The nurses at Seattle Grace Hospital go on strike, leaving the doctors to fend for themselves; an elderly patient's friends (June Lockhart, Betty Garrett and Rae Allen) bring Meredith's mistake to light.
Cristina meets Burke's parents; the interns campaign for Izzie's reinstatement; Addison takes a break from her hospital duties; a surgical patient lives what may be her last day to the fullest.
Izzie faces her past and finds comfort in George; Alex has an attachment to Jane Doe; Meredith and Derek question their status; Cristina resolves to fight for her relationship with Burke.
Izzie's medical condition requires a difficult surgery; one of Owen's PTSD episodes causes Cristina to be injured.
Cristina is awarded the first solo surgery among the residents, but she is forced to give it up and choose her replacement; Lexie is impressed when Mark performs a cutting-edge procedure; Callie doesn't know if Sadie is friendly or flirtatious.