Sign-on Bonus Question

caroladybelle, BSN, RN · Jul 31, 2003

In many places, OR nursing requires a contract because it requires very specialized and long orientation, especially if the nurse has never worked the OR before.

Tilleycs · Jul 31, 2003

So would anyone agree with, "If you'd work at the facility if there weren't a bonus, take the job and enjoy the bonus" being a good barometer?

Botched · Jul 31, 2003

When I accepted a position at a local hospital, I did not even know they were offering a sign on bonus. I receive half on my first paycheck, and the other half at the end of my first year. No contract was signed. I see it as an insentive to keep nurses there.

babs_rn · Jul 31, 2003

I just really believe that no matter how things look in the interview and on tour and in orientation, you can't know how things are going to go for you until you get your feet good and wet. I personally have had too many promises made to me by potential employers that were broken by them and/or never yet heard from again. They keep changing rules on you and there's nothing you can do about it. That's why I would never sign on anywhere. You don't REALLY know what you're getting into and I am just not a gambler...especially with my hard-earned money and ESPECIALLY when I won't see the whole bonus to begin with, thanks to Uncle Sam. It just isn't worth it to me.

2rntish · Jul 31, 2003

TAKE THE BONUS MONEY! Save it until you are sure you will complete the contract. If you hate the job, give the money back.

dianacs · Jul 31, 2003

Can you sign something that says you do not wish to receive a bonus? Or instead of a bonus, a higher wage, extra PTO or something? However, the trick, it seems, is to keep the ball in your court at all times. One would need to cover all possible loopholes even with an alternative to the sign-on bonus. Especially with people losing their PTO or having to pay back a raise that they weren't "supposed" to have gotten.

-jt · Aug 2, 2003

You'll be beholding to the hospital for your training - thats why if you leave, they want reimbursement for their time & expense. OR training is expensive and can take up to a year to complete.

If they werent giving you anything, you could just quit & not owe them anything. They might not be giving you a sign on bonus but the deal is you are a new grad getting expensive training that is costing them to give you and they expect a return on their investment. In return for their investing in you and giving you new, highly sought, marketable skills that you will have forever, your end of the deal is that you put those skills to use in their facility. You are getting something for that $5000. But Id find out if there is a grace period on the deal. Like if you quit after a week or a month and you havent been given $5000 worth of training yet, would they still expect you to pay them $5000 after such a short time? Do you have a window period where you can quit & not owe that money because they havent yet invested it in you? Ask that.

Honestly, I can see them asking you for reimbursement if they have invested in you, and after they pay to train you, you just quit and take your new skills to work in some other OR someplace else. Thats like they paid for services they never got. In that case, anybody would demand a refund. Almost the same thing is true for tuition reimbursement. We go back to school and the hospital pays 100% of the cost - but we have to work for a year after the latest semester that was reimbursed. If we resign before the time is up, we have to pay the last payment back.