Certified Nursing Assistant Jobs in Colorado Springs, CO
Certified nursing assistants in Colorado Springs usually start around $18 to $21 an hour, with hospital roles at Penrose and St. Francis posting up to about $27. The openings below come from hospitals, nursing centers, hospice and Fort Carson, followed by who hires CNAs and how to get certified.
Current certified nursing assistant Openings in Colorado Springs, CO
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Certified Nursing Assistant Work in Colorado Springs
CNA work in the Springs splits between the big hospital systems and the long-term care centers. CommonSpirit's Penrose Hospital on North Nevada Avenue and St. Francis Hospital on East Woodmen Road at Powers staff nurse assistants on oncology, telemetry, rehab, ICU and med-surg units and in the emergency department. On the post-acute side, skilled nursing and rehab centers around International Circle and in the southwest near Tenderfoot Hill Road run CNAs on day, night and PRN shifts, and Pikes Peak Hospice & Palliative Care employs aides on its care teams.
The military economy adds a federal option most Colorado cities lack: Evans Army Community Hospital on Fort Carson hires civilian nursing assistants through USAJOBS on the GS scale. Military-spouse moves also mean steady turnover on these staffs.
Top Colorado Springs Employers for Certified Nursing Assistants
These employers operate in the Colorado Springs metro and hire certified nursing assistants:
- CommonSpirit Penrose-St. Francis - Penrose and St. Francis hire CNAs for inpatient units, the ED and long-term care.
- Evans Army Community Hospital - the Fort Carson hospital hires civilian nursing assistants at the GS-5 level through USAJOBS.
- Life Care Center of Colorado Springs - the skilled nursing and rehab center on International Circle runs CNAs on 8 and 12 hour day, night and PRN shifts.
- Mountain View Post Acute - the post-acute center on Tenderfoot Hill Road recruits CNAs alongside its nurses.
- Pikes Peak Hospice & Palliative Care - the local hospice employs CNAs on its patient care teams.
Certified Nursing Assistant Salaries in Colorado Springs
- Entry level: about $18 to $21 an hour for newly certified aides in nursing centers and hospitals.
- Experienced: roughly $21 to $25 an hour with a year or more of hospital or skilled nursing experience.
- Senior / specialty units: $25 to $28 an hour on hospital units and nights, or about $41,800 to $54,400 a year at the federal GS-5 level.
These are estimates from local postings. Hospital units, night and weekend shifts, PRN premiums and federal jobs pay the most, while Colorado's pay transparency law means most Springs postings show their range up front.
How to Become a Certified Nursing Assistant in Colorado Springs
Colorado certifies nurse aides through the Colorado State Board of Nursing in the Division of Professions and Occupations at DORA. You finish a state-approved nurse aide program, pass the Colorado nurse aide competency exam in both written and skills parts, and get placed on the state nurse aide registry. Locally, Pikes Peak State College offers a Nurse Aide certificate that qualifies you for the state exam, and at least one local post-acute center hires aides who reach the registry within 120 days of starting.
What the Job Involves
CNAs help patients with bathing, dressing, eating, toileting and moving safely between bed, chair and bathroom. They take vital signs, record intake and output, answer call lights, reposition patients to prevent pressure injuries and report changes to the nurse. In long-term care the same residents are cared for every shift, while hospital CNAs turn over patients quickly and may double as unit secretaries or telemetry techs.
Skills Employers Look For
- Active Colorado nurse aide certification on the state registry
- Current BLS or CPR card
- Safe lifting, transfer and mobility technique
- Accurate vital signs and charting in an electronic record
- Patience and calm communication with patients and families
- Reliability on 12 hour, night and weekend shifts
Career Path and Advancement
CNA work is a common first step into nursing in the Springs. The usual ladder runs from CNA to a specialty aide role such as telemetry tech or unit secretary, then into the Practical Nursing certificate or the nursing degree at Pikes Peak State College, and on to the BSN at the UCCS Johnson Beth-El College of Nursing. PRN and part-time CNA shifts, which both the hospitals and nursing centers post, make it possible to keep working while in school.
Related Careers in Colorado Springs
If CNA work interests you, these Colorado Springs roles are close matches:
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you need a license to work as a CNA in Colorado Springs?
Yes. Colorado requires nurse aides to be certified through the Colorado State Board of Nursing and listed on the state nurse aide registry. You qualify by finishing a state-approved program and passing the written and skills exam.
How much do CNAs make in Colorado Springs?
Most new CNAs start around $18 to $21 an hour. Experienced aides earn about $21 to $25, and hospital units and nights can push pay to about $25 to $28 an hour. Federal GS-5 jobs at Fort Carson post about $41,800 to $54,400 a year.
Where can I take CNA classes in Colorado Springs?
Pikes Peak State College runs a Nurse Aide certificate that makes you eligible for the Colorado Nurse Aide Certificate Examination. You must pass the exam within two years of finishing the program to be certified.
Can military spouses work as CNAs in Colorado Springs?
Yes. Hospitals, nursing centers and Evans Army Community Hospital on Fort Carson all hire CNAs. If you are certified in another state, contact the Colorado State Board of Nursing about getting onto the Colorado registry before you apply.
What shifts do Colorado Springs CNAs work?
Hospitals mostly run 12 hour day and night shifts, while nursing centers offer 8 or 12 hour shifts and PRN schedules. Nights and weekends often pay more, so check the posted range on each job.
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