The morality of nursing strikes

What is it about?

Given the potential impact on patient health, are nurses' strikes morally justified? The healthcare community is a system in which many individuals and groups have the power to improve or harm patient health. Hospital administrators impact patient health when they make funding decisions that increase nurse-to-patient ratios. Legislators impact patient health when they make decisions that expands or contracts the availability of healthcare. Similarly, nurses impact patient health when they decide to fight for better working conditions. Given this system, in which the decisions of each group affects the other groups, the morality of nursing strikes must be treated similarly to the decisions of other groups.

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Why is it important?

Nurses in many places across the United States have forced to go on strike to push for improvements to working conditions that affect patients. Nurses are committed to the health of their patients, and often find going on strike and leaving patients' bedside to be a morally difficult decision. This article provides arguments for nurses to consider when faced with this choice.