Moving from Public to Private: What Actually Changes

It's not just the pay. Here's what to expect.

The move from public to private hospital nursing comes up regularly in the conversations I have with theatre nurses across Australia. For many nurses it's something they've been thinking about for a while, but there's uncertainty about what the shift actually involves and whether it's right for them.

The honest answer is that private suits some nurses very well and doesn't suit others. Here's what actually changes so you can make a clearer assessment.

The pace is different

Private surgical hospitals run tight, efficient lists. The expectation is that cases move smoothly and turnaround between patients is fast. There's less tolerance for delays and the rostering is built around throughput. For nurses who find the public system frustratingly slow or bureaucratic, this is often a welcome shift. For nurses who prefer a slower pace or need more support in day-to-day work, it can feel pressured.

The scope is usually narrower but deeper

Public hospitals, particularly larger teaching centres, expose you to a wide range of emergency and complex cases. Private surgical centres tend to have a more defined case mix, often concentrated in a few specialties. You'll go deeper in those areas and become highly skilled within them, but you won't have the same breadth.

Whether that's a trade-off that works for you depends on what you want from your career. If you're aiming for specialist depth and progression within a specific area, private can accelerate that.

Relationships with surgeons are closer

In a private hospital you'll work closely with a smaller group of surgeons, often repeatedly. You'll learn their preferences, their rhythms, and what they need before they ask for it. For many nurses this is one of the most satisfying parts of private practice. It also means that if a surgeon relationship isn't a good fit, it can be harder to navigate.

The employment conditions vary more

Public sector nursing in Australia sits within established award structures with clear pay rates, penalty rates, and leave entitlements. Private hospitals operate under a wider variety of enterprise agreements and individual contracts. Salary, on-call arrangements, and conditions vary significantly between employers.

This is worth doing your research on before you accept a role. The base salary may look similar, but the total package, including shift mix, on-call and penalty rates, can be very different.

Culture varies more than in public

The public system has its problems, but there's a degree of structural consistency. In private, the culture of a theatre largely comes down to the NUM and hospital leadership. A well-run private theatre can be an excellent place to work. A poorly run one can be very difficult. Talking to people who have worked there and asking the right questions at interview matters more in private than in public.

If you're weighing up a move and want a clear view of what's available and what different employers are actually like, that's exactly the kind of conversation I have regularly. Happy to chat.

Kate Wheeler

Recruitment Partner, Carejobz

Kate Wheeler has specialised in healthcare recruitment since 2003 and has spent the past 15 years focused exclusively on perioperative and clinical recruitment for private hospitals across Australia, New Zealand and the United Kingdom. She is known for her direct approach and her ability to identify and engage experienced clinicians who are not actively seeking a new role. Kate is based in Brisbane and personally leads every search at Carejobz.

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