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Washington State
Nurses Association
2505 Second Avenue, Suite
500
Seattle, WA 98121
206-443-9762
wsna@wsna.org
http://www.wsna.org/
January 24,
2000
Needlestick Injury
Prevention Focus of
Nurse Legislative Day
Olympia, WA - Nearly 500 registered
nurses and nursing students attended the
18th Annual Nurse Legislative Day. The
event is sponsored by the Washington State Nurses
Association's Political Action Committee
(WSNA-PAC) along with the School Nurses of
Washington (SNOW) and ARNPs United.
"I am so pleased with the record
turnout of nurses and nursing students this year.
We need to show our collective strength in
advocating for a safe health care work environment
and quality patient care," said Janice E. Bussert,
WSNA President.
The morning sessions at the
Washington Center for the Performing Arts included
a panel presentation on the current nursing and
health care issues facing the state legislature.
WSNA's top priority this session is the
Needlestick Injury Prevention Bill (SB 6416/HB
2669). There are over 43,000 needlestick
injuries in Washington each year, needlessly
exposing nurses and other health care workers to
life-threatening diseases such as Hepatitis C and
HIV. This bill would require hospitals, clinics
and other medical facilities to use safety needles
and devices and involve front-line worker
participation in the selection and evaluation of
the equipment.
The highlight of the morning was the
keynote address by Washington State Attorney
General Christine Gregoire, in which she
stressed the important role nurses play in public
health. Gregoire was also the recipient of
WSNA-PAC's 2000 Special Recognition Award for her
leadership in the tobacco settlements.
Following the luncheon reception,
nursing students and nurses met with their
legislators at the Capitol to lobby on needlstick
prevention and other important health care
issues.
Founded in 1908, WSNA is a
constituent of the American Nurses Association and
is recognized by the National Labor Relations
Board as a collective bargaining agent. WSNA
represents and promotes the professional
development of more than 11,000 nurses in
Washington state and their economic and general
welfare by projecting a positive and realistic
view of nursing, and by informing the Legislature
and regulatory agencies of health care issues
affecting registered nurses and the citizens of
Washington state.
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