New Grad outlook in Denver

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So I currently live in Cincinnati and I am looking at moving out to Denver when I graduate in May 2016 which I know is kinda far away. I was just curious about how new grads are doing and if they are able to find jobs in acute care. I would love to do Mom baby or L&D but I will do anything if it means I can move out to Denver. I just have to have a job! Some of the threads are worrying me but they are 5 years old at this point so I am hoping that the outlook is better now for new grads with a BSN. I have also worked as a PCA for two years on a general surgical floor. Let me know if you think I should stay in Cincy for my one year of experience or if you think I can find a job out in Denver as a new grad. Thanks!

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Last year when I was anew grad, it was not terrible, but a lot of my classmates got hired at places where they did clinicals. A lot of others walked their resumes in. The online application process is very unfriendly to anyone without experience. You might have better luck if you could come out here for a couple of weeks after you pass NCLEX. I got hired in L&D, but I did my practicum there so knew the managers.

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I haven't heard great things about the nursing market right now. To be honest, I have grown up in Colorado, and currently live in Denver and cannot WAIT to graduate and get out of here. It is so hard to find any positives about the Denver area after Marijuana became legal. Denver is SO oversaturated with out of state people now. I don't enjoy where I live anymore because of how crowded it has become. I know a friend got started at $22 an hour on an ortho/spine floor in one of our hospitals. I think that's terrible for a bachelors degree :(

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Geez, $22/hr is terrible for a BSN. The cost of living is so much greater in Colorado than Ohio and I know I can get at least $22.75/hr in Cincinnati. How has the area changed since Marajuana legalization? I would imagine since it is a gateway drug there are more drug seekers in the area. Also one more question, should I wait to apply and travel out to Denver until I have passed my NCLEX or will managers/ HR be willing to meet with me in the time between graduating and becoming liscensed. Thanks for your help!

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I hate to be negative because normally I like to tell people to go for their dreams and offer encouragement but the outlook for you as a new grad is not good here. It is possible to get accepted into a new grad program, however, they give first consideration to students who did their clinicals and/or worked in their facility as a CNA. Denver Health starts new grads at $27. Centura Health is $26. Children's and University of Colorado will not look at you unless you are part of their new grad program or have 1-2 years acute care experience. Then there are a bunch of for-profit hospital systems here that would rather bring in travel nurses to fill vacant positions than train from the ground up. It is a "right to work" state, which means that pay and conditions are not great...no safe staffing laws, for example, no unions. I would recommend staying where you are for a year, especially if you have connections and contacts that can get you that first job in the area that you want to work in. Unless you know somebody here that can get you in, you will not make it past recruiters. Frankly, I wish I hadn't moved here...it's not a very nurse friendly state. Sorry! If somebody else has a cheerier outlook on the situation, I'd love to hear it too.

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I haven't heard great things about the nursing market right now. To be honest, I have grown up in Colorado, and currently live in Denver and cannot WAIT to graduate and get out of here. It is so hard to find any positives about the Denver area after Marijuana became legal. Denver is SO oversaturated with out of state people now. I don't enjoy where I live anymore because of how crowded it has become. I know a friend got started at $22 an hour on an ortho/spine floor in one of our hospitals. I think that's terrible for a bachelors degree :(

You're right it is.

I just got priced out of Capitol Hill after 25 years because every block has at least 3 out of state license plates parked on it - I counted for several days out of curiosity a few weeks ago. It used to be an affordable working-class neighborhood. Now the rents everywhere are ridiculous.

I can't imagine why so many would move here over WEED of all things. Losers is all I can figure.

I'm going to guess the $22/hr wage comes from Centura. They're cheapskates in the extreme.

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Denver Health starts new grads at $27. Centura Health is $26.

Do they really? Centura offered me a $3 pay CUT over my current CNA wage with nearly 10 years inpatient telemetry experience.

I may have to look into DG.

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Specializes in public health.

geez, who still pays $22/hr? How did they expect us to live on that kind of money? I graduated 2 years ago and spent 6 months to find a job. Good luck! The job market is not as bad as you hear but the housing situation is another story...

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We also watch for out of state license plates. It SO sad that people move states for a rec drug. Its disgusting to me. I am so driven, and am just shocked that people are driven for marijuana. To each their own, I suppose.

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How has the area changed since Marajuana legalization? I would imagine since it is a gateway drug there are more drug seekers in the area.

It hasn't changed that much. People have been moving here in droves for the last 25 years, which has more to do with lower nurse pay and higher rents then marijuana does.

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I found a new grad job after 10 months of looking at SCL Health. They start new grads with a BSN at a little over $25/hour. As an out of state application you best bet is University of Colorado hospital since they hire the most of out state BSN applicants since it helps their magnet status. But be warned they start their new grads at $21/hour then after 6 months you get a raise to about $25/hour. You also sign a 2 year contract; but I would work at UCH in a heart beat no matter their pay rate. Such a great learning environment.

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Specializes in Nurse Leader specializing in Labor & Delivery.
best bet is University of Colorado hospital since they hire the most of out state BSN applicants since it helps their magnet status.

How do you figure? Hiring out of state has nothing to do with magnet status.

Also, I'm pretty sure the pay raise at UCH happens at 12 months, not six months. That's how long their residency is.

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