Nurses Strike for Better Patient Care and Working Conditions

Nursing strikes have become more common as nurses fight for safe staffing levels and improved benefits

Published on Feb. 28, 2026

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Nurses across the country have been going on strike to demand better working conditions and improved patient care. In February 2026, Lizette Rivera, a registered nurse at West Anaheim Medical Center in California, joined her colleagues on the picket line, citing concerns over unsafe staffing levels, low wages, and high turnover. Nursing strikes have become more frequent as nurses try to negotiate contracts that address these issues, which have been linked to poor patient outcomes.

Why it matters

Nursing strikes highlight the ongoing challenges in the healthcare industry, including understaffing, low pay, and high burnout rates among nurses. These issues can directly impact patient safety and care quality. The strikes aim to pressure hospital systems to address nurses' concerns and implement policies that support the nursing workforce.

The details

Nurses at West Anaheim Medical Center have been bargaining with the hospital for a year with no resolution to their concerns about patient care, safe staffing, and retention and recruitment. Lizette Rivera, a recent nursing school graduate, was promoted to charge nurse within 5 months of joining the ICU, despite only receiving 6 weeks of training. Nurses say inadequate staffing and high turnover mean patients aren't always getting optimal care. In January 2026, 30,000 nurses walked off the job at Kaiser Permanente facilities in California and Hawaii, and 15,000 nurses went on strike in New York City.

  • On February 17, 2026, Lizette Rivera and her colleagues went on strike at West Anaheim Medical Center.
  • In January 2026, 30,000 nurses walked off the job at Kaiser Permanente facilities in California and Hawaii, and 15,000 nurses went on strike in New York City.
  • The 2026 strike at the West Anaheim Medical Center was scheduled to last for 3 days.

The players

Lizette Rivera

A registered nurse at West Anaheim Medical Center in California who joined her colleagues on the picket line in February 2026.

West Anaheim Medical Center

A hospital in Anaheim, California where nurses went on strike in 2026 to demand better working conditions and patient care.

Linda H. Aiken

A professor and founding director at the Center for Health Outcomes and Policy Research at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, who commented on the reasons behind nursing strikes.

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What they’re saying

“Nobody ever wants to strike. It's something that we try to avoid at all costs...we always hope that we can settle something before having to strike.”

— Lizette Rivera, Registered Nurse (Medscape)

“[Unsafe staffing levels] means that patients aren't always getting optimal care. Appropriate staffing, competitive wages, and competitive benefits would make nurses feel acknowledged, make them feel...appreciated and make them want to stay for the long term and build a career.”

— Lizette Rivera, Registered Nurse (Medscape)

“Nurses don't strike unless they believe their patients are unsafe. And they strike as a last resort.”

— Linda H. Aiken, Professor and Founding Director, Center for Health Outcomes and Policy Research, University of Pennsylvania (Medscape)

What’s next

The judge in the case at West Anaheim Medical Center will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow the nurses to continue their strike.

The takeaway

Nursing strikes have become more common as nurses fight for safe staffing levels, competitive wages and benefits, and improved working conditions that allow them to provide the best possible care for their patients. These strikes highlight the need for stronger policies and regulations to support the nursing workforce and ensure high-quality patient care.