Around 900 nurses are balloting for industrial action at Dublin's Beaumont Hospital over what they say is an unsafe decision to put extra beds on corridors and wards.
The Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation says the ballot result will be known on 20 May.
The hospital said the measure is part of its escalation policy to deal with times of pressure in the Emergency Department.
The INMO's Annual Conference in Meath is to debate an emergency motion this afternoon in support of its Beaumont members.
Yesterday, the hospital confirmed that it will close 52 beds over the next two weeks due to a €19m cut in its budget this year.
