Mater's first new public hospital for 65 years is seeking 500 new nurses as it counts down to its opening early next year.
Mater Hospital Springfield is expected to treat more than 200,000 patients from the Ipswich, Logan and Greater Brisbane regions each year – and a giant statewide search for staff is underway.
The nine-storey facility will be Mater's first public hospital since the opening of Mater Mothers' Hospital in South Brisbane in 1960.
The hospital will adjoin the existing Mater Private Hospital Springfield, where 200 nursing staff will be celebrating International Nurses Day on Monday 12 May.
Ricki Dinh recently completed the nursing graduate program at Mater Private Hospital Springfield and is hoping to work in the new hospital's operating theatres next year.
"I'm loving being a nurse – my colleagues are so friendly and encouraging," Ms Dinh said.
"But the best thing of all is being able to help patients who need us and seeing them recover."
Colleague Kalimna Usher agreed that nursing is a highly rewarding career – but one that takes special qualities.
"Compassion and empathy are essential for nursing. You can be taught everything else, but you have to be someone who cares about others," Ms Usher said.
The new Mater Hospital Springfield will include an Emergency Department, Intensive Care Unit, access to 10 operating theatres and a full maternity service.
The $393 million facility is being funded by the Queensland Government, with Mater contributing the $26m site to the project.
The hospital will employ more than 1000 clinical and support staff when it is fully operational.
Mater Private Hospital Springfield Director of Clinical Services Tilana Van Deventer said more than 1000 external expressions of interest had already been received by potential nursing recruits.
"We're looking for special people to become Mater nurses – and lots of them!" Ms Van Deventer said.
"The response so far has been really encouraging, but we want as many applicants as we can.
"Springfield is a fantastic community to live and work in, and nursing is a wonderful career, so we have lots to offer the right candidates."
To learn more about recruitment for Mater Hospital Springfield, go to mater.org.au/group/careers
