New grad in Colorado Springs

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Hello!

I am a future University of Oklahoma College of Nursing BSN grad, and I will be moving to Colorado Springs to be near my husband who is stationed at Peterson AFB. I was just wondering if any Colorado nurses can tell me what the job market is like in Colorado Springs for new nursing grads? To be honest, I've heard some pretty bad things: Such as there is very very little need for new grads. It is discouraging. I have done all of my clinicals and networking in Oklahoma, and am coming here to Colorado SPrings with no type of network contact. I plan on just applying to as many job openings as possible.

But any advice and info will be greatly appreciated! Thank you so much!

I worked in home health at first. I just got a job in a hospital here (penrose-st. Francis).

As far as the two hospital systems it seems that only centura (penrose-st. Francis) is willing to hire new grads. I haven't heard of anyone getting a job at memorial as a new grad since 2012.

If you are looking to get a job in Colorado Springs hospital, then it's tough. But centura is hiring (they hired me and I only had 2 months of home health experience) it's just competitive. However, I was told that at saint francis they will be opening up a new ortho/neuro unit and will be hiring aggressively for it this summer. So if you will be here this summer thTs a place to look.

Are there any hospitals in the Denver area that has a new grad RN residency program? I wouldn't mind relocating to Denver.

I'm graduating this coming week.

"808BornRN"? You from HI?

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Honestly I'm not familiar with the hospitals up on Denver. Centura had hospitals up in Denver (Littleton Adventist, saint Anthony's, etc).

I had twins about 2 months after graduating and so that limited my job search to only Colorado Springs.

I'm quite certain the hospitals up in Denver do have new grad programs. Just gotta be searching for them :)

I am from Hawaii :) born and raised out on the leeward side (Pearl city, Waipahu). You?

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Specializes in Primary care.
I worked in home health at first. I just got a job in a hospital here (penrose-st. Francis).

As far as the two hospital systems it seems that only centura (penrose-st. Francis) is willing to hire new grads. I haven't heard of anyone getting a job at memorial as a new grad since 2012.

If you are looking to get a job in Colorado Springs hospital, then it's tough. But centura is hiring (they hired me and I only had 2 months of home health experience) it's just competitive. However, I was told that at saint francis they will be opening up a new ortho/neuro unit and will be hiring aggressively for it this summer. So if you will be here this summer thTs a place to look.

Also don't be afraid to look outside the hospital systems. HealthSouth rehab in town hires new grads and I have a classmate who works for them. Fantastic pay (for the springs) and even though it's rehab, a lot of the patients are very acute.

Be positive. I kept getting broken hearted by all the "not selected" statuses I saw on my applications but I persevered and networked as much as I could.

Good luck guys!! And welcome to Colorado Springs!!

Great INfo! Thanks a million; I've researched the rehab facility & the govt.contractors.

Unfortunately I've been on the "not selected" status too many times as well & have grown a thick hide. I believe I lost count ;)

Centura looks promising; applied to one position that was aligned w/my experience & will be eagerly awaiting for those Neuro/Spine jobs to pop up.

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Specializes in Primary care.
I worked in home health at first. I just got a job in a hospital here (penrose-st. Francis).

As far as the two hospital systems it seems that only centura (penrose-st. Francis) is willing to hire new grads. I haven't heard of anyone getting a job at memorial as a new grad since 2012.

If you are looking to get a job in Colorado Springs hospital, then it's tough. But centura is hiring (they hired me and I only had 2 months of home health experience) it's just competitive. However, I was told that at saint francis they will be opening up a new ortho/neuro unit and will be hiring aggressively for it this summer. So if you will be here this summer thTs a place to look.

Also don't be afraid to look outside the hospital systems. HealthSouth rehab in town hires new grads and I have a classmate who works for them. Fantastic pay (for the springs) and even though it's rehab, a lot of the patients are very acute.

Be positive. I kept getting broken hearted by all the "not selected" statuses I saw on my applications but I persevered and networked as much as I could.

Good luck guys!! And welcome to Colorado Springs!!

I'm curious, what Home Health agency/company did you work for prior to penrose/St. francis? Which agency/company or hospitals do you recommend for this as a "new grad" in CO Springs?

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I worked with MGA. Honestly, I don't really recommend home health for new grads.... I really don't feel we have the skill set and know enough to be "independent".

However, with MGA, I would say they are worth a shot. I was given a very low acuity patient.

The pay isn't great and there are no benefits (luckily I didn't need them), but it gave me RN experience and allowed me to work while looking for a hospital job. Almost all of the classmates I graduated with worked with this company until a hospital job came a long or they found employment with psych nursing places, snf, rehab, etc.

But the thing I did like about the company is that they understood that we didn't see home health as our forever job, or even as a long term option. They were very supportive of me when I told them I had a job at the hospital. I say if you are upfront with them (as many of us were, I.e. Telling them that we were actively pursuing jobs in hospital and that we expected our time with them to be very temporary) they were fine.

So you know, make the best judgement for yourself. I had a low acuity patient and while home health wasn't for me, I don't regret my time working for the company at all.

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Specializes in Nurse Leader specializing in Labor & Delivery.
Are there any hospitals in the Denver area that has a new grad RN residency program? I wouldn't mind relocating to Denver.

Children's and UCH both have new grad residency programs

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Hey New808BornRN!

Thanks for the info on Denver-area hospitals. I have been to Denver, Colorado and love the atmosphere there. It is much better than larger cities (i.e. L.A., NYC) that I have lived in.

Did you attend nursing school in Colorado? After you passed your NCLEX, how long did it take you to land your first RN job?

Yes, I am a kama'aina too! Grew up on the Windward side in Kaneohe area! Woot woot!

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Specializes in Primary care.
I worked with MGA. Honestly, I don't really recommend home health for new grads.... I really don't feel we have the skill set and know enough to be "independent".

However, with MGA, I would say they are worth a shot. I was given a very low acuity patient.

The pay isn't great and there are no benefits (luckily I didn't need them), but it gave me RN experience and allowed me to work while looking for a hospital job. Almost all of the classmates I graduated with worked with this company until a hospital job came a long or they found employment with psych nursing places, snf, rehab, etc.

But the thing I did like about the company is that they understood that we didn't see home health as our forever job, or even as a long term option. They were very supportive of me when I told them I had a job at the hospital. I say if you are upfront with them (as many of us were, I.e. Telling them that we were actively pursuing jobs in hospital and that we expected our time with them to be very temporary) they were fine.

So you know, make the best judgement for yourself. I had a low acuity patient and while home health wasn't for me, I don't regret my time working for the company at all.

THanks! Is MGA just a pediatric home-health, postings only show Ped's positions for RNs?

Of these, Health South,MGA, interim, & maxim, how would you rank them as quality supportive work environments (per your opinion or knowledge from peers)?

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MGA just does peds.

Health south seems like a better environment, but this is coming from one classmate who just got hired.

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I was told by one of the hospital systems that you can't really apply there (unless it's a new grad position) until you have your license. Out of curiosity, I applied to a local hospital and was denied almost immediately. (I didn't know they looked at the apps that quick, and I know it wasn't a computer knock out).

Anyway, just something to keep in mind. I just moved to Denver to be with my fiancé. ... whom I met in Army ROTC.

I hear they'll be opening a new VA hospital? Or that's what I heard. Might have a better chance there? And Def look into new grad programs.

If all else fails, this is what im.l going to do.... get a job in WY and drive up there (2 ish hours from Denver) and stay in a hotel or something for my three shifts in a row that I hope to get. Will Will be much better seeing my guy two or three days a week... than not at all. We have been distance for 3 years, so I get your pain!

Good luck. You'll be more competitive with a BSN, but also don't limit yourself.

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x28y31,

I wanted to follow up with you, did you ever find a job nearby? I am a OK BSN student graduating this May and would like to move to CO but have read the disappointing threads over the last couple years.

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