Busting the myths: Why starting your nursing career with Southern Cross Healthcare sets you up for success

When Fia graduated from the Manukau Institute of Technology as a Registered Nurse, she was one of a small number of graduates to secure a Nurse Entry To Practice (NETP) position. She chose Southern Cross Brightside Hospital in Auckland for her position and has quickly become a strong advocate for what the private healthcare sector can offer new nurses.

Like many graduates, Fia had heard the myths about starting her career in private, but her first eight months at Southern Cross Healthcare have proven them wrong.

Myth 1: “You won’t get enough exposure in private.”

Reality: As a theatre nurse, Fia has scrubbed in on a wide range of surgeries in specialties such as urology, gynaecology, general and plastics.

She says the surgical teams at Southern Cross Brightside Hospital are prioritised to work together consistently, which builds familiarity, efficiency, and strong collaborative teamwork. This supportive environment has also given her the confidence to ask questions and learn directly from specialists and senior team mates. “You don’t just learn what to do, you learn why things are done — which makes you a better nurse.”

Myth 2: “Private doesn’t prepare you if you want to move to public later.”

Reality: NETP at Southern Cross Healthcare includes an extended, structured six-month orientation with dedicated time to learn across the full patient journey. This is twice as long as many public placements. On top of this, Fia has recently completed the internationally recognised AORN Periop 101 programme, fully funded by Southern Cross Healthcare, giving her an additional qualification in surgical nursing. She has attended several educational days, including urology workshops, CPR training, VTE (Venous Thromboembolism, a condition that refers to blood clots forming in veins) education, and Da Vinci Robot training.

Southern Cross Brightside Hospital Clinical Nurse Educator Rachel Borsboom explains that the NETP programme is designed to build strong foundations before graduates are exposed to high-pressure situations. “Once routine practices become second nature, graduates are mentally freed up to problem- solve,” she says.

Fia agrees that both public and private hospitals provide valuable but different learning opportunities. “In public, you might deal with life-saving trauma surgery; in private, you may later support that same patient through reconstructive surgery. Every experience adds to your clinical toolkit. Southern Cross has given me exceptional exposure in both theatre and the classroom, and I know the skills I’m building here will benefit patients and surgical teams wherever my career takes me.”

Myth 3: “Private nursing isn’t exciting — it’s not real nursing.”

Reality: Fia describes her first year as “exciting and challenging at the same time.” Unlike the perception that private hospitals offer limited experience, she’s been exposed to a wide variety of procedures while being supported and developed through the process. Two senior preceptors are rostered alongside her for an entire year. This support system has given Fia the space to learn at her own pace and gain confidence before handling more complex or acute situations.

Her colleagues, including senior nurses and specialists, are genuinely invested in her success, taking time to share their expertise and explain the “why” behind decisions, not just the “what.” “Southern Cross gives you the time and space to grow. Study and training are built into my schedule. You feel supported, not rushed — and that makes a huge difference,” she says.

Why Southern Cross Healthcare stands out

Fia says the biggest reason she chose Southern Cross Brightside Hospital was the warmth she felt right from the interview. “I knew I’d need to sell myself, but I wasn’t expecting Southern Cross to sell themselves to me. They wanted to know who I was as a person. From that first encounter, I knew this was where I wanted to work. It feels like a family.”

Other benefits include:

• A national network of hospitals and joint venture partners — meaning graduates connect
  with peers and educators across the country
• Ongoing professional development and rolling education for all clinical staff
• Fully funded Southern Cross Wellbeing One health insurance
• Subsidised lunches and free, or street, parking
• Clinical Development scholarships
• A culture where staff and specialists want to share knowledge and mentor the next
  generation

Investing in the Next Generation

Southern Cross Healthcare’s commitment goes beyond training technical skills. It’s about developing nurses who are confident, connected, and ready to thrive in whichever direction their career takes them.

Fia sums it up best: “You get the excitement and variety, but also the support and encouragement to grow. I feel like I’m building strong foundations for the rest of my nursing career.”

Southern Cross Healthcare is proud to invest in the next generation of nurses. If you’re a graduate nurse ready to kickstart your career in a supportive and innovative environment, the Southern Cross Healthcare NETP programme could be the right place for you. Find out more >