Need advice from experienced nurses...

[ChocoholicRN]

I am almost done with nursing school and am at the point where I am beginning to explore job opportunities. Right now, I am literally torn between two states. I live in NJ and have been working as an aide for 2 years at an excellent hospital. If there is a job opening on the floor where I currently work, I would have a very good chance of getting the job. I know the staff well, am familiar with how certain things are run, and know that I would most likely not experience the "nurses eat their young" terror that I hear about. My downfall for this is that it would require me to continue living at home for a while and because of budget cuts, I would not be able to work the overtime I had hoped to earn more money. Also, this particular floor is known to have heavy assignments and lately the nurses have been more run down and stressed than when I first started there. This is a result of staff cuts which is a result of the budget cut. I know what I would be getting myself into, and I don't want to burn out in the beginning of my nursing career. I would take a position on either of the other two floors of this type of nursing (oncology) as well, but right now there are no job openings listed for any of these units, although they don't always post positions right away. If there are no job openings then my problem is solved, but if there are, things become complicated for me.

Here is my other option: ever since starting nursing school, I have wanted to work in NYC at a well known hospital with a good reputation. It would bring me closer to my boyfriend (please, do not see this as the reason for me wanting to go there, I wanted NYC before I even knew he existed), and I would be living on my own in a city I have always wanted to live in. The pay is better, but would probably balance out with the NJ hospital pay because I would have to contribute some of my income to rent and general cost of living. The unit where I want to work in this hospital has a good reputation, and a nurse who I know through a friend that works there is extremely happy working on this unit.

Now, here's where it gets tricky. If I were to work at the NJ hospital, I would only do so for 6 months and then I would be able to transfer to the NY hospital without breaking my contract. Does it look bad to potential employers if I was only at my first job for 6 months before I transferred? Then there is the question of which state should I get my license in? I know its not difficult to apply for a license in NJ if I get the NY license initially, but I would rather save my money if I knew where I was going. If I were to go straight to NY, I would start applying for those positions by the end of July/early August (I graduate end of august). If I go for the NJ hospital, I would wait until September because that is when they would more likely know if they had a position for me. I have tried talking to my parents and sister about this, but I need more of a nurses opinion on my situation. My boyfriend and family supports my choice either way, which definately helps. I would appreciate any feedback on this, it has been driving me nuts for months.

[ChocoholicRN]

I worked at Columbia Presbyterian in the CTICU and Neuro ICU. It is a great hospital. They too have housing but there are waiting lists for it. Anyone who works at the hospital is eligible. My friend lives 2 blocks from the hospital has a junior one bedroom any pays 800$. It's a good deal. Although, I would not want to live near Columbia because of the area. Some people do though and don't seem to mind. Cornell obviously is in a much nicer area so you would be in a much safer area. I don't know what area you are looking to work in, but stay away from NYC ER's. Their nurse to patient ratio is VERY high and staffing is very dangerous. Just a suggestion. Good luck! You are going to have a blast!!!:balloons:

I would love to work in an oncology unit, but if theres no position available then I'm open to other areas. Like I said, my friend lives in the apartments on York and 70th, right near the Weill-Cornell hospital. She pays about $1250 a month for a huge studio, nicely decorated. My boyfriend paid the same amount for a regular apartment in that area which was about half the size. I know theres a waiting list, my friend gave me a head's up, but while I wait for those apartments (assuming I even get hired there) i'm going to live with my boyfriend since its still in that area. I never wanted to be an ER nurse, lol, especially not in the city, it's definately not my thing. You mentioned that you work in the ICU, do they hire new grads into the ICU? What is CTICU? I've never heard of it before. I'm applying for positions in all the hospitals to open up my options, i don't want to limit myself. How is it at Columbia? The area, the population, quality of the hospital?

[zozzy777]

If you are really into oncology, you should look at Memorial Sloan Kettering. They are a world famous hospital for cancer. One of the best actually. People come from all over the world to be treated for cancer. I don't know if they have housing or not.

CTICU is cardiothoracic ICU. It is where all the post op open heart surgery patients go, double lung transplants and heart transplants. They have super sick patients and do all of the heart assist devices there. They even do echmo on the double lung transplants. (echmo is basically a heart lung machine at the bedside). It is the busiest open heart unit I have ever worked at. I saw some crazy stuff there!! Very high intensity and very high acuity. They do hire new grads into the unit. If that is something that interests you, you have to have a VERY strong personality and not take crap from anyone!! I had 10 years of experience when I was there and it was hard, hard work!! Loved it, but it was hard.

I believe all their ICU's hire new grads. Stay away from the Medical ICU, the manager it a real !!!!!! (cant say the word I want to say). She is a nasty human being. The manager's for the SICU, CTICU and Neuro ICU are all really great. I only met the manager for the CCU once. She seemed ok.

The area the hospital is in, is not a very safe area. Most would call it the ghetto. But, many world class hospitals are in bad parts of town. I took the subway to work like most and had no problems. You just have to be smart about the things you do. The subway lets off right at hospital property.

The population at the hospital is very diverse. From the uninsured pt to the VERY VERY wealthy. Bill Clinton was a patient in the CTICU several years ago. We got patients from other countries all the time. The staff at the hospital is very diverse as well. People from all walks of life work there.

I am sure your boyfriend will tell you, but finding an apartment in NYC is very hard and very expensive. There are brokerage fees that can be very high. That is basically money you pay someone just for finding you an apartment. It doesn't include deposits or anything like that. After you get a job, then you will decide what to do about an apartment. Go to Craigslist.com and look at the apartment section for NYC. There are a ton of postings. (of course, if you live with your boyfriend temporarily, you may not want to leave when you both will save so much money ). Ok, I have rambled enough. Feel free to private message me if you want more info on the hospital. I know a few managers names and my best friend works in the CTICU. Chow!!!:balloons: P.S Keep us posted on the job hunt!!

[elcue]

dear jerzytech,

i graduated college 31 years ago and have always regretted that i didn't go to live and work in manhattan when i was young. i grew up in suburban new york and never got to experience all the city offers.

i'm 52 now, living out west and waiting for my "baby" to finish school so i can go live & work in manhattan for at least a few years. would have been much more fun at 22!

just go for it!!! you have your whole life ahead of you. don't worry about the money - we all started out struggling! better memories struggling in a great place! and the learning opportunities will be fabulous at any of the terrific hospitals there.

listen to your little inner voice and follow your bliss.:balloons:

best wishes,

linda

[CRNI-ICU20]

AWWW! It's so hard to be young sometimes.....I remember those moments where my brain just wouldn't shut off, and the what ifs just kept spinning around and around inside my little head....

It sounds like you have weighed both sides...pros and cons....

I think I would next try to go take a tour of the one in NYC....see if you can just go "sniff" the environment a bit....see if this is a place where you could envision yourself in....

One thing that you mentioned was that there had been recent job cuts at the NJ hospital....how sure are you that if you hired on there that your job would be secure??

Continue to search out your ultimate goal and option....I know you are going to make the right decision...

You also asked if the previous employment was only for six months if that would look bad on your record....the answer is NO....

You stayed long enough to get your feet wet....and there's nothing in the rule books that say you can't move on when it's time....

if you had a string of six month job hops...THEN that might raise an eyebrow....but not one time....

I say, go where you know you are going to get the best orientation and training beyond nursing school....so you get a good foundation....and are comfortable in your new nursing skin.....then, no matter where you go, you know you can handle it.....

and...on a side note:

Take it from a seasoned old gal....moving anywhere for a boyfriend is never a good idea....you have to move for you....if he ends up in your picture...then okey dokey....but don't put all your life and needs and wants on hold to trot across the country for him.....you will always end up disappointed....(I am a bit jaded....but also experienced in this department!)

I wish you well....blessings, crni