The shortages of nurses in major health care centers in Colorado, similar to other states of United States, offer a lucrative career opportunity to health care professionals. One can easily get nursing jobs in various health care centers throughout Colorado. But, it is also true that to work in these facilities, state and federal authorities have formulated certain provisions that are to be completed before you are actually allowed to work.
The first and foremost step, necessary for working in hospitals, nursing homes, long term care centers and other facilities in CO includes, enrolling in a Nursing School in Colorado and complete accredited nursing programs, which can also make you eligible to appear for the NCLEX licensing exam.
CO Nursing schools offers various types of programs for entry level, diploma, certificates, degree, Specialty, Doctoral, an accelerated second degree BSN, associate nursing programs, BSN, Nursing Doctorate program, and MSN degrees. An aspiring nursing student can complete these programs through any of the nursing schools, community colleges, tech-schools, vocational colleges and universities spread all over the CO state.
The CO nursing institutes and programs are accredited by at least one of the major federal and state approved US Nursing commissions, such as National League for Nursing Accreditation Commission or Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education and State approved Colorado State Board of Nursing or DORA.
Majority of programs offered by these Nursing Schools in Colorado include:
- Bachelor of Sciences in Nursing (BSN), for LPN which is 4 year program.
- Associates of Nursing (ADN) is 2 to 3 years for LPN to RN
- Bachelor of Science in Nursing for LVN
- · Licensed Practical Nurse to Bachelor of Science in Nursing for LPN
- Master of Science in Nursing for RN
- Master of Science in Nursing from BSN
- Bachelor of Sciences in Nursing (BSN) for Diploma/Foreign Trained RN
Many schools also have prerequisites for the admissions including, an entrance tests such as Registered Nurse Entrance Exam, Nursing Entrance Test, Psychological Services Bureau, Critical Thinking Entrance Exam and Test of Essential Academic Skills.