any good hospitals for an RN in CO? (Denver, Colorado Springs: find a job, construction)

[marizires]

Hello,

My husband and I would like to visit Co with the intension of relocating. We are from the Chicago area, we are tired of the cold winters. We would like to find a nice suburb close to the city were he can find a job (RN). We have 3 school age children so we would look for a suburban like place with access to services. How is the climate? Is is cold, hot, humid?

Thank you so much, your help is greatly appreciated.

[marizires]

Also, I would like to live in a place where I have access to a community college of the like where I can persue my nursing career.

Thank you again!!!

[Katiana]

There is much information about climate on the Colorado and Denver threads. Do a seach or just read through the threads. I think you need to find out a lot more about Colorado before committing to moving here. When you come out here you will see for yourself what you think of it. I am not trying to discourage you; I've been here 27 yrs myself and like it (sometimes love it).

As in any city, most of the big-time teaching hospitals are in Denver proper. The University of Colorado Hospital and Children's Hospital are moving to Aurora, to the new University of Colorado Health Sciences Center campus. Children's is moving this fall. St. Anthony's is moving to Lakewood soon. There are a number of large community hospitals in the suburbs as well. It depends on what kind of job hubby is looking for, and also what is offered to him.

There are several community colleges in the area that have nursing programs. They all have long waiting lists; it would be wise to get on the list ASAP. All the above information is available through google.

[HappyMontrose]

Western Colorado has been growing and there is a shortage of RNs in some areas .. Check out Grand Junction and Montrose/Delta area.

HM

[Mike from back east]

Colorado Springs just opened one new hospital (Memorial North) and another one opens within six months (Penrose St Francis). Use the search tool with key words hospital or memorial or penrose to find all the old postings.

Memorial is city owned, does a lot of teaching in-house at a nicely equipped center on Pikes Peak Ave. You can get the course list from their website.

As stated by PittNurse, Denver is the big dog for hospitals and teaching. The former Fitzsimmons Army Hospital Center is where the new facilities in Aurora are going. I was there last year on non-medical business and there was major construction going on all over that place. It has good highway access off I-225.

s/Mike

[marizires]

Mike, Pittnurse, Happymontrose: Thank you all for your input, it is very valuable and I appreciated very much. I will continue my search, seems so far that Co will be a good place for my family to live in, I just need to make sure my hubby and I will find a good job in the medical field and I can continue with my career plans. I know, like Pittnurse stated, it is very hard to get in these nursing programs, this is a nationwide problem. I don't know about private colleges but community colleges have all, not only long waiting lists, but very strict requirements to get in.

From the information gathered so far, our best bet would be to be close to Denver and/or Colorado Springs.

Thank you guys, you are wonderful!

[Tom Emmerling]

You might want to look into the Loveland/Fort Collins area. There are several nursing schools in the area. There is one in Cheyenne/Greeley/Fort Collins (front range community college), and Longmont. Also there are four hospitals in the area Poudre valley, Mckee, northern colorado medical center, and the new one Medical center of the rockies. There are also several small towns in the area which offer more affordable living and good schools.

[marizires]

Tom - thnak you for your post. I will look into those areas, I need to make sure that where we move I have access to a community college since private colleges would be out of our range for several reasons. I need to keep things in the practical side. Thank you!

[Tom Emmerling]

Originally Posted by marizires

Tom - thnak you for your post. I will look into those areas, I need to make sure that where we move I have access to a community college since private colleges would be out of our range for several reasons. I need to keep things in the practical side. Thank you!

Fort Collins has Front Range Community College. It offers a two year RN associates program. That does not include your pre-requesites. I have heard that their waiting list is anywhere from 1 year to 2. I think the one in Cheyenne is a community college also, but not positive. Fort Collins would be very affordable for you and your family while you are in school also.

[Katiana]

I think evey nursing program in Colorado has a wait list. a co-worker of mine has been on the wait list for Front Range Westmnister and CU for about 1 1/2 yrs. A community college in Cheyenne would probably charge out of state tuition to someone from Colorado. Just some more things to think about.