Press Releases

City of New York Celebrates National Nurses Month with $2 Million in Investments to Support New Registered Nurses and the Next Generation of Nurse Preceptors, Educators, and Leaders

Citywide Nurse Residency Program has supported advanced clinical skills of more than 7,500 early career nurses and announces new partnership with NYC Her Future

NYC Talent, CUNY, and SBS launch innovative Nurse Fellowship Academy with $1.6 million over two years to upskill more than 300 working nurses to become nurse educators

May 28, 2025

New York, NY — Today as we celebrate the conclusion of National Nurses Month, the City of New York announces $2 million in new investments in the local nurse training and education pipeline to support a stronger healthcare workforce across the five boroughs. The Mayor’s Office of Talent and Workforce Development (NYC Talent) (and its healthcare industry partnership, the New York Alliance for Careers in Healthcare (NYACH)), in partnership with the City University of New York (CUNY), and the New York City Department of Small Business Services (SBS) is launching the first-of-its-kind Nurse Fellowship Academy. Additionally, thanks to $350,00 in new support from NYC Her Future, the City will grow its impact in its Citywide Nurse Residency Program, which is an ongoing partnership with the Greater New York Hospital Association (GNYHA) and a consortium of more than 30 hospitals and healthcare facilities.   

The Nurse Fellowship Academy is a commitment of $1.6 million over the next two years, upskilling over 300 working nurses to become qualified nurse preceptors, educators, and leaders to provide in-demand training capacity for nurses in both academic and clinical settings, reflecting the City’s commitment to investing in the nursing workforce pipeline to support professionals at all stages of their careers. Since its launch in 2019, the Citywide Nurse Residency Program has now enrolled more than 7,500 nurse residents, ensuring early career nurses develop the evidence-based practice and advanced clinical skills needed to succeed, more than 2,600 of which have worked at NYC Health + Hospitals. Across the consortium, the program has generated an estimated $42 million in cost savings Citywide due to improved first year nurse retention, underscoring the ROI of strengthening early career nurse pipeline. NYC Her Future’s investment, aligned with its vision of a city where all young women, regardless of background, can thrive and lead lives of opportunity, will support this important career pathway for women of color, who make up approximately 50% of the nursing workforce. Supporting early-career nurses in their academic and professional journey is vital for strengthening the future of healthcare in NYC, evidenced by tens of millions of dollars saved and improved patient care attributed to this program.   

“Nurses are the backbone of our city’s healthcare system,” said Deputy Mayor for Housing, Economic Development, and Workforce Adolfo Carrión Jr. “Our administration’s investments in the next generation of nurses will ensure that nurses have the tools and resources they need to continue being the lifeline for the people of New York City.”  

“The launch of the Nurse Fellowship Academy and additional investment in the Citywide Nurse Residency Program will help New York City retain and grow the next generation of registered nurses who will play an essential role in the health and wellbeing of our City,” said Doug Lipari, Acting Executive Director of the Mayor’s Office of Talent and Workforce Development. “These commitments, combined with the 7500 nurse residents the City has already supported since 2019, demonstrate this administration’s prioritization of our healthcare workers and its commitment to creating pathways for economic opportunity and career growth for the nurses who keep our communities healthy and thriving every day.”

The new CUNY Nurse Fellowship Academy offers working nurses an opportunity to advance their career as an educator in either academia or in clinical settings (as a nurse preceptor, nurse educator, or nurse leader), for which nurses are in high demand. In 2023, 42% of nursing education programs reported turning away qualified applicants, primarily due to difficulties in recruiting faculty and a lack of clinical training site capacity. The Nurse Fellowship Academy helps address these shortages through a virtual, 4-month, program that combines didactic instruction, mentorship and stackable credentials focused on teaching methodologies, clinical supervision and curriculum development. This program provides NYC’s Registered Nurses (RN) and Advanced Practice Nurses with pathways for career advancement and leadership development, while also increasing the talent pool for qualified nursing school faculty, helping ensure NYC continues to produce the nursing workforce that is essential to caring for our communities.

The New York City-wide Nurse Residency Program has supported nurse residents (recently graduated Registered Nurses in their first year of clinical work) with ongoing education training and peer support that are proven to increase worker skills, satisfaction, and retention. Nursing provides a rewarding middle-class career that is essential to caring for New Yorkers in all clinical settings, and in New York City this workforce consists of first-year retention of newly graduated nurses has been a historical challenge for health care systems across the country, and residencies are a recognized best practice for improving nurse retention.

“Our visionary Nurse Residency Program – developed in partnership with the citywide consortium – has been phenomenally effective in providing our newly-hired nurses with specialized training, education and mentoring services in order to promote job retention and thereby expand opportunities and retain skilled professionals at the public hospitals that deliver quality healthcare to countless New Yorkers,” said NYC Health + Hospitals Senior Vice President and Chief Nursing Executive Natalia Cineas, DNP, MSM-N, MBA, RN, NEA-BC, FAAN, FADLN. “To date we have enrolled 2,636 nurse residents, and retention rates have risen to 87% since 2019, resulting in hiring cost savings of $88 million for our system. We currently are preparing for the June debut of cohorts 46 and 47 of the Nurse Residency Program, which allows our nurse residents to transition confidently from being a student to becoming a professional nurse, delivering first-rate patient care in a clinical environment. NYC Health + Hospitals is investing in the city’s future clinical workforce, ensuring we recruit and retain confident, proficient, and knowledgeable nurses to meet current and future healthcare demands. Through our Nurse Residency Program, NYC Health + Hospitals is enhancing staff sustainability to enable our municipal healthcare system to fulfill its mission to serve the most vulnerable and underserved patients, families and communities.”

“NYC Her Future is proud to announce our continued partnership with the Citywide Nurse Residency Program,” said Nathifa Forde, Founding Executive Director of NYC Her Future. “This collaboration underscores our commitment to empowering emerging nurses and fostering a robust, diverse healthcare workforce. In New York City, women of color represent approximately 50% of the nursing workforce yet they face unique challenges that impact retention and career advancement. Despite their vital contributions, women of color in NYC experience higher attrition rates due to limited access to mentorship, professional development, and support systems. The Citywide Nurse Residency Program not only provides essential transition support for new nurses but also offers comprehensive upskilling and mentorship, proven to enhance retention and career progression. NYC Her Future is dedicated to supporting early-career individuals, particularly women of color, by ensuring they have access to the resources, guidance, and professional development needed to stay within their chosen career paths and thrive. By investing in nurses at the beginning of their careers and prioritizing their growth and retention, we are building a healthier, more equitable community.”

“The Department of Small Business Services is proud to deliver workforce interventions that help New Yorkers achieve their economic goals for themselves and their families,” said SBS Commissioner Dynishal Gross. “The Nurse Educator Fellowship Academy provides an even deeper public benefit, by contributing to the diversity and stability of the nursing profession. This is an amazing way to celebrate National Nurses Month, under Mayor Adams leadership and vision.”

“The CUNY Nurse Fellowship Academy reflects our mission to ensure that the next generation of compassionate, talented nursing professionals are ready to serve in this high-demand field,” said CUNY Chancellor Félix V. Matos Rodríguez. “As the University that graduates nearly half of New York City’s newly licensed nurses each year, we’re honored to partner with the city to strengthen the nursing workforce by increasing clinical training capacity, expanding career advancement opportunities and growing the pipeline of qualified faculty who will train the city’s future nursing students.”  

“We are honored to stand alongside New York City in supporting nurses as they transition to practice,” said Evy Olson, VP Nursing Programs, Vizient, Inc. “The city’s unwavering leadership and commitment to nurturing the next generation of nurses is a powerful example of what it means to invest in the future of healthcare. Together, we are building a stronger, more resilient nursing workforce—one nurse at a time, impacting over 7,500 nurses across the city.”

“Mayor Adams and his administration have been incredible partners in expanding SkillSpring, The New Jewish Home’s healthcare workforce development program, as a registered apprenticeship,” said Dr. Jeffrey Farber, President and CEO of The New Jewish Home. “We are deeply grateful for their commitment to investing in and growing New York City’s healthcare workforce. Thanks to the Mayor’s Office of Talent and Workforce Development, we are empowered to uplift even more young people from underserved communities eager to make a difference by providing skilled and compassionate care for older New Yorkers.”

“GNYHA is proud to join the Mayor’s Office of Talent and Workforce Development to celebrate New York City’s investments in programs to strengthen the nursing workforce,” said Tim Johnson, Senior Vice President of the Greater New York Hospital Association. “We have been honored to partner with the City in the creation of these programs and we look forward to developing more innovative workforce programs that will improve health outcomes and allow nurses and other team members to continue to provide the best care for their communities.”

“Investments such as the LPN Apprenticeship pilot program provide much needed support for incumbent healthcare workers, who are looking to advance in their careers,” said Daniel Bustillo, Deputy Executive Director, 1199TEF. “We look forward to our ongoing partnership with NYACH and the NYC Center for Nursing Education and Practice, as we continue innovating on the critical work of providing additional support for the nursing workforce.”

“At Mount Sinai Health System, we believe that expanding career pathways in healthcare and nursing is essential to strengthening our communities and we are proud to partner with the Mayor on these important initiatives,” said Beth Oliver, DNP, RN, FAAN, Chief Nursing Executive and Senior Vice President, Mount Sinai Health System. “This commitment and investment in growing a skilled workforce reflects and serves our city and ensures delivery of high-quality care for all New Yorkers.”

“These investments are critical steps toward a more equitable healthcare system that empowers our nursing workforce, builds career pathways, and ensures that our communities thrive,” said Dr. Sandra Scott, CEO, One Brooklyn Health. “This is especially important for expanding opportunities for the underserved and creating economic stability.”

Led by the New York Alliance for Careers in Healthcare (NYACH) at NYC Talent and in partnership with the healthcare industry, the City has increasingly made investments to support New York City’s nurses at different points of the nursing career pipeline during the Adams Administration via the NYC Center for Nursing Education and Practice, apartnership with CUNY, hoping to keep workers in the profession and increase the number of diverse nurses in this essential workforce. CUNY serves as the backbone of the nurse education pipeline for NYC, preparing over 1,700 of the City’s nursing workforce annually, and an important system for economic mobility for New Yorkers.

Taken together, these investments and programs demonstrate the City’s commitment to supporting nurses at all stages of their careers and serves as an important model for leveraging public-private partnerships that bring together industry, local educational institutions, philanthropy and government to deliver more inclusive careers for New Yorkers in today’s in-demand occupations. Since 2022, the Adams administration has secured catalytic new investment of more than $8.5 million in the local nursing workforce pipeline.

In addition to the programs shared in today’s announcement, in January 2025 NYACH launched the Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) Apprenticeship pilot program thanks to $600,000 of funding support from the Robin Hood Foundation and in partnership with1199SEIU Training and Employment Funds and CUNY Medgar Evers College. This pilot initiative supports opportunities for current low-wage healthcare workers, many of whom are immigrants and women of color, to take the next step in their careers toward better-paying, higher-skilled LPN jobs through a more supportive learn-and-earn apprenticeship model.

The NYC Department of Small Business Services also announced in February 2024 an additional $340,000 in funding for the city’s no-cost NCLEX-RN Training Program for English Language Learners, which addresses the city’s critical nursing shortage while creating pathways to economic mobility for immigrant New Yorkers. By leveraging untapped expertise, the program connects internationally trained nurses with the resources needed to secure licensure and high-paying roles in New York City’s hospitals and clinics. Since its launch, the NCLEX-RN program has delivered marked success: 94 percent of participants pass the NCLEX-RN exam, compared to the national average of 70 percent.

Today’s announcement builds on New York City Mayor Adams’ 2023 State of the City ’30×30′ goal of connecting 30,000 New Yorkers to apprenticeships by 2030. In November 2024, Mayor Adams announced that New York City had already surpassed 15,000 apprenticeships in fewer than three years, putting the administration ahead of schedule. The Citywide Nurse Residency Program contributes significantly to this progress as it is an important healthcare apprenticeship model. As part of $2.1 million for nine apprenticeship grants announced during Mayor Adams’ February 2025 “Jobs Week”, NYC Talent also currently supports The New Jewish Home as they establish a registered apprenticeship program for certified nursing assistants (CNAs) with their training partner SkillSpring, focusing recruitment for opportunity youth.

For more information on the CUNY Nurse Fellowship Academy visit:  https://nursefellowship.commons.gc.cuny.edu.

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About the Mayor’s Office of Talent & Workforce Development (“NYC Talent”)
NYC Talent is responsible for the City’s talent and workforce development system that benefits City residents, employers, and the economy. NYC Talent seeks new and effective ways to scale and sustain productive public/private partnerships; to develop and match talent to promising careers; to align its education, career preparation and skills training programs across City government; and to coordinate program and fiscal data across stakeholders to provide a comprehensive view of the talent system with the goal of making progress towards the City’s employment objectives. The New York Alliance for Careers in Healthcare (“NYACH”) is the healthcare public-private industry partnership within NYC Talent. Founded in 2011 as a collaboration between private philanthropy and City government, NYACH is focused on creating a better future for NYC communities and the healthcare industry through economic and workforce development.  For more information visit nyc.gov/wkdev and follow us on LinkedIn, Instagram, and X(Twitter).

About the NYC Department of Small Business Services (SBS)
SBS helps unlock economic potential and create economic security for all New Yorkers by connecting New Yorkers to good jobs, creating stronger businesses, and building vibrant neighborhoods across the five boroughs. For more information on all SBS services, go to nyc.gov/sbs, call 888-SBS-4NYC, and follow us on Facebook,  Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn.

About NYC Her Future
Launched in March 2024, as an office housed within the NYC Mayor’s Office of Equity & Racial Justice, NYC Her Future addresses the disparities that young women and girls of color face across New York City in education, employment, justice, and health. By developing and advocating for comprehensive policies, programs, and partnerships, NYC Her Future aims to holistically support the success of young women of color. To learn more about how NYC Her Future is providing young women and girls of color with the tools to be successful by their own definition, visit www.nyc.gov/HerFuture or follow us on LinkedIn, Instagram, X(Twitter), and Facebook.

About NYC Health + Hospitals
NYC Health + Hospitals is the largest municipal health care system in the nation serving more than a million New Yorkers annually in more than 70 patient care locations across the city’s five boroughs. A robust network of outpatient, neighborhood-based primary and specialty care centers anchors care coordination with the system’s trauma centers, nursing homes, post-acute care centers, home care agency, and MetroPlus health plan—all supported by 11 essential hospitals. Its diverse workforce of more than 43,000 employees is uniquely focused on empowering New Yorkers, without exception, to live the healthiest life possible. For more information, visit www.nychealthandhospitals.org and stay connected on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn.