Colorado New Grads- Do you have jobs?

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I am graduating in May from UCD and I am curious how recent new grads are fairing in our great state. I am hearing horror stories of people not being able to get jobs and working in waitressing, grocery stores, etc. Who has found a job? Who hasn't? What has worked for you and what hasn't? I am not attached to any one hospital, but would like to stay in the Denver Metro area.

Does anyone know how long it takes for results to appear on DORA? I just took my NCLEX yesterday.

I took the NCLEX on a Wednesday, found out on Friday that I passed, and my license was issued on Monday. I was able to look up my license on DORA on Monday afternoon or Tuesday...I don't remember for sure.

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Has anyone thought about home health care? I realize hospitals are ideal for most people but my sister is a new grad R.N and she works for two home health care agencies right now and they hired her on the spot. The hours are nice and pay around 50 bucks for an hour or less worth of work, it's a good place to start if your not finding anything else.

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Specializes in LTC, Psych, M/S.

that is way cool that she got hired as a new grad - I thought home health required that 1 year of acute care experience. I've always been interested in home health, but don't know much about it. Keep us posted as to how she likes it!

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Specializes in Nurse Leader specializing in Labor & Delivery.
Has anyone thought about home health care? I realize hospitals are ideal for most people but my sister is a new grad R.N and she works for two home health care agencies right now and they hired her on the spot. The hours are nice and pay around 50 bucks for an hour or less worth of work, it's a good place to start if your not finding anything else.

I don't think doing home health as a first job right out of nursing school is a safe or good idea.

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Specializes in Med/Surg, L&D.

I wouldn't feel comfortable doing home health right out of school, and besides all of the listings I have seen require anywhere from 1 to 5 years of nursing experience. I am looking at and applying to everything I can. Unfortunately I can't look outside of the Denver Metro area.

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i'm just moved to colorado springs. new graduate w/bsn, passed nclex.

does anyone know where can i apply for a job. i've applied to centura health and memorial said they're not hiring new graduates. this is crazy. i graduated from nc and 98% of my class already have jobs. i can't even get an interview, well not even a new graduate position available here. what's going on in colorado?? does anyone know where else can i apply???

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Specializes in Nurse Leader specializing in Labor & Delivery.

Why did you move? Yes, apparently the situation for new grads is pretty bleak in CO. Were you not aware of that when you moved? New grads are getting jobs in other states. AZ is the same way right now.

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My Husband got stationed in Ft. Carson...and Ft. Carson don't hire New Nurse graduates...Do you know where I can apply that I might have a chance as new Grad????

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Specializes in LTC, Psych, M/S.

The 'problem' is that there are so many nsg schools in CO, basically saturating the market for new graduates. CO is also a desirable location and nurses want to move there which increases the competition. Have you tried Pueblo hospitals?

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Specializes in LTC, Psych, M/S.
I don't think doing home health as a first job right out of nursing school is a safe or good idea.

Not all hospital jobs are a good idea for new grads either. Alot depend on how much training the facility is willing/able to give. It could be the home health agency has some great 'teaching' nurses who could do a fantastic job of orientating a new RN - that cannot always be said for hospitals. It depends on the situation.

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Specializes in Nurse Leader specializing in Labor & Delivery.
Not all hospital jobs are a good idea for new grads either. Alot depend on how much training the facility is willing/able to give. It could be the home health agency has some great 'teaching' nurses who could do a fantastic job of orientating a new RN - that cannot always be said for hospitals. It depends on the situation.

Most new grads in hospital settings have several weeks, if not months, of orientation. But even after you're off orientation, you're never alone. You still have your charge nurse and other staff nurses there to bounce questions off, and can check in on you to see how you're doing. Not the case with home health where you're on your own, and have to rely on new assessment skills that probably have not been fine-tuned yet. There is a new grad who posts here who does home health, and she's always here asking questions and asking for advice about her pts. If she was in a hospital setting, she would have the other staff nurses to ask questions. But instead, she has a bunch of strangers on the internet. I don't think that's a safe situation.

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Specializes in Med/Surg and ANCC RN-BC.

The market is picking up here. I graduated in March and I landed my first job at a great hospital here. I am starting on the neuro unit (NOT Neruo ICU), which is exciting and nerve racking at the same time. I did my senior practicum on the mother/baby unit which doesn't have anything to do with neuro. So i've been looking over materials and such. But keep your head up. There are jobs out there and just keep trying!

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