The Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO) and Fórsa are to ask their executives to endorse a plan for industrial action over the coming weeks in a dispute over staff shortages.
In November, members of both unions voted overwhelmingly in favour of industrial action.
The unions have said that recruitment restrictions and the suppression of posts in the Health Service Executive (HSE) are putting services under enormous strain and are putting patient safety at risk.
Both unions represent over 72,000 healthcare workers across numerous grades in the public health service are now in the planning stage of the dispute.
Other trade unions including Connect, Unite and the Medical Laboratory Scientists Association have also voted for industrial action.
"The INMO Executive Council, made up of working nurses and midwives, will meet early next week to endorse a strategy regarding industrial action devised by the officers of both the INMO and Fórsa trade unions," said INMO President, Caroline Gourley.
"We take the mandate received from our membership extremely seriously," Ms Gourley said.
Clodagh Kavanagh, Chairperson of the Fórsa Health and Welfare Division said it is ironic that as a new Programme for Government was announced setting plans to recruit more staff, two of the largest health unions had to meet to discuss industrial action plans.
"Our mandate is clear and we will now work with our colleagues in the INMO and other health unions to ensure that the current disastrous staffing approach is challenged," Ms Kavanagh said.
The HSE has described the action as regrettable against the background of additional funding for the health service and increasing staff numbers.
It said that its 'Pay and Numbers Strategy' has enabled it to stabilise its workforce numbers and has allowed it to increase staffing levels.
