Ready for a change? If you’re thinking about taking up a new nursing role, it’s good to consider all your options. This article will help you get the inside scoop on what it’s like to work in the private sector and will be particularly helpful if you primarily work in the public sector.

Here are fivereasons why you should consider private sector nursing:

-Staff to patient ratios are more manageable:In the acute medical ward, the average ratio is 1:4, that is one nurse to every four patients and one in-charge nurse. This will change depending on the specialty. Emergency departments, delivery suites, high dependency units and high acuity patients will have lower nurse and midwife patient ratios to ensure the safest possible care.

-Team nursing is more common:Typically, a team consists of up to four to six nurses with a team leader who gives jobs and instructions to the group. The team works together to distribute the care of patients. The benefits of team nursing include improved patient satisfaction and outcomes, higher job satisfaction when working in coordinated teams, and increased professional accountability.

-Elective surgery for theatre nurses:Theatre nurses have more opportunity to work on pre-planned surgery in areas of interest, such as cosmetic surgeries, ear tubes, tonsillectomies, and scoliosis surgery.

-Private mental health nursing:Mental health nursing is a tough gig as it is. Nurses working in the private sector only work with volunteer patients. At HCA, we have access to five mental health facilities in Sydney, two at St John of God in NSW and various facilities across the country with Healthscope.

-Innovative surgeries:The private sector is more likely to have opportunity for advanced technology to be used in surgery such as surgical robotics, live diagnostics, and minimally invasive surgery e.g. Key hole surgery.

If any of these reasons have made you consider working in the private sector as an agency nurse, you can pick up a shift with HCA. Our recent partnership with Ramsay Health Care means we now offer 2,500 more private sector shifts monthly across 70 facilities. Call us on 1300 422 247 or register online.