RN Mom: Where Do Nurses Live in New York City?

LotusRN1972 · Nov 25, 2012

Groovy Solidus_Snake!!!

I remember 22; eons ago. Thank you for the great 40 wishes!!!

I am having a slight mental breakdown; I have been getting work at nursing agencies in San Diego, my rent is due, and my check is not in mail....this has been my life since I became an RN here... :banghead:

I digress...

So your left this joint or are in the process of leaving; I am waiting for my NYS license. I will PM you...got bookoo questions!!!

LotusRN1972

Meriwhen, ASN, BSN, MSN, RN · Nov 25, 2012

In Manhattan the handful of great to excellent public grade to middle schools are always full with waiting lists. However that does not stop middle or working class parents from "working" the system to get their children in, sometimes it works but often it does not. Of the NYC high schools the top tier such as Stuyvesant enterance depends upon exam scores.

True that. My parents opted to send me and my sibling to parochial school from the start because the local public schools (Lower East Side) were sketchy at best. Did that for 9 years, then got into Stuyvesant--otherwise they would have put me in a Catholic high school to finish out.

Lower and middle schools are zoned based on where you live and as DoGood said, the good schools are in demand so waivers are not easy to come by. High schools offer some flexibility: your child doesn't have to attend your zoned school and can apply to most other city high schools without having to take a test for them (the specialized high schools that require testing are an entirely different story). However, acceptance outside of your zoned school is not guaranteed.

LotusRN1972 · Nov 25, 2012

Thanks DoGoodThenGo!!!

I have an 18 year old son and twin 15 year olds; a girl and boy. My oldest son's friend is living with us. My teens will be in the 10th grade; do most nurses send their kids to private schools; this may be an option. I have a lot to consider. Thanks again!!!

LotusRN1972

estrellaCR, BSN, RN · Nov 25, 2012

NYC is also quite difficult in terms of new grad RN jobs. It takes many months to get interviews and hired, even if you have BSN and healthcare related experience. However if you have years of experience like Lotus1972 it is a lot easier.

If you are new grad, It is best if you wait until you are hired before moving to NYC unless you can get a non-nursing job in NYC while you wait to get and start a nursing job. Its not good to be broke in the city. The area including all boroughs of NYC (Queens, Bronx, Brooklyn, Manhattan, Staten Island) and New Jersey is full of new grads as several schools of nursing graduate hundreds of students each year and takes a while to get a job.

The process of getting a nursing job is speeded up considerably if you have connections (people you know that work in a hospital) or you yourself have your foot in the door already if you worked as a tech or another job at a hospital during nursing school. You can also look at insurance companies, who often hire new grads for chart auditor positions, etc. There are also flu shot clinics but those are per diem position and you cannot pay rent/expenses with the pay you get.

LotusRN1972 · Nov 25, 2012

Thanks estrellaCR,

As a new grad, I started to do what the other kids were doing: applying at hospitals in new grad programs and working at ANY job that would take me: from rehab centers,dialysis clinics, urgent care facilities,flu clinics, health fairs, and LTAC facilities; I WERKED cuz I had mouths to feed. I am signed up with several travel agencies, so I really feel good about that... Thanks again

LotusRN1972 :)

DoGoodThenGo · Nov 25, 2012

It is hard to say what "most" nurses who are parents do as each has different financial circumstances.

A nurse (male or female) who is married to a physican or hedge fund manager (male or female) are likely to have different ideas about the education of their children than say nurses who are married to members of the NYPD or NYFD.

From my own experiences of both Staten Island, Brooklyn, and Manhattan, middle-class parents where one or both are middle class will either send their children to the local public school or Catholic/religous/private school.

Keep in mind the average annual RN wages in the NYC metro area (>$75K per year) without overtime is hardly *rich* around here. If both the nurse and his or her spouse pull around the same that comes to only $150K per year before taxes. After losing about 1/3 to taxes (we pay quite allot around here) it can be a stretch at times. Happily nurses can usually pick up shifts for OT (or they used to before the world went mad recently) that helped with the family kitty.

It is good that your children are older which means you can be (hopefully) flexible in terms of shifts and or working overtime. As others have said it can be hard landing a nursing gig in NYC at the moment, so there is a good chance a job offered might not be your *dream* but a girl's gotta do what she's gotta do until something better comes along.

BeenThereDoneThat74, MSN, RN · Nov 27, 2012

Welcome to NY (almost)! It really is a wonderful place, once you get used to the hustle and bustle, traffic and bad parking :/. The plus side is all of the entertainment, restaurants and diversity... It is VERY diverse, and your patients will be a great representation of that :)

Much of what was said already is spot on, regarding neighborhoods and expenses. I've lived here all of my life, so I'm used to it. Regarding "good" and "bad" neighborhoods, it's all relative (and can be subjective). I know people who wouldn't dream of living in my area, and yet, there are people who couldn't touch the rent or mortgage in my area. People make assumptions about certain neighborhoods because of who lives there; in NYC, there are many areas that are heavily clustered by race,m ethnicity or religion (Jewish, Asian, Hispamic, etc). The reality is, you may be right at home in a neighborhood like this. Or. You may not. So it's hard to say own at would be the best neighborhood for you.

Most of NYC is accessible via public transportation, except Staten Island, and certain parts of queens (where there are buses, that you'd have to take to a train). But if you live that far out, you can work on Long Island, where there are plenty of hospitals (not sure about agency affiliations though). Parking at hospitals in NYC is tough: you either rely on street parking, or pay a hefty fee to park in a lot (if there is room in the lot, or you have the 'privilege' of using it). Long Island hospitals are much better for parking.

If you have any questions, pm me. I've worked in many places, and know lots of nurses (being a professor). I also am in the process of navigating the school system for high school (for my own child).

LotusRN1972 · Nov 27, 2012

Whoa ProfRN4!!!

I absolutely love culture( as we say in New Orleans "cul'chuh"), I speak Spanish ( not to the point of translating, but I get by), I practice Buddhism and Hinduism, love authentic foods of the world, and am as county as all out doors (I know how to " Let grown folk talk").

Thank you so much for giving me the scoop!

I'll talk to you soon:D

BeenThereDoneThat74, MSN, RN · Nov 27, 2012

Whoa ProfRN4!!!
I absolutely love culture( as we say in New Orleans "cul'chuh"), I speak Spanish ( not to the point of translating, but I get by), I practice Buddhism and Hinduism, love authentic foods of the world, and am as county as all out doors (I know how to " Let grown folk talk").
Thank you so much for giving me the scoop!
I'll talk to you soon:D

Your pic gives it away (your "cultural' side ).

LotusRN1972 · Nov 29, 2012

LOVE HER :woot:

Destin293 · Dec 14, 2012

I know this is old, but I'd avoid Sunset Park. It looks good during the day, but when the lights go down, it's a bit sketchy. Sheepshead Bay isn't too bad, it's right on the Q line so it's a good express commute, but, again, it can be a little sketchy. Kensington and Borough Park are nice, but VERY Hasidic and they're a group that tends to keep to their own. Bensonhurst is safe, but I always found it too be a little on the grungy side -- a better option would be Dyker Heights which is sandwiched in between Bay Ridge and Bensonhurst. Park Slope is nice -- it's a quick commute to the city, but a 1 bedroom apartment will cost you about $1,800 - $2,000. Same thing with Carroll Gardens and Cobble Hill (which are both very, very nice areas). Then there's Bay Ridge -- you really can't go wrong with Bay Ridge (except for a few minor things). Overall, it's very safe, has a great neighborhood feel, filled with a lot of long term residents and young families with kids. It's clean, cheaper than most places in NYC, and although it's considered "middle class", most people here are professionals (doctors, nurses, attorney's, etc.). The best areas are from about 80th street and up that are near Shore Rd. (great views of the water with no concerns about flooding), although the 70's are still nice. Once you move into the 60's, it's not so great and begins to transition into Sunset Park. The downside to Bay Ridge is the parking -- it's a nightmare after 4pm. Either pay a couple hundred for a parking spot or find a building with a parking garage/house with driveway to save on frustration. The other downside is the commute into Manhattan via public transportation takes a while -- the only train running there is the R (you have to catch the N or D express trains at 59th, 36th, or Atlantic). There are great express buses, though -- but they cost $5.50 a ride.

LotusRN1972 · Dec 14, 2012

Thanks, Destin293!!!

I am always looking for indepth insight, like yours. I am feeling better each time I recieve a response. I feel as if I am more familiar each day.That makes me, as a single Mom feel great. Keep the good vibes SNOWIN'!!!

LotusRN1972