There are two reasons you might be here. First, you just became a licensed practical nurse (LPN) and want to put into practice what you learned in your training. Second, you are an experienced LPN who has yet to find a job that fulfills your financial and personal needs.
Regardless, your perseverance will pay off. Here, you can find job opportunities that will take your nursing career and personal life to the next level. Read on to understand all the benefits of choosing high-paying PRN LPN jobs in Colorado.
Regarding the average LPN salary in Colorado, the Centennial State offers a mean annual wage of $64,710, which is already higher than the national average. However, working PRN, you can earn a significantly higher hourly rate.
Licensed Practical Nursing Jobs in Colorado
Nursing jobs in Colorado are on the rise, and the growth projection from 2020 to 2030 is an increase of 21.5 percent, which is excellent news for LPNs seeking jobs in CO. According to a study, Colorado’s healthcare system generates $148 billion and supports 744,000 jobs in the state. In addition, Colorado’s healthcare system ranks 13th best in the country.
Hospitals and other healthcare centers in Colorado boast high-quality patient care, so working in Colorado as a licensed practical nurse will be an excellent experience for your nursing career.
Find Per Diem Nursing Jobs in Colorado
Until now, we haven’t explained what per diem or PRN jobs mean. A per diem job is a type of work whereby hospitals or other healthcare centers contract LPNs by the day or shift. The term PRN means “as needed.” Therefore, with PRN or per diem jobs, hospitals or other healthcare centers contract you for a single shift when the need arises in their facilities.
When you choose a job with these characteristics, you can select where you want to work and when. For that reason, this type of job allows you to have more control of your time and gain more flexibility. With PRN jobs, you are an independent contractor with control of your schedule and work-life balance. The following list shows links to per diem jobs in the different metropolitan areas in the Centennial State:
Boulder Metropolitan Statistical Area
Boulder County
Colorado Springs Metropolitan Statistical Area
El Paso County
Teller County
Fort Collins Metropolitan Statistical Area
Larimer County
Grand Junction Metropolitan Statistical Area
Mesa County
Denver-Aurora-Lakewood Metropolitan Statistical Area
Adams County
Arapahoe County
Broomfield County
Clear Creek County
Denver County
Douglas County
Elbert County
Gilpin County
Jefferson County
Park County
Greeley Metropolitan Statistical Area
Weld County
Pueblo Metropolitan Statistical Area
Pueblo County
Fremont County
High-Paying Work Settings for Licensed Practical Nurses
LPNs can work in different settings. However, some industries pay higher salaries to their LPN staff. The following list shows the settings with the highest hourly wages for LPNs nationwide.
- Management, scientific, and technical consulting services with an hourly mean wage of $34.96
- Insurance carriers with an hourly mean wage of $34.71
- Employment services with an hourly mean wage of $34.71
- Federal and local government, excluding some settings, with an hourly mean wage of $32.13
- Outpatient care settings with an hourly mean wage of $32.09
Which Are the Most Common Work Settings for LPNs?
LPNs can work in various settings in CO, from remote nursing jobs working as LPN patient navigators to working in hospitals and home healthcare services. Moreover, some settings are more common for LPNs. The following list shows the most common settings for LPNs to work:
- Nursing and residential care facilities: 35%
- Hospitals (state, local, and private): 15%
- Home healthcare services: 13%
- Physicians’ offices: 12%
- Government: 6%
Aging Population and Nursing Workforce
According to a study by the Colorado Center for Nursing Excellence, the Centennial State had one LPN for every 751 Colorado residents, which shows the need for more LPNs in the state. In addition, since 1990, Colorado’s population has grown on average by 75,000 residents per year, and the population above 60 also rose from 14 percent in 1990 to 21 percent in 2021.
As the Centennial State’s population ages, so does its nursing workforce, with around 27 percent of LPNs over 60 years old. Therefore, if you are considering becoming a licensed practical nurse or are already an LPN considering moving to Colorado, finding a job in this state will most likely be easy.
How to Become an LPN in Colorado
If you want to begin working in Colorado but don’t have your license, various high-quality LPN programs throughout the state can help you become an excellent licensed practical nurse. Nevertheless, you must ensure that the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE), the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN), or the Colorado Board of Nursing accredit the program of your choice. Once you complete all the state requirements, you can use this license lookup tool to determine the status of your license. After you obtain your license, you can start working as an LPN.
Discover LPN Jobs near You
If you didn’t find your city in the list above, you can browse this list of nursing jobs in different micropolitan areas and counties throughout Colorado.
Glenwood Springs Micropolitan Statistical Area
Garfield County
Pitkin County
Edwards Micropolitan Statistical Area
Eagle County
Durango Micropolitan Statistical Area
La Plata County
Montrose Micropolitan Statistical Area
Montrose County
Steamboat Springs Micropolitan Statistical Area
Moffat County
Routt County
Breckenridge Micropolitan Statistical Area
Lake County
Summit County
Fort Morgan, Micropolitan Statistical Area
Morgan County
Sterling Micropolitan Statistical Area
Logan County
Find PRN Jobs in Other Colorado Counties
Discover LPN jobs in your county or cities near you:
Alamosa County
Grand County
Dolores County
El Paso County
Phillips County
Washington County
Conejos County
Chaffee County
Kit Carson County
Delta County
Saguache and Rio Grande Counties
Cheyenne County
Montezuma County
Mineral County
Rio Grande County
Kiowa County
Bent County
Otero County
Gunnison County
Philips County
Prowers County
Lincoln County
Sedgwick County
Hinsdale County
Rio Blanco County
Saguache County
San Miguel County
Crowley County
Archuleta County
Baca County
Las Animas County
Jackson County
Huerfano County
Custer County
Yuma County
As you can see, through Nursa, you can access various per diem job opportunities for LPNs in Colorado.
Here’s how Nursa works: Nursa is an open market that connects clinicians with healthcare facilities. To access this market, you must download the app, complete a professional profile, and upload your license for verification. After completing these three simple steps, you can request the per diem job or jobs that suit you the most. To learn more about unlocking opportunities, read our article about the ban on noncompetes.
You may not have found your city in the lists of PRN LPN jobs in Colorado above. If that’s your case, you may find PRN LPN jobs near you here. Check out the most popular ways to stay hydrated on the job in our post about the best water bottles for nurses.
Sources:
- Projections Central: Long-Term Occupational Projections (2020-2030)
- Common Sense Institute: Diagnosis of Colorado’s Healthcare Industry: Impact and Competitiveness Are Significant, but Warning Signs on the Rise
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Outlook Handbook (Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses)
- U.S. News & World Report: Health Care Ranking
- City Population