Sen. Maureen Walsh Response to Backlash

[falconersys]

Per my local newspaper (I live in Washington), this is the only thing she had to say about her statement of 'nurses probably play cards', and is currently her only publicly released statement:

“I was tired,” she said. “I said something I wish I hadn’t.”

[Forest2]

On 4/23/2019 at 1:43 AM, Wheels28 said:

Just a patient--- I was very offended to hear the comments about “playing cards.” She obviously doesn’t have a clue. I have been a patient many times and have never witnessed such a thing, what I have witnessed was nurses hardly sitting down, often running around like crazy people trying to do their job with an unrealistic workload.

I’ve saw them comfort patients who were going through a rough time, and family members who just lost a loved one. Your profession has 3 million members any profession that has that many MUST be important. When tragedy happens, nurses are on the front lines ready to go and help the sick and injured.

I’ll never understand why your profession doesn’t get the respect it so deserves, you see things and do things that many people could not do. Just know you have patients who respect and are grateful for people like you. You all rock!

Thank you that nearly brings me to tears. Somedays I feel crappy, so it is nice to hear at least one person out there appreciates the work I do.

[Pat Roberge]

Well, Gang,

I actually took the time today to listen to that entire legislative session. There were plenty of legislators who opposed the bill, and one even stated everyone there became grumpy when the session was running late; that they weren’t busy saving lives but only trying to keep lousy legislation from passing. He added that they also got 90 minute lunch and dinner breaks. Wow! So much for that 12 hour day she had. Boo hoo, Sen. Walsh. So tired? Indeed not.

Another legislator reminded them that 10 years ago they had exactly the same issue with teachers and granted them lunch breaks without interruption from recess or lesson plans. Wow again.

Maureen Walsh was not taken out of context. She actually had to be corrected by the chairman for yelling out from the senate floor when someone opposed her position. She was as utterly arrogant and insensitive as has been portrayed.

Sorry, Maureen, we are not buying that apology.

Still angry as well.

[Ruby Vee, BSN]

It wasn't much of an apology. Still angry here, too.

[Lori Saroukhan]

In response to Senator Walsh comments on nurses playing cards. I have been a medical surgical nurse for 10 years, I Find her comments very demeaning to all RN'S. As a RN I have never been off of my floor to sit down for lunch. I bring my lunch and eat while standing, because my patients needs pain medications or take a phone call from physician, or any other health care professional who need to speak with the nurse. Bedside nurses provide care and compassion to our patients during the their most vulnerable times. Please Senator Walsh do not devalue the profession of nursing, you need to put the cards down and spend time the day in the life of a Registered Nurse to appreciate the our profession.

[asoonbsn]

im surprised at her lack of addressing the situation more publicky

[NRSKarenRN, BSN, RN]

Senator Walsh has now received 1,700 packs of playing cards, which she plans to distribute to veterans and senior citizen groups. She amended legislation to remove 8hr shift language.

“I understand from news accounts that a petition is being circulated urging me to spend a day shadowing a nurse at a local hospital for 12 hours, and walk a mile in her shoes. I look forward to receiving it and am happy to accept.” I'm sure Washington State Nurses Association and various nursing unions will ensure she walks 12hrs shadowing a nurse. Karen

Cards pile up at Walsh’s office; senator discusses remarks on Senate floor

April 24, 2019

Quote

...Walsh said she regrets the remarks, but remains firmly opposed to House Bill 1155, which would mandate that small-town hospitals, as well as large urban facilities, provide uninterrupted rest and meal breaks to nurses during their shifts. The union-backed measure would dramatically increase staffing costs by requiring the hiring of more nurses, and Walsh says she is concerned the expense would drive low-traffic smaller hospitals out of business....

Quote

...Following negotiations between the House and Senate, the two chambers passed a version of the bill Wednesday that removes a critical amendment adopted by the Senate last week. The final version of the bill applies to all hospitals in the state, and does not exempt the small-town critical access hospitals, those of less than 25 beds. Another Senate amendment limiting nurses to 8-hour shifts also was eliminated. The final vote on the bill was 32-16 in the Senate and 70-24 in the House. The bill now moves on to the governor’s office.

Final SHB1155 Bill as Passed :http://lawfilesext.leg.wa.gov/biennium/2019-20/Pdf/Bills/House Passed Legislature/1155-S.PL.pdf

[vmaseuli]

Another insensitive ignorant comment from a politician. She better pray she doesnt need the services of a REGISTERED NURSE anytime soon. No one will want to accept that assignment.Many haters are out there , Now this one is uncovered

[Christy1019, ASN, RN]

On ‎4‎/‎25‎/‎2019 at 2:09 AM, vmaseuli said:

Another insensitive ignorant comment from a politician. She better pray she doesnt need the services of a REGISTERED NURSE anytime soon. No one will want to accept that assignment.Many haters are out there , Now this one is uncovered

The thing that is so great about us nurses is that regardless of whatever ignorant comment she or anyone else may make, we will still take great care of them. She can hate on us all she wants, but I know what kind of nurse I am and will not let her uninformed opinions dictate how I treat my patients.

[NRSKarenRN, BSN, RN]

4/23/19 Video of Senator Walsh apology to nurses and removal of 8hr shift...

https://www.tvw.org/watch/?clientID=9375922947&eventID=2019041250&startStreamAt=8269&stopStreamAt=8552&autoStartStream=true

[Horseshoe, BSN, RN]

10 hours ago, NRSKarenRN said:

4/23/19 Video of Senator Walsh apology to nurses and removal of 8hr shift...

https://www.tvw.org/watch/?clientID=9375922947&eventID=2019041250&startStreamAt=8269&stopStreamAt=8552&autoStartStream=true

She sounds like she is giving a lot more thought and anger to the "hateful responses" she has received than to the actual precipitating incident that resulted in those retorts. Okay, so she never meant to insult anyone; therefore, she apologizes for comments made when she was "really tired." Honestly, she sounds as though she is actually just sorry her words went viral. Taking them in context is important, however, so I did read about how the whole thing played out and ended with her words about nurses probably having the time to play cards in the critical access facilities for the better part of the day, as well as her verbal amendment to limit nursing shifts to 8 hours. That verbal amendment, by the way, also plays like a spiteful way to further impact all nurses who dare complain about being tired-not just nurses who work in critical access hospitals. Anyone who works as a nurse knows that 8 hours vs. 12 hours is not an improvement to the problem of high nurse to patient ratios.

We haven't had very many nurses who fill the roles in question (in Washington critical access hospitals) come to AN to give their .02, but those who have commented have for the most part strongly refuted her assertions that due to small census, they have so much free time that they are reduced to playing cards for the majority of the day. I'd actually like to see a survey of a substantial number of nurses who work in these facilities in order to get a more comprehensive idea as to what their work day actually does entail.

In the end, I'm thinking that this senator is a shill for a very specific special interest group, and as such, I don't think she knows or cares about what the reality is for that subset of nurses. I believe that at the end of the day, she wants to further the interests of this particular industry, and wishes for the rest of it to just go away.

[LibraSunCNM, BSN, MSN, CNM]

1 hour ago, Horseshoe said:

In the end, I'm thinking that this senator is a shill for a very specific special interest group, and as such, I don't think she knows or cares about what the reality is for that subset of nurses. I believe that at the end of the day, she wants to further the interests of this particular industry, and wishes for the rest of it to just go away.

I think you've nailed it there. Same ****, different day in U.S. politics.

[Kitiger, RN]