New Grad Denver area

[laurin_p]

Hi, I'll be graduating at the end of July with my BSN. I have been looking at hospitals in the Denver area and I am trying to determine a little more about the hospitals. I have looked at St. Lukes, St. Joseph's, UCH and Denver Health. I am really hoping to work in labor and delivery. I want to do my practicum in labor and delivery but I am nervous to do this, in case I am unable to get a job in this department. Does anyone know about the L&D dept's at these hospitals? Do they hire often? What is the avg pay for new grads (I will be moving from Mississippi and am nervous I can't afford it)? Are there any other hospitals that I should be looking at? And also, as I will graduate on Jul 24, and most new grad programs start very soon after, can you begin the programs before you take your NCLEX? I have known people who have done this and I have heard conflicting answers.

Thanks so much for any help! :)

[Satori77, ADN]

Never worked at any of these, but thought I would put in my 2 cents about UCH. I had my daughter there, and hated it. A teaching hospital is not a good place to have a baby. There are strict protocals that they follow for EVERY birth, do not take in consideration how every mother/baby is different, and every situation is different. So I am not sure how you feel about that. They are pretty against natural childbirth and were appalled that I didn't want an epidural. Instead they pushed pitocin and IV drugs (against my wishes) and left me loopy and couldn't push... my daughter wasn't breathing when she was born. There is also a high c-section rate there. Now the NICU was amazing....but that is another story.

[laurin_p]

Thanks so much...that was one thing I noticed about the hospital where I did my clinicals in OB. It was also a teaching hospital and I couldn't believe that almost all of the women were on pitocin and recieved epidurals, something like 80%! Thank you for your help!

[NCtoCOgirl]

I loved my OB rotation at University. It's different for everyone, I suppose. Yes, it's a teaching hospital, but that's great if you work there.

I think UCH has a new grad program that starts in October. I'm pretty sure they want you to have taken the NCLEX by the time the summer program starts on July 27.

Good luck!