Mayor Adams Announces NYC Health + Hospitals has Hired 1,000+ Nurses in Past Eight Months to Continue Caring for New Yorkers

May 20, 2024

NYC Health + Hospitals Has Nearly 10,000 Full- and Part-Time Nurses as City Steps up Hiring Efforts to Recruit and Retain Nurses

New Nurses Can Take Advantage of Nurse Residency Program, Nursing Fellowships, Tuition Reimbursement, Loan Forgiveness, and Scholarship Programs

New York – New York City Mayor Eric Adams and NYC Health + Hospitals President and CEO Dr. Mitchell Katz today announced that more than 1,000 new union nurses have been hired over the past eight months at the city's public hospital system, replacing many temporary nurses. This investment in the health system's workforce ensures patients are served by permanent employees who are committed to the mission, come from the community, and have developed institutional knowledge. With these 1,000+ nurses, the NYC Health + Hospital system has more than 9,600 full-and part-time nurses across the system.

"Nurses stand on the frontlines of our health care system, and we were all witness to their heroic actions during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic," said Mayor Adams. "They are often the first and last people you see when you visit a hospital or outpatient setting, and they are the backbone of our health care system. Our administration is proud of the progress we have made hiring, training, and retaining nurses, investing in our health care workforce and a healthier city. Our public hospitals are a great place to further your nursing career, and now is the time to join."

"Nurses are a critical part of the care team," said Deputy Mayor for Health and Human Services Anne Williams-Isom. "They are oftentimes the person with whom patients interact with most, offering a warm smile and a gentle touch, whether it is for general medication administration, specialty services in a specific unit, or so many other ways nurses serve on the frontlines. Thank you to all new nurses for joining 'Team NYC' and thank you to all the nurses that are with us throughout the NYC Health + Hospitals system."

"Nurses are the heart of NYC Health + Hospitals, providing compassionate and skilled care to our patients every day," said NYC Health + Hospitals President and CEO Katz, MD. "Through our targeted recruitment efforts, we have been able to attract and retain top talent in the field, ensuring that our patients receive the best possible care. The dedication, expertise, and empathy of our nursing team are the foundation of our success, and we are grateful for their tireless efforts."

"It has been very gratifying to see the quality of nurses coming through our doors who want to dedicate their expertise and service to public health," said Natalia Cineas, DNP, RN, NEA-BC, FAAN, senior vice president and chief nurse executive, NYC Health + Hospitals. "Nurses are choosing to launch or continue their careers with NYC Health + Hospitals because we have such progressive, patient-centered care environments where nurses are active participants in decision making and care, and we offer many opportunities for growth."

"NYC Health+Hospitals/Mayorals is showing that hospitals can hire and retain nurses when they are committed to safe staffing and pay equity," said Alizia McMyers, RN, MSN, MHA, vice president, NYSNA NYC H+H/Mayorals Executive Council. "Since we were awarded better pay and staffing in our last union contract, city hospitals have been able to increase the pace of nurse hiring and reduce turnover and reliance on temporary staff. Nurses are proud to be part of the progress being made in the largest public health system in the country and proud to deliver quality care to all New Yorkers."

The city's public health system offers nurses an array of benefits, including a pension. New nurses can take advantage of the Nurse Residency Program, nursing fellowships, tuition reimbursement, loan forgiveness, and scholarship programs through NYC Health + Hospitals. Interested applicants can learn more by visiting the Nurses4NYC website and applying online.

Over the past two years, nursing teams across the city's health system have received recognition for providing high quality care to New Yorkers. NYC Health + Hospitals/Queens, Kings County, and South Brooklyn Health all received the prestigious Pathway to Excellence designation from the American Nurses Credentialing Center, joining a select group of just 206 health care organizations worldwide to do so. Additionally, 17 units throughout the system have received the Beacon Award for Excellence from the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses with eight of those units receiving Gold Beacon Awards.

Today's announcement builds on the city's work to retain and train nurses, including the city's progress training 5,000 new nurses through the citywide Nurse Residency Program.

Nurses at NYC Health + Hospitals can participate in the following programs:

Nurse Residency Program
The year-long residency program provides newly-hired, first-time nurses with on-the-job training that focuses on topics, including ethics, decision making, clinical leadership, and the incorporation of research-based evidence into practice. The program also provides new nurses with support and mentorship proven to enhance nurse satisfaction, performance, and retention.

Critical Care Nursing Fellowship
Launched in 2024, NYC Health + Hospitals offers a Critical Care Nursing Fellowship to provide high-quality care to critically ill patients. This fellowship focuses on critical care within a selected range of specialties and includes simulation; didactic, on-site experiences; clinical rotations in emergency, post-anesthesia care, telemetry, and stepdown units; and interactive and personalized learning experiences.

Nursing Emergency Department Fellowship
The 22‐week Emergency Department Nursing Fellowship Program is for nurses with no prior emergency department clinical experience. The program builds on foundational nursing skills to further enhance the knowledge and skills of fellows to ensure they are equipped to deliver safe patient care in a fast‐paced emergency department.