Becoming an RN in New York

You can become a registered nurse in New York by completing an approved nursing education program and also completing a short training in child abuse identification and reporting.

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There are many baccalaureate and associate’s programs throughout the state that prepare a candidate to take the NCLEX-RN exam and earn nursing licensure in New York. In addition, there is one RN diploma program, at Arnot-Ogden Medical Center in the Genesee Valley region. Programs at any of these levels can qualify you to work in clinical settings under the scope of practice outlined by the New York State Board of Nursing. There is not a separate licensing exam to distinguish all the different degree levels. A BSN degree, however, is preferred by the military and by many elite hospitals. It can help you advance to management or education positions later on in your career.

There are more baccalaureate programs in the New York City area than in the more rural upstate regions. More than 50% of the nurses in New York City have a BSN.

Education Pathways for Registered Nursing

Second career professionals can enter the nursing field relatively quickly. An accelerated bachelors of science in nursing may be earned in as little as twelve months of intensive study. This assumes that all prerequisites have been completed. Prerequisites typically include anatomy, physiology, and microbiology, so science majors are often in a very good position. A second degree professional in New York may also choose to enroll in an accelerated master’s program, earning status as a registered nurse after one year, and advanced practice certification in another two years.

Practical nurses can also enroll in shorter clinical programs. Since programs build on past experience and learning, they can be completed in as little as year.

Registered Nursing Career Outlook in New York

A 2010 report by the Health Care Association of New York State was titled “Short-term Relief, Ongoing Shortage”. The report noted that a substantial percentage of hospitals had frozen wages or even eliminated some positions. Moreover, some experienced nurses were choosing to return to the workforce. Turnover rates were down, and many graduates were having a hard time landing that first position. However, even in this challenging economic environment, more than half of hospitals (54%) still reported recruitment difficulties.

Of more concern to health care organizations is the potential shortfall down the line. An analysis of RN demographics leads to an inevitable conclusion: Many will be retiring in the near future. At the same time, the general population is also aging. The report expressed concern that if students were deterred from entering nursing school, either because it was a financial hardship or because they thought there were no jobs, there could be a nursing crisis in the works. The Health Care Association’s to the powers-that-be in New York was to continue encouraging nursing school enrollments. A message to individual students: Do not give up on your dreams of becoming a nurse.

National organizations have stated that while it is more difficult to find a job in a recession –even for a nurse — nurses are having an easier time than people in many other professions. The AACN notes that during the economic downturn, many magnet hospitals, and some other facilities have given preference to new graduates with BSN degrees. North Shore Long Island Jewish Health system is among the hospitals that the AACN specifically references.

The Nursing Program Application Process

The 2010 workforce report also noted that, in the very recent past, more than 2,000 applicants had been turned away due to a lack of qualified faculty to teach them.

There are some schools that admit qualified students on a first come, first serve basis. In order to gain admission, though, candidates must often go beyond the stated requirements. At the ADN level this frequently come down to academic performance.

Requirements are often higher in university-based programs. Accelerated second bachelor’s programs are known for being competitive as well as rigorous. Some programs, like the one at the State University of New York, have added an interview to the process to make sure that they have students who are up for an intense clinical experience.

ADN Programs Approved by the New York State Board of Nursing

Broome Community College Upper Front Street
P.O. Box 1017
Binghamton, NY 13902
607.778.5060
Onondaga Community College
Onondaga Hill
Syracuse, NY 13215
315.469.7741, ext. 2360
Crouse Hospital School of Nursing 736 Irving Avenue
Syracuse, NY 13210
315.470.7481
St. Joseph’s Hospital
Health Center
School of Nursing 206 Prospect Avenue
Syracuse, NY 13203
315.448.5046
Cayuga County Community College
Franklin Street
Auburn, NY 13021
315.255.1743, ext. 351
SUNY College of Technology at Delhi
Main Street
Delhi, NY 13753
607.746.4125
SUNY College of Technology at Morrisville
Bailey Annex
Morrisville, NY 13408
315.684.6000
Tompkins-Cortland Community College
170 North Street
P.O. Box 139
Dryden, NY 13053
607.844.8211, ext. 4333
Finger Lakes Community College
4355 Lake Shore Drive Canandaigua, NY 14424
716.394.3500, ext. 278
Corning Community College
1 Academic Drive
Corning, NY 14830-3297 607.962.9241
Genesee Community College 1 College Road
Batavia, NY 14020
585.343.0055, ext. 6355
Monroe Community College
1000 E. Henrietta Road Rochester, NY 14623
585.292.4260
Nassau Community College
1 Education Drive, Rm. V210
Garden City, NY 11530 516.572.9630

SUNY at Farmingdale
2350 Route 110
Gleeson Hall, Rm. 304 Farmingdale, NY 11735 631.420.2229

Suffolk County Community College – Western Campus
Crooked Hill Road
Brentwood, NY 11717
631.451.4265
Suffolk County Community College
533 College Road
Selden, NY 11784-2899
631.451.4265
Phillips Beth Israel
310 East 22nd Street
New York, NY 10010
212.614.6107
St. Vincent’s Catholic Medical Center of New York – Staten Island 75 Vanderbilt Ave., 5th Fl.
Staten Island, NY 10304 718.354-6470
St. Vincent’s Catholic Medical Center of New York – Brooklyn & Queens
175-05 Horace Harding Expressway
Fresh Meadows, NY 11365 718.357.0500
CUNY Borough of Manhattan Community College
199 Chambers St., So. 785
New York, NY 10019
212.346.8700
Bronx Community College
University Avenue & W. 181st St.
Bronx, NY 10453
718.289.5425
Hostos Community College
475 Grand Concourse
Bronx, NY 10451
718.518.4121
Kingsborough Community College
2001 Oriental Boulevard Manhattan Beach
Brooklyn, NY 11235
718.368.5522
LaGuardia Community College
31-10 Thomson Ave., E-300
Long Island City, NY 11101 718.482.5774
Medgar Evers College
1150 Carroll Street
Brooklyn, NY 11225
718.270.6222
New York City Technical College
300 Jay Street
Brooklyn, NY 11201
718.260.5660
Queensborough Community College
222-05 56th Avenue
Bayside, NY 11364
718.631.6205
The College of Staten Island
2800 Victory Blvd.
Staten Island, NY 10314
718.982.3810
Helene Fuld College of Nursing of North General Hospital
24 East 120th Street
New York, NY 10035
212.616.7200
Long Island College Hospital School of Nursing
339 Hicks Street
Brooklyn, NY 11201
718.780.1560
Touro College
5323 18th Avenue
Brooklyn, NY 11204
718.236.2661
Cochran School of Nursing (St. John’s Riverside Hospital)
967 North Broadway
Yonkers, NY 10701
914.964.4283
Dutchess Community College
53 Pendell Road Poughkeepsie, NY 12601-1595
845.431.8570
The Dorothea Hopfer School of Nursing – Mount Vernon Hospital
53 Valentine Street
Mount Vernon, NY 10550
845.664.8000
Orange County Community College
115 South Street Middletown, NY 10940
845.341.4108
Rockland Community College
145 College Road
Suffern, NY 10901
845.574.4222
Sullivan County Community College
122 College Road, P.O. Box 4002
Loch Sheldrake, NY 12759 845.434.5750
Ulster County Community College
Stone Ridge, NY 12484
1.800.724.0833
Westchester Community College
75 Grasslands Road
Valhalla, NY 10595
914.785.7909
Adirondack Community College
Bay Road
Queensbury, NY 12804
518.743.2265
Clinton Community College
136 Clinton Point Drive
Plattsburgh, NY 12901-6002
518.562.4165
Columbia-Greene Community College
Box 4400, Rt. 23
Hudson, NY 12534-0327
518.828.4181
Ellis Hospital
1101 Nott Street
Schenectady, NY 12308
518.243.4471
Excelsior College
7 Columbia Circle
Albany, NY 12203-5159
518.464.8500
Fulton-Montgomery Community College
2805 State Hwy. 67
Johnstown, NY 12095-3790
518.762.4651
Hudson Valley Community College
80 Vandenburg Avenue
Troy, NY 12180
518.629.7469
Maria College
700 New Scotland Avenue Albany, NY 12208
518.489.7436
Memorial Hospital School of Nursing
600 Northern Boulevard Albany, NY 12204
518.471.3260
Mohawk Valley Community College
1101 Sherman Drive
Utica, NY 13501
315.792.5375
North Country Community College
20 Winona Avenue
Saranac Lake, NY 12983
518.891.2915
St. Elizabeth College of Nursing
2215 Genesee Street
Utica, NY 13501
315.798.8125
Samaritan Hospital
2215 Burdett Avenue
Troy, NY 12180
518.271.3285
Erie Community College-North Campus
6205 Main Street Williamsville, NY 14221-7095
716.851.1357
Erie Community College, City Campus
121 Ellicott Street
Buffalo, NY 14203
716.851.1066
Jamestown Community College
525 Falconer Street Jamestown, NY 14702-0020 716.665.5220
Niagara County Community College
Nursing Education
3111 Saunders Settlement Rd.
Sanborn, NY 14132 716.614.5940
SUNY College of Technology at Alfred
Allied Health Bldg., 3rd Fl., Alfred, NY 14802
607.587.3695
Trocaire College
360 Choate Avenue
Buffalo, NY 14220
716.826.1200, ext. 262
Jefferson Community College
Outer Coffeen Street Watertown, NY 13601
315.786.2200
SUNY College of Technology at Canton
Cornell Drive
Canton, NY 13617
315.386.7401

BSN Programs Approved by the New York State Board of Nursing

Binghamton University – SUNY Decker School of Nursing

School Branding

Located in Binghamton, NY, the Binghamton University – SUNY Decker School of Nursing undergraduate and graduate nursing programs are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE).

Programs Offered: BSN, Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing, RN to BSN, MSN – (Tracks: Nurse Educator, Nurse Administrator, Nurse Practitioner – Community Health Nursing, Family Nursing, Gerontological Nursing, Psychiatric Mental Health Programs , Clinical Nurse Specialist – Same specialization options as the NP), Post-Master’s Certificate, PhD

College of Mount Saint Vincent Department of Nursing

School Branding

The Baccalaureate nursing programs and the Master’s nursing programs are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE).

Programs Offered: Bachelor of Science in Nursing, Second Degree Nursing, RN to MSN for RNs with a non-nursing BA or BS, MSN – (Concentrations: Nurse Administrator, Nursing Educator, Adult Nurse Practitioner, Family Nurse Practitioner), Post-Master’s Certificate – (Concentrations: Nursing Education, Family Nurse Practitioner, Adult Nurse Practitioner)

College of Mount Saint Vincent Department of Nursing, 6301 Riverdale Avenue, Riverdale, NY 10471-1093

Columbia University School of Nursing – New York

School Branding

All Nursing programs offered at the Columbia University School of Nursing are accredited by the Collegiate Commission of Nursing Education (CCNE) and the New York State Education Department.

Programs Offered: BSN, Accelerated BS/MS, MSN – (Specializations: Acute Care Nurse Practitioner, Adult Nurse Practitioner, Family Nurse Practitioner, Geriatric Nurse Practitioner, Neonatal Nurse Practitioner, Nurse Anesthesia, Nurse Midwifery, Oncology Nurse Practitioner, Pediatric Nurse Practitioner, Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner, Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner), University Statutory Certificate for Nurses with an NP and a Master’s who want additional specialization, MS Completion, MSN/MBA, MSN/MPH, DNP, PhD

D’Youville College – Buffalo

School Branding

All Nursing programs offered by D’Youville College are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) and registered by the New York State Education Department.

Programs Offered: BSN, BSN/MS, RN to BSN, RN to BSN/MS, MSN, MS – Family Nurse Practitioner, MS – Community Health, Post-Master’s Certificate – Family Nurse Practitioner, Post-Graduate Certificate – Family Nurse Practitioner & Nursing and Health Related Professions

D’Youville College, 320 Porter Avenue, Buffalo, NY 14201-1084

New York University College of Nursing

School Branding

The Baccalaureate nursing programs and the Master’s nursing programs are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE). The baccalaureate nursing programs are also NLNAC accredited.

Programs Offered: BS, Accelerated BS, RN to BS, Dual BS/MS, Post-Master’s and MSN – (Advanced Practice Nursing Tracks: Adult Acute Care, Adult Primary Care, Adult Primary Care/Geriatrics, Adult Nurse Practitioner/Holistic Nurse Practitioner, Adult Nurse Practitioner/Palliative Care Nurse Practitioner, Geriatrics, Mental Health, Midwifery, Pediatrics), (Non-Clinical MS Tracks: M.S. – Nursing Administration, M.S. – Nursing Education, M.S. – Nursing Informatics, Dual M.P.A./M.S. – Nursing Administration/Management), PhD

New York University College of Nursing, 246 Greene Street, New York, NY 10003

University at Buffalo School of Nursing

School Branding

The Baccalaureate nursing programs and the Master’s nursing programs are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE).

Programs Offered: Bachelor of Science in Nursing – BS, Second Degree Accelerated BS, MS – (MSN Tracks: Adult/Medical-Surgical CNS, Adult Nurse Practitioner, Family Nurse Practitioner, Maternal and Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner, Pediatric Nurse Practitioner, Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner, Nurse Anesthetist), Post-Master’s Certificates – (Tracks: Adult Nurse Practitioner, Pediatric Nurse Practitioner, Family Nurse Practitioner, Maternal and Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner, Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner), Doctor of Philosophy in Nursing

University at Buffalo School of Nursing, 1040 Kimball Tower, State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY 14214-3079

University of Rochester School of Nursing

School Branding

The Baccalaureate nursing programs and the Master’s nursing programs are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE).

Programs Offered: Part-Time BSN, Accelerated BSN (for Second Degree Students), Part-Time MSN, Accelerated MSN (for Second Degree students), RN to MSN, MSN – (Tracks: Acute Care Nurse Practitioner, Adult Nurse Practitioner, Adult Nurse Practitioner/Geriatric Nurse Practitioner, Care of Children and Families (Pediatric Nurse Practitioner), Care of Children and Families (Pediatric Nurse Practitioner with Pediatric Behavioral Health Specialization), Care of Children and Families (Pediatric Nurse Practitioner/Neonatal Nurse Practitioner), Family Nurse Practitioner, Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (Adult/Family), PhD, DNP

University of Rochester School of Nursing, 601 Elmwood Avenue, Box SON, Rochester, NY 14642

Hartwick College
Miller Science Building, Rm. 421
Oneonta, NY 13820
607.431.4780
SUNY Delhi
Main Street
Delhi, NY 13753
607.746.4125
Le Moyne College
1419 Salt Springs Road
Syracuse, NY 13214
315.445.4602
SUNY Morrisville State College
Bailey Annex
Morrisville, NY 13408
315.684.6695
SUNY Binghamton
P.O. Box 6000
Binghamton, NY 13902-6000
607.777.2311
Syracuse University
426 Ostrom Avenue
Syracuse, NY 13210
315.443.2141
Utica College
1600 Burrstone Road
Utica, NY 13502
315.792.3006
SUNY Institute of Technology at Utica/Rome
P.O. Box 3050
Utica, NY 13504
315.792.7295
Elmira College
Park Place
Elmira, NY 14901
607.735.1800
Keuka College
Nursing Division
One Keuka Business Park
Penn Yan, NY 14527
315.536.4411
SUNY College at Brockport
350 New Campus Drive Brockport, NY 14420
585.395.2355
New York Institute of Technology – Old Westbury Campus
P.O. Box 170
Old Westbury, NY 11568
516.686.3788
Herbert H. Lehman College
250 Bedford Park Boulevard
Bronx, NY 10468 718.960.8213
Hunter-Bellevue School of Nursing
425 East 25th Street
New York, NY 10010
212.481.7598
Medgar Evers College
1150 Carroll Street
Brooklyn, NY 11225
718.270.6221
The College of Staten Island
2800 Victory Blvd.
Staten Island, NY 10314
718.982.3810
New York Institute of Technology Manhattan Campus
1855 Broadway @ 61st Street
New York, NY 10023-7692
212.261.1700
New York University
246 Greene Street, 8th Fl. New York, NY 10003
212.998.5303
Wagner College
One Campus Road
Campus Hall
Staten Island, NY 10301
718.390.3436
College of New Rochelle
29 Castle Place
New Rochelle, NY 10805
914.654.5440
Mount Saint Mary College
330 Powell Avenue
Newburgh, NY 12550
845.569.3248
SUNY College at Plattsburgh
101 Broad Street
Plattsburgh, NY 12901-2681
518.564.4240
Nazareth College
4245 East Avenue, Rochester, NY 14618
PH: 585-389-2525
Niagara University
P.O. Box 2026
Niagara University, NY 14109
716.286.8155