Backing out of a Contract

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Is it feasible to back out of contract after it is signed? I have not yet departed for my assignment but am already seeing the error of my ways. The contract is for Hawaiii, unfortunately I was remiss in not checking out rates for car rentals etc. but was assured by my recruiter that the corporate rate would be good. It's over a thousand dollars a month!

That, along with the next to impossible task of finding affordable adequate housing has left me in a quandary. I have already booked my flight, and had every intention of fulfilling this contract, but it looks more and more like it's undoable. The contract was just signed this week and my start date is slated for mid-March. The only verbiage I see relating to penalties missed shift charges at a rate of $29/hr. Could I could conceivably be charged for the entire contract of 36 hrs./wk x 13 wks?

I have applied to any and all that have been posted within the time frame I need. Many are week to week vacation rentals, with spotty availability. I am traveling alone, but have reached out to some of other travelers that have posted in the hope that someone would be wiling to split rent Also three month rents in HI are difficult to find. There is a 13% tax rate on any lease under 180 days. That was information given to me by an agent.

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Specializes in Psych.

I was talking about the facility secretary. Don't rely on your agency. Call the hospital yourself and talk to the unit secretary. Explain what you are trying to do and accomplish. You'd be amazed at what people will do to help you out. Get on the Delphi forums (type in delphi forum and travel nurse). That forum has an entire section on housing in which you can search and ask for housing leads.

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Aware of delphi forums, not of fan of their "administrator." I have however tried several times to call the mgr of the dept and have yet to receive a call back. Have not tried the secretary but the unit I work is not one that would be readily available for such, but I suppose could be a last ditch effort.

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Specializes in HH, Peds, Rehab, Clinical.

Yikes. OP, you seem to have an no for every suggestion offered. What about this contract appealed to you to begin with?

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I don't have a no for every suggestion offered, I have and continue to use multiple resources to search for housing, have talked to multiple people including real estate agents, property managers, and utilized web sites including airbnb, vrbo, crags list, the gamut. Apparently there is a lack of available housing due to increased demand, as one real estate agent informed me, people coming to the island to escape the siberian express back east. I have also communicated with people at the hospital and networked with a couple of other travelers. One was lucky to find something, the other has a possible line and if not would be willing to share with me. I was unaware that the housing market was so tight in Maui. When I interviewed I was given a few resources which did not pan out. What appealed to me to begin with was the destination of course.

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It sounds like you are doing everything possible to secure housing by networking and monitoring websites. It also sounds like you have a solution already in your traveler contact who will share. I say go for it. As far as transportation goes, you may be better off buying a beater car and selling it when you're ready to leave rather than pay those rental fees. Or, perhaps, use public transportation or a bicycle. Don't forget the power of carpooling with other travelers/employees.

I think you will be fine, but I also think you are overstressed at this point and need to relax and think about something else for a few hours.

Good luck!

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I agree with the general consensus that you should go for it. It sounds like cold feet and you just need to tell yourself that it's going to all work out. I was waiting on the apartment complex I found through a sublease ad on craigslist to approve my application for a while, but finally got approved 3 days before we drove 900 miles to San Antonio to start my assignment. My husband and I are sharing a car so I chose a place close enough to the hospital that I can take the bus if needed. It's probably harder to find housing in Maui than here, but I would not let not having housing be a reason to break a contract. Figure out the numbers, reach out to other travelers (3 or 4 renting a vacation house might be feasible, that's temp housing anyway and you may be able to bargain) and IT'S ALL GOING TO BE OK. I wish I had an opportunity like that!

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Specializes in Peri-Op.

Take a tent, weather in Maui is awesome. Sleep in a hotel on the nights you work and camp around the island for the rest of the time unless you find adequate housing

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Take a tent, weather in Maui is awesome. Sleep in a hotel on the nights you work and camp around the island for the rest of the time unless you find adequate housing

You know, I was thinking the same thing! Camp on Small Beach. I don't know how far that is from the hospital, but I've bicycled around Maui on two separate occasions and camped. There is a hostel on the road to Hana, but I've never stayed there and I'm sure it is too far from the hospital anyway. But Google hostels, there may be one close to the hospital. Great places to meet lots of folks from overseas.

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Specializes in ICU / PCU / Telemetry / Oncology.

Homeless in Maui .... now that is an adventure :)

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Specializes in MICU, SICU, CICU.

Please try calling human resources and ask very nicely what do you recommend for temporary housing. There's always some kind of bulletin board or online classifieds at the hospital for temporary workers. They want to meet you and see if you are trustworthy before they will commit.

Another option is to go to a realtor or vacation rental agency and say my budget is xxxx and I need a washer and dryer. What do you have available.

Although I have not been to Maui, I am not sure that it is a good idea for two single females to camp on the beach.

Take a lot of cash, find a decent hotel and talk to everyone, hotel staff, waitstaff, bartenders, housekeepers. Most people are good kind and decent to travel nurses. I was on assignment once and my housing arrangement did not work out and I thought well I'm homeless. So this is what it's like. A surly physician set me up with oceanfront housing that day. Shocker. It is a big leap of faith but I think you should just go. Work hard play hard and make good memories.

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I did try human resources, their response was, "the company usually makes arrangements, and we have no resources to help you" I don't think I would feel safe as a single woman camping either. I continue to keep reaching out to other travelers in the hopes they will want to split. My last connection just secured a place. I will keep trying. The problem with Hawaii specifically Maui are laws regarding short term leasing, nothing under six months is legal by law. Some are doing illegally, if they are caught they could be fined and you would be evicted. Vacation rentals are unaffordable so the reasonably priced rooms are gobbled up rather quickly. This is prime vacation season. Homelessness is not really an option for me. I have lived in some rough areas but not on the street. Risk of being raped doesn't sound to smart to me.

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