Question on Denver/HCA

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Hello Allnurses,

Im a new grad from Chicago who has had dreams of moving to Colorado for the last 4 years. I was recently asked by a HealthOne/HCA facility to come fly out and meet in person for the StaRN new grad program. I was was on cloud nine when I got the news. Then I found my way to this website and see nothing but people bashing HCA and saying the pay is super low. I am now scared and afraid I wont be able to pay my bills or enjoy my job. Any and all info appreciated.

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Specializes in ER, ICU.

I don't know about HCA but Colorado is not a cheap place to live. I moved here from the East and found the costs to be similar. And housing has been going crazy. I would say you need about $50K to get by here.

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thank you for the reply!

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It depends on the hospital, I think.

As far as pay, it has been said HCA pay is "comparable" to other hospitals, and that our benefits are better. If that is the case, I can't say for sure as I haven't worked at other hospitals.

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Specializes in public health.

What is the pay in major hospitals in metro Denver area nowadays. I know you can see Denver Health on their website but what about others?

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I'm my experience, pay is anywhere between $22.50-$30/hour not including differentials.

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Colorado nurses are some of the lowest paid in the country from what I read online. For a BSN degree in Denver as a new grad you're getting about 30/hr if you can find a job. Many hospitals in the Denver area don't hire new grads at all. I have friends who drive from Denver to Pueblo to work at a hospital there that hires new grads on 2 year contracts.

The cost of living in the Denver metro area has skyrocketed in the last 3 years. Rent has no-joke doubled or more and housing prices are up 50-70% in the last 3 years. Traffic is also horrible now due to the massive influx of people and poor road infrastructure (super expensive toll road on the east, mountains on the west, not enough north/south highway capacity).

I moved out to Denver in 2008 and am very happy I got into nursing school outside of the mess that Denver has become now. I'll be heading towards the western slope after my first year or two if I need to sign a two year contract that is.

Oh and Pueblo pays new BSN's about 10% less then Denver but the cost of living is massively cheaper; housing and rent is half the cost of Denver which gives me a ton more disposable income to go on trips, pay off debt, or whatever.

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