Anyone break the StarRN Contract before 6 months?

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Anyone break the staRN contract before 6 months? Contract is for 2 years and worth $6k! Unsafe staffing ratios and I’m burnt out! I cry every shift and get no help. I have a job interview with a another hospital company that many nurses speak highly of. From day one and the interview process I've got bad feelings about HCA! But took it being anew grad and having no luck on applications. I have not met a nurse especially at the hospital I work at say positive things! Many nurses I’ve talked to left after a year or months before their contract. My cohort is new and I’ve been working for 4 months and need out Im afaird I’ll put myself at risk of losing my License. What where your experience breaking the contract? Did the come after you? Hold your last paycheck? Should I still put my 2 weeks in? Rack up interest fees? I’m in Florida if that helps. Any advice will help. Thank you.

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I quit a year and a half in (technically one year). I wish I had never accepted an HCA position and had known about their reputation. Working for them has put a huge strain on my mental health in the middle of a pandemic. The CEO of HCA makes a reported $27 million a year and to see the state of HCA hospitals....yikes. I knew I had to get out and take care of myself, so even though I did not have another job lined up, I quit. I haven't had anyone call me about what I owe them. I got my last paycheck. Then again I quit earlier this year. I'm so glad I did. I asked myself what if I am jobless for an entire year? Could I handle that? Could I handle this though (HCA)? Quickly knew I'd rather be jobless for a year than work for HCA. Found a new job and I'm on the mend. HCA completely changed my view on nursing (definitely for the worse).  

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9 hours ago, Winterblew said:

I quit a year and a half in (technically one year). I wish I had never accepted an HCA position and had known about their reputation. Working for them has put a huge strain on my mental health in the middle of a pandemic. The CEO of HCA makes a reported $27 million a year and to see the state of HCA hospitals....yikes. I knew I had to get out and take care of myself, so even though I did not have another job lined up, I quit. I haven't had anyone call me about what I owe them. I got my last paycheck. Then again I quit earlier this year. I'm so glad I did. I asked myself what if I am jobless for an entire year? Could I handle that? Could I handle this though (HCA)? Quickly knew I'd rather be jobless for a year than work for HCA. Found a new job and I'm on the mend. HCA completely changed my view on nursing (definitely for the worse).  

Thank you for your comment. Did you put in your 2 weeks or just leave? I heard if I give them a reasonable notice they will garnish my last paycheck for the amount I owe them. Smh did you speak to your managers before hand about stressors?  

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Specializes in Critical Care; Cardiac; Professional Development.

If you just leave you will be blacklisted and never able to work for an HCA owned company again. That might not scare you now since you are unhappy working for them, but they are huge and growing bigger every day. It could come back to bite you in an economic downturn or if people you work with now meet up with you again at another employer. The nursing field is surprisingly small.

Additionally, if you are in Texas or Colorado you will likely get listed under Group One and find it hard to get another job anywhere. If you live in one of these areas and don't know what Group One is, do a search here and on the Internet. It's an unfortunate loophole in employment law.

Do your best to fulfill your contract and, if you can't, give proper notice.

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1 hour ago, Nurse SMS said:

If you just leave you will be blacklisted and never able to work for an HCA owned company again. That might not scare you now since you are unhappy working for them, but they are huge and growing bigger every day. It could come back to bite you in an economic downturn or if people you work with now meet up with you again at another employer. The nursing field is surprisingly small.

Additionally, if you are in Texas or Colorado you will likely get listed under Group One and find it hard to get another job anywhere. If you live in one of these areas and don't know what Group One is, do a search here and on the Internet. It's an unfortunate loophole in employment law.

Do your best to fulfill your contract and, if you can't, give proper notice.

Thank you for your response.inlive in Florida. Where can I find information about group one to see if my hospital has it? 

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Specializes in Critical Care; Cardiac; Professional Development.
2 hours ago, Krissypoo12 said:

Thank you for your response.inlive in Florida. Where can I find information about group one to see if my hospital has it? 

You can look at www.gp1.com.   I am not sure I have ever heard of it being in Florida, so you may have that going for you!

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I put my 2 weeks in. I had been wanting to do so from week 1. No idea how I survived over a year. It was starting to feel like I was in an abusive relationship to be honest. 

Lots of nurses had spoken up about stressors and unsafe environment/practices that were forced onto us and things yoyo'd back and forth. Little permanent change was happening. I do wish I had specifically spoken to  HR and not just my manager though. Do that before you leave. It looks better on your end. I

 

I gave 2 weeks and did not receive a docked paycheck. I even got my PTO paid out to me. 

 

I live in TX and I found a new job, though it took almost 4 months. Mainly because I quit when jobs were letting people go and going on hiring freezes. You should be fine.  HCA is not a company I would ever want to work for again so I'm okay with being put on their blacklist. I specifically sorted out the HCA companies while searching for a new job. More than 4 nurses (that I know of) left the specific unit I worked on after I left. That's telling. Most had contracts. Definitely try to have a new job lined up if you leave. Revamp your resume. Good luck!

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Specializes in ICU.

Highly recommend you look for a transfer. A friend of mine was miserable as a StarRN in the West Division and was able to get them agree to allow her to transfer prior what the contract required. Every hospital system has its problems and sometimes you just need a fresh start or even just a new floor/dept. 

BTW contract nurses in my area say the HCA hospital in Sarasota is about as good as they come 

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Specializes in oncology.

Just a thought... if you will go on in graduate education, you may be blacklisted from clinical experiences at their hospitals. I do not know this for sure...

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I have accepted their offer for new grad residency program, started the online onboarding pre employment screening but have not finished. They want me to start in less than 2 weeks. Now I would like not to proceed and decline the offer. Is there going to be an issue with them regarding this? 

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Specializes in Psych, Addictions, SOL (Student of Life).

Many have tried and I hear HCA is absolutely vile to work four.

 

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You need to leave BEFORE  the contract starts! There is no penalty if you do this before the contract starts because training has not begun. Once your contract starts, you will be told if you break it you will have to pay money. Because of the training. Please leave before they train you, including classroom or modules they have you do.

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