Victoria's striking nurses have decided to ignore an order from Fair Work Australia to reopen hospital beds.

Last night, the industrial umpire ordered a 90-day suspension of the nurses' action, saying it put patient safety at risk.

The Government and the hospitals had argued the bed closures threatened patient safety.

Up to 800 beds have been closed by the action and numerous operations have been cancelled.

The state secretary of the Australian Nursing Federation (ANF) Lisa Fitzpatrick says beds will stay closed until at least Monday.

"We have a scheduled members meeting on Monday at 2:00pm (AEDT)," she said.

"Members resolved on Friday last that the industrial action would only cease in the event that it was ceased by a state wide members meeting and once there is agreement reached between the parties."

The Victorian Hospitals Industrial Association (VHIA) is now considering its legal options and says while it does not want to pursue punitive action, it may not have a choice.

Chief executive Alec Djoneff says there is no rational explanation for the nurses' decision.

"We're very saddened and indeed very concerned that they've taken this renegade stance, and defied the industrial system from which they often seek protection," he said.

"We're very worried about the continuation of the industrial action, given that Fair Worker Australia has found the industrial action does threaten the health and safety of the patients."

Ms Fitzpatrick says she is aware of the threat of fines, but says the union could cope with any financial penalty.

She is calling on the Government to negotiate in good faith.

"What I would encourage the government to do is not try and bully nurses into submission," she said.

Yesterday the union offered to halt industrial action if the government agreed to consent arbitration which would allow issues such as nurse patient ratios and hours of work to be part of the negotiations.

The Government rejected the offer and all parties are now in conciliation talks at Fair Work Australia.

Labor Leader, Daniel Andrews is blaming the Government saying it had an opportunity last night to accept the nurses offer to end the dispute.

"The Government snapped that olive branch. They said no we don't want to do that," he said.

"Any disruption in the system is on David Davis and Ted Baillieu's head.

"There was a way forward, a good faith way forward that would have protected nurse-to-patient ratios and could have had issues of pay and other conditions resolved."