Convention is just a week away and we have exciting news.

Two amazing nursing leaders are pairing up for a keynote. It’s our equivalent of two Grammy award winners working together.

Monica McLemore, PhD, RN, a nationally and internationally renowned nurse-scientist focusing on structurally marginalized populations, will be joining Diana Mason, PhD, RN, FAAN, the recipient of numerous awards for policy, leadership, dissemination of science, writing, education, public health, media, and advocacy.

McLemore and Mason.

Their talk, Voice Matters: Transforming Health Care in a Post-Covid Era, at 9 a.m. Wednesday, May 17, is about how nurses have an opportunity — and a mandate — to be the leading voice for transforming healthcare to a ‘new normal.’

Nurses are awakening to the power they have and are demanding change. But demands are not sufficient. This presentation will explore the strategic use of power to transform healthcare, including the importance of framing key issues for target audiences, using one’s voice for highlighting both issues and potential creative solutions, and proactively identifying opportunities for working with communities and other stakeholders to lead changes that promote health.

Pre-registration is open until midnight May 14. On-site registration will be available at the convention.

Want more info? See our full agenda, read about our keynote speakers, and register for the 2023 Washington State Nurses Convention today!

Self-nominations for WSNA office accepted until May 18

If you want to get involved with some awesome people and have your voice heard, you can still run for an office with the Washington State Nurses Association. The time commitment is small, and the rewards are great!

Members who want to self-declare their candidacy for an elected office may still do so by submitting a self-declaration (consent to serve) form by 5 p.m. on May 18 (the day of General Assembly).

Submit a nomination form electronically

Nominations will also be accepted during our General Assembly on May 18.

If you need help with submitting a nomination form, please contact WSNA at (206) 575-7979, or write communications@wsna.org.

The following positions are open to all WSNA members in good standing, whether or not they are represented for collective bargaining by WSNA:

• WSNA Board of Directors
• Legislative & Health Policy Council
• Professional Nursing & Healthcare Council
• WSNA Nominations / Search Committee
• Representative to the American Nurses Association Membership Assembly

These offices are open to union members only:

• Cabinet on Economic & General Welfare
• Search Committee for the Cabinet on Economic & General Welfare
• Delegate to the American Federation of Teachers Convention

Thank you to all members who have submitted a nomination form. We are so grateful for your interest. To see who is running as of March 17 go to our elections page. For full descriptions of open offices, see our page, Leadership and advocacy groups.

A traveling art exhibition showcasing nurses through postcards will be displayed at the Washington State Nurses Convention May 17-19, 2023, courtesy of the Rainer Olympic Nurses Association.

The exhibit, Pictures of Nursing, is part of an archive of 2,588 postcards from American nurse and collector Michael Zwerdling, RN. The archive was acquired by the History of Medicine Division at the National Library of Medicine.

The archive consists of postcards with images of nurses and the nursing profession from around the world, produced between 1893 and 2011 with many examples coming from the ‘Golden Age’ of postcards—roughly 1907 to 1920. Pictures of Nursing provides a way to understand the types of images that are represented in the collection.

The exhibit will include six displays around 7 feet by 3 feet.

For more about the exhibition, visit the National Library of Medicine website.

A full-day pass to the Washington State Nurses Convention is available for Thursday, May 18 for $150. This includes two awesome keynote speakers, breakfast, lunch, and a gala dinner/auction. Don’t miss this important gathering in the modern Tacoma Convention Center for nurses to forge a better future. Register now.

Psychiatric patients: Pearls for the bedside nurse

With mental health issues at an all-time high, patients with significant behavioral health symptoms are increasingly in nonpsychiatric settings needing care.

Using patient examples, convention speaker Jenifer Magnani, a licensed social worker, will dive into practical strategies and suggestions for supporting patient mental health recovery and working towards smoother interactions between the patient and the clinical team.

Magnani, MSW, LICSW, is the assistant program director for the Psychiatry Consultation Line run by the University of Washington Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Services,

She has been a social worker for over 23 years, and has worked in a number of clinical areas including inpatient, emergency, ambulatory, psychiatry, and home hospice.

Magnani got her masters of Social Work degree at the University of Washington and holds a bachelor of science in Journalism from the University of Kansas.

She previously worked extensively at Harborview Medical Center and Providence Hospice. Magnani is passionate about helping the most difficult-to-serve patients and creating health and social systems that work effectively.

The Psychiatry Consultation Line helps care providers in Washington who are seeking clinical advice regarding adult patients (18+) with mental health and/or substance use disorder.

During the pandemic, the statewide line was expanded to 24/7.

A care provider calls the line at 877-WA-PSYCH (877-927-7924) and, after a short intake with a UW health navigator, is connected to a UW psychiatrist. At the conclusion of the conversation, the UW psychiatrist follows up with de-identified, written documentation of the consultation and recommendations to the caller via email.

Beginning January 23, non-prescribing care providers in Washington may call the line between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday (excluding holidays).

The Psychiatry Consultation Line is funded by the State of Washington and administered by the Washington State Health Care Authority, and is staffed with UW psychiatrists 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Are you somebody with the ability to reach a large audience of registered nurses in Washington state? Help spread the word about the 2023 Washington State Nurses Convention on social media!

Toolkit

Download the Spread the word! toolkit - This toolkit includes sample posts, language and imagery for Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, Instagram and email newsletters. Remember to hashtag #wanursecon in all social media posts!

Images

• Image 01: Washington's only statewide convention dedicated exclusively to nurses and the issues we face.
• Image 02: Three days of education, inspiration, and celebration.
• Image 03: "It really made me feel proud to be a nurse and that I was part of a greater community."
• Image 04: Washington State Nurses Convention
• Image 05: Rooted in advocacy. Growing in strength.