WABON Weekly Bulletin Updates
This week, the Washington Board of Nursing (WABON) update provides information about how to become a nursing professor, an update on the University of Washington’s Workforce Sentinel Network, updates on multi-state nursing licenses, and an opportunity to volunteer for a work group to update the NCLEX. Learn more in this information-packed newsletter.
Hurricane Helene and Baxter International’s Manufacturing Recovery Updates
The Pharmacy Quality Assurance Commission wants to ensure its licensees and interested parties have access to the information provided by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regarding Hurricane Helene and Baxter International’s manufacturing recovery in North Carolina. The FDA established a webpage to provide regular updates regarding Hurricane Helene’s impact on Baxter International’s manufacturing facility in Marion, NC. You can also sign up to receive notifications from the FDA via its e-mail alert service.
Updates from Baxter International are available on the company’s website:
So You Want to be a Professor Workshop
The Washington Center for Nursing is committed to creating a strong and diverse nurse faculty workforce, which is why we are reaching out to ask you to help recruit practicing nurses and students who may be interested in pursing the nurse educator path.
So You Want to be a Professor is a FREE half-day Zoom workshop that introduces participants to nursing education as a career and the different and surprising paths nurse educators can take.
Who should register?
- Practicing nurses interested in pursuing the nurse educator path
- Nursing students interested in pursuing the nurse educator path
- WCN also strongly encourages diverse practicing nurses and nursing students
Click the button below to learn more about the workshop and to register:
Exciting Updates from the Health Workforce Sentinel Network!
To enhance communication and dissemination of the Sentinel Network’s findings, they will transition to one data collection round per year and implement modified CDC/WHO sentinel methodology to strengthen their understanding of statewide workforce needs. These changes will allow the Health Workforce Sentinel Network team to focus more resources on strengthening the network of engaged and informed health workforce interested parties.
Key Updates:
- Annual Data Collection: Starting in March 2025, we will conduct one data collection period each year. There will be no data collection round in Fall 2024. Changes in workforce demand are not occurring as rapidly as during the pandemic and conducting annual data updates will allow the Sentinel Network to shift more resources to enhancing communications and dissemination of findings.
- Focused Approach: The Sentinel Network will adopt a new approach based on modified CDC/WHO sentinel disease monitoring. This will involve selecting “core” sentinel organizations that will commit to consistently contributing data. While this change will strengthen the Sentinel Network’s ability to track changes over time, it will require fostering ongoing relationships with key individuals to ensure consistent participation.
- Enhanced Communication and Dissemination: A key goal of the Sentinel Network is to ensure that the information collected about workforce demand in Washington effectively reaches planners, educators and policymakers. We will redirect resources to strengthen this effort.
Visit the Health Workforce Sentinel Network
Scam Alert!
A scam targeting nurses is affecting nurses in our state.
NCSBN: Now Recruiting for Upcoming NCLEX Item Development Opportunities
NCSBN is currently recruiting qualified nurses to serve on upcoming item review and item writing panels for the NCLEX-PN and NCLEX-RN examinations.
The NCLEX is designed to test the knowledge, skills and abilities essential to safe and effective nursing practice at the entry level. The process of developing items (questions) for the NCLEX-PN and NCLEX-RN examinations requires multiple steps and involves many qualified volunteer nurses to write and review items.
Benefits of volunteering:
- Contribute to promoting continued excellence in the nursing profession
- Have opportunities to network on a national and international level
- Build new skills for professional growth
- Receive verification of continuing education contact hours
Learn more:
- View the NCLEX Item Development brochure
- Visit the NCSBN website
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Healing Politics is on a mission to inspire, motivate, recruit, and train nurses and midwives to run for elected office up and down the ballot while building a culture of civic engagement within the professions.
Healing Politics is an educational, non-partisan, non-profit 501(c)3 organization.
Applications for a WA multistate license (MSL) are now open!
Nurses whose primary state of residence (PSOR) is Washington can now apply to upgrade to a multistate license (MSL).
MSL upgrade information:
- If you have a Washington single-state license, it won’t change. If you want a multistate license, you must apply for the MSL upgrade.
- MSL upgrade fee: $65.
- Your license number won’t change when upgrading to an MSL.
- You must meet all Uniform Multistate License Requirements.
- You must complete an FBI background check as part the application process. (We will email you instructions after you apply.)
- We expect the MSL application review process to take 2 to 3 weeks.
- You still must pay your annual renewal fee to maintain an active license in Washington state.
Nurses new to Washington state can also apply for a Washington MSL. This includes:
- Nurses moving and changing their PSOR to Washington state.
- Nurses who have recently completed their nursing education program and are getting their first Washington state license.
Employer reminder – verify licenses
Employers are encouraged to verify the license of any new or existing employee.
- For nurses with a single-state WA license, verify via the DOH Provider Credential Search.
- For nurses with a multistate license (MSL) from other states, verify through Nursys.
Employers should carefully review employees’ or applicants’ nursing education.
Consider whether nurses received their nursing education from one of the Florida schools under federal investigation.
