Fears nurses could pack up and move on, if pay and conditions don't improve

The nurses' union has announced nationwide strike action on August 19 -- following 14 months of failed pay negotiations.

DHBs are responding with legal action -- taking the union to the Employment Court to ensure the union provides emergency cover staff during the strike.

Auckland University nursing lecturer Natalie Anderson says nurses feel they're being asked to spread themselves too thinly.

She says it's not satisfying to work in an environment where care has been de-prioritised, and nurses wanting to do a good job feel they can't.