Working without a contract since April 30, and with contract negotiations deadlocked, registered nurses (RN?s) at the University of California?s six hospitals reluctantly decided yesterday that they will hold a one day strike on May 29 if progress has not been made in talks before then. In preparation for the strike, the nurses? union will be contacting county health officials to set up plans for maintaining patient care, and has made it clear that it will support nurses? decisions to cross the picket line to deliver care to patients if there is an emergency. The UC RN?s---represented by the California Nurses Association---have informed the university that they may consider an open-ended strike if talks continue to remain deadlocked after the one-day strike.