Is anyone else totally frustrated with CO nursing?

U.S.A. Colorado

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I don't live in a metro area, so employment options are limited for me. Our pay is much lower than in the bigger city, but unless you want to have a 1 1/2 hour commute, you just live with it since the hospitals keep the pay low. Plus our patient ratio is usually 6-7:1 (& never enough aides!). Too many to give decent care! At this point I'm about ready to jump ship altogether, I just don't know what else I'd do.

Just looking for some sign of life that I'm not the only one ready to pull out my hair....:trout:

Hi all in CO. Remember you live in a great state. nurse Practice Act and all!!. If you are fed up with traditional nursing find what something else in nursing..just do't apply at the hospital. Consider other fields in nursing like legal nurse consultant I'm sure you have enough experience to read and review charts, perhaps open your own massage studio, my specialty permanent makeup and micrdermabrasion is fabulous in Co and I live rurally as well..La Veta. There are so many opportunities just explore and take a leap of faith. I get very excited about CO nursing and what we are allowed to do in our great state.

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Specializes in OR.

I read the part about Co Springs having cheap housing. What a joke. I live south of Co Springs where housing is cheaper, but it is still very high. To rent a 3 bedroom home in a decent area, it runs $1000 a month or higher. The desparity between wages in Co and other states is ridiculous. My mom lives in OK where new grads start out at $21-25 an hour and a nice 3 bedroom house costs $55000. I could move home and earn $28-30 an hour with a signing bonus and buy a house that costs one-third of what it would be here south of Co Springs. I wonder if the low wages along the front range is due to Centura controlling so many hospitals. the starting wage is the same in Pueblo and Colorado Springs even though the cost of living is different. Who knows.

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:twocents:

I graduated with my BSN from UCHSC this past summer, and I was absolutely disgusted with the attitudes of the Denver-area hospitals! Given the sheer volume of nursing schools along the front range, the competition for new grad slots is enough to turn it into a McJob market: If you don't like what we have to offer, get out of the way -- there's another warm, breathing new grad behind you. So, I started paying attention to the ads in the NSNA magazines. There are a lot of places that are looking to hire new grads. I'm now working in Boise, ID and I couldn't be happier. The relocation package was great. My unit (Med-Surg Oncology) has a 1:4 ratio. They pay the same as CO, but the cost of living is much lower. Plus, their idea of bad traffic is my idea of I-25 on a good day! Oh, and Idaho offers a new grad license, so you can start working before you take the NCLEX.

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Specializes in LTC, Psych, M/S.

You are definately right DVorah-I am in Larimer county and for new grads to get into acute care positions, it is quite competitive - even with the new hosp. opening. I ran into the same attitude when interviewing for new grad RN positions last year. The one I finally did get - it's pretty much b/c I 'knew someone.'Not only are there several (front range) nursing programs, but they are also increasing the number of students they admit. FRCC Larimer has more than doubled the number of students that they admit each year. Of course the hospitals know this. It's all about supply and demand, right?

Congrats on your move to Idaho - It is a beautiful state!

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Hi BeccaRN,

I understand your frustration. I love the SW corner of Colorado, but the hospital there has a top hourly pay of $25/hr. Wow. Depressing. And the cost of real estate there is high in comparison.

Have you considered travel nursing in the same general area?

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Interviewed in Loveland. Houses costs are comparable to where I am now. They offered me $5/hr less than I am making now. I explained that I couldn't afford to go to work for them.

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I have very much enjoyed reading this thread. I live in Canon City, Co. I have worked here in town and over at the state hospital in Pueblo. I graduated from the ADN program at Pueblo Community College in 2002 and will be receiving my BS from UCHSC in December. I have been very disappointed in the work environment since becoming a nurse. Frankly, I have found most to be appauling, especially the state hospital. Although, I am now working in a SNF (Centura) connected to our one hospital down here and it is not any better. We have 14 prisons in this county and they are always hiring for nurses, the pay is ok (27.00/hr) but I have not heard anything great about them either. Anyway, I have been accepted into an online MS program at New Mexico State University for psych/NP and even though I could complete the program from right here, I am thinking about moving there. I just don't know how things could be any worse than they are here. I grew up in Colorado Springs back in the 70s and this state is not what it used to be. I agree with what has been said about the greed of these healthcare facilities. Centura is owned by Catholic Health Initiatives and we are supposed to be extending the healing ministry of Christ. All I see is watching the bottom line going on. I mean does anyone here think it is appropriate for a nurse on a sub-acute floor (and believe me that is what our SNF is) to have 45 patients?? Thats what I face every night on my overnight 12 1/2 hour shifts. Yes,I work 12 1/2 because I am supposed to get a 1/2 hour break ( a half hour out of 12 1/2 how generous) I have worked at this job since March and I have NEVER had time to take a break! I told this to my boss and she told me I need to get more organized, compassionate, huh? I won't even go into the drama going on at the state hospital in Pueblo, except to say, since when did nurses become the primary physical intervention force in psych nursing. In the movies there are big male orderlies on the wards to do the take downs, not in real life, it is the nurses job. I just want to close by saying I am just here trying to stay optimistic about my future and still looking for the perfect psych nurse job , thanks again.

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Boo63:

I wish you well. I graduated from UNM several years back. I have been living on the Western Slope. I think you will like UNM and the Hospital does have a lot of opportunities. As for Psych Nursing there, in Albuquerque, you may find more satisfaction. That was NOT the type of Nursing I specialized in while living in the Land of Enchantment.

I wish you all the best ;) Hang in there and let us know how you make out.

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