The union representing nurses at St. Charles Health System in Bend announced on Monday that they have authorized a strike, possibly setting up the hospital’s first nurses’ strike in more than 40 years.

Nurses at the hospital — the largest employer in Central Oregon — are preparing for a strike due to what they say is chronic understaffing that endangers patients and is overworking staff.

“The nurses are ready for a major shift,” said Julie Bostrom, a nurse at St. Charles’ emergency department for 23 years. “And that’s what we’re asking the hospital to do — is to start respecting us and figure out how we’re going to recruit and retain people. “

Around 1,000 nurses make up the bargaining unit, which is managed by the Oregon Nurses Association.

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https://www.opb.org/article/2023/05/22/nurses-strike-st-charles-oregon-bend/#:~:text=St.%20Charles%20Health%20System%20in%20Bend%20pictured%20on%20May%2022,say%20are%20poor%20working%20conditions.&text=The%20union%20began%20collecting%20votes,16%20and%20finished%20on%20Sunday.