All my NYC Job Hunt Resources & Wisdom

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Specializes in Emergency Services.

Hello all those looking for a nursing job in New York City! I've been searching for months, and thought it was about time to share my thoughts and wisdom. Below is my map & extensive hospital spreadsheet:

https://maps.google.com/maps/ms?msid=208868218345462567001.0004b937b196e486ff0ca&msa=0&ll=40.760781%2C-73.817139&spn=0.587701%2C1.234589

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0AgMkqihupHGwdDVmcUJQRF8wRE43NEZwdUoxSVVDUVE

If you download the spreadsheet, try highlighting all the data + right click + 'custom sort' by # beds, hospital network, or travel time from Penn Station. This data is all updated from US News Best Hospitals, hospital websites, and salaries from Allnurses.

Things I've learned:

1) The search is intimidating to start, but once you understand the websites it gets easier! I've been regularly applying to HHC, NYP, NSLIJ, NYU, Continuum, Mount Sinai, and Montefiore.

2) Continuum has no jobs. NYP will not accept your app if you don't meet the experience requirements. NYU is not seeking outside applicants until December due to EPIC go-live.

3) New grads and ADNs positions are hard to come by and highly competitive.

4) Get your NY RN license. Make sure your resume & cover letter are flawless.

5) Keep in touch with your HR contacts. Cold-calling and walk-ins have gotten me nowhere...but hey, it's worth a shot.

6) Consider NJ jobs. I never got around to obtaining my NJ license or applying there.

Feel free to PM me if you need any further help. Good luck everyone!

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Specializes in Emergency Services.

And if you're wondering my story, here it goes!

I'm a 2011 grad that's been working as a trauma floor RN at a large Midwest teaching hospital (Trauma Level I). I have my BSN, ACLS, TNCC, NY RN license, high GPA, and still no NYC RN job! Soon I'll have that valuable one-year experience...

I was moving to NYC to be with my girlfriend, but she recently kicked me to the curb before I could land a job. So now I'm a little lost, but still looking to move to Manhattan. My heart is set on ER/ICU, but I'm considering everything in hopes of escaping my hometown and starting life's adventure. After looking at moving to NYC, every other city seems to fall short in comparison...

So words of encouragement, a recommendation to your ER/ICU manager, or any advice is always appreciated! I've come to love New York City, and would love to hear your story.

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And if you're wondering my story, here it goes!

I'm a 2011 grad that's been working as a trauma floor RN at a large Midwest teaching hospital (Trauma Level I). I have my BSN, ACLS, TNCC, NY RN license, high GPA, and still no NYC RN job! Soon I'll have that valuable one-year experience...

I was moving to NYC to be with my girlfriend, but she recently kicked me to the curb before I could land a job. So now I'm a little lost, but still looking to move to Manhattan. My heart is set on ER/ICU, but I'm considering everything in hopes of escaping my hometown and starting life's adventure. After looking at moving to NYC, every other city seems to fall short in comparison...

So words of encouragement, a recommendation to your ER/ICU manager, or any advice is always appreciated! I've come to love New York City, and would love to hear your story.

You and everyone else wants to come here (NYC) but the picture for nurse hiring ranges from grim to barely alive.

No wonder with all the hospital closings of the past decade. Here is an slip of a local news article that I've posted in the "News" forum:

"In 2005, St. Joseph's Hospital in Flushing closed, followed by St. Mary's Hospital in Brooklyn. In 2008, four hospitals closed: St. Vincent's Midtown Hospital and Cabrini Medical Center on East 19th Street in Manhattan, Victory Memorial Hospital in Brooklyn and Parkway Hospital in Forest Hills – and one, Manhattan Eye Ear and Throat Hospital, merged with Lenox Hill Hospital. In 2009, St. John's and Mary Immaculate in Queens closed. In 2011, North General Hospital in Harlem closed and St. Vincent's Catholic Medical Center on West 12th Street officially closed (though it had ceased taking patients the previous year). This past April, Peninsula Hospital in Rockaway, Queens, also closed its doors for good."

That is about fifteen hospital closures in the past ten years which does not even count the loss of LTC and nursing home beds. All of this has thrown hundreds of nurses from new grads to experienced out on the streets looking for a new gig.

Added to his few nursing schools have closed. Of the ones that did many colleges have been rushing to start ABSN programs which makes the loss of others moot or a wash.

Every six or twelve months hundreds of new grads are churned out not only in NYC, but New Jersey, Westchester, and Conn, all easy commutes into NYC. Added to this many of the top tier hospitals such as NYP, Mount Sinai, etc recruit nurses from all over the USA.

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Specializes in Emergency Services.

Exactly my point DoGoodThenGo. It's a harsh reality for unemployed RNs in New York City, and this website really shines some light on the situation. After reading so many 'struggling new grad' threads, I felt the need to post something. Hell, I wouldn't be a nurse without the sympathy, right?

I'm typically a glass half-full kind of guy, but looking for work in NYC is a defeating experience. The struggle really forces you to think about what you truly want, and I'm happy to say I've learned a lot from it. Hopefully it will help humble those like myself that felt life should go exactly as I planned it. After all...

'If you want to make God laugh, tell him about your plans.'

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Great attitude kingofthekicks20! I'm a pre-nursing student in nyc. It's not very heartening news. Have any good news for us?

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May I just ask. What is the minimum hospital experience does a hospital in NY needs for u to be hired? Do u have to be currently employed, if you are planning to transfer from other hospital?In my case I have 4 yrs hosp. experience but I resigned last Januray 2010 and I wanted to go back to a hosp. again. Thanks!

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omg I feel your pain. I graduated with my ADN in may, had an intern job at a hospital the last few semesters of school, had a sure fire job, but chose to move to NYC to be with my husband instead, and now I'm on my butt with no job and even less chance of finding one as a new grad because of my ADN status. It is beyond frustrating, and at this point I am seriously considering going home for a while to gain some experience. I just don't know what to do at this point.

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