Several hundred Kaiser Permanente nurses are on strike

FRESNO, Calif (KFSN) -- Nurses are on strike at Kaiser Permanente. Several hundred stepped out of the hospital and onto the picket lines. But hospital administrators say it's business as usual inside and patients are being seen and cared for despite the labor issues.

A look inside Kaiser Permanente on the first day of a strike. Nurses are hard at work, only many of these aren't the normal ones who staff these floors. Hundreds have hit the picket lines and are being replaced by traveling nurses or other qualified stand-ins.

Kaiser spokesperson Celia Ryan, RN said, "I think the staff in the hospital are very positive and are very committed to make sure things run smoothly."

Kaiser nurses on strike said the hospital has room for major improvement. Not only with hiring more staff but also providing tools and resources to give patients the best care.

"We also have an influx of patients from the affordable care act to where we are seeing more patients and that are sicker patients for our patient population," said Registered Nurse Cathy Davis. "And for that we would like to have more staffing. We would like to have the proper equipment to take care of these sicker patients and right now Kaiser is not providing that equipment."

Hospital representatives say Kaiser Permanente's Fresno facility is top notch and award winning. And even Tuesday morning, patients had no complaints, despite the clear noisy disagreement outside the facility.

Ryan added, "In fact I rounded on patients this morning and we went in to visit almost every patient in the medical center and they are very satisfied with the care that they are receiving."

Nurses ABC30 talked to said this is not about money at all, in fact, they said they are well paid. But they hope the strike shows Kaiser they are serious in their concerns and want to reach a compromise soon.