Colorado Advice Please

I just graduated from an ADN program near Boulder (ft collins). Not to discourage you, but the waiting lists for nsg schools in this area are horrendously long. Also, if you want to live in the boulder area or surrounding towns, there isn't that much of a nursing shortage - probably since it is such an attractive place to live, so it will be harder to find a job. I am considering moving - I am having a hard time getting hired into the type of nursing I want to do. Also, I am finding that these hospitals are more selective, not really wanting new grads. Sorry to be negative, just my experience.

p.s. The cost of living and schooling is outrageous in this area. Colorado is having budget problems-it's kindve a complex issue, but this year, as in the past couple years, double digit tuition increases have been implemented, making colorado one of the most expensive places in the nation to attend college. And the front range nursing programs are okay, nothing to brag about.

I just graduated from a 2nd-degree BSN program in the DC area and will be heading to Denver in September to start work. I'm doing the new grad program at University of Colorado Hospital in Denver (www.uch.edu) which is fantastic!!

For what it's worth, the cost of living in Denver is less than Boulder and dramatically less than the DC area.

I can't really tell you anything about the nursing programs out there except that I've heard good things about University of Colorado (in Denver and related to my hospital) and St. Regis University (also in Denver).

Before I started nursing school I went on a road trip to decide where I wanted to live when I graduated. I chose Denver over every other city in America. I had no trouble getting a really good job there about 3 months before graduation and I only applied to one hospital. (And I'm going straight to the ED which is not exactly typical for new grads.)

Feel free to email me with any questions:
keith (at) mandarax (dot) net

I am in the middle of nursing school here, and as far as schools go - here's my 2 cents: Stay away from Community College of Denver (worthless nightmare, they are even on interim probation by the board, better off teaching yourself); Front Range and Arapahoe Community College are excellent and have the reputation as such. The wait lists are awful here however. (Incidentally, I am stuck at the awful school). You can find numerous posts regarding SG

Hey, if you're interested in this part of the country, have you considered Wyoming? I'm about a 75 minute drive from Boulder, a starter home won't cost you $300,000 (while beautiful, Boulder is $$), and the CC in Cheyenne is decent and doesn't work on the wait-list system like Colorado does. You could always go to school in Cheyenne (or Laramie for a BSN) and move to CO after graduation, or commute. My school has several students who commute from Ft. Collins, Greeley, etc. due to the Colorado wait-lists. PM me if you'd like more info.

I live up in Summit County (near Breckenridge) and a few people here commute all the way to Glenwood Springs to go to Colorado Mountain College's ADN program. That program is *extremely* affordable-about $6K for 2 years. I'm currently taking my prereq's through them (they have campuses all throughout the mountain region, but the ADN is only in Glenwood). I've looked into a few community colleges in Denver as well as the University of Colorado BSN program (also there's an accelerated BSN). Regis University also has a 12 month accelerated BSN program, but I've heard it's $$ plus some of the prereqs include 6 credits each of religion & philosophy. But you're done in a year.

We may be moving out to Gunnison-Western slope area. I am looking into the program offered with Trinidad Junior college-they have an ADN program in Alamosa and Salida (Salida's the one I'd commute to). Not the region you are looking at, but just to let you know.

Boulder is very expensive. The resort areas (Summit & Eagle Counties) are expensive as well. Denver itself is not too bad as far as cost of living. And the Western slope & southern Colorado areas are much less $$ (one reason we are considering moving). Good luck!