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Certified nursing assistants (CNAs) work in various job settings with different kinds of patients. Hospitals, long-term care facilities, and home health services are just some job options for CNAs.
The Centennial State is not among the best-paying states for CNAs, but it still offers higher compensation than the national average and plenty of work opportunities for nurse aides.
Why Become a Nursing Assistant in Colorado?
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the job growth for home health, personal care aides, nursing assistants, orderlies, and psychiatric aides is projected to be 17 percent until 2032.
Therefore, if you are considering becoming a CNA, you will be among a group of professionals who will be in significant demand throughout the decade.
Becoming a certified nursing assistant is a great decision since the Centennial State has excellent programs that meet high standards for excellence. Furthermore, the average CNA salary in Colorado is around 9 percent higher than the national average, and in some areas of the state, it reaches over a 15 percent difference.
Furthermore, picking up PRN CNA jobs in Colorado can be a life-changing experience if you want to have more control of your time and increase your income. Want more information? Learn the differences between CMA vs CNA.
How to Become a CNA in Colorado
Like CNA training programs nationwide, programs in Colorado typically consist of in-class instruction in addition to laboratory and clinical hours. Some programs may substitute in-class instruction with online classes. However, all programs must include a minimum number of supervised clinical practice hours.
During a CNA training program, students learn basic nursing knowledge and skills, including hygiene, grooming, nutrition, toileting, principles of infection control, taking vital signs, and lifting and positioning patients. Most of these skills are used to help patients and residents perform activities of daily living or ADLs.
After students complete a program approved by the Colorado State Board of Nursing, they must pass the National Nurse Aide Assessment Program (NNAAP) exam and apply for CNA certification.
Once you certify, you can use this Colorado CNA license lookup tool to check your certification status. In addition, the Colorado CNA registry requires license renewal every 31st of January of odd years. In other words, CNAs must renew their certifications every two years.
Where Do CNAs Work in Colorado?
According to a survey by the Colorado Health Institute, published in 2009 and updated in 2023, the most common work settings for CNAs are the following:
- Long-term care/nursing home: 44.7%
- Hospital: 21.8%
- Home health agency: 15%
- Assisted-living facility: 6.7%
- Private home: 6.6%
- Hospice: 1.3%
- Medical practice office or clinic: 1.1%
As you can see, the highest percentage of certified nursing assistants in Colorado work in long-term care and nursing homes. Although CNAs have higher salaries in hospital settings, the survey found they are less satisfied than those working in long-term care.
About 60 percent of the Colorado nursing assistants working in home health agencies responded that they feel satisfied with their jobs. Furthermore, they have more control over their work in this setting and feel confident about their skills to perform their jobs.
These insights can help you decide whether to work in long-term care, hospitals, or other settings in Colorado.
How Many CNAs Pursue Further Education?
Approximately half of the surveyed CNAs in Colorado responded that they didn’t want to pursue further education. Among the reasons for not continuing their studies, the most common answer CNAs gave was regarding educational costs.
CNAs who continue their studies may complete practical nursing programs to become licensed practical nurses (LPNs) or associate degrees, diploma programs, or bachelor’s degrees to become registered nurses (RNs).
A CNA who works PRN jobs receives higher hourly pay than a nursing assistant in a staff position. Therefore, working PRN jobs can help CNAs cover nursing school costs—if they decide to go that route. Regardless, PRN jobs offer CNAs opportunities to meet their financial goals.
CNAs’ Access to Health Insurance in Colorado
According to the Colorado Health Access Survey, less than half of Coloradans have health insurance through their jobs. Nurse aides might consider health insurance due to the elevated cost of medical treatments, surgeries, or hospitalization. Working per diem shifts may help you earn more money to purchase health coverage.
Is There a Need for More CNAs in Colorado?
According to the Colorado Center for Nursing Excellence, there are 36,777 CNAs in Colorado, representing 24 percent of the direct healthcare workforce.
These numbers translate to one CNA per 158 residents. This CNA-to-patient ratio may seem high, but Colorado’s population of over 60 has been increasing over the years, constituting 21 percent of the population. Furthermore, the elderly population in the state will continue growing for at least 20 years. CNAs provide crucial care to this sector of the Centennial State’s population.
Another problem that affects Coloradans is the distribution of healthcare workers throughout the state. In other words, people in some regions need more access to healthcare providers.
In conclusion, there is a need for more CNAs in the Centennial State. Therefore, if you are about to become one or are already one, there is a great demand for your services.
What Are PRN CNA Jobs?
As mentioned before, PRN jobs or per diem shifts for CNAs are a way to achieve flexibility and high pay rates. PRN clinicians have greater control over their schedules because they are independent contractors and can decide when and where they want to work. The beauty of this work model is that if you already have a staff position, you can still experience what a per diem shift can do for you and the benefits you can obtain by picking up shifts on your days off.
If PRN jobs appeal to you, your next step is to become a full-time per diem CNA. As a per diem certified nursing assistant, you can work shifts in different facilities and earn higher hourly wages.
Moreover, if you already have experience in the emergency room (ER), intensive care unit (ICU), or medical-surgical (med-surg) unit and want to pick up a per diem shift, Nursa offers hospital jobs for nursing assistants.
PRN Jobs in Metropolitan and Micropolitan Areas of Colorado
To help you take the step to become a PRN nurse aide, here are direct links to find per diem jobs in your metropolitan or micropolitan area, county, and city. You may also pick up PRN jobs in cities near you.
Denver-Aurora-Lakewood Metropolitan Statistical Area
Do you live in the Denver-Aurora-Lakewood area? Browse PRN CNA and patient care tech (PCT) jobs in the cities below.
Adams County
Arapahoe County
Jefferson County
Douglas County
Broomfield County
Denver County
Grand Junction Metropolitan Statistical Area
CNAs living in the Grand Junction Metropolitan Statistical Area can find PRN jobs following the link below.
Mesa County
Cañon City Micropolitan Statistical Area
Browse PRN jobs for CNAs in Cañon City with Nursa.
Freemont County
Boulder Metropolitan Statistical Area
Do you live in or near Boulder? Find high-paying PRN jobs by clicking on the links below.
Boulder County
Fort Collins Metropolitan Statistical Area
CNAs in the Fort Collins Metropolitan Statistical Area can browse PRN CNA jobs in the following cities.
Larimer County
Greeley Metropolitan Statistical Area
Do you live in Weld County? Find CNA jobs near you.
Weld County
Pueblo Metropolitan Statistical Area
CNAs can also find PRN jobs with Nursa in Pueblo Metropolitan Statistical Area.
Pueblo County
Colorado Springs Metropolitan Statistical Area
Discover PRN jobs for CNAs by clicking on the links below.
El Paso County
Durango Micropolitan Statistical Area
Find PRN jobs for CNAs in Durango.
La Plata County
Glenwood Springs Micropolitan Statistical Area
Pick up PRN jobs in the Glenwood Springs Micropolitan Statistical Area.
Pitkin County
Breckenridge Micropolitan Statistical Area
Do you live in Breckenridge? Pick up PRN CNA jobs in Dillon.
Summit County
Edwards Micropolitan Statistical Area
CNAs in the Edwards Micropolitan Statistical Area can pick up PRN jobs in the following cities.
Eagle County
Steamboat Springs Micropolitan Statistical Area
Do you live in Steamboat Springs? Click on the link below.
Routt County
Northwest Colorado Nonmetropolitan Area
CNAs living in Colorado’s Northwest nonmetropolitan area can also pick up high-paying PRN jobs.
Grand County
Southwest Colorado Nonmetropolitan Area
Do you live in Hinsdale or Dolores County? Browse PRN CNA jobs.
Hinsdale County
Dolores County
Eastern and Southern Colorado Nonmetropolitan Area
CNAs residing in the Southern Nonmetropolitan area can pick up PRN jobs in Holyoke.
Phillips County
PRN CNA Jobs with Nursa
You already know the benefits that per diem shifts in the Centennial State can bring to your life. However, you may need to learn how to find this type of job.
Nursa is an open market where you can connect with different facilities and hospitals near you that are looking for you. It is important to say that Nursa doesn’t hire CNAs; it is a digital platform where facilities can upload shifts, and CNAs can pick the per diem jobs that fit their schedules, interests, and financial needs.
Achieve the life of your dreams by picking up PRN CNA jobs with Nursa.
Check out the most popular ways to stay hydrated on the job in our post about the best water bottles for nurses.
Sources:
- Colorado Health Institute: 2006 Colorado Certified Nurse Aide Workforce Survey Findings
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Outlook Handbook
- Colorado Health Institute: Colorado Health Access Survey
- Colorado Center for Nursing Excellence: Colorado’s Direct Care Healthcare Workforce
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