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Bailey Hoar has been Nurse Unit Manager at Canberra Private Hospital, part of the Nexus group, since March 2024.
What's the best part about your job?
The people I get to work with every day. They're not just my colleagues, they're like family. Everybody cares and looks out for each other.
And from experience I've learnt that it's not the job itself but the team you're working with that shapes the kind of day you're going to have.
What is something about your job that not many people know about, and what would surprise other people about working in a private hospital?
A lot of people assume my role is mostly administrative, but I also get to stay close to bedside nursing, which is my first love. My role provides me with the flexibility and variety to do both. It's a leadership role, but it's deeply hands-on and people centred.
People may think that smaller means limited, but our size allows us to adapt quickly and work more collaboratively. Communication flows easily between departments, and decisions can be made without excessive bureaucracy. That means better outcomes for patients and a more empowering environment for staff.
What do you love about working in a private hospital?
What I really love about working in a smaller private hospital is that you get to see the whole patient journey – from when they walk in to when they're discharged. You're not just part of one moment; you see how everything connects.
And whether the outcome is great or there's something we can learn from, there's always a chance to improve things. What's really rewarding is seeing the changes you make actually make a difference for the next patient.
What do you like to do outside of work and/or what is something your colleagues don't know about you?
Coming from New Zealand, I love being in the outdoors. I love hiking and camping in my spare time, although still working myself up to camp out here with all your creepy-crawlies!
What is the best piece of advice you've ever received?
Never be so kind you forget to be clever. Never be so clever you forget to be kind.
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Previous Interviews:
7/10/2025 Peter Arnold - Mt Wilga Private Rehabilitation Hospital