The largest health care strike in Oregon history began early Friday at Providence across the state, as roughly 5,000 frontline health professionals walked off the job.

Thousands of nurses are expected to walk out along with dozens of doctors, all members of the Oregon Nurses Association.

Providence has, in the past, consistently refused to negotiate with the union during the 10 day period before a strike takes place. That’s drawn the ire of the union, which says other health systems, including Kaiser Permanente and St. Charles Bend, have averted strikes by continuing to negotiate in the final days.

Providence Health & Services in Oregon has asked federal mediators to revisit negotiations with doctors and other advanced clinical providers set to go on strike next week.

With concern growing over hospital care as a Friday strike looms at Providence Hospitals, representatives from the Oregon Nurses Association held a press conference to update the public on their preparations.

Providence has begun limiting admissions to its SW Portland hospital, St. Vincent Medical Center, ahead of what could be the largest health care strike in Oregon history. The big picture: Roughly 5,000 health care workers — including physicians,