'Sick and tired': Northern Adelaide hospital nurses walk off job for 24 hours

Tash Billing was one of the nurses who walked off the job at Lyell McEwin Hospital on Thursday. (ABC News: Daniel Taylor)

Nurses and midwives have walked out of a northern suburbs hospital as part of a 24-hour strike.

The nursing union is seeking a 20 per cent pay increase over a three-year period.

Nurses and midwives at the Lyell McEwin Hospital have walked off the job as pay negotiations with the state government continue.

Registered nurse Tash Billing told ABC 891's Breakfast program that she felt "empowered" before joining the 24-hour walkout. "We're sick and tired," Ms Billing said.

Ms Billing, whose husband is also a nurse, said she had worked at Lyell McEwin Hospital in Elizabeth Vale for eight years and was sacrificing a day of pay to be a voice for her colleagues.

"At the moment, I just feel it is all a bunch of words," she said.

"I put the question to the government; you say we are the backbone of the health system ... but are we really? Because it doesn't seem like it ... it just seems that the government doesn't want to have a bar of it and just wants to lowball us."

Elizabeth Dabars from the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation told ABC News that members wanted a nationally competitive offer and were seeking a 20 per cent pay increase over a three-year period.

"Here in South Australia, we’re finding that we are not nationally competitive in what is a national attraction and retention market, so if you want nurses and midwives by the bedside you’ve got to have pay and conditions that reflect their value, their seniority and their experience, and just respect them more broadly," Ms Dabars said.

Nurses and midwives gathered at Lyell McEwin Hospital before walking off the job on Thursday. (ABC News: Daniel Taylor)

Ms Dabars said many nurses and midwives were exploring the possibility of moving interstate. "Those who are not in a position to [move] for family and other reasons, are literally looking to change professions and careers," she said.

While people in medical surgery inpatient units will be affected, the union said the 24-hour stoppage would not affect emergency services or intensive care areas.

In a statement to ABC News, Karen Puvogel, chief executive officer at Northern Adelaide Local Health Network, said it had been working with the ANMF to ensure staffing arrangements provided a safe level of care for patients.

"Staffing levels will be maintained across a range of services, including emergency departments, ICU, cardiology, birthing and special care nursery services," she said.

"We have put arrangements in place