Travel to NYC

[JenRN1983]

I am hoping to travel to nyc in November. I have been a nurse for a little over a year. My experience is on a cardiac/tele floor and on a progressive care unit which is icu stepdown. I have applied with cross country, on assignment, rn network, and nursesrx. They tell me that nightshift is what is available. Rates in upper 20's to 30's with housing or stipend. Any advice??

[Michellex1013]

not sure about those rates, but if are you working in Manhattan make sure you are housed IN Manhattan and not in the surrounding boroughs unless you really, really know the area. It may be only a few miles but they are worlds apart AND it can really add to your commute time.

Michelle

[KellNY, RN]

20s or 30s per hour? For nights? Sorry, but for NYC, that sounds like it blows. Avg. starting pay for nights in NYC hovers between $66-$72k/year for a nurse with experience. I guess it also depends on what the housing stipend is.

I'd personally get more than one year before traveling, especially to NYC (some hospitals there get Pts from the island, Jersey, CT, etc, so you're going to see EVERYTHING).

And don't assume that because someone sends you to NYC that you'll be in a posh Manhattan hospital. You might end up in the middle of the ghetto or in a grimey dirt hole that hasn't been updated since the 1970s. (Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx, those are all part of nYC. Not that there aren't nice neighborhoods in each borough)

Edit to Add-If they cover an APARTMENT in Manhattan, go for it. But if they're giving you a stipend, there's a good chance you won't be able to (or want to) afford Manhattan. Go on craigslist and check out what you'd spend on a studio or 1br. (and a 1BR is the size of a studio there, and a studio is a closet )

[JenRN1983]

Thanks for all the info. I use to live there so I am familiar with the areas, and the hospitals. I have just never worked there, so I wasn't sure. I thought that rate didn't sound good! Those rates were for NYP, Sloane and NYU. Maybe I need to keep looking!

[caroladybelle, BSN, RN]

Cross Country usually has decent housing there, with furnishings, linens, dishes, etc. When I was working at NYP-Cornell, I was housed in a lovely apt within walking distance (12 blocks - but for NYC, faster than taking the bus), on the upper East side. Your apt will probably be smaller (it is Manhattan) than you get in some other places. But it was a lovely doorman building with elevators and everything, a block from lots of shops, restaurants and clubs. On the weekend after several NOC 12 hour shifts, we would go for brunch at a cafe with mimosas and walk home.

The pay rate for Sloan-Kettering always blows. They think that they pay in "prestige" - but "prestige" doesn't pay the bills.

I loved it. That and the one hour shift break (instead of 30minutes).

[caroladybelle, BSN, RN]

Be aware!

NYU used to (and may still) contract exclusively with American Mobile and its' subsidiaries (The Evil Empire). They tended to house travelers in facility owned housing and some of it was less than desirable. They also would not allow housing stipends, without a major decrease in the pay rate, or some such.

The staffing conditions were also often reported to be less than desirable at NYU.