Nurses' Strike Possible At Southern Ocean Medical Center , Jersey Shore University Medical Center

Nurses at Hackensack Meridian Health - which includes Southern Ocean Medical Center and Jersey Shore University Medical Center - could possibly go on strike as early as Aug. 10 if a contract agreement is not reached soon, according to app.com.

The current 18-month contract expires on Monday, July 31.

Nurses want better staffing for all units and better health insurance coverage.

"As nurses, when we have resources and support we feel more confident that we can provide safe care for our patients," said Kendra McCann, president of Health Professionals and Allied Employees Local 5058 at Jersey Shore University Medical Center. "Our members have always made sacrifices to provide the best patient care possible under increasingly difficult conditions — even when there are not enough staff working to take care of patients.”

A federal mediator has joined the negotiations to resolve the dispute between roughly 1,500 and Hackensack Meridian Health.

If the two sides don't reach an agreement by Monday, nurses can then give a 10-day notice of a work stoppage.

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Photos: Southern Ocean Medical Center, Jersey Shore University Medical Center