Nurse to Pt Ratios in CO?

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I was hoping to get some feedback from RNs in Colorado that work Med/Surg in an acute care hospital. What is your typical pt load like? i.e., how many pts are you typically assigned?

When I worked in Oregon, I would typically have 4 to 5 pts working on night shift. We also would rarely have a CNA on the floor (primary care most of the time). Occasionally, there would be one CNA for approx. 25 pts.

Working in Florida, the nurses in med/surg are assigned (usually) 6 to 7 pts, but sometimes it can be as many as 8 pts. There are more CNAs on the floor, usually 2 to 3.

I'm considering a move to Colorado (as a traveler). I was curious what the hospitals were like there in regards to staffing and if there is a wide variation from city to city or hospital to hospital in your experience. Thanks in advance!

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Specializes in FNP- Urgent Care.

4 on days, 5 and sometimes flex up to 6 on nights. one aide for 10-12 pts. Its med surg/soft tele.

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You have to remember too, OR is a union state for nurses so thats more tightly controlled.

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Thanks so much for the info, kerleigh722. Those are the numbers that I was hoping to hear. :)

And yes, cmh918, I appreciated my union very much when I worked in Oregon. And my current hospital in FL definitely does not have a union.

I tried to do some research, but didn't come up with a whole lot. But, are there many nursing unions at hospitals in Colorado?

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Specializes in ED.

Is Colorado a Union state, and what is the ratio for ICU and ER?

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Specializes in Nurse Leader specializing in Labor & Delivery.

No, I am not familiar with any union presence in CO

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Specializes in ED.

Hi Klone, do you know what is the starting pay, I have a years experience and I float between ER, ICU, Med surge and Telemetry

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Specializes in Emergency/Cath Lab.
Hi Klone, do you know what is the starting pay, I have a years experience and I float between ER, ICU, Med surge and Telemetry

Varies what system you get into. Anywhere from 25-31 is what I have found so far for that experience.

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On Denver Health's website, they advertise up to 40$ for experienced nurses, otherwise exactly what ThatGuy said.

I agree that there is no union presence (that I can see) and ICU is 1 to 2 patients per nurse. Not sure of ED

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Specializes in Nurse Leader specializing in Labor & Delivery.
On Denver Health's website, they advertise up to 40$ for experienced nurses

New hires aren't allowed to get paid more than the mid-range salary, regardless of number of years. $40/hour is for experienced nurses who have worked at *Denver Health* for many years.

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Specializes in Emergency/Cath Lab.
On Denver Health's website, they advertise up to 40$ for experienced nurses, otherwise exactly what ThatGuy said.

I agree that there is no union presence (that I can see) and ICU is 1 to 2 patients per nurse. Not sure of ED

If thats the case I was seriously low balled!

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Specializes in ICU + Infection Prevention.

VA is union

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