R.N. pay scale for Colorado

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Specializes in Many.

My wife and I are thinking of moving to Colorado after we get our R.N. license. Any information about different cities, towns, hospitals, and pay would be helpfull. We live in a nice town in California 12,000 population and have 3 boys ages 6, 10, and 12. Thank you for your help.

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Specializes in RN- Med/surg.

I don't live/work in Colorado..but was thinking about relocating last year. I called a nurse recruiter last summer and was told that in the Grand Junction area starting pay for new RN's was between $20.75 and $22 with pt ratios of 7-9. didn't appeal to me. I have lower ratios and higher pay in MN. (and it's quite expensive to live there)

Good luck to you!

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Specializes in LTC, Psych, M/S.

I am a RN here in CO and I would agree that the starting pay for new RNs is in the range of $22-$24/hr.

What part of the state are you considering?

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Specializes in Many.

Hey aprilhere, I I checked new grade pay for RN in my city and its 36.00/hr. Not bad for county hospital. The private hospital starts new grads at 37-38/hr.

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Specializes in Many.

Hey hope3456, she has been looking at houses in " colorado" so she didnt check the city. What cities-towns do you think are nice. Somewhere where we can live very comfortable. Thank you for your opinion.

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Specializes in LTC, Psych, M/S.
Hey aprilhere, I I checked new grade pay for RN in my city and its 36.00/hr. Not bad for county hospital. The private hospital starts new grads at 37-38/hr.

OMG that is alot for a new grad - what part of CA?

There are alot of nice areas in CO. I am most familiar with Fort Collins (where I live) which is rated by Money magazine as the #1 small city in America - it is a great place to live with good schools, reasonable housing costs and is close to mountains. However if you look at coming here I would get a couple years experience first as it is competitive and somewhat difficult to get hired by PVH as a new grad.

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Specializes in Trauma.

You get paid far better in Ca and they have a very strict nurse to patient ratio. However, the cost of living is far greater. I've called the hospitals in CS and Denver and most of their new graduates start around $23, which if you work nights, the total yearly salary equates to around $48k which is nothing for living there. I have family and friends who live there and all of them are making over 50K.

Colorado is a "right to work" state and so, there are no unions in the state. However, my mother just recently told me that there is something on the ballot for November to "ABOLISH" the right to work and allow unions to come into the state and protect the workers. Soooo, if you are living in Colorado, get registered and pass this law:)

Oh and I've heard from many nurses, the working conditions are deplorable and they have a low retention of nurses. I also found out from my friend who is a manager in the ER (not nurse) how much she is making. It's more than an RN and she is NOT college educated:(

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I am a new graduate... I am making $25 for my first job.

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Specializes in Geriatrics, MS, Ortho.
Hey aprilhere, I I checked new grade pay for RN in my city and its 36.00/hr. Not bad for county hospital. The private hospital starts new grads at 37-38/hr.

Hi, Dalvnjjh! What city do you live? And how many years of experience do you have? $36/hr appeals very nice for me. What hospital pays like that? I'm thinking to move to CO, but did not find anything higher than $25/hr.

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Specializes in Psych, Ortho, Stroke, and TBI.
Hi, Dalvnjjh! What city do you live? And how many years of experience do you have? $36/hr appeals very nice for me. What hospital pays like that? I'm thinking to move to CO, but did not find anything higher than $25/hr.

For a new grad? I'd be very cautious with those numbers. My friend who's a neo-natal NP makes about 36/hr, at Children's Hospital. I doubt that 36 is a new grad salary anywhere in CO.

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Specializes in GI.

I just recently moved to Colorado, I am an LPN and I make $22.00 an hour. I hope you find the right job for you

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Specializes in Geriatrics, MS, Ortho.
I just recently moved to Colorado, I am an LPN and I make $22.00 an hour. I hope you find the right job for you

Hi, Brenan! Where in Colorado do you live? And what hospital do you work for? Thanks.

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