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Navigating the Nursing Profession in New York

Updated: Oct 6, 2022



Let us help you land on your dream job here in New York! Read on this article to know more about the licensing process in New York, and more!

 

Through this article, you will be able to know the following:

  • Fees for the licensing

  • Licensing renewal process (step-by-step)

  • Requirements for Continuing Education in Nursing

  • Licensing and certification

  • Job and Salary Expectations of Nurses in New York

  • Popular hospitals in New York

  • Nursing associations in New York

  • Contact details


 

Fees for the Licensing

The table below shows the required payments for the licensing, whether you are a first-time nurse, applying by endorsement, or renewing your license. For more information, visit the New York licensing page.



*Fees may change without any notice.

**A background check is required in most states, but prices are not usually indicated.


 

Licensing Renewal Process

  1. Check when your license expires by visiting the New York Board of Nursing website. New York has a Verification page for you to verify your license.

  2. Complete all your continuing education requirements BEFORE your license expires.

  3. Apply for your renewal process by going to the New York Board of Nursing. You may check on the Renewal Information page for more specific information.


 

Requirements for Continuing Education in Nursing

The following are the Continuing Education Requirements for nurses in New York.

  • For RN/APRN, you must complete 3 contact hours in Infection Control at initial licensure and every four years thereafter. There is also 1-time requirement of 2 hours in Child Abuse Identification and Reporting. Finally, as APRNs, a national certification must always be maintained.

  • For LPN, you are required to complete 3 contact hours in Infection Control at initial licensure and every 4 years thereafter.

If you are a licensee with an authorization to prescribe controlled substances, you must obtain at a minimum of 3 hours training in pain management, palliative care, and addiction, every 3 years.

The New York State Board of Nursing accepts courses that are ANCC accredited.

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Licensing and Certification


Step 1: Education

To earn an Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN), you must attend an accredited institution that offers ADN for 18-24 months. You can also take a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) Degree in an accredited institution. These programs typically take 4 to 5 years to complete. If you have an ADN but you wanna pursue your bachelor’s, there are certain programs that let you earn your BSN in 12 to 18 months. There is also an RN to BSN program that will take one year for you to earn the degree. Said programs let you save on time and money as you work towards advancing your career.


Step 2: Licensing

Six weeks before your graduation, you can start the process of your application for the NCLEX-RN exam. This exam is composed of 75-265 items and you will be given a limit of 5 hours to finish all of it. Failing the exam does not necessarily mean that you do not have the chance anymore. After your first try, you just have to wait for 45 days and you can apply again.

The scope of NCLEX includes questions about: (1) health promotion and maintenance; (2) safe and effective care environment; (3) physiology and integrity; and (4) psychology and integrity.


Step 3: Experience

This time, you must learn how to take the opportunities in gaining first-hand experiences in dealing with patients, with colleagues and superiors, and with the different situations that you might face. These invaluable experiences will make you more attractive to bigger employers in the future.

Step 4: Certification

Your last step is to obtain certifications for your chosen career. There are different requirements for earning a certification, depending on your preferences so it is important to check with the governing provider for information. You can attend several trainings, seminars or workshops in varied institutions for this purpose.

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Job and Salary Expectations of Nurses in New York

Shortage of healthcare professionals, specifically nurses, has been a perennial issue in the country. This makes nurses highly in demand during this period of time. This profession will increase by about 9% from 2020 to 2030. The average annual salary is currently $98,460.

Let us help you check out average wages of nurses to help determine if New York is the right place for you.


 

Popular Hospitals in New York

Still not decided on whether to work as a nurse in New York or not? This list of the best hospitals in the state will surely help you make that decision to go in the right direction. U.S. News and World Report made a list of the best and popular hospitals in New York. Here are some of them:

  • New York-Presbyterian Hospital-Columbia and Cornell – (New York, NY):

    • Ranked No. 7 on the Best Hospitals Honor Roll

    • Regionally ranked #1 in New York

    • Nationally ranked in 14 adult and 8 pediatric specialties

    • Rated high performing in 1 adult specialty and 14 procedures and conditions

    • General medical and surgical facility and a teaching hospital

    • ✔Specialties include Neurology/neurosurgery (No. 2), Cardiology and heart surgery (No. 4), Rheumatology (No. 4), Psychiatry (No. 4), and Diabetes/endocrinology (No. 5)

  • NYU Langone Hospitals – (New York, NY):

    • Ranked No. 8 on the Best Hospitals Honor Roll

    • Regionally ranked #2 in New York

    • Nationally ranked in 14 adult specialties

    • Rated high performing in 15 adult procedures and conditions

    • General medical and surgical facility and a teaching hospital

    • Specialties include Diabetes & Endocrinology (No. 4), Cardiology & Heart Surgery (No. 5), Gastroenterology & GI Surgery (No. 5), and Cancer (No. 22)

  • Mount Sinai Hospital – (New York, NY):

    • Ranked No. 17 on the Best Hospitals Honor Roll

    • Regionally ranked #3 in New York

    • Nationally ranked in 11 adult and 4 pediatric specialties

    • Rated high performing in 13 adult procedures and conditions

    • General medical and surgical facility and a teaching hospital

    • Specialties include Geriatrics (No. 1), Cardiology & Heart Surgery (No. 6), Diabetes & Endocrinology (No. 10), and Rehabilitation (No. 14)

  • Lenox Hill Hospital at Northwell Health – (New York, NY):

    • Regionally ranked #4 in New York

    • Nationally ranked in 7 adult specialties

    • Rated high performing in 4 adult specialties and 13 procedures and conditions

    • General medical and surgical facility and a teaching hospital

    • Specialties include Cancer, Cardiology & Heart Surgery, Diabetes, Colon Cancer Surgery, Kidney Failure, Stroke, Orthopedics, and Pulmonology and Lung Surgery.

  • North Shore University Hospital at Northwell Health – (Manhasset, NY):

    • Regionally ranked #5 in New York

    • Nationally ranked in 8 adult specialties

    • Rated high performing in 1 adult specialty and 14 procedures and conditions

    • General medical and surgical facility and a teaching hospital

    • Specialties of the hospital include Cancer, Cardiology & Heart Surgery, Diabetes, Colon Cancer Surgery, Kidney Failure, Stroke, Orthopedics, and Pulmonology and Lung Surgery.

*The American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) awards Magnet Status to Hospitals that apply and meet certain criteria. This award is also considered as the “gold standard” for excellence in nursing practice and care.

 

Nursing Associations in New York

Becoming a member of a nursing association opens a lot of opportunities to your career growth. It gives you the advantages of varied job offers and networking, and a bunch of information and experiences shared between you and your fellow nurses. Through these organizations, learning and professional growth never stop. Listed below are just a few of the nursing organizations that you can find and join once you are in New York.

Southern New York Association “The main goal of this institution is to give knowledge and consultations to its members. It improves the standards of care for the people while they see to it that they are ready for policy changes.”

Nursing Students Association of New York State “This institution is committed to help in the experiences of fresh graduates as they approach the professional field. They like to aid in shaping the future of nursing.”

New York State Nurses Association “This group of nurses is highly populated having 42,000 members. They work together for strength at work, providing healthcare for everyone.”

For more information about the nursing associations, you may visit the comprehensive list of national organizations as well.


 

Contact Details

New York State Education Department Office of the Professions

State Board of Nursing

Phone: (518) 474-3817, Press 1 then ext. 120

Fax: (518) 474-3706

89 Washington Avenue

Albany, New York 12234-1000


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