Washington health care workers pitching lawmakers for help

Health workers across the state are launching the WA Safe + Healthy Campaign to get legislators to address hospital staffing shortages.

The campaign wants lawmakers to set minimum staffing standards for hospitals. Right now, California is the only state in the country to have laws around how many nurses there must be for each patient — but the campaign hopes to soon see this in Washington.

Nurse Diane Sosne leads the statewide chapter of the health care Service Employees International Union (SEIU), and says the staffing shortages are affecting patients’ health.

“Procedures have been canceled and patients have been told to wait,” Sosne said. “If we had enough nurses, we would be able to give this care to patients and not have to postpone things.”

They also want the state to enforce overtime and break time laws, and put funds toward bringing new health workers into the field. Between pandemic burnout and leaving to become traveling nurses, health workers have been exiting hospitals in droves.

“For almost two years, nurses and health care workers have worked longer and longer hours and put their lives at risk to help us,” said David Keepnews, a registered nurse and director of the Washington State Nurses Association.

Sarah Cherin, vice president of UFCW 21, a private sector union in Washington, wants to see the state set minimum staffing requirements at hospitals.

“What we think people and legislators can do to help is to pass this legislation,” Cherin said. “Immediate action is needed now to address this issue.”

KIRO Radio reporter Nicole Jennings contributed to this story.