The Travel Nurse's Guide to New York City
New York City. You can practically feel the energy of the city in the air. Nearly 8.4 million people call New York City, New York home, and millions more visit each year, hoping to soak in some of the electricity of this dynamic, unique place. Lin Manuel Miranda paid homage to New York City as “the greatest city in the world” in his award-winning show “Hamilton.” Now it’s your turn to find out what makes this city so irresistible to so many people. Take a travel nursing assignment in a place you’ll never forget!
Lifestyle Benefits
Okay, truth time: you can earn a really good living as a travel nurse. In fact, most experienced travel nurses will tell you straight out that one of the biggest benefits of traveling is the healthy paycheck. And not only can you earn a healthy salary, but you also don’t have to pay for your housing during your assignments, either. That leaves some disposable income for…whatever you want! Other benefits of taking a travel nursing assignment in New York City:
- You have a myriad of options for fun - Anything that you like to do, you can find it in or near New York City. Guaranteed. The city is chock full of restaurants, universities, galleries, fitness studios, theaters, bars, shops, museums—even beaches.
- You’re in charge of your schedule - Once you know your work schedule, you can start making plans. If you’re eager to venture outside the city to explore, consider asking about the possibility of stacking your workdays together, leaving you a larger block of time for a road trip.
- You can plan future vacations around your job - Some travelers book subsequent assignments in New York City but leave themselves a couple of weeks in between assignments. That gives them time to return home, if need be, or plan a longer trip before they return to work again.
- You can return to New York for future assignments - Once you’re licensed to work in the state of New York, you can easily take future assignments in the state--without having to go through the process of getting another license.
Chances are, you’ll realize even more lifestyle benefits that we haven’t even listed here, once you’ve gotten settled in.
Facilities
Lots of our travelers tell us they prioritize the type of healthcare facility when considering travel nursing opportunities. Some may prefer to pursue travel nursing assignments in healthcare facilities that will challenge them, which will help them gain new experience and skills and build their resumés. But others like to stick with what they know, where they feel the most confident.
However, those are just some of the types of facilities with job openings for travel nurses. When you drill down, you can look for more specific details about the facilities, too. For example, you’ll find that some hospitals boast
a Level 1 trauma center or a primary stroke center. Some are located in Manhattan, while others are scattered throughout the other boroughs and surrounding areas.
You can also search our job database for jobs for very specific nursing roles, including the operating room, the Labor and Delivery unit, the telemetry unit, the dialysis unit, the Post-Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU), the cardiac
catheterization lab, and more. There’s sure to be an opening that’s right for you.
Ultimately, you can boost your career by taking an assignment in a New York City hospital or healthcare organization. The experience will make you a more desirable candidate for future jobs, wherever you go.
Things to do
There is so much to do in New York City that you’ll have to prioritize—and plan ahead! Or maybe you’ll get the chance to extend your assignment from 13 weeks to 26 weeks to give yourself more time to explore! But don’t be afraid to be spontaneous, either. Sometimes you can discover hidden gems when you’re not even looking—and there are hidden gems all over the Big Apple. We’ve included just a few recommendations to get you started. P.S. You can catch a cab, use the subway, or hire a ride, but at heart, New York City is a walking city, so bring your walking shoes.
1. Broadway
Some people travel to New York City solely to see a show (or multiple shows) on Broadway. Don’t miss your chance to see a musical or a play on what’s arguably the world’s most famous series of stages. Tip: you can sometimes get discounted tickets to your favorite show (or maybe one that you’ve never heard of) by going online or showing up at the TKTS discount tickets booth in Times Square to buy same-day tickets. Another tip: Wednesday matinees tend to be cheaper, too.
2. Bronx Zoo
More than 265 acres. More than 10,000 animals. Up-close Wild Encounters with penguins, rhinos cheetahs, giraffes, and sloths. How can you resist the chance to visit the Bronx Zoo? Additionally, the zoo has an aerial ropes course that might appeal to your sense of adventure. (You can even zipline over the Bronx River.)
3. Chelsea Market
The Eater New York has called the Chelsea Market the “queen bee of food halls” for its fame and longevity. In fact, this food hall in the Meatpacking District has been a destination for New Yorkers and tourists alike for more than 25 years. Chelsea Market is home to a dizzying array of eateries, shops and more. Dine on crepes, purchase some artisanal cheeses or chocolates, enjoy some ramen, or try Japanese-inspired Mexican food.
4. Coney Island
Coney Island has long been an iconic New York City destination. If you love nostalgia, theme parks, or both, this is the place for you. Take a ride on the famous Wonder Wheel, a 15-story Ferris wheel that will give you fabulous views of the sea, the boardwalk, and other local attractions. Then buckle in for a ride on the equally famous wooden Cyclone rollercoaster. But if rides aren’t your thing, you can still have a terrific time, just wandering along the Riegelmann Boardwalk, people-watching, and eating a Coney Island hot dog.
5. The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Visiting the Metropolitan Museum of Art appears on a lot of people’s “Must Do” lists for good reason: it’s the largest art museum in the western hemisphere, and it is absolutely amazing. Whether you’re a passionate fan of Jackson Pollack, a devotee of Degas, an admirer of Mary Cassatt, or you just want to see Emanuel Leutze’s “Washington Crossing the Delaware” in person, this museum will have something that will make you stop in your tracks. And if that’s not enough, you can drop in on one of the other museums nearby along Museum Mile, such as Museum of the City of New York, El Museo del Barrio, and the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum.
6. New York Beaches
After a long week at work, you may be ready to grab your bathing suit and towel and head to the beach to relax. What, there are beaches in New York City? Indeed, there are many beaches, such as Far Rockaway, Rockaway, and Riis Park in Queens; Manhattan and Brighton Beaches in Brooklyn; and Orchard Beach in the Bronx, just to name a few. (You can even go surfing at Rockaway Beach!)
7. Professional Baseball in NYC
New York is definitely a baseball town, and you can choose between the full-on Major League Baseball experience by attending a Yankees game at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx or a Mets game at Citifield in Queens, or you could opt for the minor league experience. Take a ferry to Staten Island to see the minor league Staten Island Yankees–and see the Statue of Liberty on your way over. Or plan a trip to see the Mets’ minor league team, the Cyclones, in Coney Island, just a short walk away from the subway.
8. Fearless Girl Statue
The famous bronze statue of an undaunted young girl with her hands on her hips faces the New York Stock Exchange in Lower Manhattan. The Fearless Girl statue was first installed on Wall Street, facing down the Charging Bull statue, in 2017 and then moved in 2018 to her current home on Broad Street. Needless to say, this is a prime photo opp for your Instagram. (Start practicing your fearless pose now!)
9. Russ and Daughters
Ask 10 New Yorkers to recommend a great place to eat in the Big Apple, and you’ll get ten different responses. (By the way, that’s actually a good idea. Ask some NY natives or some long-time residents where to eat and give it a try.) But one you might try regardless is Russ and Daughters, a Jewish delicatessen that’s been in business since an entrepreneurial Polish immigrant started selling herring from a pushcart in the early 1900s. Swing by for a bagel and lox, try a
macaroon, or savor some matzo ball soup.
10. 9/11 Memorial and Museum
The National 9/11 Memorial Museum and the 9/11 Memorial Plaza offer opportunities to remember the past and pay tribute to the courage exhibited by so many people on a dark day in U.S. history. But there’s hope alive here in the World Trade Center area, too, with new buildings, green spaces, and public art. Near the memorial, you can see St. Paul’s Chapel, famous for surviving 9/11 and serving as a rescue and relief center in the months afterward–as well as for being the church that George Washington attended.
Why work for AMN Healthcare?
AMN Healthcare bills itself as the nation’s top travel nursing agency, but that’s not just a slogan. AMN Healthcare takes pride in its wide array of well-paying travel nurse jobs, its top-notch staff of recruiters, clinical experts and others who support travelers, the excellent benefits, and all the other opportunities that it offers to travelers.
Here are some key reasons to consider signing on with AMN Healthcare:
- We have the largest database of travel nursing jobs in the industry. We also have exclusive contracts with a number of leading healthcare organizations, including prestigious magnet hospitals – you know, the Big Names that everyone’s heard of.
- We make it easy for you. We designed the AMN Passport app to make it easy to search for jobs and book assignments. You can also use the app to manage your assignments.
- We offer 24/7 clinical support. If you run into a question about a clinical
matter on the job, you can call our clinical team and receive urgent assistance at any time of day or night. - We offer licensure assistance. Getting licensed in a new state can be a tedious and, in some cases, time-consuming process, but we strive to make it as easy and efficient as possible. This is especially useful for those of you who may not yet hold a New York nursing license.
- We pay for your housing. We can find you a safe, convenient apartment that we’ll pay for, or you can take a stipend and find your own housing--whatever works best for you.
- We’ll support you the entire way. Once you give us the nod, we’re right behind you every step of the way, offering support and making sure you get everything that you need. If you have need help with housing or payroll, we have staff who can help you. If you want to talk to someone about your assignment, your recruiter will always be there to guide you, too
AMN Healthcare also offers the best benefits in the travel nursing industry.
- Premium health benefits. Perhaps more important than ever before, our health benefits will give you the peace of mind to know that you have access to healthcare when you need it, too. Our options include PPO and HMO health benefits, as well as life insurance, vision insurance, and disability insurance – for you and your family. Plus, you don’t have to wait a month or three for these benefits to kick in. Coverage starts on day one.
- Retirement savings. AMN Healthcare offers a generous 401(k) matching program that will help you save money for your retirement (when you can travel even more!)
- Free continuing education. Nursing leaders will tell you that lifelong learning is a hallmark of the nursing profession. To make it easier for you to stay up-to-date on the latest evidence-based research and developments in your profession, we offer free continuing education unit (CEU) courses.
Interested in working in NYC?
Contact an AMN Healthcare recruiter to start the application process or
visit our job search page to find an assignment that’s a great fit for you!
