Relocating from FL to NYC

[ChristyRN416]

Hi everyone! I've been lurking here for a long time, and decided to finally go ahead and make myself known. Anyway, I'm an RN in Florida, and I'm looking to relocate to the NYC area in 2014. I have a year of hospital experience, with half of that time in a dedicated med/surg/telemetry unit and half of it in my current position as a full team float nurse working everywhere from PCU to oncology to ER to medical/geri psych. Prior to that, I worked 3 years in inpatient behavioral health/psych/detox as an LPN. I'm currently finishing up an online BSN which I hope to have completed before I move, and I would like to be started in an MSN program before my relocation as well. Please be honest, what are my chances of finding a hospital position in the greater NYC area? I have a few connections in the city, but I realize that these are "long shots" as well, so I need to know if I should start looking at HHC or LTC to get my foot in the door. Thanks in advance for all your insight! Cross-posting to New Jersey board as well.

ChristyRN416 from Florida

[dance4life]

Google some hospitals in the city and go directly to their website to apply because, not all advertise their job boards online. Most want you to have a NY License before even applying so I would check on how long the wait is on this first. Don't do HHC or LTC unless you want to. Hospitals do not consider that hospital experience and it will be difficult for you to move past that Specialty. Since, you have float experience in the hospital try to Local NYC Nursing Agencies that the city has to offer to get a contract or Per Diem work at the hospitals. Look up apartment prices via Craigslist so you know what you can expect for prices.