Moving to Fort Collins, info. please.....

Hello!
I think you would definately like the Fort Collins area. I just moved back after 6 years in Arizona. Mild seasons, educated community, outdoor and fitness oriented. It is a popular place so traffic is picking up. Poudre Valley Hospital and the new Medical Center of the Rockies (same affiliation) are located in Ft. Collins and Loveland. Northern Colorado Medical Center (Banner) is in nearby Greeley and McKee Medical Center (Banner) is located in Loveland. Starting pay for a new grad RN is $24. Surprisingly its difficult to get in the door but well worth the effort! Poudre Valley is a magnet hospital.
Hope this helps!

Roger

I have lived in Fort Collins all my life. I just moved to Colorado Springs becasue I was not able to get a new grad position. I suggest looking into Poudre Valley. They are a magnet hospital. I did all my clinicals there and loved it. Was sad not to stay. Cost of living is very high there. Very nice community, good schools, close to the mountains. Can't tell you the base pay for new grads. I guess i am just repeating what the guy before me said, but...... I love Poudre Valley, it is a great hospital. Hope this helps.

Hi! Are you in Fort Collin? I am moving to Fort Collin because of my husband's job this fall. Can you share your experience and information about the hospitals there? Thanks

Just a warning, it can be difficult to get hired with PVHS ( both hospitals) . I don't know how much experience you have but it is very competitive for new grads, especially. As a former employee, I know they would get several applicants (even experienced RN's) for each posted position. Northern CO isn't much affected by the 'nursing shortage.'

I love Ft. Collins, I moved here in Summer of 06 and after living all over the country it's my favorite place so far. I start the nursing program at Front Range Community College in August. Can not say enough good things about FoCo especially if you have kids!

Yeah I agree - Fort Collins is a awesome place to live. PVH is also a great hospital to work at. For these reasons, nurses 'flock' to this area and northern CO which creates alot of competition. That is why it is so hard to get a job with PVH or Banner hospitals. The last time I checked PVH was only hiring new grad RN's who had a preexisting contract with them for employment.

Hmmmmm that is not what the PVH HR lady told me about a month ago, but she did say first priorities go to 24 students a semester contracted out between the 3 schools they contract with. My school is one of them. She didn't say though that they aren't hiring any other outside new grads. Obviously not sure though, She also said they have many positions for RN's with Previous Exp.

The student specifically has to have a contract with pvh and it is even competitive to get the contract.....in which you agree to work for them for 2 years in exchange for tuition reimbursement. The Banner hospitals do the same thing. Even if you attend FRCC and do not have a contract with them, it will be difficult to get hired with them.

I got my first BS from CSU in FC in 2006 and I had mixed feelings about it. I don't think it's close to the mountains at all, but I grew up in a town surrounded by 14ers, so maybe I just don't consider the foothills "mountains". Also, it is growing fast. Traffic can suck and I could not believe how much growth there was when I vistited 2 years later. It's insane. I have heard great things about the hospitals though. For rentals, just be careful you don't end up with a ton of loud college students. Hope that helps a bit! Good luck.