Nursing shortage in Colorado (Denver, Colorado Springs: insurance, attorneys, homes)

[emm74]

Originally Posted by brightdoglover

If I may ask, did you use your MPH in work? I felt like my main interest was in international, and if I couldn't get that going, decided to call it a day with the MPH.

Even back then, the admission woman told me that I'd be a "special student" designation, whatever that meant. I really did wallop the GRE.

Yes, I use my JD and my MPH in my work handling clinical trial agreements and other contracts at a research hospital. I didn't know that was where I'd end up when I did the public health program, I was more generally interested in health law, but it's a great fit for me and what I learned in the MPH program definitely helps with reading and understanding study protocols and other components of my job.

[brightdoglover]

I found health law fascinating and even thought of going in that direction, but I was just not of a mind or position (loans/33 years old) to do it. Leonard Glantz and George Annas were my professors. I also don't like learning in school- more of an autodidact. I've always gone to school around a desired job.

[emm74]

Originally Posted by brightdoglover

I found health law fascinating and even thought of going in that direction, but I was just not of a mind or position (loans/33 years old) to do it. Leonard Glantz and George Annas were my professors. I also don't like learning in school- more of an autodidact. I've always gone to school around a desired job.

Yep, I took several classes with both of them. Leonard retired a couple of years ago, but George is still teaching last I heard.

[Harpaint]

Originally Posted by brightdoglover

I think the requirement for a BSN instead of a 2-year ADN or diploma is related to being awarded a magnet of excellence status (or something like that).

When I went to RN school in 1979, there was the ongoing talk of a 4-year degree being a required entry-level credential. (Note that all RN credentialing involves the same licensing exam and graduation from an accredited RN program). At that time, some 80 percent of in-facility jobs didn't call for a BSN. I wondered, who is going to go to a four-year school to work nights in a nursing home, etc?

Answer, if a facility requires BSNs for non-management jobs and will not accept years of experience in lieu of... there will be shortages. Where I was back East, there were many programs, BSN, Associate's, even a few hospital programs were still open. My hospital got a never-ending flood of new grad BSNs (who do seem to lack hands-on clinical skills and were very young. Also many or most were headed for nurse practitioner credential and jobs with very little experience.

I guess you could say I don't overly endorse a BSN requirement. And there is certainly a shortage of BSNs for every clinical job in most places.

I agree. I would add that the city college RN programs actually take more than 2 years because there are prerequisites like English, Chemistry, etc that are required before starting the actual nursing classes.

[Mike from back east]

I'm not a nurse, but having been flat on my ass a few times due to surgery ... I LOVE nurses.

My two cents is nursing should be a 4-year program, like teaching, and we need public financing for it.

If hospitals won't pay a decent wage, then nurses need a national union with collective bargaining to get a fair shake for what is becoming an ever more sophisticated career due to increasingly complicated medical technologies and more powerful medications now in use and coming at us quicker than ever.

[brightdoglover]

From your lips...

[Katarina Witt]

Originally Posted by Harpaint

I agree. I would add that the city college RN programs actually take more than 2 years because there are prerequisites like English, Chemistry, etc that are required before starting the actual nursing classes.

Front Range requires a minimum of 71 credit hours, not quite 5 full semesters, 7 clinical nursing courses.
https://frontrange.smartcatalogiq.co...635.1532720949

CU: Minimum 126 credits, 10 clinical nursing courses, 480 clinical hours, way more science courses (than FRCC).
http://www.ucdenver.edu/academics/co...ional-plan.pdf
http://www.ucdenver.edu/academics/co...dmissions.aspx

[DOUBLE H]

Originally Posted by Mike from back east

I'm not a nurse, but having been flat on my ass a few times due to surgery ... I LOVE nurses.

My two cents is nursing should be a 4-year program, like teaching, and we need public financing for it.

If hospitals won't pay a decent wage, then nurses need a national union with collective bargaining to get a fair shake for what is becoming an ever more sophisticated career due to increasingly complicated medical technologies and more powerful medications now in use and coming at us quicker than ever.

No need to add anything here.


On point! Thanks Mike!

[flyingcat2k]

I have to agree. The reason for the nursing shortage in Colorado Springs is due to wages vs. the cost of living. People with science, math and engineering degrees are not stupid. If it costs a family of four 100K a year to pay for living expenses and a 350k starter home but both parents can only make 80 K a year (22/hr) as nurses, they won't be moving to Colorado Springs.


I'm married to an RN who just got her BSN from Purdue. I have a Colorado engineering license and we've looked at moving back. Based on my wages and hers for comparable jobs in Colorado, we'd be living in a 3bd/1bth home AFTER only being able to put down 10%. Considering we have 3 kids, we won't be doing that. If she made what she is making in Illinois, it would be a little better (yes, a 2nd bathroom!!) but still not worth it.


If costs keep rising like this in Colorado for another couple of years, it will look like the Bay Area. Lots of swanky restaurants and shops but you can't get any service.

[DrDog]

Don’t confuse poor nursing pay in Colorado with a national problem. In some parts of the country nurses get paid more to considerably more.

And unless there is required public service I would be against public funding for education.