MCR_RN

I moved here from AZ in 2005 as a new grad (ADN) and found a job before I even had taken my boards! The Ft. Collins/Loveland/Greeley area has 4 hospitals and many clinics/surgery centers/etc... and growing! I think you will have no problems in Colorado, especially an urban area. If you are looking for a specific area of nursing then it may mean you have to wait. I took the first offer (to get in the door) and since then have transferred to a different area after putting in a year. Good luck!

Thanks for the replies. I suppose we were lucky to have had the differential for the past 2 years. Its just going to be hard to swallow a $3/hour cut, thats about 12%! We do have a great system here, I think they goofed in implementing the differential in the first place as now they have this problem. Since we are short staffed in the OR and having to work so much extra call and overtime, staff and management are looking at ways to compensate staff until we get more RN's on board. We have looked at bonuses for new hires, but that doesn't address current staff. Any ideas? Thanks again!

Loaded question here. I will try to keep this brief. Our hospital has had a $3/hr differential for OR RNs in order to attract RN's to the OR. This was always prefaced with the fact that this differential is reviewed every 6 months. Well we were just notified that the $3 differential is being taken away as no other hospital in the region has a "differential". We are a level 2 hospital seeking level 1 and also magnet status. We have a huge shortage in the OR and our staff has shrunk by 8 RN's in the past 2 months. Starting pay for a new grad/periop student is $24 (+$3 differential) and average is probably $27, as most of the RN's are 5-8 yrs. experianced. Our arguement for a pay difference or different pay classification is based on the fact that most of us could go to a floor and help out but no one from another unit can walk into an OR and do what we do. Based on the training involved, etc... Its hard enough for us to alternate between say a heart surgery one moment then go to an eye surgery the next. We do not place ourselves above any other area of nursing, just more specialized in our area. Difficult to recruit and lengthy training time. Our call response (traumas) is 20 minutes, if we cannot make that time then we are required to stay at the hospital during call. Call pay is $4/hr then time and a half when called. We average 2 call nights a week and one weekend call every third weekend. Heart team is on call 24/7 every other week! I guess my question is does your hospital pay OR RN's differently? How does your hospital compare to this? Staff loves the hospital or we would have left a long time ago, but when you purposely live close to work to make the call time, and over-time is common, something has to give. Thanks!

Hello! I think you would definately like the Fort Collins area. I just moved back after 6 years in Arizona. Mild seasons, educated community, outdoor and fitness oriented. It is a popular place so traffic is picking up. Poudre Valley Hospital and the new Medical Center of the Rockies (same affiliation) are located in Ft. Collins and Loveland. Northern Colorado Medical Center (Banner) is in nearby Greeley and McKee Medical Center (Banner) is located in Loveland. Starting pay for a new grad RN is $24. Surprisingly its difficult to get in the door but well worth the effort! Poudre Valley is a magnet hospital. Hope this helps! Roger

Yea! Its posted! Now I can start working and get that house.

Thank you. I have been checking that site daily. The testing site (pearson/vue) shows I passed. I will ask my new mgr. if she will accept the testing website results. I suppose if I took the exam on the 8th and got my results on the 10th that without counting weekends and holiday, it has only been 6 days?

Just moved to Ft. Collins and I took my NCLEX Feb. 8th. I passed. State Board has yet to post my RN license number. I am scheduled to start work at PVH the 27th but will lose my spot if my number is not posted! Also, am buying a house and its contigent upon my having a job. eeek! I am stressing. How long is a normal amount of time to wait?? Thanks in advance!