Nurses from the emergency department at Beaumont Hospital in Dublin have protested over the "unsafe overcrowding situation" in the hospital.
Today 37 patients who need care have been awaiting admission to the hospital, down slightly from 42 yesterday.
The nurses' action was a one-hour lunchtime protest.
However, they say they will step up their action if the situation does not improve, initially with a work-to-rule from 27 January.
Nurses from seven other hospitals will also vote on taking action over the trolley crisis.
Over 400 people were waiting on trolleys for beds in hospitals around the country this morning, according to figures from the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation.
This is an increase from the 371 yesterday morning.
Connolly Hospital Blanchardstown has the largest number with 41 waiting for a bed.
There were 37 patients waiting in both Beaumont Hospital and University Hospital Limerick.
Meanwhile, James Reilly has said he kept his promise while he was Minister for Health, adding that he is no longer responsible for this area.
Speaking on RTÉ's News At One, he said he has no doubt that Minister for Health Leo Varadkar would address the current problem, citing the crisis due to a growing population.
