NY to Colorado

U.S.A. Colorado

Published

Hello, I'm a tele nurse from Long Island and I have almost a year and a half of experience under my belt but I'm looking to relocate to either the Denver or Boulder area and I have a few questions I hope you guys could help me out.

First of all I was wonder how the nursing job market is out there?

I'm looking to move out late summer early fall when do you think is the best time to apply?

Also I've started researching some of the local hospitals but was wondering if you guys had any suggestions of where to look/apply?

I appreciate any help I can get.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in OB-Gyn/Primary Care/Ambulatory Leadership.

There are a bajillion hospitals in the Denver metro area, so places to recommend would be very dependent upon where you end up living.

The job market here is quite tight. Do you have a BSN? A year and a half experience *might* get you somewhere. I know in specialty areas, nurses with experience have much better luck finding jobs.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

We're leaning more towards living in the Boulder or broomfield area and I've been checking out the hospitals in the aurora area.

I do have my BSN, ACLS cert and critical care/tele experience.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Colorado has plenty of hospitals that are constantly growing and expanding. You should have no problem finding work. If this is more permanent move, I would suggest looking for a work closer to the area you want to live in. In my opinion, Aurora seem like quite a commute from Boulder or Broomfield. Good luck to you.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

With a BSN and over a year experience you should have no problem at all. Boulder to Aurora is a heck of a commute, if you want to live in Boulder or Broomfield you should look for jobs there or in Westminster. The main hospital groups are Centura, HCA and Exempla (which may have changed their name but should still show up on Google). Look at the job postings and if you are close enough to the move, you can start applying now. The market is not too bad for nurses with over 1 year experience, it's new grads that have problems.

Best of luck.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in OB-Gyn/Primary Care/Ambulatory Leadership.

Exempla is now SCL. Can't keep track of all those changes!

Hospitals near Boulder/Broomfield would be Boulder Community Health, Avista, Good Samaritan, St. Anthony North, Longmont United.

I agree that a commute from Boulder/Broomfield to Aurora is long. I live in Westminster, about a mile from 36, and made that commute for 4 years. It sucked (and Westminster is about 20-30 minutes closer to Aurora than Boulder/Broomfield). 270 is a nightmare.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Klone, you commuted to Aurora? I live a few minutes from TMCA but commute to Swedish. Its not bad at the hour I have to drive. I have a question for you. I want to get lactation certified, wheres the best course in the metro area to do that?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in OB-Gyn/Primary Care/Ambulatory Leadership.
Klone, you commuted to Aurora?

Yes, but I worked at Anschutz campus, which isn't quite as far from where I was coming as TMCA would be. For a year and a half, I worked 12-hour nights, and the commute wasn't horrible. But for 2 years I worked "bankers" hours and that was awful, especially going back to Westminster at 5pm.

I want to get lactation certified, wheres the best course in the metro area to do that?

What kind of certification are you wanting? There is CLC, and there is IBCLC.

For CLC, you have to take a 4-5 day course, then you test on the final day, I believe. It's only offered by one organization, and they offer the course at different times in various cities all over the country. Go here for more info: Lactation Counselor Training Course

For IBCLC, you have to accumulate 1000 hours in lactation consultancy, plus 90 hours of lactation specific education (most people do that through online programs) then you have to submit an application and then take the exam (which is only offered once a year, in July).

Caveat emptor, the people who created the CLC would like everyone to believe that it's just as good as the IBCLC, but it's not. IBCLC is still considered the gold standard for certification in lactation.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I was thinking clc first. I'm a new nurse so it's going to take me awhile to qualify for ibclc, but at least if I have my clc, I can use it while I rack up the hours. HCA will pay for it, so I don't have to worry about that. I just figure the more I learn the better I will be. I thought about a doula course as well, but figure if I do all that, I may as well go get my msn and become a midwife, so not sure where I am going to go with that.

Thanks for the info though! It is very helpful!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in OB-Gyn/Primary Care/Ambulatory Leadership.

It looks like there will be a CLC course in the Denver area this June.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I saw that! Awesome!! Thanks!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Thank you so much for all your advice its been so helpful!

I know NY isn't a compact state, will it be difficult to transfer my NY license to a colorado one and still be able to keep my NY one?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Add a Comment