! - Congratulations to the nurses at Sacred Heart Medical Center in Spokane, Washington, who just voted with an overwhelming majority YES to ratify their new contract.

Today is Transgender Day of Visibility. 🏳️‍⚧️ We see you. We respect you. We stand with you. In our workplaces. In our communities. In our care. #transgenderdayofvisibility

WSNA members in Seattle, Tacoma, Bellingham and Spokane gathered today for #NoKings rallies. Thank you all for showing up to support your patients and profession.

Congratulations to Gloria Brigham, EdD, MN, RN, CPHRM, on her induction into the Washington State Nurses Hall of Fame on March 19.

HB 2360 (STANDING ORDER FOR ALBUTEROL IN K-12 SCHOOLS) SIGNED INTO LAW - “This will help kids showing asthma systems get immediate treatment before those symptoms progress into a more dangerous situation,” said Gov. Bob Ferguson. Every student should have access to life saving medications.

Congratulations to Bob Smithing, MSN, FNP-BC, ARNP, FAANP, on his induction to the Washington State Nurses Hall of Fame on March 19.

Congratulations to Anita Stull, BSN, RN, on her induction to the Washington State Nurses Hall of Fame on March 19.

Congratulations to Antwinett O. Lee on her induction to the Washington State Nurses Hall of Fame on March 19. Lee is a dedicated nurse, educator, and mentor who has strengthened the nursing workforce by championing diversity, education, and leadership development.

The WSNA Board of Directors has appointed longtime labor leader Gerard Friesz to serve as the next WSNA Executive Director. Friesz, whose appointment begins May 1, will succeed David Keepnews, who is retiring.

"If there was ever a moment to get involved, it’s now." Read the Q&A with @justin-gill.bsky.social, WSNA president, in the latest #WashingtonNurse.

Anybody catch Saturday Night Live last week? Sometimes laughter is the best medicine.

Moxi, a hospital robot who once worked at MultiCare hospitals, passed peacefully to the AI beyond in 2025. In lieu of flowers, nurses suggest investments in safe staffing, better working conditions, and the human care that patients depend on. Read Moxi's obituary in the latest #WashingtonNurse.

Sorry AI, you can’t call yourself a nurse. Learn more in the latest #WashingtonNurse.

LAST CHANCE TO REGISTER for the Washington State Nurses Hall of Fame on March 19. Learn more and register by March 13 at wsna.org/hof

Snohomish County Health Department is racing to curb the spread of measles and public health nurses are critical to containing this outbreak. WSNA nurses Susan Babcock and Sarah Legat are featured in this story in @seattletimes-rss.bsky.social

Tami Green, BA, RN, PMH-BC, is one of five outstanding nurses to be inducted into the Washington State Nurses Hall of Fame on March 19. Learn more and register by March 13 at wsna.org/hof

Week 8 in Olympia: Worker protections bill passes, title protection signed by the Governor and more. Read the latest WSNA Government Affairs Update on our website.

HB 2155 (NURSE TITLE PROTECTION) SIGNED INTO LAW - “With the rapid rise of artificial intelligence (AI) it’s important for Washingtonians to know that AI cannot act as a licensed nurse or claim to be one,” said @bobfergusonparody.bsky.social

UNSTOPPABLE TOGETHER! - Julia Barcott, former WSNA vice president and @aft.org Women’s Rights Committee member, was one of many speakers at the Seattle @womensmarch.com event on #InternationalWomensDay this afternoon at Cal Anderson Park in Seattle.

Proud to speak at @sufsseattle.bsky.social in Seattle. Science cannot be a casualty of politically motivated decisions. Nurses rely on science to care for our patients. @wsna.bsky.social continues to be bold and take action that protects our patients and the nursing profession!

Gloria Brigham, EdD, MN, RN, CPHRM, is one of five outstanding nurses to be inducted into the Washington State Nurses Hall of Fame on March 19. Learn more and register by March 13 at wsna.org/hof

CONTRACT RATIFIED! - Congratulations to the nurses at PeaceHealth Southwest in Vancouver, Washington, who just voted YES to ratify their new contract.

Anita Stull, BSN, RN, is one of five outstanding nurses to be inducted into the Washington State Nurses Hall of Fame on March 19. Learn more and register by March 13 at wsna.org/hof

Bob Smithing, MSN, FNP-BC, ARNP, FAANP, is one of five outstanding nurses to be inducted into the Washington State Nurses Hall of Fame on March 19. Learn more and register by March 13 at wsna.org/hof

Today, March 4, is a Day of Action to Protect Our Kids, Our Families and Our Communities, called by @aft.org. WSNA joins with our siblings in @aftwa.bsky.social in their call to preserve parent education programs and cooperative preschools in WA's Community and Technical Colleges. Sign the petition!

Week 7 in Olympia: Nurse title protection passes, budget proposals and more. Learn more in the latest WSNA Government Affairs Update on our website.

STAND UP FOR SCIENCE - National Day of Action on Saturday, March 7, including an event from noon to 3 p.m. at the Mural Amphitheatre at Seattle Center. @justin-gill.bsky.social, WSNA president, will speak. Learn more at standupforscience.net/march7 @standupforscience.bsky.social

Turned away by the British establishment, Mary Seacole financed her own journey to Crimea and brought care, comfort, and medical skill directly to the battlefield, reshaping the story of who built modern nursing.

When people think about public health, they think about systems. But public health is people. Seattle & King County public health nurses are at the bargaining table because Seattle deserves a strong public health system — and that starts with nurses who are respected and retained. Fair contract now.

ICYMI - Nurses, community members and labor advocates gathered in Tacoma on Friday evening to discuss concerns about the ICE presence inside St. Joseph Medical Center. Watch the @king5news.bsky.social video.

TWO DAYS LEFT TO NOMINATE union nurses who have led the way! The deadline to nominate is Thursday, Feb. 26. Eight recognition awards will be presented to individuals and teams at the Level Up - 2026 WSNA Union Leadership Conference April 26-28 in Wenatchee. #LevelUpWSNA

“When we walk into someone’s space, we’re not just nurses,” says Kiesha Garcia-Stubbs, public health for Seattle & King County. "We’re social workers, behavioral health providers, safety planners. We hold these trusting relationships because we’re the ones who show up when no one else does.”

Week 6 in Olympia: Nurse title protection inches closer, revenue forecast up, and other updates. #waleg

NOMINATE BY FEB. 26 - One week left to nominate union nurses who have led the way! Eight recognition awards will be presented to individuals and teams at the WSNA Union Leadership Conference April 26-28 in Wenatchee. Link in bio for award descriptions and nomination form. #levelupwsna

In this week’s Government Affairs Update – an overall recap of the week, updates on each of WSNA’s four legislative priorities this year, other bills we’re watching, and more.

Check out our website for an overview of the selection process for WSNA's next Executive Director.

SB 5904 (Nurse Title Protection) has been scheduled for a hearing in the House Healthcare & Wellness committee at 8 a.m. 2/20. Sign in “PRO” no later than 7 a.m. 2/20. The title "nurse" should be legally reserved for licensed, human professionals—not artificial intelligence or automated tools.

Today HB 2155 (Nurse Title Protection) passed the House of Representatives. Thank you Rep. Edwin Obras (center) for sponsoring this bill, which would safeguard the title “nurse” in law and help affirm the distinction between licensed, human professionals and technology.

Level Up your skills, your knowledge, and your power at WSNA’s 2026 Union Leadership Conference April 26–28, 2026, at the Wenatchee Convention Center. Learn more and register today at wsna.org/leadership #LevelUpWSNA

THIS IS HOW WE DO IT - Congratulations to the WSNA nurses at Tacoma General and Mary Bridge NICU, who voted to ratify their contracts yesterday (Feb. 6) by an overwhelming majority. Huge shoutout to the bargaining team for your hard work and tenacity.

Who do you think deserves the Emeritus Award for 2024-2026? Nominate a member who is retired and has made significant contributions to their Local Unit and may have contributed at the state and national level. Nominate by Thursday, Feb. 26 at wsna.to/nominate-leader #levelupwsna

Who do you think deserves the Steward Award for 2024-2026? Nominate a leader on their unit, trusted by their coworkers, who is passionate about their union and ensuring the contract is followed. Nominate by Thursday, Feb. 26 at wsna.to/nominate-leader #levelupwsna

Who do you think deserves the Membership Award for 2024-2026? Nominate an individual or committee that has strengthened the Local Unit through recruitment, communications, fund-raising, community engagement and other union building projects. Nominate by 2/26 at wsna.to/nominate-leader #levelupwsna

Who do you think deserves the Local Unit Star Award for 2024-2026? Nominate a member who has stepped forward to become more involved with the Local Unit. Nominate by Thursday, Feb. 26 at wsna.to/nominate-leader #levelupwsna

WALK IT OUT - Here’s a few more photos from the WSNA informational picket at Kadlec Regional Medical Center in Jan. 26 in Richland, WA. The nurses want a contract that offers more workplace violence prevention, along with other measures to improve patient and nurse safety and retain nurses.

This #BlackHistoryMonth, we honor Black nurses across Washington state whose skill, leadership, and courage continue to shape our healthcare system. From the bedside to the bargaining table, Black nurses make our profession stronger—and our communities safer. Thank you.

ICYMI - Check out coverage of the WSNA informational picket at Kadlec Regional Medical Center on Jan. 26 in Richland, WA. Links to stories by Tri-City Herald, Newstalk 870 KFLD and KEPR Action News at wsna.org/news/media-coverage

CONTRACT RATIFIED - Seattle Children’s nurses ratified a new contract after nine months of arduous bargaining that went for 36 bargaining sessions. The nurses successfully fought off the hospital’s aggressively anti-union, anti-nurse proposals.

Who do you think deserves the Outstanding Grievance Officer Award for 2024-2026? Nominate a member who assists nurses in understanding their rights in the contract and effectively represents the bargaining unit nurses. Nominate by Thursday, Feb. 26 at wsna.to/nominate-leader #levelupwsna