University Medical Center nurses are back on the job. The nurse’s union strike ended Saturday morning following a two day strike.

“We're all together, we're going to be fine,” said Deb Snell of the Vermont Federation of Nurses and Health Professionals. “We're anxious to get back and take care of our patients, but it's hard leaving those hard feelings at the door.”

The strike was a result of a failed attempt at a new contract between the Vermont Federation of Nurses and Health Professionals and the UVM Medical Center. Nurses marched down Church Street Friday night to give voice to their cause.

“1800 people now know what it means to be a part of a union, what solidarity means and they know were in this fight together,” Snell said.

President of the UVM Medical Center, Eileen Whalen, says the two parties remain at two very different pay increase offers: 23 percent from the union and 13 percent from the hospital. Snell hopes to go back to the bargaining table soon.

A bus came to pick up the nearly 600 replacement nurses early Saturday morning. The union says it doesn't think things ran smoothly over the 2 day strike, contrary to what the hospital said Friday.

“I didn't personally work directly with the nurses, but everybody was very friendly, and willing to do what they needed to care for our patients, knowing that we were in a very difficult spot with our own staff not being here,” said Julie Morse

Morse is the Directors of Nursing for Cardiovascular and Neurosciences. She says while staff was focused on patients and families, they always had the striking nurses in the back of their minds. Morse wouldn't comment on any challenges with the replacement nurses.

“I don't have anything really to add to that,” said Morse.

Morse says it was important to make the transition back as smooth as possible, and she's excited to have the team back together.

“I think we're all looking forward to working together again, while hoping to get a contract negotiated,” she said.

The union says if a deal is not reached, it can serve a new strike notice. If another walk out does take place, the union says it could last longer than two days.