Registered nurses at West Anaheim Medical Center in Anaheim, Calif. gave notice to their employer that they will hold a three-day strike starting on Tuesday, Feb. 17, to protest the administration’s refusal to address RNs’ deep concerns about patient care, retention and recruitment of nurses, and safe staffing, announced California Nurses Association/National Nurses United (CNA/NNU).

This 10-days’ notice of their strike follows a nearly unanimous strike authorization vote on Jan. 14. Nurses give at least 10 days of advance notice to the hospital to allow for alternative plans to be made for patient care.

“High turnover and short staffing has a negative effect on safe patient care,” said Liz Rivera, RN in the West Anaheim intensive care unit. “We are striking because every patient deserves an experienced RN, not a nurse who’s overwhelmed and covering too many patients.”

Who: Registered nurses at West Anaheim Medical Center
What: Three-day strike for patient safety and a fair contract
When: Tuesday, Feb. 17, 7 a.m. to Friday, Feb. 20, 6:59 a.m.; rally Tuesday at 12:30 p.m.
Where: West Anaheim Medical Center, 3033 W. Orange Ave., Anaheim, Calif.; corner of Beach Blvd. and Orange Ave. 

West Anaheim nurses have been in negotiations since February 2025 for a new contract with little to no movement on key issues. The RNs urge management to invest in nursing staff and agree to a contract that provides:

• Safe staffing on all units and during all shifts
• Provisions that will promote recruitment and retention of experienced nurses

The nurses held a one-day strike in August 2025.

California Nurses Association represents more than 360 nurses at West Anaheim Medical Center.

California Nurses Association/National Nurses United is the largest and fastest-growing union and professional association of registered nurses in the nation with more than 100,000 members in more than 200 facilities throughout California and more than 225,000 RNs nationwide.