By Michael Martinez and Sara Weisfeldt
December 23, 2011 -- Updated 0012 GMT (0812 HKT)
Striking nurses rally Thursday near a hospital in Long Beach, California.
STORY HIGHLIGHTS
- About 6,000 California nurses staged a one-day strike at several hospitals
- 2,000 nurses strike at two Long Beach hospitals
- 4,000 more strike at nine San Francisco Bay area hospitals
- Hospital officials say they are disappointed the strikes occur during holidays
Long Beach, California (CNN) -- About 6,000 California nurses staged a one-day strike at several hospitals Thursday, protesting what they called an "erosion of quality of care and cuts to patient protections," National Nurses United said.
