Blacklisted from HCA

Nurses General Nursing

Published

Specializes in CVICU.

So I talked to a recruiter from HealthTrust and they said that I was banned from working at HCA ever again because I broke my StaRn contract years ago. Is this legal? Nowhere in the contract did it mention that I would be black listed if I broke it. All it said was that I had to pay them back $10,000 pro-rated. Could I get a lawyer and sue for wrongful employment practices? and my second question is: if I absolutely can’t work as an RN at HCA anymore, could I just work at HCA again as an NP or MD or CRNA or even Perfusionist? I don’t believe any of these licenses are directly  “employed” by hospitals but have their own groups that are then contracted by the hospitals. could I work for HCA again in the future that way? 

" Is this legal?"  All of your questions need to be reviewed by an attorney.

My thoughts on the subject are... why would you ever want to work there again?

27 Votes
Specializes in CVICU.
10 minutes ago, Been there,done that said:

" Is this legal?"  All of your questions need to be reviewed by an attorney.

My thoughts on the subject are... why would you ever want to work there again?

it turns out that HCA is playing some type of monopoly game where it basically owns almost all of the hospitals on the entire east coast of america. it’s annoying because not being employable by them actually hurts my flexibility and job prospects because I want to start doing travel nursing soon. ?

4 Votes
56 minutes ago, nursingsprettycool17 said:

So I talked to a recruiter from HealthTrust and they said that I was banned from working at HCA ever again because I broke my StaRn contract years ago. Is this legal? Nowhere in the contract did it mention that I would be black listed if I broke it. All it said was that I had to pay them back $10,000 pro-rated. Could I get a lawyer and sue for wrongful employment practices? and my second question is: if I absolutely can’t work as an RN at HCA anymore, could I just work at HCA again as an NP or MD or CRNA or even Perfusionist? I don’t believe any of these licenses are directly  “employed” by hospitals but have their own groups that are then contracted by the hospitals. could I work for HCA again in the future that way? 

Why would it be illegal? It's makes perfect sense that they wouldn't want to hire you again if you broke your employment contract the first time they hired you.

If they were preventing you from finding work anywhere, that might be something. Maybe there's someone in HR who would be willing to meet with you? If it's well in the past, maybe they'd reconsider their ban.

9 Votes
Specializes in CVICU.
27 minutes ago, Sour Lemon said:

Why would it be illegal? It's makes perfect sense that they wouldn't want to hire you again if you broke your employment contract the first time they hired you.

If they were preventing you from finding work anywhere, that might be something. Maybe there's someone in HR who would be willing to meet with you? If it's well in the past, maybe they'd reconsider their ban.

I find it ridiculous because if I paid the $10,000 then how would they not hire me again? I already paid my “training” off? like that’s so petty. and then even as a travel nurse? I wouldn’t even be working for them so it makes no sense. nowhere in their policy did it say that I would be banned, so it feels like misleading policies  or something. and what if I go to a different HCA hospital then the one I quit at? even THEY won’t hire me? in an actual nursing shortage? like come on now for a billion dollar company they’re being really petty about this. 

31 minutes ago, nursingsprettycool17 said:

I find it ridiculous because if I paid the $10,000 then how would they not hire me again? I already paid my “training” off? like that’s so petty. and then even as a travel nurse? I wouldn’t even be working for them so it makes no sense. nowhere in their policy did it say that I would be banned, so it feels like misleading policies  or something. and what if I go to a different HCA hospital then the one I quit at? even THEY won’t hire me? in an actual nursing shortage? like come on now for a billion dollar company they’re being really petty about this. 

It's actually impressive that you paid the money back ...but they still don't have to hire you just like you still don't have to work for them. People have gotten themselves off "no-hire" lists plenty of times. Talk to someone if you can. It can't hurt to try, right?

9 Votes

The bottom line is that no employer ever is required to hire or to retain someone.  They are only required to follow the law as set forth to utilize a lawful process in their hiring and retention of employees.  Any employer worth their salt knows how to make it appear to all that they have followed the law.  On the surface I could very well see how they wouldn't want an employee that once walked out even when there was a monetary consequence to that employee.  They would prefer employees who keep up their end of the bargain without any problems.

9 Votes
Specializes in school nurse.
2 hours ago, Been there,done that said:

 

My thoughts on the subject are... why would you ever want to work there again?

Amen! If I had a dollar for every post that I've read over the years highlighting the overall "schmuck-iness" of HCA, well, I'd have dinner at a really nice restaurant a couple of times this week. They can only get away with it because there's a constant stream of new nurses queuing up to take jobs there. I get that they've got a near monopoly, but it would sure be difficult for them to run that monopoly if no nurses would work there...

15 Votes

This is why it would be great if people wouldn't excuse these types of contracts or think of them as normal/reasonable. They are completely one-sided AEB the fact that the new grad has no ability to negotiate anything about them. If the prospective employer promises a "residency" that turns out to be the worst excuse for a residency in the entire world....oh well! This is a debt incurred solely for the privilege of working somewhere and nothing more is guaranteed to the point that one could be compensated if it deviates from what was discussed.

I don't buy anything about wanting employees who keep their end of the bargain. What they want is to have their cake and also the law on their side so that they can eat it, too. I mean, basically no matter how utterly craptastic their place is, they are considered to have kept their word. Which is sheer bull-onely.

It would be nice if eventually they had blackballed so many people that they'd have to stop this crap, but there's no chance of that happening with innumerable schools pumping out nurses because of the "nursing shortage."

 

13 Votes
4 hours ago, nursingsprettycool17 said:

I find it ridiculous because if I paid the $10,000 then how would they not hire me again? I already paid my “training” off? like that’s so petty. and then even as a travel nurse? I wouldn’t even be working for them so it makes no sense. nowhere in their policy did it say that I would be banned, so it feels like misleading policies  or something. and what if I go to a different HCA hospital then the one I quit at? even THEY won’t hire me? in an actual nursing shortage? like come on now for a billion dollar company they’re being really petty about this. 

They surely CAN not hire you again, even if  you paid the blackmail fee. Get past "the nowhere in their policy did it say that I would be banned". Their lawyers are bigger than yours.  As a traveler, you are working for HCA, the travel agency is just a go between, HCA pays you and the agency.     

"for a billion dollar company they’re being really petty about this." That's how they got to be a billion dollar company.

You deserve a pro bono lawyer's opinion, might set your mind at ease.  Focus your energy on other employment opportunities.

Best wishes.

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

About 20 is years ago I was let go due to a series of events that were the result of my being an alcoholic. I was never under the influence at my job - not one single drop - but because I tried to kill myself they reported me to the BON as an impaired nurse. I had no issue with that and was even greatful that I could go to treatment and get help and keep my license. Fast forward 16 years and I was starting into a BSN program when I went to my clinical site I was told I could not do clinicals there because of my record with the parent company who just so happended to own the 4 hospitals in my area. 

I did speak to a lawyer familiar with employment and professional liscensing law and was told - Bottom line a private company in an "At Will"States can fire a person any time for any reason or no reason at all as long as they were not discriminating on basis or race, sexual orientation religion or "qualified disability" Also they are within their rights to not hire or rehire anyone as long as the reason wasn't something from the list below. 

Being that every thing I have learned about HCA hospitals proves they are a crappy organization to work for I'd say you dodged a bullet. Things do happen for a reason even if it doesn't make sense right now it may become clear in the future. 

Hppy

15 Votes

@nursingsprettycool17, BSN I am part of the Human Resources team at HealthTrust and I was concerned when I read your post. There appears to be a misunderstanding as your comments do not reflect our policy. I would like the opportunity to clear up any concerns. Please contact me at [email protected] and I would be happy to clarify and discuss your situation in greater detail.

3 Votes
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