Tristan Twohig

I have focused my career on supporting healthcare and nursing through dedicated advocacy and thoughtful policy reform. As a board-certified emergency department charge nurse, I have worked to enhance clinical practice and strengthen the role of nurses within the healthcare system, particularly in emergency care.
 

My longstanding involvement with the Washington State Nurses Association (WSNA) has been a deeply rewarding part of my professional journey, allowing me to advocate for labor rights and help shape policy that improves both working conditions and patient outcomes.

 

I currently serve as Chair of the WSNA Local Unit at the Providence Holy Family Hospital. In this position, I lead our union’s efforts to uphold the contract, represent members, and advance nurse-led initiatives. I focus on building an engaged, informed membership and ensuring that the voices of bedside nurses are central to workplace decisions.

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I also serve as President of the Inland Empire Nurses Association (IENA), a 2,200-member regional body representing both bargaining unit nurses and professional members of WSNA across Eastern Washington. IENA serves as both a professional resource and a labor advocacy organization, offering continuing education, leadership training, and member engagement opportunities to nurses across diverse specialties and practice settings. Under my leadership, IENA prioritizes building accessible pathways for nurse development, expanding our CE programming, and supporting initiatives that keep nurses informed, empowered, and politically active. We work to amplify local voices within statewide policy debates and ensure that rural and regional concerns are represented in the broader direction of nursing in Washington State.

 

I serve on the WSNA Cabinet on Economic and General Welfare, now known as the Executive Labor Council. This body plays a distinct role in shaping the direction of WSNA’s labor program across the state. As a member, I contributed to collective decision-making on matters that affect thousands of represented nurses, including setting statewide priorities for contract enforcement, bargaining, and organizing. The Council reviews and develops policies that guide how WSNA approaches labor relations, and works to ensure consistency and fairness across all local units. We also supported the creation of continuing education programs for union members, encouraged the formation and growth of local units, and reviewed local unit standards to maintain alignment with shared governance principles. The Council maintains fiscal oversight of designated labor funds, helping ensure resources are directed toward member-driven goals. My experience on this committee deepened my understanding of how collaborative governance and policy work can elevate nurses’ voices at every level of labor strategy.

 

I have also served on the Local Unit Contract Negotiation Team, helping secure fair and enforceable agreements that promote nurse retention, safety, and sustainable staffing practices.

 

I remain active in collaborative leadership roles throughout the hospital. I chair the Emergency Department’s Unit-Based Council and participate in shared governance through the Professional Nursing Council Leadership Collaboration and the Staffing Committee. These forums support continuous improvement in clinical practices, patient safety, and the wellbeing of nursing staff.

I also serve on several committees at Holy Family Hospital, including the Code, Conference, Staffing, Benefits, and Nurse Practice Committees. Through this work, I advocate for improved staffing models, clinical education, and care protocols that reflect the realities of frontline nursing.

 

At the state level, I am a second-term member of the WSNA Political Action Committee’s Board of Trustees. This work includes guiding the nonpartisan endorsement of candidates who support nurse-centered health policy and public health investments that benefit both patients and healthcare workers.

 

My advocacy includes national representation as well. I have served as a delegate to the American Federation of Teachers National Convention and to the American Nurses Association General Membership Assembly, representing the interests of nurses from Washington State in national policy discussions.

 

In my role as a Providence Ethics Resource Specialist, I provide clinical and ethical consultation to help ensure that patient care decisions align with both professional standards and ethical responsibilities.

 

I am also a member of the Special Pathogens Program at Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center. This team is dedicated to emergency preparedness and high-consequence infectious disease response. Our mission is to identify, isolate, diagnose, and care for patients exposed to novel pathogens while protecting the safety of the healthcare workforce and the broader community.

 

My career is grounded in a commitment to advancing the nursing profession and strengthening healthcare systems. Whether through policy development, union leadership, committee service, or bedside care, I remain focused on empowering nurses to deliver exceptional care in every setting.