Providence Health & Services said its negotiators are ready to reopen talks with the Oregon Nurses Association to end a strike by 5,000 doctors, nurses and other medical personnel that began on Jan. 10.

While nurses represented by the Oregon Nurses Association at Providence hospitals take to the picket lines again, Providence is informing mediators it's ready to return to the bargaining table at six ministries across the state.

The Providence hospital system said it’s ready to begin scheduling negotiations with nurses at six out of its eight hospitals. Thousands of the company’s nurses are currently on strike.

Almost 5,000 Oregon healthcare workers are striking against nonprofit health system Providence after more than a year of failed contract negotiations. | Though largely comprised of nurses, the walk-off that began Friday also includes physician associates and doctors—the latter of which is a first for Oregon,

With concern growing over hospital care as a Friday strike looms at Providence Hospitals, representatives from the Oregon Nurses Association will hold a press conference to update the public on their preparations.

At the entrance to Providence Seaside Hospital Friday morning, dozens of nurses, many clad in green rain ponchos bearing the Oregon Nurses Association logo, gathered in the drizzle wielding picket

The strike, which impacts all eight Providence hospitals in the state as well as six women’s clinics, includes nearly 5,000 nurses, and more than 100 physicians and advanced practitioners.

Four days after some 5,000 health care workers walked off the job at all eight Providence hospitals in Oregon, the health system said Tuesday it was ready to resume contract talks with the striking workers.

On the fifth day of the largest health care strike in Oregon history, Providence indicated it is ready to resume negotiation talks with the some 5,000 striking nurses and doctors across its eight hospitals.