not enjoying my current place of residency, Colorado? (Denver, Fort Collins: low crime, credit card)

[jmiano]

a little bit about me, I graduated last year with my bachelors degree of nursing, took a job in Tulsa Ok because my entire family moved out here. Fast forward 1 year later and I am thinking it wasn't the best decision. too many things wrong with this place and I dont feel like waiting around for them to fix it.


What I'm looking for, a place that has great outdoor stuff to do. I'm an avid cyclist and mountain biker. Love hiking and fishing. Hunting is a hobby but havent done it in a while. The mountain biking is non existent here and the roads do not allow road biking to be safe, or the drivers. (worst in the nation). I am a 29 year old male, 30 when I move out that way, (if I do) and don't have kids, so school stuff is not important to me. I do like to shop, so being close to a good mall or shopping outlets is a plus. I don't mind traffic if it is regulated correctly, I drove in DC for 3 years and didn't mind it, but for some reason driving in tulsa makes me want to pull out hair! The stop lights are old tech and are not timed properly, you hit one, you hit them all! I know Denver probably has it's fair share also.

The cities I was looking at were denver, colorado springs, fort collins, boulder, and grand junction. but I don't know where I would even start looking for a place to live. I guess it depends on what hospital would be the choice of employment. Which hospitals are good ones out there? any health care professionals on this board? I will be looking at trauma center/ER's. I have my BSN, TNCC, ENPC, PALS, ACLS. and 2 years of experience with traumas. I still have 11 months on contract here so I have some time to decide. I will be visiting a few times in the next year also. I would like to live in a city that is affordable for RN wages, low crime, and nice community. I love small town living, and would love to live outside the city. Is commuting into denver a hassle???? I'm sure i will have a thousand questions once I visit again. Thanks for everyones future input. tell me what they love and hate about their city and why I should move there.

[brightdoglover]

The subject of getting an RN job and being into the outdoors and where to live thereof in Colorado has been addressed many times.
I feel for ya. I don't think OK would be OK with me, but you're getting experience, and that's terrific.
There's a world of difference between Denver and Grand Junction. I'm sure others could tell you more clearly.
However, I gather from what other people have posted that RN jobs are hard to find, especially in smaller towns- people get hold of those jobs and hang on for dear life. A lot of services are closing.
That said, GJ is a trauma center of sorts, at least that's where people are Medivaced to from Ouray/Ridgway (then on to Salt Lake City or Denver if need be).
You didn't mention Durango? The medical center there has a good reputation, I think, and there's a world of biking out there. It's become a touristy town, no doubt, but there is still a lot of beauty all around.
Oh, shopping. I forgot that part. I'm curious- when people say they like shopping, just what are they buying? I mean, if you have enough towels and a good couch and a winter coat, say, you aren't going to buy more of these things while you have working ones? Maybe I just don't get it. (If I don't shop, what happened with those credit cards... vacations out West and artwork...)

[Mike from back east]

Anywhere in the I-25 Front Range Corridor from Colo Spgs to Fort Collins, this area has all you seek and the most jobs to boot.

Further afield, you get fewer job ops and less shopping.

[debbie at bouontiful]

My daughter an RN for at least 8 or 9 years in OKCity (large hospital) would like to move to Ft. Collins with her husband and daughter. RNs are usually on call with no benefits there because everyone in the world your age is trying to move there I guess. Anyway, they staying put in OKCity because they both have decent jobs and can't risk the whatever. They personally do not like OKCity. Probably because they both were brought up rural (ranch). I would think Denver would be easier but personally between Denver and Tulsa, I'd take Tulsa. Between any other place in CO (well not any other place) I'd take CO. I just personally think Denver is a big city like OKCity.

[Katarina Witt]

I would start looking in Denver. That's where the vast majority of teaching hospitals are, the big kahunas. You've got experience, you should be OK.

[lonestar9918]

I am a student RN working on BSN and my wife is an RN-BSN. Our primary goal is to move to C. Springs. Unfortunately new grad RN jobs are very hard to get in CO as is the case in many places. We are lucky that our location in TX is very new grad friendly. That being said, it appears that like most places, BSNs w/ at least 1 year experience are still able to find jobs. Denver Health has a level 1 trauma center but there is a wait list to work in it.
There are jobs in C Springs and Denver for experienced nurses. They're not what i would call "plentiful" but theyre there for sure. In C Springs you should earn about $24-$26 base plus shift diff. (Denver may vary but not a whole lot)
If you want to know more send me a message and I will share as many details as i can that my wife and i have picked up from a ridiculous amount of hours worth of research on nursing in CO.

[strawberrykiki]

I know next to nothing about jobs in health care, but I have a friend whose boyfriend has been applying for jobs prior to moving out here from Philly (he's a nurse), and he's had a lot of offers. I think if you have experience you should be fine. The traffic can be a pita, but that's true of any city. I live in Denver and I'd never live in any other part of the state. I like my city and all that comes with it.

[Mike from back east]

Originally Posted by strawberrykiki

I know next to nothing about jobs in health care, but I have a friend whose boyfriend has been applying for jobs prior to moving out here from Philly (he's a nurse), and he's had a lot of offers. I think if you have experience you should be fine. The traffic can be a pita, but that's true of any city. I live in Denver and I'd never live in any other part of the state. I like my city and all that comes with it.

That seems to match the details in this report which indicates that nationwide 3M jobs are not filled, including so many hospital positions that hospitals are actually running training programs to get people to fill their vacancies. Memorial Hospital System here in COLO SPGS has 87 vacancies, including about 20 RNs and many other medical specialists.

[delta07]

The Front Range of Colorado and the Western Slope are very different, but both have some/all of what you are looking for. The Western Slope is more of a blue collar, conservative town. It's harder to make friends there and meet single people. There's not nearly as much nightlife as you will find along the Front Range. However, the outdoor activities are plentiful and the trails are not as crowded as those close to the Front Range cities you are considering. My husband is an RN and worked at all 3 hospitals in Grand Junction during our 7 years there. St. Mary's is the largest hospital, and is a level 2 trauma center. The biggest downfall about nursing in Colorado, especially rural Colorado, is the pay. As a single male though, you will still be able to live pretty comfortably.

Since you have 11 months left in OK, I would plan a trip or two to Colorado during that time to check out the various areas. Look at getting licensure in the state as well, as that will help you compete for the jobs. With experience in trauma/ER, you should be able to find employment.