Nurses have been protesting outside Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda over severe staff shortages.

They say there are 103 vacant posts at the Co Louth Hospital, which means every ward is short-staffed.

The nurses union, the INMO, is due to hold talks with management later this week to discuss the matter.

Nurses say a work-to-rule is likely to go ahead on May 19 if the current situations persists.

Rosie Condra told LMFM radio that nurses like her are just trying to protect their patients.

“Staff shortages equals work intensity and that by implication means there’s mis-care going un-noted,” she said.