Nursing Schools in Denver

Students who wish to join the health services sector have the option of becoming a nursing professional. A nurse is a qualified professional who is skilled at performing clinical tasks and taking care of patients. In the field of nursing, an individual can become a Registered Nurse (RN), Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN), Licensed Vocational Nurse (LVN) or a nurse aide. All nurses, irrespective of their designation, are academically trained and licensed to practice within their state.

Why become a registered nurse in Denver?

According to O*NET OnLine’s 2013 statistics, the annual median salary of registered nurses in the state of Colorado was $68,100. This was higher than the US annual median salary of registered nurses, which was at $66,200.

The same source also predicts exponential growth in the nursing sector of the state between 2010 and 2020. Nursing jobs are expected to grow at the rate of 37% in the state of Colorado for the said decade.

How to become a registered nurse in Denver?

There are two academic pathways leading to becoming a registered nurse in Denver, and in the rest of the country for that matter. You will either need an associate degree in nursing (ADN) or a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree. A Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) or PhD in Nursing, while offered, is not required to become a registered nurse. These two advanced degrees are essentially for those practicing nurses who either want to become managers or administrators or pursue a career in nursing academia.

Once a student graduates with an ADN or BSN, he/she may sit for the mandatory National Council for Licensure Examination (NCLEX-RN) exam to get licensed.

Nursing Schools in Denver, CO

Prospective nursing students have an option to choose from either public or private nursing schools in Denver. Their options are, but not limited to:

• Rueckert-Hartman College for Health Professions, Regis University
• Metropolitan State University of Denver
• University of Colorado
• Community College of Denver

The abovementioned schools may offer the following degrees to admitted students.

• ADN (Associate Degree in Nursing)
• BSN (Bachelor of Science in nursing)
• MSN (Master of Science in nursing)

The above mentioned programs provide students with the knowledge in various aspects of nursing. Students receive training in performing certain clinical tasks such as drug administration, injections, checking vital signs, food and nutrition, identifying diseases and illnesses.

Nurse Aide Certificate

If you want to join the profession with minimal education, consider becoming a nurse aide. You will work under the supervision of registered or licensed practical nurses, providing personal care to patients. The certificate may be completed in 7-weeks with part-time enrollment. At the end of the program, students may be eligible to take the examination for a nurse aide certification. Certified nurse aides can find themselves employed in long-term care facilities and hospitals.

If you are, however, looking for greater responsibilities and an advanced career in nursing, earn a college-level degree in nursing.

Associate Degree in Nursing

It is typically a 2-year degree which is offered by many community colleges in Denver. Students are taught courses in:

• Basics of Pharmacology
• Fundamentals of Nursing
• Nursing Care of OB and Pediatric Clients
• Medical Surgical Nursing Concepts
• Leadership, Management and Trends
• Advanced Concepts of Medical Surgical Nursing
• Nursing Care of Psychiatric Clients

General admission requirements for the degree are:

• High school diploma or its equivalent
• A minimum specified GPA
• TOEFL (for international applicants)

Standardized exams like SAT/ACT may not be required by community colleges.

Bachelor of Science in Nursing (Campus Based)

Typically awarded after 120 credit hours, which can be completed in 4 years with full-time enrollment, the degree includes the following courses:

• Nursing
• Religious Studies
• Philosophy
• Humanities
• Social Sciences
• Liberal Arts

Upper-division nursing curriculum may include courses in:

• Community and Population Focused Nursing
• Clinical Leadership in Professional Nursing
• Clinical Reasoning: Integration of Theory and Practice
• Emergency Nursing
• Nursing Care of Children and Families
• Complex Healthcare Management of the Adult & Older Adult
• Health Promotion, Disease Prevention, and Health Policy
• Evidence-Based Practice in Nursing and Healthcare Informatics
• Pharmacology
• Pathophysiology

General admission requirements are based on the applicants’:

• Academic performance
• Work experience
• Writing skills demonstrated in the personal statement
• Letters of recommendation

Bachelor of Science in Nursing (Accelerated)

Licensed nurses can now earn their BSN degree in less than 4 years. The RN to BSN program is for those licensed nurses which do not hold a BSN degree but would like to earn the degree for professional advancement. The program is offered on-campus as well as online, facilitating working nurses.

The curriculum for the RN to BSN program is similar, if not the same, as the traditional BSN program. Since the students would have already completed prerequisite courses during the ADN degree, they may complete the degree relatively faster than traditional BSN students.

General admission requirements for the RN to BSN program applicants are:

• ADN from an accredited nursing school
• A minimum specified number of transferable non-nursing prerequisite course work
• Copy of current registered nurse license
• Letters of recommendation
• A minimum CGPA of 3.0

Financial Assistance

Eligible ADN, BSN, MSN and PhD students will get financial assistance. For further details and assistance with filing the mandatory FAFSA application, you can contact your school’s financial aid office.