Shoalhaven nurses and midwives are striking on Thursday, with many walking off the job for 24 hours from 7am over concerns about staffing levels and patient safety.
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Nurses want a nurse-to-patient of one-to-four and improved maternity staffing.
They are also calling for a pay rise above the 2.5 per cent the government has offered.
It is the nurses and midwives second strike in six weeks.
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There will be no public rally in the Shoalhaven, but some will choose to join one held at Wollongong Hospital, says secretary of the NSW Nurses and Midwives' Association Shoalhaven Hospital branch, Michael Clarke.
"Our members are being asked four to eight times a day through text messages to fill gaps in the roster. It's unsustainable," Mr Clarke said, speaking on behalf of the union.
"They can longer work with the system the way it is."
The union says it has had no offer from the government since meeting with NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet last month.
"Despite their pleas for more support from the government, nurses and midwives are extremely fatigued from working double shifts and increased amounts of overtime, because of the growing gaps in staffing rosters," NSWNMA general secretary Brett Holmes said.
"We need the NSW government to sit down with us for meaningful talks about our claim for shift by shift nurse-to-patient ratios, improved maternity staffing and a modest pay rise."
Life-preserving services will be maintained in all public hospitals and health services during the strike.
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Grace Crivellaro
Court reporter for the Illawarra Mercury.
Court reporter for the Illawarra Mercury.
