There are enormous opportunities for nurses in the Bronx. Here's a useful guide to nursing jobs in the Bronx, NY, to get you up to speed.

What educational background do you need to land a job in the Bronx, NY?

Even without a formal college degree, you can apply to become an LPN, or Licensed Practical Nurse, in the state of New York provided that you have at least either a high school diploma or a GED and at least nine months of nursing education in an LPN program approved by the state. A GED or high school diploma will also be enough to get you clerical jobs related to nursing like that of a medical biller.

With an associate degree, jobs such as medical assistant or medical technician become open to you.

To become an RN, or registered nurse, in New York state, you must attain a nursing diploma or complete a degree program that is at least two years in length, meaning that either an associate's degree or a BA is enough to make you eligible. An MA will allow you to rise even higher as an RN in the medical field, working as either a researcher or a professor of nursing. Of course, this will also allow you to make even more money. Lastly, if you have a PhD, the entire nursing and healthcare fields will be wide open to you. With that qualification, not only can you work with patients as a nurse, but you may also be able to snag a lucrative and prestigious administrative job that could put you in a position to influence health care policy on the local or even state level.

Please remember that both RNs and LPNs licensed and working in New York state - including in the Bronx - are required to take infection control coursework from a state-approved provider every four years in order to maintain their licenses. However, you may qualify for an exemption from this if the nature of your nursing practice makes it unnecessary. Lehman College School of Continuing & Professional Studies and Hostos Community College are approved providers of this coursework.

How can I land a nursing job in the Bronx, NY?

We want to aid you in your pursuit. That's the purpose behind our guide to nursing jobs in the Bronx, NY. Here are some tips.

You'll need an attractive, well-organized and attention-grabbing cover letter and resume that clearly lay out all your qualifications and experience. If you're applying for a higher position for which specific medical training is required, be sure to prominently display that information on your resume. Don't be afraid to show off any special skills or educational awards you've picked up along the way.

Beyond this, use your job interview as an opportunity to display how warm, personable and approachable you are. This applies whether you're interviewing in-person or over the phone. After all, as a nurse, you'll need to deal with patients and be able to set them at ease.

Networking through the NYSNA, a prominent nurse's union, can be a great way to give you an added leg up in your job search in the Bronx, NY.

What are common jobs in this area?

Nursing jobs can be subdivided by the amount of experience required to work in them.

Entry-level nursing jobs in the Bronx, NY, requiring little to no formal experience include certified nurse assistant, medical secretary or medical technician. These are generally the jobs for which an associate's degree along with your LPN license is sufficient.

Mid-level jobs requiring moderate experience are dominated in virtually every venue by RNs. As you ascend the medical hierarchy in these positions, you will find yourself taking on more of a managerial role and directly interacting with patients less and less. Supervisory positions of all kinds are prominent here.

Lastly, senior-level nurses are highly experienced professionals who nearly always do administrative or managerial work of some kind. They are paid well but are usually far less interactive with patients.

What are the biggest industries for this field in the Bronx, NY?

There’s no shortage of work for nurses to do in the Bronx. Hospitals will always be clamoring for more qualified people, and that means you can work in virtually any field that strikes your fancy. Some of the specialties include surgery, neonatal care, elder care and ICU.

The Bronx is full of prominent hospitals where you can apply as a nurse, including the Bronx-Lebanon Hospital Center and St. Barnabas Hospital. If education is your forte, there is also the Albert Einstein College of Medicine.

What kind of shifts can I work in this field in the Bronx?

New York City is called “the city that never sleeps” for a reason. As in the other boroughs, there will be nurses in the Bronx on duty at all hours of the day and night. Night shifts can be particularly difficult and chaotic, but they pay especially well for just that reason. Nurses often work long or rotating shifts to cover the workload.

You can work as a temp nurse in areas of the Bronx experiencing a shortage, of which there are many. Seasonal work is also widely available.

External resources

There are a large number of nursing publications you can read to keep you abreast of developments in the field, including Applied Nursing Research and American Nurse Today. If you’d like to join a union or a professional nursing organization, look no further than the NYSNA and the American Academy of Nursing, respectively.

Those from the Bronx can find LPN programs at Monroe College and The Bronx Community College.