Need advice on hospitals in Denver!!

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I will be moving to Denver in May after I complete my BSN from the University of Kansas Medical Center. I am planning on applying for a position in the ER or trauma ICU. I have a few questions that I would love for people to answer if anyone has any input...THANKS!

1. What hospital has a good reputation in Denver & would be a good place to work in the ER or trauma ICU?

2. What is the starting pay for a BSN new grad?

3. Does anyone have any experience with the new graduate nursing residency programs that are offered at the hospitals?

4. What hospitals are Level 1 trauma centers?

I have heard that management makes all the difference in the world, so if anyone has experience working in the ER or trauma ICUs in the Denver area, I would love to get feedback on what units are better than others.

Thanks everyone!!

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Specializes in LTC, Psych, M/S.

You first will want to find out which hospitals are even hiring new grads.

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Specializes in ICU, Perpetual Student.

There are three main players in denver, HealthOne, Centura, and maybe Exempla is the other. why a level 1? I have some recommendations; feel free to contact me and I will make some suggestions!

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HI,

I am in Colorado Springs and am wanting to relocate to Denver and would also be interested in your suggestions for Denver hospitals to work at. I have two years Med/surg experience.

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Specializes in Med Surg/Ortho.

For ER or Trauma ICU I would recommend Denver Health. Great reputation, really good benefits. Not sure about pay, but I know on there website they have a pay scale in the job postings. My father works there in materials management (orders for the OR), and he loves it. Is friends with some nurses there and tells me good things, especially if you like trauma...lots of gang-related violence, gunshot wounds, stabbings, etc.

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Specializes in Geriatrics, MS, Ortho.

I checked Denver Health web. Minimum pay is about $24 (ouch...), middle is $31, and max is $38

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Does anyone know the pay differential for days versus nights at any of the hospitals??

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Specializes in Geriatrics, MS, Ortho.
Does anyone know the pay differential for days versus nights at any of the hospitals??

Usually it is $3-5 plus. Don't think this hospital would be any different.

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Specializes in Med Surg/Ortho.
I checked Denver Health web. Minimum pay is about $24 (ouch...), middle is $31, and max is $38

I would love to make $24 an hour....that is double what I make at my current job. One of the reasons I am going into nursing :up:

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Specializes in ICU, Perpetual Student.

You will see A LOT of interesting things at Denver Health, but Exempla has a great ICU training program. Also, you can try Centura-St. Anthony Central is a level one in Denver. I am trying to be PC here, but I would go anywhere else before Denver Health.....they are actually NICE at Exempla, St. Joes is downtown! try that

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Anyone heard anything about the ER or ICUs at Swedish? I have heard good things about both Denver Health & Swedish but realized neither were Magnet designated hospitals. Anyone have any info on this?

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Anyone heard anything about the ER or ICUs at Swedish? I have heard good things about both Denver Health & Swedish but realized neither were Magnet designated hospitals. Anyone have any info on this?

Sweedish is not hiring new grads right now (and won't for some time). Quite frankly, everywhere in Denver it will be difficult for you to get a job right now. Times are tough, and hospitals are retreiting to nurses with minimal experience (1,2,3 years) so they can pay them less, but feel confident because they know what they're doing. Hiring freezes have taken place all over, unfortunately. I've been here for three months and have yet to find a job.

If you are looking for a Magnet hospital, the only two in Denver are The Medical Center of Aurora and the University of Colorado Denver hospital. The new grad program at CU-Denver is a tough selection, and requires letters and an essay. The Med Ctr of Aurora is less stringent, and they do not take huge cohorts, but rather hire on a unit-by-unit basis (at least, that is my understanding, but I could be wrong). The sad part is, they don't want new grads right now.

Overall, you might have a bit more luck this summer, as that's when the spring classes will graduate, but for now...the pickin's are sliiiiiiiiiim.

I wish you the very best of luck! Be persistent and positive! :)

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