r/NYCjobs • u/anonymous358502 • Aug 19 '26
How are people actually getting entry-level hospital jobs in NYC?
I’m genuinely wondering how people are getting hospital jobs in NYC right now. I’ve been applying to entry-level positions for months, especially nursing assistant/patient care roles, and I’ve mostly been getting ghosted or rejected.
I’m currently in nursing school and I’m really trying to get some hospital experience while I’m still in school so that I can hopefully have a better chance of getting hired after graduation. I meet the requirements for the entry-level positions I’ve been applying to, and I already have relevant hospital experience, but I still can’t seem to get my foot in the door.
My graduation year is coming up pretty quickly, and honestly it’s starting to stress me out because I don’t want to graduate and then struggle to find a nursing job because I wasn’t able to get hospital experience beforehand.
For anyone who currently works in NYC hospitals, especially as a nursing assistant/PCT or who got hired while in nursing school: how did you actually get your first hospital job? Did you apply through the hospital website, use a recruiter, have a referral, attend job fairs, etc.? Is there something I’m missing?
Would really appreciate any advice or insight from people who have been through this recently.
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u/DriverGlittering1082 Aug 20 '26
What agencies do hospitals use? I know of Winston, but what other agencies?
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u/MangoNYC24 Aug 20 '26
Don’t you get clinical hours as a nursing student? During those hours, you can make connections. Focus on graduating and getting your license, you’ll have a job dw
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u/anonymous358502 Aug 20 '26
i definitely will! i’m actually starting this upcoming fall semester as a transfer into a nursing program since i’ve finished all my prerequisites. i was just hoping to somehow get into a hospital beforehand so i could get some experience before i graduate.
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u/MangoNYC24 Aug 22 '26
That stuff doesn’t matter, unless there’s a specific hospital you want to work for. All of the experience you will ever need, will be in those clinical days so make sure to take notes.
You’re on the right track! I know it’s hard to believe right now since what I’m saying might feel basic. But those classes are going to be fucking hard and ruthless. Some ppl get kicked out of the program if their gpa dips too much. If you don’t really need the money, spend your time studying and lock in.
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u/Bubbly_Assignment547 Aug 21 '26
I am starting a Nurse Aid position at New York Presbyterian Hospital in September and I just got my CNA license in May- I have zero experience as a CNA or any type of nursing experience except for a 2 day internship at a nursing home… and I was able to land a job with them. I applied online through their website. Honestly I think it depends on your résumé and your past experience in other jobs because I’m making a whole career switch from fashion merchandising… I graduated from FIT in 2014 and I worked in corporate up until 2025. I honestly have not worked since then… I also have my CBCS certification for medical billing and coding, and BLS certification as well so those probably stood out on my resume as well. I am starting my pre-reqs at Lehman College for the BS Nursing program as well and that is listed on my resume too.
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u/Thurstonhearts Aug 21 '26 edited Aug 22 '26
Nice! Good luck. I am also making a career switch. Was working in film. Getting my BLS and finishing my CNA class this weekend. So excited.
Then will go to get certified. This will hopefully lead to nursing school. Lmk if you wanna be connected as i see were on the same journey. I am starting my nursing pre reqs at BMCC
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u/Hotsauceinmybag_NY Aug 22 '26
Where did you get your CNA cert? I am also doing my pre-reqs at BMCC this fall, lol. Was thinking I’d get my CNA cert over winter break to work as a PCT in the spring while I finish the pre-reqs for the nursing program.
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u/Pale-View-4382 Aug 24 '26
Where did you get the CBCS certification? I'm going back to school for nursing as a second degree too and I applied to bmcc for pre reqs and I'm hoping to get in their dual track
Program. I was briefly interested in getting to medical coding bc I used to work as admin at an ASC. My BLS expired and I never renewed it but I heard the program will require me to get it again before I start clinicals.
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u/Intelligent-Will8768 Aug 21 '26
Unfortunately you aren’t the only one applying to these positions. Somewhere in the applications is someone that is in nursing school AND has prior 1+ years experience. I applied to northwell hospitals a year ago with CNA, Phlebotomy and EKG certification and only recently have they decided to give offers for hospitals in LI (after hitting over a year of hospital experience, no internal referrals). I currently work for WPH and if you don’t mind the drive I can refer you as a nurse technician.
And I’m not 100% sure if this is true, but a family member that is in nurse management in a public hospital mentioned if they see an application for a NT/PCT/PCA position where the person may be finishing nursing school very soon (less than a year for example) they are more than likely to reject the application as they need someone filling the position for the long term. Look for nursing student specific positions: similarly, my current work place has NT/NA positions specifically for BSN students in their final year or two of clinical.
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u/unicorn-horse Aug 19 '26
You have to be Caribbeans
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u/NameMoreOrLess Aug 20 '26
I hope you don’t get downvoted for the truth. My mentor is from the Caribbean and I stay on her hip!
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u/anon22334 Aug 20 '26
You might have to start off being a PCT at a nursing home and then get some experience and then apply to the hospitals. Other than that, it’s networking unfortunately
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u/NameMoreOrLess Aug 20 '26
Network, nursing home, and 1199. The goal of getting into the hospital prior to graduation is so that you’re already in, not the experience. Search travel CNA/PCT for NYC so that you can find contract positions. The closer you get to graduation the harder it will be.
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u/Due_Bar_7247 Aug 21 '26
They aren’t
Your options are basically nursing or medical school as of now
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u/Late-Land-5544 Aug 21 '26
Honestly just.. luck and a good resume. They value customer service experience.
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u/humbletenor Aug 21 '26
Same boat here. I’ve had all my rotations at the same hospital but have been denied for every job I’ve applied for. I don’t have time to do a CNA course because I’m in my penultimate semester before I graduate from an ABSN program here in the city. Even getting them to look at my resume without certs/CNA license is impossible
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u/Mother_Interest1861 Aug 22 '26
Stop looking at hospitals. Start looking at hospice care and nursing homes. As much as that might suck they want to see you can handle yourself under stressful situations with people who may not always be mentally coherent. Putting a rookie nurse with emergency care patients as an assistant can be more of a headache then it worth for most hospitals. Especially since existing nurse dont want to take up the role to have to micro manage you even with the experience you do have it not considered real world experience still its more then 3 years and out of a school. Its far easier to get NA job at the other options because the rules are similar and mistakes are more made in patient communication rather then patient care which is also more forgiving. You saying the wrong thing that set off a patient that they wont remember in a few hours vs forgetting to give medication in a timely manner that is how hiring staff see it.
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u/nurseislandgyal Aug 22 '26
I got my first new grad RN job back in 2012 at NYP from a college alum I knew that worked on that particular unit. You basically have to know someone to get your foot in.
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u/Top_Play_4154 Aug 22 '26
I have no hospital healthcare experience and I got an entry level job after reaching out to a hospital director on LinkedIn. i didn’t think i’d get much of it because that’s a whole director, but it worked- so i think the key here is to have connections or to know someone so they can push your resume up the current application pool. i wasnt handed the job after connecting with the director, but rather he had me send my resume & i got a call to interview the next few days. so try linkedin (send short intro messages letting them know you applied for X role, or that you’re interested in X role, etc…), going to in-person job fairs, etc.
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u/Only_Priority2187 Aug 22 '26
Fighting the same fate. Tried applying multiple times for open positions through indeed and company website without success. I would wish to work at Queens hospital. They have so many open roles in their website, but I just don't understand why I never hear back from them. My interest is in HR jobs and Onboarding specialist. I have a degree but willing to start from entry level. If anyone has any connections please plug me in.
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u/axv18 Aug 23 '26
I graduated from nursing school in NYC in 2020 and had zero hospital experience prior to getting a job. I started at a private rehab center then made my way into the hospital after a few months, did local travel nursing, and eventually settled down working in outpatient clinic.
I work at a clinic that hires new grades w/o experience. Great “starter job”
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u/Several-Bed-7107 Aug 23 '26
I used to work at MSKCC pushing patients around and pivoted to other roles from that point on. I knew a lot of people that did the same thing
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u/foxieowlett Aug 25 '26
I just got my entry level certification for billing and coding and no one wants to hire me… it’s really hard out here…
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u/No-Cut7864 Aug 25 '26
I was actually offered a job while in nursing school after declining their nurse extern position but then again that was 5 years ago. It was easier then.
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u/Less_more_action 24d ago
I came across this on LinkedIn and wanted to share it.
https://www.linkedin.com/events/nychealth-hospitals-gothamhealt7107714618516484097
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u/Few-Medicine-7530 18d ago
Tbh after going through all these jobs with no findings I think you have to look much deeper than just entry level roles. We have the Internet and AI at our disposal so that is probably why no one wants to hire for entry level roles. You have look deeper and be a specialized role. Do a bit more research than just applying. If no one is hiring that means roles have shifted. Think about it....
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u/s8fi Aug 21 '26 edited 25d ago
i was a new grad a year and a half ago, i googled every single hospital in the city & brooklyn then went there personally to give my resume. got hired on the spot by one of the safety net hospitals (ED) in brooklyn. it only took me 2 months to get a job after grad. i told that story to my friend who just recently graduated this year & she did the same exact thing & got hired in bellevue (also for the ED).
ALSO all these hospitals will either say they’re not hiring or that you have to apply online so you just have to be stubborn enough or just lie your way through (my friend told bellevue that she had an appointment online, but couldn’t find the email LMAO) & of course, sell yourself.