Job Market/ICU Job Market

U.S.A. New York

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Hi,

I am considering a move with my wife from out west to NYC. I have about 1.5 years RN (BSN) experience working in a step down unit at a large urban hospital.

I know this is very broad, but since I don't know any RNs in NYC, I have a few ?s:

1. how is the job market there for RNs with a little experience, OVERALL? And are there certain boroughs, areas of burroughs, that seem to have more hiring opportunities from out of state people?

2. How about the same question, but applied to critical care/ICU? Like I said I've been a nurse on a step down for a while but have no actual ICU experience. Are there hospitals that are willing to train or is it the old catch-22?

3. Would the salaries for an RN w/ 1.5 years exp. be not much more than the starting salaries listed under the "name the hospital and the starting salary" post?

4. Do a lot of hospitals allow overtime, xtra shift bonuses/incentives to try to earn more than those salaries listed on the above mentioned post?

I know this is a lot, thank you for any help you can provide! I am familiar with NYC but not at all with their nursing community. Thanks!

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Specializes in NICU.

There are a lot of threads similar to this if you do a search of new york job market there's tons. The job market is horrific in all 5 boroughs especially for new grads and those with little experience (less than 2 years). The area has suffered from the recent closings of 3 hospitals with another one slated to close on Friday, and the previous closing happening in April. This has thrown tons of experienced nurses into the job market and a lot of hospitals have gone on hiring freezes to accommodate those displaced nurses. So you have that in addition to nursing schools churning out thousands of new graduate nurses every january and may. The market is completely saturated and it's like fighting a losing a battle to secure a job. Most people I know who got jobs got them because they knew someone that hooked them up whether it be a family member or a preceptor they had during their clinicals. I'd put off moving to NY for another year if I could help it. Perhaps you could get some per diem work and sign on with an agency if you could, but good luck on finding a full time job because it's ridiculous out here.

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thanks for your response. so was the market much better a couple of years ago?

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Specializes in NICU.

Yea the market was wayyy better a few years ago. A few years ago you could just walk into your hospital of choice and be practically interviewed and hired on the spot new grad or not. Back then they had sign on bonuses, debt forgiveness to help you repay the loans you took out for your nursing education, lots of perks. Now that the tide has turned and we need them more than they need us, they've stopped all of that. Occassionally you will find places that offer a sign on bonus but it's usually for x amount of years of experience in a particular field (usually because the employer is desperate)

Hope that helps and Good Luck!

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Specializes in ICU, Cardiac Cath/EPS Labs.
There are a lot of threads similar to this if you do a search of new york job market there's tons. The job market is horrific in all 5 boroughs especially for new grads and those with little experience (less than 2 years). The area has suffered from the recent closings of 3 hospitals with another one slated to close on Friday, and the previous closing happening in April. This has thrown tons of experienced nurses into the job market and a lot of hospitals have gone on hiring freezes to accommodate those displaced nurses. So you have that in addition to nursing schools churning out thousands of new graduate nurses every january and may. The market is completely saturated and it's like fighting a losing a battle to secure a job. Most people I know who got jobs got them because they knew someone that hooked them up whether it be a family member or a preceptor they had during their clinicals. I'd put off moving to NY for another year if I could help it. Perhaps you could get some per diem work and sign on with an agency if you could, but good luck on finding a full time job because it's ridiculous out here.

Yes, I agree with the horrific analysis above; with your 1.5 yrs in StepDown, I highly doubt you'd get an ICU job...not a good time to be entering the NYC job market---sit tight where you are and try to gain some ICU experience there.....

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