Is the market in LI any better? SI?

DoGoodThenGo · Feb 8, 2013

I am so discouraged. I think I have exhausted Manhattan, Brooklyn, Qns, and the Bx. My question is..is the market any better in Staten Island? How about Long Island? I have done some research but I am not familiar at all with either place so if anyone has a more personal assessment I would grately appreciate it. I live in Manhattan and I am expanding my search out of desperation. I don't have a car but I will deal with these technicalities when they come, these concerns are small potatoes at this stage!
Specialty is psych. I have good experience. I am willing to work other specialties, but most places don't want to hire and train a psych nurse into other areas, so psych preferred.

Can only offer advice as a "native" Staten Islander, but that brough has been and still is very *tight* nursing employment wise for awhile now.

For a small island there are three nursing programs (College of Staten Island - AAS, Wagner College - BSN & ABSN, and Saint Paul's (formerly Saint Vincent's), ADN. However there are only two major hospital systems; Staten Island University (two locations fromerly Staten Island Hospital and Richmond Memorial Hospital), and Richmond University Medical Center (formerly Saint Vincent's West Brighton and Baley Seton in Rosebank).

When possible Staten Island nurses tend to remain "local" as their first choice rather than have to deal with the hassle of commuting of the Island. Depending upon demand versus number of new grads each year from the aforementioned programs and experienced nurses it can be hard to land a full time gig. Consider also nurses from parts of Brooklyn and New Jersey will travel onto the Island to work, especially if they are from SI to begin.

The other wrinkle in this ointment is Staten Island University Hospital system is part of North Shore-LIJ who made an annoucement a year or so ago that they would stop hiring ADN new grads in favour of the BSN only. Nurses on staff already with an ADN or should a new grad with that degree get hired had a certain amount of time to get their four year degree or possibly face consequences.

One major problem with working on SI if one does not live there is the commute in both cost and time. Crossing either the New Jersey or Brooklyn bridges by car is $14 or $15 onto the Island. Traffic these days can be a ***** on the Island so once you get off the bridge/highway you still would need to factor that into getting to work on time.

OTHO the whole ferry, bus, Express Bus thing is cheaper than driving but depending upon where you are coming from and where you are going it can mean taking one, two or more transfers of buses and maybe some walking. All this in all kinds of weather and you will still be expected to arrive for duty on time.

http://www.rumcsi.org/Main/CareerOpportunities.aspx

mystory, BSN, RN · Feb 10, 2013

Thank you so much. Your post was so helpful. I am scanning the job openings right now. I know commuting would be miserable..but nothing can compare to the misery of unemployment.

Does anyone else have any advice or feedback? Oh and I do have my BSN, as well as another BS in a non-nursing field.

Thank you again.

OneFlyNurz, MSN, RN · Feb 10, 2013

Job market on LI right now is horrible, even if u know someone within who could refer u in. A little easier for a BSN but still very competitive because for 15 jobs there are 1500 applicants

DoGoodThenGo · Feb 11, 2013

About the only place one hears about any decent amounts of hiring of new grads is upstate New York. But again that comes with it's own set of problems.

bTRUE · Feb 11, 2013

Job market on LI for New RN BSN is SO bad . It's no easier than ASN RNs because most likely they have experience and/or enrolled in a BSN program . I've been unemployed working as a assistant for 6 months now. Had only 2 interviews with no position offer because they went with a applicant with more experience .

DoGoodThenGo · Feb 11, 2013

Thank you so much. Your post was so helpful. I am scanning the job openings right now. I know commuting would be miserable..but nothing can compare to the misery of unemployment.
Does anyone else have any advice or feedback? Oh and I do have my BSN, as well as another BS in a non-nursing field.
Thank you again.

While one understands your pain, I'd think long and hard about Staten Island. Cannot imagine after doing a 12 hour shift having to take one or two buses to the ferry, travel back to Manhattan, take a train or two then maybe walk home. Worse having to get up again the next day and do it all over again times two or three days per week. If there is one problem with a train or bus and you miss the ferry you've got to wait 30 minutes or an hour for the next boat. This means you have to pad allot of travel time at least when leaving for work. If you are due to report at 8PM plan on leaving your house at 530PM or 6PM the latest.

If you live below 14th Street or even better below Canal then things would be slightly better. But Harlem, Morningside Heights or some such is going to be a trip.

mystory, BSN, RN · Mar 8, 2013

Thanks everyone. Please keep me in your thoughts, I have arranged with my landlord to pay rent in installments this month but he will likely not be so generous in the upcoming months. I greatly appreciate all of your feedback.