Nurses at a private hospital on the New South Wales-Victoria border have taken part in industrial action, walking off the job for the first time in the hospital's history.

Albury Wodonga Private Hospital, part of Ramsay Health, has been operating in Albury since 1979.

NSW Nurses and Midwives' Association union members stopped work for four hours on Wednesday to strike outside the hospital grounds, calling for better pay and conditions.

It comes after 16 months of failed negotiations between staff and Ramsay Health Care, with the latest enterprise agreement offer of a 12.5 per cent increase being rejected by 78 per cent of nurses and midwives on Tuesday. 

It's the second offer to be turned down in four months.

It follows similar strike action by nurses and midwives working for Ramsay Health Care at Wollongong Private, Nowra Private and Southern Highlands Private Hospitals on Monday.

Australian Nursing Midwifery Federation branch president at the Albury Wodonga Private Hospital, Renae Maher, said staff were calling for an 18 per cent increase, along with better working conditions including improved nurse to patient ratios.

"They will not come to the party on nurse-patient ratios or a decent pay offer. 

"It has been a continual cycle of them walking out of meetings. 

"They're not interested in negotiating with the staff. We were asking for 30 per cent originally, and we've come down to meet Ramsay even halfway."

Pay lower than other states

Ms Maher said the current offer did not meet cost-of-living increases and put staff well behind their Ramsay Health colleagues in Queensland.

"We are struggling to recruit nurses due to the pay disparity," she said.

"Why would you come to Albury when Ramsay Health Queensland nurses are paid up to 14 per cent more than us?"

There are also concerns about losing staff to the public sector, particularly across the border in Victoria, where in June Victorian public sector nurses and midwives accepted the state government's offer of a 28.5 per cent wage increase across four years.

"If nothing changes, there will be a mass exodus," Ms Maher said.

'No one is listening to us'

Jenny Dighton has been a nurse for four decades, with 35 of those spent at the border's only private hospital. 

This is the first time she has taken part in industrial action.

Despite her fears, she feels she had no choice but to join her fellow union members in taking a stand.

"On the night shift, sometimes we can have 10, 12 patients by ourselves, with the support of our after-hours manager," she said.

"But it's hard work, especially if you've got a sickie. 

"You might have some well patients, but then you might have some really sick patients, and when you're with that patient, what about the other 10 that you're looking after?"

Ms Dighton said she still enjoyed her job but it was taking a toll.

Respectfully disappointed

Ramsay Health said it respected the decision of its nurses and midwives who voted not to accept the proposed new enterprise agreement, but it was disappointed with the outcome.

"A yes vote would have ensured a new agreement and a 6 per cent increase next year," a Ramsay Health spokesperson said.

"We will take some time to carefully consider the outcome of the ballot and determine next steps."

The spokesperson said while Ramsay Health respected the decision of staff to undergo protected industrial action, it was disappointed the action had negatively impacted patients, with the stop-work activity forcing the cancellation of several surgeries.

"We have communicated directly with impacted patients and will endeavour to have their health care journey back on track as soon as possible."