A landmark pay rise granted to public sector nurses may entice practice nurses back into the hospital system, warns the Australian Primary Health Care Nurses Association.

Earlier this month, NSW nurses were granted a significant pay rise, in part, to recognise that the majority-female workforce had been historically undervalued.

The decision by the Industrial Relations Commission of NSW represents the largest single-year increase in wages for nurses in two decades, with RNs and midwives to receive 16% across three years, enrolled nurses 18% and assistant nurses 28%.

However, nurses working outside of public hospitals are employed under a different award — the Nurses Award 2020 — and will not see their pay lifted.