Integrated Nursing Pathway Program
The Community College of Aurora and the University of Colorado’s College of Nursing offer a unique, integrated pathway to earn a Bachelor of Science in Nursing. The Integrated Nursing Pathway program provides outstanding preparation for professional nursing practice. Designed to increase access for community college students to a bachelor’s degree in nursing, it emphasizes the value of a diverse student population as a way of achieving excellence in practice that is reflective of the cultural diversity of health care recipients. Students will learn, study, and support each other throughout the program as a cohort. Expert faculty and staff will be available to offer ongoing support and provide the best learning opportunities for successful completions. Students will receive nursing instruction at the new, state-of-the-art University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, which will allow them to reach their highest potential.
After the first year in the program, students graduate from CCA with an Associate of General Studies degree, then transition to the CON on the Anschutz campus to integrate into the traditional nursing program. There they take six consecutive semesters of nursing courses and graduate with a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Nursing from one of the top-ranked programs in the country.
NOTE: Due to the nature of the Integrated Nursing Pathway Program, students in the following categories cannot be considered for admission:
- Licensed LPN
How Much Do Nurses Make In Denver
A registered nurse salary in Denver Colorado is $30.80 per hour. This registered nurse salary in Denver Colorado is equivalent to $64,064 per year. The registered nurse salary in Denver Colorado may vary slightly, though. For instance, the nurses salary in Denver Colorado may be higher for nurses who have a specialty or more experience. A person may also may more money working in certain environments. A nurses salary in Denver Colorado, especially a registered nurse salary in Denver CO may vary from employer to employer.
The average nurse practitioner salary in Denver CO is equal to $94,366. This nurse practitioner salary in Denver CO is the same as $47.18 per hour. Just like the registered nurse salary in Denver CO, a person may make more money if he or she has a specialty. He or she may make more money depending on where he or she works.
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Become An Advance Practice Registered Nurse In Colorado
RNs who wish to become advanced practice registered nurses will want to pursue any number of avenues to earn Master of Science in Nursing degree. Earning a Master of Science in Nursing consists of graduate-level coursework and clinical practice for those nurses who wish to direct patient roles such as a nurse practitioner. You can also pursue indirect patient roles such as teaching or leadership roles, or become involved in policy, state-wide health initiatives or community engagement. There are many clinical and non-clinical avenues that an RN with MSN can pursue.
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Tips For Choosing The Top Nursing Schools In Colorado
Now you know what nursing degree you need to get your career going. The next step is to choose a school that fits your learning style and talents. You may want to start by requesting information from Colorado nursing schools near you. As you receive information from them, you can learn more about their student success rates and the features they offer.
Its recommended that you set aside time to visit each of the schools on your list. Nothing compares to actually seeing a school in person and listening to your gut instincts. By talking to students and teachers, you may find a nursing program that is well-suited to you. You may want to draw up a list of questions to ask schools as you talk to admissions representatives. The following questions are a good starting point.
University Of Northern Colorado Greeley

The nursing school is an academic unit of the University of Northern Colorado. The school has been consistent to the universitys mission of excellence in education. In its endeavor to provide the best learning experience, it provides personalized attention with its small sized classes, inspiring mentorship under an expert faculty and environment of discovery with its path-breaking scholarly activity. Its faculty has developed a simulation kit where students learn to deal with patients from impoverished backgrounds. This practice experience helps broadening the learning curve and thoroughly prepares students for various kinds of practice settings.
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Nursing Bridge Programs In Co
You may already have a degree, and youre hoping that you dont have to start from the beginning in your nursing education. Youre in luck many Colorado schools have bridge programs that accommodate the needs of nontraditional students.
If you began your education with an LPN or RN degree and you want to take it up a notch, you may use your experience to save time. Many LPN-to-BSN, RN-to-BSN, and RN-to-MSN programs have stringent education requirements. You need at least one to two years of nursing experience to be accepted. Your work experience counts for some or all of your required clinical hours, permitting you to do some or all of your training online.
You may have a Bachelors degree from another field of study. If so, your general education credits may transfer and help you complete your BSN in as little as 12 months. These programs are accelerated in nature, so they require a full-time commitment. Many Colorado schools forbid outside employment for the duration of your program. Rather than focusing on your general education courses, you move straight into nursing theory and clinical rotations. You must get experience in a variety of clinical settings prior to graduation.
Front Range Community College
Front Range Community College offers an LPN-to-ADN program, an AAS in Nursing for students who want to become RNs, and an RN-to-BSN completion program. The LPN-to-ADN program is for LPNs with at least one year of work experience. The AAS in Nursing prepares students for entry-level RN positions in healthcare settings. The program is approved by the Colorado Board of Nursing. For students who are already RNs, there is the RN-to-BSN completion program. Students must have an ADN and a current nursing license to be admitted to the program.
At Front Range Community College, the schools top priority is the success of its students. FRCC is committed to helping its students find their purpose and reach their goals. The school connects students to peers and mentors with related interests and helps each student develop a plan to reach his or her goals.
HIGHLIGHT: Students who complete the AAS in Nursing are eligible to take the NCLEX-RN exam.
Programs: ADN BSN
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Incentives For Colorado Nursing Students
In an effort to graduate more nurses, train more qualified teaching staff, and place more nurses in small community hospitals and rural areas, plenty of financial aid, scholarship, and loan repayment programs have been developed for Colorado nursing students. Some of these are
- The Loan Incentive for Teachers in Nursing, designed to encourage graduate nursing students to become nursing educators
- Colorado Healthcare Provider Loan Repayment Program
- School scholarships
- Tuition reimbursement programs provided by employers and recruiters
College tuition can be steep, no matter which school you look at. Tuition costs are a big influence on how many prospective students ultimately decide to attend college, and how far they take their education. These programs help remove one of the biggest obstacles to enrolling more nursing students.
Masters In Nursing Programs
University of Colorado at Denver The University of Colorado at Denvers Master of Science in Nursing program allows graduate students to specialize in one of a nearly a dozen concentrations, including family nurse practitioner, health care informatics, nurse-midwifery, adult gerontology clinical nurse specialist, and womens health. Regardless of the concentration, all graduate nursing students must complete core requirements that cover foundations of healthcare informatics, research methods for advanced practice, health systems, policy and social justice, and philosophic, theoretical, and ethical foundations of advanced nursing practice. Nursing students generally complete clinical rotations at local medical facilities with some specialties, such as adult gerontology clinical nurse specialist, giving graduate students the option to complete a thesis.
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What To Look For In An Adn Program In Colorado
In order to find the best fit for your learning style, location, and budget, it is important to consider a number of factors when weighing ADN programs:
Accreditation
The Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing and the American Association of Colleges of Nursing are the largest two institutions that assist schools and enforce regulatory policies to ensure that nursing students receive a top-quality education. In the interest of transparency, institutions that hold accreditation from one organization or the other are clearly listed in the state Board of Nursing documents.
Licensing
You will want to ensure that upon completing the ADN program at your preferred school that you will be eligible to take the NCLEX and thus become nationally registered as an RN. Last year, about 90% of the nursing students that took the NCLEX were successful, and many were from ADN program streams.
Program Outcomes
Each college or junior college provides information about graduates in statistics and publications. Designed to provide a measure of objectivity, this data is useful in helping students decide whether the program is a suitable match for their needs and goals. Be sure to read about:
- The graduation rate for each cohort
- NCLEX-RN pass rate
- Student satisfaction data
- Rate of post-secondary employment
Rn License For Nurses Educated Abroad
Nurses who are not licensed in the United States must apply for license by examination. There are some steps that must be completed prior to this. First of all, all candidates need a Healthcare Profession and Science Report. This will determine if their education program meet the equivalent requirements. In countries where English is not the native language, nurses will need to demonstrate English competency.
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Tuition And Costs Of Adn Programs In Colorado
There are easily enough ADN programs throughout the state to satisfy the needs of each RN student – and each of them has program costs that are unique. Students are encouraged to explore the full costs of the program they wish to apply to, remembering that beyond tuition, there are equipment, materials, textbook and sometimes clothing costs that students must incur in order to meet the needs of the program successfully. For example, the tuition portion of the ADN program at Lamar Community College is about $161 per credit hour in a 70-hour program over 4 semesters. Program costs are extra, as are room and board costs.
Community College Of Denver

Another trade-oriented school, the Community College of Denver is a great choice for students who either need to bring their grade point averages up or are constrained to taking college classes while working a day job. Though it is called a community college, this is in name only as it is a true to form four-year school. CCD serves more than 8,500 students each academic year according to the 2017 NCES report. It is located in a large city setting, making it an even more practical choice. Though it has a high student to teacher ratio at 22:1, it has been praised for taking a clear stance in working to prepare nursing students for work in the medical field with the expressed intent of serving the greater good.
- Available Nursing Programs: LPN, ADN, LPN to ADN
- NCLEX Pass Rate: Not listed
- Cost to Attend: $3,470 per year and $439 in administration fees
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Metropolitan State University Of Denver
The Metropolitan State University of Denver is a nursing school in Colorado, Denver area. It was founded more than half a century ago in 1965 and offers a wide array of graduate programs, including its nursing courses. The college was created with the intention of providing access to education to the widest range of students possible. The campus is in an old neighborhood called Auraria but has since expanded into multiple facilities throughout the nearby area. The campus is located in the center of Denvers business district, providing ready access for the students to nearby amenities, places to eat, and other valuable resources. The student to teacher ratio is 17 to 1 and the school serves just over 20,000 students each year. MSUD offers three BSN programs, including a four-year program, a BRNCO program, and an accelerated BSN program. Nursing students will be afforded the opportunity to avail themselves of a number of practical learning experiences in local medical facilities and other interoperable learning environments.
- Available Nursing Programs: BSN, Accelerated BSN, RN to BSN
- NCLEX Pass Rate: RN: 89.6%
- Cost to Attend: Not listed
Is Traditional Nursing The Right Option For You
The on-campus Traditional Nursing Option serves students who wish to complete general studies requirements and nursing pre-requisites at MSU Denver during their freshman and sophomore years followed by Nursing, B.S. requirements their junior and senior years. Students who pursue the Traditional Nursing option will complete their freshman and sophomore years as enrolled Nursing students. It is highly recommended that students obtain experience working as a Certified Nursing Assistant before they apply to this program.
This on-campus traditional nursing program generally serves students who have maintained a high G.P.A while completing some or all of the required prerequisite courses. Our Traditional Nursing Options is a very competitive Bachelor of Science program. Students who pursue the Traditional Nursing option must successfully transfer or complete prerequisite courses, take the HESI exam, and demonstrate a 3.0 G.P.A. for prior and prerequisite course work. Students who pursue the Traditional Nursing Option must first apply and be accepted to MSU Denver as Nursing .
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Metropolitan State University Of Denver Denver
The Department of Nursing at the Metropolitan State University of Denver is located adjacent to downtown Denver on the Auraria Campus. Being close to the commercial and entertainment district, you will have host of options open, in terms of leisure as well as clinical experiences and internships. Major hospitals in Denver, including University Hospital, SCL Health, Childrens, Denver Health, Centura Health and HealthOne are some of the prominent employers where graduates go on to work.
The Metropolitan State Universitys Accelerated Nursing Option is a 17-month long program divided into four consecutive semesters. This fast-paced program prepares you through theoretical classes, simulation activities, lab training and 765 hours of clinical experiences at various sites in Denver. Post completion this course enables students to take the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses. Apart from hospitals and medical clinics, graduates of this program will also find employment opportunities in ambulance services, blood banks, rehabilitative services, crisis intervention services etc.
Colorado Board Of Nursing
Colorado has two organizations that are great resources for nurses- the Colorado Board of Nursing, and the Colorado Nurses Association. The Association is a great way to network with other nurses, while the Board of Nursing handles all aspects of licensing, examinations, approved educational programs, continuing education requirements, and more. The Colorado Board of Nursing can be reached at 1560 Broadway, Suite 880, Denver, CO, 80202 or on their website.
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Msn Programs In Colorado
For nurses who are determined to lead in their field, there is an increasing number of programs available at the Master of Science in Nursing level. Today’s MSN programs are building the leaders of tomorrow’s nurses in pathways such as administrators, nurse educators, managers, and policymakers. Whether candidates are interested in clinical care, administrative or teaching environments, MSN options are designed to accelerate your nursing career.
Bsn Programs In Colorado
You may decide to earn a more advanced nursing degree at the start or midway through your career. With this in mind, many students consider the Bachelor of Science in Nursing as a viable option. Usually, a complete course of study requires 4 years, and most programs are found through universities. A great example is the BSN offerings at Colorado Mesa University, though there are approximately 15 institutions and satellite campuses through Colorado that offer BSN credentials.
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Dnp And Phd Nursing Programs In Colorado
Depending on which type of doctoral degree you earn, you may have the opportunity to pursue an online nursing degree in Colorado. Doctoral programs vary in length, but often range from four to six years in duration.
- Need a Bachelor of Science in Nursing and a current Colorado nursing license
- Must earn up to 90 credits of graduation
- May be able to complete some coursework online
- Testing requirements set by each national certification agency
Denver Metro Area Nursing Schools By Nclex Score

Denver College of Nursing
- Bachelor of Science in Nursing: 90.5% NCLEX pass rate
- Associate’s Degree in Nursing: 85.0% NCLEX pass rate
- Accelerated Second Degree BSN
- Bachelor of Science in Nursing: 85.0% NCLEX pass rate
AdventHealth University Denver
- Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Arapahoe Community College
- Associate’s Degree in Nursing
- Bachelor of Science in Nursing
- RN-to-BSN Degree Completion
- Certificate in Practical Nursing
- Associate’s Degree in Nursing
- Certificate in Practical Nursing
Front Range Community College – Westminster
- Associate’s Degree in Nursing
Metropolitan State University of Denver
- Accelerated Second Degree BSN
- Bachelor of Science in Nursing
- RN-to-BSN Degree Completion
- Certificate in Practical Nursing
- Nursing Assistant Certificate
- Nursing Assistant Certificate
- Accelerated Second Degree BSN
- Bachelor of Science in Nursing
- Bachelor of Science in Nursing
- Doctor of Nursing Practice
- Master of Science in Nursing
- Post-Baccalaureate DNP
- Post-Master’s Certificate: Family Nurse Practitioner
- Post-Master’s Certificate: Neonatal Nurse Practitioner
- Post-Master’s Certificate: Nursing Administration
University of Colorado, Anschutz Medical Campus
- Accelerated Second Degree BSN
- Bachelor of Science in Nursing
- Doctor of Nursing Practice
- Doctor of Philosophy in Nursing
- MSN: Nursing Administration
- Master of Science in Nursing
- Post-Baccalaureate PhD
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