ASHEVILLE, N.C. (WLOS) -- Nurses nationwide are planning to march on Jan. 16 in support of safe staffing levels, break relief and patient protections against A.I.

Nurses in Asheville said they plan to rally at 4 p.m. outside of Mission Hospital on Biltmore Avenue.

National Nurses United (NNU), Mission Hospital's nurse union, includes nearly 225,000 members nationwide and is the largest and fastest growing union in the U.S. The union currently represents thousands of nurses at HCA facilities nationwide.

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Nurses with NNU claim HCA threatens disciplinary action against nurses who miss breaks, due to their concerns over a lack of adequate nurses on the floor.

News 13 spoke to Hannah Drummond, the chief nurse representative for the union at Mission Hospital.

"We are already having bad outcomes for patients right now. We already past the national standard of safe staffing ratios," Drummond said.

Drummond told News 13 that recommendations show the best outcome for patients is a 1:4 nurse-to-patient ratio on a medical surgery floor. But, she said the new proposals that Mission Hospital sent its nurses display a 1:7 or 1:8 nurse-to-patient ratio.

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The Jan. 16 demonstration is separate from previous rallies surrounding contract talks between Mission nurses and HCA. Both groups reached an agreement on a contract back in October.

Mission Hospital spokesperson Nancy Lindell sent News 13 the following statement in response to the march:

"Today's activity, which is happening at other health systems around the country as well, is a routine tactic from this labor union in hopes of gaining attention. Our staffing is safe and appropriate and we work closely with our doctors and nurses to identify and develop technologies to help improve workflows and allow our caregivers to spend more time with their patients."