New Grad Hiring in Denver, Colorado

4 posts · started Sep 8, 2006

buttercup24 Sep 8, 2006, 3:52 PM
Is anyone familiar with the new grad hiring situation in the Denver metro area?
How can a willing, flexible, licensed RN be unemployed in Colorado during a sever nursing shortage?

Hi, it's me again. I'm still an unemployed RN in the Denver metro area. It has been 4 months since I graduated (with honors) and I have applied to every hospital in the metro area that hires ASN new grads but with no success. I have expressed great flexibility in terms of where and when I can work. I will absolutely work in any unit, any day of the week, on any shift, but it seems to be irrelevant since I am a new grad.

Since I got my degree in Maryland, I am completely out of the hospital loop in Colorado, which means I am left to go through the hospital nurse recruiters. One thing that I have noticed is that the nurse recruiters are not very good at explaining the new grad hiring process and they do a poor job returning phone calls and emails. I don't know why this is the case. I can't imagine that they are all bad at their jobs. Are they overworked? Is their a bottleneck between them and the hiring managers? Do they operate under a mismanaged hiring plan? How can a willing, flexible, licensed RN be unemployed in Colorado during a sever nursing shortage?
CBartley123 Sep 8, 2006, 4:52 PM
Buttercup-

A lot of hospitals are contracting companies like mine now in order to find them experienced nurses to fill those open positions. That may be one reason that you are having a difficult time with it. I do, however, work with some hospitals outside of Colorado that are hiring new grads, and could get your foot in the door with them easily. States include: NM, TX, and NY. I know that you may have your heart set on CO, but there are other options out there that I could help you with.

Connor Bartley
Martin Fletcher and Associates
cbartley@martinfletcher.com
877 782-5989
buttercup24 Sep 13, 2006, 12:48 AM
Thanks, but that doesn't help me as a new grad in Colorado. Especially since I just moved here and bought a house. I was very encouraged about working here considering the severe nursing shortage. Now that I realize that the hospital's practices are contributing to this shortage I have no sympathy at all for those in the healthcare industry that speak of this shortage.
wsustud08 Mar 21, 2007, 8:45 PM
So, were you finally able to find a job in CO? How do you like it, and what did you finally do to "get your foot in the door"?