Possibly relocating to Denver area

mingez · Jun 13, 2006

Hello Colorado people!
I am a rookie RN possibly moving to the Denver area by next year. Can anyone give me some insight on the job market in Denver?
Thanks y'all.

Pretty descent. There actually is a shortage here, so the pay is good and the job ops are good.

Average starting out here between 48 and 52K and average pay is in the 60's.

hope3456, ASN, RN · Jun 22, 2006

But what about for 'new grads?'

I was considering moving to Denver last year and what I found is the hospitals(or the ones I checked with) only hire 'new grad RN's' like once a year - with only a certain number of new grad positions available. A couple places told me flat out they were not hiring new grads - even though they had many RN job postings.

So how hard is it (or competitive) for new nurses to get into acute care positions in the Denver area?

nursemommyof3 · Jul 30, 2006

I'm interested too! I'm thinking of relocating after graduation. What is the starting rate for a new grad?

hapychld · Aug 15, 2006

As a new grad in Denver I make $20.50/hr. I'm not sure what the new grad rate at other hospitals is though.:)

Chiqui12 · Sep 5, 2007

I have found it pretty competitive in the Denver area to find nursing jobs as a new grad. There are a lot of nursing schools here and it's true that many hospitals will not even consider a new grad despite having 40-50 RN openings! I think it's ludacris, isn't a new nurse better than no nurse? What I have found in general is that a lot of the small hospitals will not take new grads, while the larger facilities will but you have to check when they do their new graduate programs. Swedish, Lutheran, and the University hospitals all have programs starting in October. National Jewish Medical and Research Center will consider new grads for some outpatient positions when they are available. It also helps to call places and go to job fairs. Even if they say they won't hire you, if you show up at a job fair or open house and they meet you, you may be considered. Good luck!

CraigB-RN, MSN, RN · Sep 6, 2007

I have found it pretty competitive in the Denver area to find nursing jobs as a new grad. There are a lot of nursing schools here and it's true that many hospitals will not even consider a new grad despite having 40-50 RN openings! I think it's ludacris, isn't a new nurse better than no nurse? What I have found in general is that a lot of the small hospitals will not take new grads, while the larger facilities will but you have to check when they do their new graduate programs. Swedish, Lutheran, and the University hospitals all have programs starting in October. National Jewish Medical and Research Center will consider new grads for some outpatient positions when they are available. It also helps to call places and go to job fairs. Even if they say they won't hire you, if you show up at a job fair or open house and they meet you, you may be considered. Good luck!

Atually from a management perspective, a new nurse isn't always better than none. There is a high cost of training a new grad and there are only so many available resources. A new grad isn't ready to just hit the floor running without a relativly long orientation.

There are jobs out the, just not necesarrily where and when you want them. Be patient, positive and keep working. Keep an open mind as to the units you want to work on also. You might be supprised and find something that you didn't think of before.

dayflower · Oct 13, 2007

I have to agree with CraigB-RN, a new grad is not ready to hit the floor and work without a lot of support help. Even the common orientation 6-weeks verses say 2 weeks for experienced RN. After having oriented alot of new grads only one would of been able to "hit the floor running". This isn't to put down new grads, heavens knows we were all there once but the patients really are alot sicker on the floors now then before. It doesn't matter of your a BSN or AD, or what your grade point was. Working is a matter of applying what you have learned. Being organized is a be key and that just takes time. One doesn't have 20-30 minutes to do and assessment, be only 5 minutes, it takes some time to learn whats important and what can wait till later. Hang in there...we do need all you new nurses!!!!!!!!!

Conrad283, BSN, RN · Oct 18, 2007

I'm probably moving to the Denver area next year sometime. I am currently set to graduate in December, I hope that I can get some experience before the move. My wife however should have no problem getting a job. She's been a nurse for 7 years with both oncology and CCU experience