Breaking the contract

[KellyMcNeil]

Sorry to those that saw this in another section (new to the site and think this is a much better place for this post.)

I am a new graduate joining a hospital for my first job. As a condition of my hire and for a bonus, I am to sign a two year contract that mentions no consequences to breaking the agreement except for forfeiture of my bonus. Of course I intend to stay for more than a year but am probably going to leave the hospital after about a year and a half for various reasons including desires for travel, volunteering and travel nursing opportunities. The money doesn't worry me too much but unwritten consequences do.

Does anyone know of any unspoken consequences to breaking a contract such as bad references, other hospitals or agencies "looking down" on you or other?

Thanks

[nursejcarrie]

I took a sign on bonus for my first nursing job. It was $7000 for two years of employment. I left the hospital 4 months before my 2 years was up. I ended up having to pay back the entire last year of my bonus ($3500). Was it worth it in the long run? You betcha, because I moved on to a Pediatric position at another local hospital (I wanted a Pediatrics position when I graduated from nursing school but was unable to find one!). Just be advised that sign on bonuses aren't always all that they are cracked up to be. Read the fine print before you sign on, and if you do sign on, make sure you can fulfill the requirement so you don't get burned.

I wasn't "blacklisted" for leaving before my bonus requirement was fulfilled. I was blacklisted because the hospital I worked for was union and I only gave a 2 week notice instead of a 3 week notice!!

Hope this helps some!