Nursing unions say the Government and the HSE have still not come forward with concrete proposals on resolving their row over pay and conditions.
The Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO) and the Psychiatric Nurses Association held three hours of talks with the HSE earlier but failed to reach an agreement.
The dispute has been referred to the Workplace Relations Commission.
Planned strike action by 43,000 nurses will go ahead as planned, beginning on January 30.
General Secretary of the INMO, Phil Ní Sheaghdha claims the Government doesn’t appear to be serious about resolving the issue.
"The dispute is due to commence in nine days' time. It is possibly one of the biggest disputes the State has seen in some time, particularly in the health service," she said.
"It is unfortunate that the approach of Government and the approach of the employer seems to be that they're just not that interested in coming forward with a resolution."
She added that there will be a bare minimum level of cover in hospitals on the day of the strike.
"All elective procedures, all outpatients will be cancelled. The timing of is was what we were discussing this morning.
"The employers understand that once nurses withdraw their labour, they can't cope with anything other than the bare emergencies that will be required to be provided in the health service."
