South Nassau Communities Hospital in Oceanside, NY has invested $5 million in building 22 two-bedroom apartments to offer to nurses at below-market rates. The hospital hopes the strategy will attract scarce nurses who might otherwise be frightened off by the area's extremely high housing costs. On Long Island, the nurse vacancy rate is almost 10 percent, compared with an average of 8 percent nationwide, according to figures from HANYS. The apartments are expected to appeal especially to nurses hired from the Philippines and India. The units will rent for $1,800 a month, which would normally be on the low side for even a one-bedroom in the same neighborhood. There are already 22 names on the waiting list.
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