How difficult is it to find an RN job in the Denver area and what are the wages?

U.S.A. Colorado

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Hi, I have been looking to relocate to the Denver area. I am an RN with 5 years of limited, non acute care experience. Can anyone enlighten me on the job market and the wages versus the cost of living in the Denver metro area. I was in Denver in April and I was very disappointed with the hospital recruiters attitudes and lack of setting up any interviews for me after communicating with them for 6 weeks prior to my coming into town. I took time off of work, at my expense and did not receive one thank you or nice to meet you or anything. I loved the area but I am pretty discouraged. Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks.

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Specializes in LTC, Psych, M/S.

It will be difficult for you to get an acute care position in Denver as new grads and RN's with limited experience are a 'dime a dozen' right now in Colorado. There is alot of competition for entry level positions.

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

Based on my experience and that of my husband (we just relocated here), experienced nurses should have no difficulty finding work. From what I've seen, $30-32/hour seems to be about what you might expect.

From everything I've heard, if you do NOT have experience, you will have a very difficult time finding work.

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Specializes in LTC, Psych, M/S.

What kind of experience do you have Micheal22?

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I started working in the OR out of school, but do not scrub, then did psych nursing and presently I am working in 2nd stage Pacu in an ambulatory setting, inside a hospital, hoping to get acute care skills so I can move on. If I stay in Boston, our unit will be merging with 1st stage Pacu next winter and there is a possibility we will be cross trained.

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

What exactly is 2nd stage PACU?

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It is the 2nd hour after the patient comes out of surgery in a hospital and the first hour out of surgery from ambulatory care. The patients generally are not monitored cardiac wise and they are no longer intubated. They could be on O2, bleeding, etc. and generally stay at least 1 hr. if they are not nauseated, vomiting and are drinking. Iv's are pulled and D/c instructions given. We call it Fluff and Buff before they go home or get sent to the floor.

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Specializes in Professional Development Specialist.

Without acute care experience, jobs are scarce! But with that experience you can find a job, it just may not be your ideal job. The days of recruiters working hard to get you in the door at any cost is over. The tables have turned and it's a buyers market. You need to be a good salesman for yourself. Keep looking and keep applying online, chances are with your experience you'll be able to find at least a pacu job. Good luck! I moved from Boston 15 years ago and I wouldn't trade CO for anywhere else. You'll love it here!

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thanks I will love it if I ever get a decent paying job their.

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Specializes in Professional Development Specialist.

I don't know, what's your definition of decent? :D If you go to the Denver Health website they post their salary range for every job listed. That should give you a general idea. I work in LTC/sub acute rehab so my salary is totally different and I can't help.

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The recruiter for Denver Health that I met with, told me I could expect to make $52,000 a year. No thanks! I am not going to uproot my life and move across the country at my expense for that. I think that is pathetic for a job such as nursing with the responsibility involved. Its a wonder they have any one working for them.

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Specializes in Professional Development Specialist.

That's about what I make, and I make more than most of my new grad friends who work in hospitals. I think someone posted here $32-$35/ hr for experienced nurses? But Denver just doesn't pay that great, I've heard a few times they are on the lower end.

The other half of the equation is that the cost of living is better here. My 4 bedroom 4 bath house cost less than my sister's 2 bedroom 1 bath tiny house in Taunton. When I couldn't find a job after school I looked at moving back to MA because I could get a job through family. But even with a job at a prominent Boston hospital, it still made more financial sense for me to be a stay at home mom here and never use my degree while my husband worked.

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