Nurses across the country are holding strikes, vigils and pickets outside of hospitals, and rallies at federal offices are being held in several states during what has been dubbed Global Ebola Awareness Day.
National Nurses United members at various California hospitals started a two-day strike Tuesday, and nurses at Providence Hospital in Washington D.C. are holding a 24-hour strike Wednesday. In addition to those strikes, NNU nurses are also demonstrating in Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nevada, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Tennessee and Texas.
NNU has demanded hospitals provide appropriate personal protective equipment for nurses who treat Ebola patients as well as training for nurses and other workers who could encounter Ebola.
Providence Hospital officials said they are "disappointed" the union planned to strike, but the hospital remains open. In regards to Ebola readiness, a Providence Hospital statement says the hospital "is prepared for the identification and safe care of patients with highly communicable diseases, such as Ebola. In fact, our protocols were evaluated by the DC Department of Health and follow the strict guidelines established by the CDC."
Outside of the U.S., nurses in Australia, Canada, Ireland, the Philippines and Spain are holding similar actions, according to the NNU.