Pay difference Denver, CO Springs, Ft. Collins

[Liz520]

Is there a pay difference between Denver, CO Springs, or Ft Collins? We are selling our house and wanting to relocate to CO, but………I am really surprised by the pay, its much lower than I expected. I am coming from southern California and know I will have a decrease in pay in CO but my friend who has the same number of years experience makes exactly half of what I do in Denver. I would expect maybe a 30% decrease, but half, wow! I just can’t see that even with the cost of living lower that is equivalent to the pay difference. Any insight on pay in other CO cities would be much appreciated!!!

[~Mi Vida Loca~RN, ASN, RN]

Where is here?? I thought you said you were working in LTC? I was at NCMC and McKee for clinicals not in the TCU but most other units. Never saw anything out of place. I also was at PVH for clinicals and my senior practicum.

[~Mi Vida Loca~RN, ASN, RN]

I just figured out that by here, you probably meant CO lol I was trying to figure out how the LTC center could guarantee you a spot in L&D. That's a pretty big sought out area so I doubt anyone would guarantee it. Most nurses I talked to had to start somewhere else first. But anything is possible. The HR lady told me though that she will often discard applications from new grads that are being nit picky on the shifts or units they will or won't work on. So that plays into people not getting or finding jobs as well.

[SE_BSN_RN, BSN]

I am in LTC....I meant I would stay here in Colorado if I could have a job in L&D at NCMC.

[SE_BSN_RN, BSN]

Yep. I would take anything in the hospital and transfer within when I could.

[RNlovesherPharmD]

Personality......wow that's interesting.....!! I work with an RN that is awesome, I just love her.....and Banner told her she didn't have the "right" experience. (But she used to work for them as a CNA) So she is stuck with me in LTC.....for now, LOL. However, I guess it is a bad thing to work in a nursing home because you "aren't really a nurse...." hmmmm, well, my IV skills may not be so hot, but I can dress a wound in no time flat, and I'd like to see a hospital nurse pass pills in 2 hours to 30 patients. (I see all of your experience has been in hospitals, that's great!) I hope it really isn't this way, because I would love to work in the hospital someday...L&D is my goal, and my long term goal is Baylor's BSN-DNP. but I don't get a lot of practice with IV's!....How long have you been an RN? ADN or BSN?

I just got hired as an L and D nurse and live in Ft. Collins---can you tell me about Baylor's programs?

[SE_BSN_RN, BSN]

I just got hired as an L and D nurse and live in Ft. Collins---can you tell me about Baylor's programs?

It is a BSN-DNP with an emphasis on midwifery....3 year program, 75 total credits, 12 advanced practice credits and 20 midwifery core credits. Then you need 750 clinical hours for midwifery and 450 AP residency credits. Most classes are 3 credits. Last year they had 3 students and all 3 passed the program.

From the website:

Applicants for the Nurse-Midwifery program must complete and/or possess the following:

* Complete the online graduate school application.

* A Baccalaureate Degree

* GPA of 3.0 or higher

* A writing sample

* A personal or telephone interview

* Three letters of recommendation

* Current licensure to practice as an RN in Texas

* GRE scores within the last 5 years; Scores of 1000 or higher, combined quantitative and verbal. The GRE requirement may be waived for students with a nursing GPA greater than 3.5.

* Optimally, although not required, have one year of clinical practice preferably in Labor and Delivery, extensive observational experiences of birth or education and practice as a doula.

THIS is what I want to do!! After I get my BSN we are moving to TX anyway, we have family there. They also have different programs, like BSN-MSN and othersm and even a post graduate program. Baylor University Louise Harrington School of Nursing, just google that.

There aren't many programs like this, although I suspect they will become more frequent since apparently, there will (or is) a shortage of family practice docs.