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Brigham And Women's Hospital, Nurses Hope To Avoid Strike Monday

BOSTON (CBS) - Negotiations continue to head off a one day strike by nurses at Brigham and Women's Hospital. The nurses union has been negotiating for months over salaries, health benefits and staffing levels and unless a deal can be reached they'll walk the picket line starting at 7:00 a.m. on Monday.

Negotiations ended late Friday night without an agreement. The hospital and Massachusetts Nursing Association are scheduled to meet again on Saturday.

There are nerves inside the hospital and out as hospital officials outlined emergency plans should the walk out happen.

Read: Information For Patients, Families

"Through all of the planning and every decision that's made patient safety is our guiding principal," said Dr. Ron Walls, Chief Operating Officer.

Up to 700 temporary nurses are being brought in to replace 3,300 nurses who could strike. Officials say that means having to downsize the hospital in a matter of days, even moving some patients.

Brigham and Women's Hospital
(WBZ-TV)

Administrators say they are confident in the experience and training of the replacements, but Colleen Casey's 80-year-old mother is undergoing heart surgery on Monday and wonders if it should be postponed. "She's been here for eight weeks and we've had amazing nursing care," Casey said. "Our biggest concern is it won't be the same care."

Nurses will also be locked out for four days after the strike as officials say they want to create continuity in care and hope to calm tensions.

"Spirits run high in the first day or two of a job action. We felt it was better to allow some of those spirits to subside a little bit," said Dr. Walls.

Both sides say they're willing to negotiate through the weekend if necessary.

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