Registered Nurse Patient Care Unit (PCU)

Vail Health

Denver, Colorado

Vail Health is hiring for its own floors, with no agency in between.

Posted Jul 24

Shift and hours: Nights
Unit and setting: Stepdown · Hospital
License: RN licenseRegistered Nurse license (Colorado or compact state)
Term: Per Diem

Do you qualify?

License: Registered Nurse license (Colorado or compact state) Check your license

What it pays

Against similar roles: In range for Colorado PRN rolesColorado PRN postings that state pay run $33/hr to $56/hr, the middle half $40/hr to $50/hr, across 404 postings.
Overtime pay: $38/hr

Benefits

Wellbeing reimbursement funds
403(b) contribution eligibility

The role and schedule

Weekends: Weekends required

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Your fit

Questions to ask

Can you walk me through base pay range and differentials?
What should I expect for weekly hours, holiday, and call?
What orientation, preceptor time, and ongoing unit support are included?
How are patient load, floating, and staffing support handled day to day?

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On your path

Telemetry is open from year one. One of the most open front doors in acute care; ACLS and rhythm.

See your route →Check first: New-grad residency fine print

Original listing

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Vail Health has become the world’s most advanced mountain healthcare system. Vail Health consists of an updated 520,000-square-foot, 56-bed hospital. This state-of-the-art facility provides exceptional care to all of our patients, with the most beautiful views in the area, located centrally in Vail. Learn more about Vail Health here.

About the opportunity

This position assumes responsibility and accountability for providing nursing care for patients and their families. Assure expert, compassionate, individualized nursing care for patients and families is expected. They collaborate with providers, staff and other members of the team to achieve optimal patient outcomes.

What You’ll Love

A peaceful, state-of-the-art PCU space with stunning mountain views
In-room physical and occupational therapy to enhance patient outcomes
Collaborative team rounding and bedside care
Full-time night shift with rotating weekends and holidays

What We’re Looking For

A passion for compassionate, patient- and family-centered care

Experience

PCU or Med-Surg nursing experience preferred
License(s): Registered Nurse license in Colorado or a valid compact state required
Certification(s): Basic Life Support (BLS) required

Education

Minimum of an Associate Nursing Degree (for positions hired after 07/01/2018)

Why Vail?

Live where others vacation! From world-class skiing and biking to fresh air and scenic trails, Vail offers an unparalleled mountain lifestyle—along with a supportive work environment and growth opportunities for your nursing career.

Make an Impact Every Shift. Apply Now!

PRN (POOL) benefits include: Wellbeing reimbursement funds and 403(b) contribution eligibility.

#RN

Pay is based upon relevant education and experience per hour.

Hourly Pay:: $37.90 USD - $60.45 USD

What's around it?

In Denver, CO

Denver, COFrom Census ACS 2024.

Living costs about 6% above the US average

Median rent: $1,831/mo
Household income: $94,718/yr, all local households, not nurse pay

Life in Denver, CO

NeighborhoodsYoung professionals cluster in LoDo, Golden Triangle, Sloan Lake, and West Highland — bikeable or walkable to downtown, 1900s bungalows mixing with modern rebuilds, shops and restaurants — though locals say those pockets got over-inflated. Gateway–Green Valley Ranch is the cheaper commuter/family play (median home about $223k, rent about $1,350, large yards and events). Park Hill and University mix families, students, and rentals; Athmar, Baker, and Littleton come up as downtown-adjacent. Popular suburbs include Highlands Ranch (planned Mission Viejo town), Centennial, Arvada, Reunion near DIA, Roxborough in the red rocks, Southern Aurora for newer homes plus DIA/DTC access, Lakewood, Lone Tree near Park Meadows, and Westminster.

Young professionals cluster in LoDo, Golden Triangle, Sloan Lake, and West Highland — bikeable or walkable to downtown, 1900s bungalows mixing with modern rebuilds, shops and restaurants — though locals say those pockets got over-inflated. Gateway–Green Valley Ranch is the cheaper commuter/family play (median home about $223k, rent about $1,350, large yards and events).

Park Hill and University mix families, students, and rentals; Athmar, Baker, and Littleton come up as downtown-adjacent. Popular suburbs include Highlands Ranch (planned Mission Viejo town), Centennial, Arvada, Reunion near DIA, Roxborough in the red rocks, Southern Aurora for newer homes plus DIA/DTC access, Lakewood, Lone Tree near Park Meadows, and Westminster.

Sources

As of Sep 11, 2026Source 1: extraspace.com Source 2: larryhotz.com Source 3: youtube.com Source 4: reddit.com Source 5: facebook.com

Getting aroundRTD’s A Line train runs from Denver International Airport to Union Station; downtown is covered by the free 16th Street FreeRide shuttle. Beyond the core, driving is the default — Reddit and relocation agents stress commute quality depends entirely on where you work, with Centennial, Southern Aurora, Broomfield, and Reunion marketed for easier DIA, DTC, or downtown drives. Rush-hour traffic is a recurring complaint; transit thins out in many suburbs, and parking at Red Rocks or downtown events is a known hassle. Major healthcare employers named include UCHealth and CommonSpirit, but sources do not give hospital-specific drive times.

RTD’s A Line train runs from Denver International Airport to Union Station; downtown is covered by the free 16th Street FreeRide shuttle. Beyond the core, driving is the default — Reddit and relocation agents stress commute quality depends entirely on where you work, with Centennial, Southern Aurora, Broomfield, and Reunion marketed for easier DIA, DTC, or downtown drives.

Rush-hour traffic is a recurring complaint; transit thins out in many suburbs, and parking at Red Rocks or downtown events is a known hassle. Major healthcare employers named include UCHealth and CommonSpirit, but sources do not give hospital-specific drive times.

Sources

As of Sep 11, 2026Source 1: newdenizen.com Source 2: visitdenver.com Source 3: larryhotz.com Source 4: reddit.com Source 5: extraspace.com Source 6: facebook.com

OutdoorsIn-city staples are 155-acre Washington Park, Sloan Lake, Confluence Park for tubing and rafting on the South Platte, Cherry Creek Trail, and a 60,000-square-foot skatepark. Denver Botanic Gardens covers 24 acres and 45-plus gardens (about $15 adult). Red Rocks Park and Amphitheatre is about 15 minutes west for trails, yoga, movies, and concerts. Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge sits in the metro; Clear Creek rafting is about 30 minutes; Rocky Mountain National Park is 1–1.5 hours. Closest skiing is Loveland and Arapahoe Basin in about an hour; Breckenridge is roughly 80 miles.

In-city staples are 155-acre Washington Park, Sloan Lake, Confluence Park for tubing and rafting on the South Platte, Cherry Creek Trail, and a 60,000-square-foot skatepark. Denver Botanic Gardens covers 24 acres and 45-plus gardens (about $15 adult).

Red Rocks Park and Amphitheatre is about 15 minutes west for trails, yoga, movies, and concerts. Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge sits in the metro; Clear Creek rafting is about 30 minutes; Rocky Mountain National Park is 1–1.5 hours.

Closest skiing is Loveland and Arapahoe Basin in about an hour; Breckenridge is roughly 80 miles.

Sources

As of Sep 11, 2026Source 1: extraspace.com Source 2: youtube.com Source 3: thehonestlocal.com Source 4: youtube.com

Others hiring in Denver, CO

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See Denver, CO

Moving for this role?

Living in Denver

Denver is the Mile High healthcare hub where the Great Plains hit the Rockies — UCHealth and CommonSpirit hire here, and the outdoor lifestyle is not marketing copy. Nurses who want walkable nights land in LoDo, Golden Triangle, Sloan Lake, or West Highland; those who want yards and schools look at Gateway–Green Valley Ranch, Park Hill, Highlands Ranch, or Centennial. The A Line train links DEN to Union Station and the 16th Street FreeRide covers downtown, but most hospital commutes still mean a car and rush-hour traffic. Three hundred sunny, dry days, cool nights after 95° afternoons, Washington Park and Cherry Creek Trail in town, Red Rocks fifteen minutes west, and A-Basin about an hour away are the genuine distinctives — MCA Denver even waives admission for healthcare workers. The bill is steep: median homes near $580k–$600k, rents that jumped about 16% in a year, a four-to-six-week altitude adjustment, hail, and wildfire smoke. Craft beer in LoDo, murals in RiNo, and a Tuesday ski day are what make the tradeoff feel like a win.

AI area guide

Sources

As of 2026Source 1: extraspace.com Source 2: extraspace.com Source 3: thehonestlocal.com Source 4: youtube.com Source 5: newdenizen.com Source 6: larryhotz.com Source 7: visitdenver.com Source 8: youtube.com

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Do you qualify?

What it pays

Benefits

The role and schedule

Ask Mira

Your fit

Questions to ask

On your path

Original listing

About the opportunity

What You’ll Love

What We’re Looking For

Experience

Education

What's around it?

Denver, COiFrom Census ACS 2024.

Life in Denver, CO

Moving for this role?

Nurses on this role

Nurses on this role

Life in Denver, CO

Moving for this role?

Nurses on this role

Denver, COFrom Census ACS 2024.