New graduate moving to colorado please help!

U.S.A. Colorado

Published

Hello all!

I am looking for some help and guidance from those who know about the RN job market in Colorado! I am a soon to be graduate from New York University! I have high expectations and aspirations for my career. I have heard that the job market is not promise out in Colorado and I would like any advice / help / information about what the job market is like for newly graduated RNs. I have grown up in NY my whole life, and I am very much looking forward to this exciting change of scenery. My boyfriend will be going to graduate school, so we are planning on moving at the end of July/beginning of august. I have done very well in my nursing program and although the job market is not great in NYC, but I would undoubtedly be able to get a job here.....and I would be nervous if this is not the case in CO.

We would be living in the Golden area, but I would be willing to travel to Denver, Fort Collins, Boulder, Colorado Springs, and any other area which is an hour / hour and half away. Please let me know ANYTHING AND EVERYTHING you know about RN jobs here, along with any advise you have! I want to move very badly but I need to make smart decisions and make sure there is a job market out there for me, I give myself until the end of September to land a job because my loan repayments start in November. Thank you SO SO SO much!

Specializes in Informatics.

Thank the stars they stopped contracting with FRCC.

It's not surprising seeing that new postings say, "must start BSN program by 2011, must be BSN by 2015". FRCC does not provide that.

Even before that, PVHS got 4-6 THOUSAND applications a month. It was hard then, its really going to be hard now to get in.

That and there are several colleges in a 100 mile radius: FRCC, AIMS, UNC, UW, LCCC, CU, DU, DCC, IBMC, Columbia... I'm probably missing 4-10 more...

Specializes in Emergency Dept. Trauma. Pediatrics.
Thank the stars they stopped contracting with FRCC.

It's not surprising seeing that new postings say, "must start BSN program by 2011, must be BSN by 2015". FRCC does not provide that.

Even before that, PVHS got 4-6 THOUSAND applications a month. It was hard then, its really going to be hard now to get in.

That and there are several colleges in a 100 mile radius: FRCC, AIMS, UNC, UW, LCCC, CU, DU, DCC, IBMC, Columbia... I'm probably missing 4-10 more...

FRCC is a very good program that produces good quality nurses. For a lot of people; doing the associates first and then bridging into a BSN program is what works best for them. I spoke with tons of people at the 4 local hospitals that said they are always really impressed with the FRCC students. FRCC is also looking into joining with some of the RN-BSN programs so that students can start on that while attending FRCC and right after graduation.

My college back home in WA did the same thing with Old Dominion.

Specializes in OB-Gyn/Primary Care/Ambulatory Leadership.
My college back home in WA did the same thing with Old Dominion.

My college in AZ did that with Old Dominion too!

Hey guys, just wanted to update since I posted this original message.

I ended up moving to CO. I moved here officially on SEPT 10th. Let me say this NOW, THERE IS HOPE FOR NEW GRAD RNs here. Please do not be discouraged.... as most of the posts on here are discouraging. For those who had positive things to say / positive experiences, thanks for posting, it made me a little less scared!! :-)

I have been here in CO as a new grad for two months. I immediately worked at a flu clinic from the first day of being here, while searching for a job. That is winding down now.

Let me assure you, I have no friends here, no contacts of any kind. I have had 3 interviews in the last few weeks, one which was at a hospital for a very awesome position. I was offered two job which I will be taking. I am very excited and so happy that all of the negative talk was not true. Yes, there are limited opportunities right now for new grads, this is true everywhere. Hospitals here for the most part are not hiring again until the spring, this is more unique to this area because of the small vicinity of all the hospitals and the over saturation of RNs. This was sad and disheartening to hear and experience. Days I had free not working I suited up and went to every place I can think of- hospitals of course but also other institutions. For the most part I got the same response from the hospitals that they are simply not hiring or there will be random openings here and there.

Do not limit yourself to just hospitals. Look everywhere else you could possibly work as a RN. Do what you have to do, if you don't like that type of nursing leave. Just get the experience, if you like the job, great! If not, go on to do what you want when the hiring picks up.

Keep your head up high and APPLY APPLY APPLY. Don't be too picky, and you will get something. It is not as hopeless as it seems. Keep an open mind. You can do it if you persevere and dedicate your time! Good luck!!

:D

Thanks for the update and Welcome!!!

Specializes in Informatics.

That is heartening. However, I see so many nurses taking jobs that they will simply hate, just to get their year in. Having worked at a job I despised, I must say, that is something I cannot do...

I can't see doing a job I would despise for the ulterior motive of getting a year experience (I'm not implying the poster is doing this, but it is common advice to we students). Ultimately, the client will suffer if we are unhappy in our position.

Thus, once I start my search in a few months, it will only be for the areas I will be happy.

Perhaps care is affected by the providers disposition.

I agree, you should not be doing what you do not want to be doing. If you hate your job then you will most likely not do it correctly, there is no arguing that. I plan to stay in these two part time jobs, finding what I think fits me, and look into also working at a hospital in 6-12 months. Regardless of anything I have always wanted / think with student loans I will need to work a full time 3 day a week job and then also work a part time job, I was just raised in a ridiculously hard working family. So I am by no means ditching jobs in 6 months just when the hospitals start hiring. I made the decision to move out here and my spouse is in school and I have 90k+ in loans to start to repay this month, so I don't have the option to just not work until march. It is find a job or move back to NY. This may not be the Residency program type of hospital job I initially was seeking out, but I am working as both a charge nurse at one job and a pre-op/PACU nurse at the other, which I think will give me two very different experiences and both which I would not take if I was not genuinely interested / wanting to do it. I could easily move back to NY and get the new grad hospital job I want, but I have found another option that I am just as happy with because I am going to learn and be so excited to be working as an RN. I think that it is important that you make sure you are going to be happy in the position you apply / accept. Every individual needs to do what is best for them and needs to evaluate how happy they would be in certain situations. As a professional you can only hope that nurses will make sure they aren't just accepting positions without thinking of the consequences if they know they hate it from the start. But this is also why most institutions have in place that they evaluate you / you evaluate them after 30 days in order to make sure it is a good fit for both you and them.

Regardless I know this isn't the situation for me personally, I am absolutely thrilled and so excited for my jobs. I am not the type of person to half-*** anything, so that is not even an option for me with any job I have. I hope that new grads aren't so desperate to do this because you are right, everyone in that situation would suffer. I was not trying to encourage this behavior in anyway. I just wanted it to be known that there are jobs out there for new grads. If people are posting that there aren't jobs and they haven't been able to find anything for a months to a year...they should also add that they are waiting for their top jobs to become available. Point is.. if you aren't hell bent on holding out for the hospitals right now, there are jobs!!! Trust me, my dream when I started nursing school was to get in a residency program with the best of the best, and I had the ability, but I decided between that or moving. Life happens. I decided to move, and realize I am in my early 20s, I have so many years ahead of me to do anything and everything I want with my career. So for right now I am extremely happy where I am and with my jobs and I am not looking back! :-)

Good luck, you can do it!

Specializes in Informatics.

Awesome!

By the way, you can call... assuming you have Federal Loans, (and possibly with private loans), and get extended forebearance/deferments for up to a year or more!

I only know that as my wife (a nurse), had to do that as well!

I agree on your post. I work in a hospital, in a non-nursing role. The only new grad's I"m seeing getting hired are CNAs who have been on their floor for 4+ years. I recently did my preceptorship at my hospital (I've worked at for 6 years now). I was told by many nurses not to expect a job there.

I can see myself working part time there to keep my foot in the door and doing something else part time, volunteering, etc until I can.

It's good you're enjoying what you're doing at the moment!

Specializes in OB-Gyn/Primary Care/Ambulatory Leadership.

I think there is a huge difference between "not in the field I wanted to work" and "a job I will despise." I don't think I've seen anyone here say they will take a job they will despise, but only that they are going to take a job in a SNF or maybe flu clinics, when their dream job is the ED or OB. There are good and bad aspects of every area of nursing, and I think one can derive pleasure and a learning experience in any area of nursing, even if it's not the area you want to be, ultimately. There is a LOT that a new nurse can learn by working in a SNF, for example (time management, dealing with families, therapeutic communication), and if you despise it, then I suggest maybe an attitude adjustment is in order.

All I'm saying is that you really limit yourself, especially in the market, if you decide you're ONLY going to apply to the jobs that you really really want. I would certainly not rule out areas of nursing that you don't think you'd like. You never know, you might be surprised that you actually find it enjoyable.

One simply cannot know that they're going to hate a job before working there.

Specializes in Informatics.
I think there is a huge difference between "not in the field I wanted to work" and "a job I will despise." I don't think I've seen anyone here say they will take a job they will despise, but only that they are going to take a job in a SNF or maybe flu clinics, when their dream job is the ED or OB. There are good and bad aspects of every area of nursing, and I think one can derive pleasure and a learning experience in any area of nursing, even if it's not the area you want to be, ultimately. There is a LOT that a new nurse can learn by working in a SNF, for example (time management, dealing with families, therapeutic communication), and if you despise it, then I suggest maybe an attitude adjustment is in order.

All I'm saying is that you really limit yourself, especially in the market, if you decide you're ONLY going to apply to the jobs that you really really want. I would certainly not rule out areas of nursing that you don't think you'd like. You never know, you might be surprised that you actually find it enjoyable.

One simply cannot know that they're going to hate a job before working there.

This is true.

However, I am extrapolating from previous experiences as a CNA in a local hospital.

Being a male CNA, 99% of what I did was sit with violent, aggressive, combative and abusive 1 to 1 clients... alcohol withdrawals, drug withdrawals, dementia, and head injuries. Sometimes this was ok... cute little old ladies, more often than not, however, it was the 6', 300# man who thinks you're in house and his hitting at me, and the nurse is not restraining the client because they don't want to deal with calling the doctor.

I wen't from making $21.00 as a CNA to $9.00 in my current job... still at the hospital. It was worth the pay cut, and I actually like work now. Before, I would fear calling into work; I don't now. I tried to make it fun, but when you're getting abused, literally, it's hard to see the silver lining in that. When I did get the 1% of my time on the floor, I loved it... even if I was the only CNA on the floor with 25+ clients.

Thus, in my opinion, a positive attitude is indeed necessary, in any profession, but it will only get you so far. There are those CNAs who enjoy dodging fists, I was not one of them!

I will of course be applying for jobs that aren't my first choice, clinics, community health etc, because I've had positive experience in these areas in school...

Specializes in Professional Development Specialist.
I think there is a huge difference between "not in the field I wanted to work" and "a job I will despise." I don't think I've seen anyone here say they will take a job they will despise, but only that they are going to take a job in a SNF or maybe flu clinics, when their dream job is the ED or OB. There are good and bad aspects of every area of nursing, and I think one can derive pleasure and a learning experience in any area of nursing, even if it's not the area you want to be, ultimately. There is a LOT that a new nurse can learn by working in a SNF, for example (time management, dealing with families, therapeutic communication), and if you despise it, then I suggest maybe an attitude adjustment is in order.

All I'm saying is that you really limit yourself, especially in the market, if you decide you're ONLY going to apply to the jobs that you really really want. I would certainly not rule out areas of nursing that you don't think you'd like. You never know, you might be surprised that you actually find it enjoyable.

One simply cannot know that they're going to hate a job before working there.

Very true! SNF was not my area of choice, it was instead the only option after many, many, many, applications. 18 months later and just as many applications it's still my only option. But I've learned so much and have a lot more autonomy (and responsibility) than I would have had otherwise. I didn't know what I might be missing, but no matter what comes I feel like this is the bedrock foundation for my career and I don't regret a minute.

Hey guys, just wanted to update since I posted this original message.

I ended up moving to CO. I moved here officially on SEPT 10th. Let me say this NOW, THERE IS HOPE FOR NEW GRAD RNs here. Please do not be discouraged.... as most of the posts on here are discouraging. For those who had positive things to say / positive experiences, thanks for posting, it made me a little less scared!! :-)

I have been here in CO as a new grad for two months. I immediately worked at a flu clinic from the first day of being here, while searching for a job. That is winding down now.

Let me assure you, I have no friends here, no contacts of any kind. I have had 3 interviews in the last few weeks, one which was at a hospital for a very awesome position. I was offered two job which I will be taking. I am very excited and so happy that all of the negative talk was not true. Yes, there are limited opportunities right now for new grads, this is true everywhere. Hospitals here for the most part are not hiring again until the spring, this is more unique to this area because of the small vicinity of all the hospitals and the over saturation of RNs. This was sad and disheartening to hear and experience. Days I had free not working I suited up and went to every place I can think of- hospitals of course but also other institutions. For the most part I got the same response from the hospitals that they are simply not hiring or there will be random openings here and there.

Do not limit yourself to just hospitals. Look everywhere else you could possibly work as a RN. Do what you have to do, if you don't like that type of nursing leave. Just get the experience, if you like the job, great! If not, go on to do what you want when the hiring picks up.

Keep your head up high and APPLY APPLY APPLY. Don't be too picky, and you will get something. It is not as hopeless as it seems. Keep an open mind. You can do it if you persevere and dedicate your time! Good luck!!

:D

Hi NY2CO,

I am soon to be OH 2 CO! I was so happy to see this follow-up from you! I am about to move in march with my husband (active duty military) to denver and I actually graduate THIS Friday!! I wanted to find out from you, what you recommend I do before I get there and once I'm there. I am working on my apps for the University of Colorado residency program for new RNs, and I plan on applying anywhere I can! I really want to be in a residency program that will teach me more about what they want and hopefully it will land me a permanent position for more than the one year that I will owe them.

I appreciate any help you can give me since you are the first person that I have found to be in a somewhat similar boat as me!:)

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