Improving work conditions through strike: Examination of nurses' attitudes through perceptions of two physician strikes in Israel

BACKGROUND: Strikes are means to influence policies related to working conditions, yet raise ethical dilemmas for healthcare workers. Nurse strikes have become more prominent around the world. OBJECTIVE: To assess the change in Israeli nurses' attitudes towards strikes in light of two physician strikes that have preceded a nursing strike. METHODS: An anonymous survey was administered once in 2000 (N = 106) and again in 2011 (n = 175) following 110 days of a physician strike, to assess nurses' attitudes towards the strike and resulting ethical issues. RESULTS: A statistically significant change (p < 0.05) between administrations revealed that in 2011 more nurses identified striking as a legitimate mechanism, would strike under the same circumstances, and felt that collaboration with physicians persisted despite the strike. Additionally, an increasing number of nurses said that the suffering of patients due to the strike is somewhat or entirely justified, although they were faced with a difficult dilemma of loyalty to physician colleagues vs. patients. Nurses reported finding ways to mitigate the suffering of patients resulting from the strike. CONCLUSIONS: While patient-centered care remains nurses' first and foremost priority, findings indicate an increasing support of collective bargaining and strike to promote working conditions related to professional and public health agendas.