Abstract
AIM: This study aimed to explore the rationale behind nurses' decisions to strike, focusing on the lived experiences, motivations, and institutional conditions that prompt such industrial actions. DESIGN: A qualitative exploratory study. METHODS: A semi-structured interview was conducted with 20 professional nurses working with a district, regional, or teaching hospital who have ever engaged in strike. Participants were selected from public hospitals across 5 regions in Ghana based on their consent to participate in the study across Ghana between March 2025 and June 2025. The data were analysed using Braun and Clarke's method. RESULTS: Data analysis led to five themes and fifteen subthemes. These include poor remuneration, lack of adequate logistics, perceived government neglect, professional identity struggles, and emotional exhaustion. CONCLUSION: The findings highlight the urgent need for policy interventions that address systemic inequities and improve the professional welfare of nurses. PATIENT OR PUBLIC CONTRIBUTION: No patient or public contribution.