Breaching StaRN Contract

Nurses New Nurse

Published

Hello, I need some help! I'm a new graduate nurse that started working on a very busy medical-surgical unit in April. In order for me to accept the job, I was required to sign a 2 year contract that states if I didn't stay with the company for 2 years, I'd have to pay them $10,000 in 60 days. I was never given any type of bonus pay--I was only offered the job. I've only been working for the company for 6 months, and I couldn't take it any more. They treated me like a slave and paid me like one too! Sometimes I would not be able to take a lunch break. Every shift I felt like I was risking my patient's lives and my nursing license because I didn't have enough time to provide all of their care! I never would have signed the contract if the manager told me the truth about the unit! She told me the nurse-patient ratio was 1:4. She didn't tell me we rarely have CNA's on our floor. Only after 7 weeks of orientation on my unit, I was consistently assigned 5 and sometimes 6 patients--with no CNA! I was told by my preceptor (who trains people on our unit) to omit critical nursing assessments/tasks because we don't have time (of course they all chart they did those things, but I refuse to follow their advise). Everyone else was too busy to help me too, even the charge nurses. There were many shifts that I was assigned 5-6 patients and all the other experienced nurses were assigned 3-4 patients! On those same days, I was also assigned the most challenging patients together. It was completely unfair for the patients and for me! Unfortunately, I found out the hard way that HCA organization truly values money $$ over patient safety and care!

I don't know what to do. I'm waiting to hear back from a lawyer on some legal advise. I don't feel like it is fair for me to pay them $10,000 for their poor staffing issues and unfair treatment! Apparently the debt is going to collections. Do you have any ideas on what to do?!

Specializes in ICU + Infection Prevention.

The price people pay for working for HCA...

Consult a lawyer. Report back here with their answer.

You signed a contract. Your patient ratios were actually not that bad for a med-surg unit. It is a tough job with a steep learning curve. I am sorry you didn't stick it out. Your contract is likely binding. I would call them and see what you can do to work with them. If you left in good standing you may even be able to get your job back. It is not just "bad" employers doing these contracts. Nearly every hospital in my local area has them now due to providing new grad training only to have the new grads jump ship within a very short time period. It is very expensive to train a new graduate nurse. This helps them get at least a modest return on investment.

I wish you the best of luck. If you can afford a lawyer you can afford to honor this commitment.

I'm sorry but this is offensive.

1. Based at least in part on a lie

2. Irrelevant

3. Only because their lies likely aren't in writing. Otherwise you very well know the spirit of this contract has already been broken. I suppose expecting and training (off the record, of course) employees to commit acts of fraud against the government is also in line with a legitimate binding contract that remains in full force?

4. That was their choice and their business plan and they came up with it very deliberately.

5. Their "return on their investment" is that, for the period of employment, they are able to continue to do business because they have nurses to take care of the patients whom they are billing for care. I don't care if it costs $10M to train a new grad, that is THEIR cost of doing business and a risk THEY chose to take - and they have their reasons for doing so. Which of your financial investments do you get to make risk-free? I didn't know life worked that way; I'll look for a broker who will sign a contract saying that s/he'll pay me the equivalent if I don't get the return I want! Please.

6. Well there's an interesting can of worms. I wager that you don't actually believe the logical extensions of that statement.

Specializes in Critical Care; Cardiac; Professional Development.

Defending HCA is not a hill I am willing or even inclined to die on and I won't get into a debate on the finer points of "breach of contract", partially because I am no expert, partially because we only have one side of this story. Thus far, everything in the OP's post is typical new grad struggle combined with typical new grad contract. I am not seeing where this can be dismissed based on the info we have thus far. I will say that HCA seems to be rather selective in who this gets enforced with and the OP, if retaining a lawyer, may have basis for dismissal if other instances can be found where others who left before the contract was fulfilled were not made to repay the fees associated with it.

As far as the morals/ethics of such contracts, that is a different subject entirely and one that deserves its own thread.

Specializes in NICU, ICU, PICU, Academia.

You signed. You pay. You're probably going to find a much worse job at which you will have to work many hours of OT in order to pay back the contract.

You signed. You pay. You're probably going to find a much worse job at which you will have to work many hours of OT in order to pay back the contract.

Your high horse has no legs.

Specializes in Psychiatry, Community, Nurse Manager, hospice.

They breached their contract with you. I am glad you have a lawyer. Do not pay them under any circumstances. Play hardball, and make sure you have a lawyer who is willing to do the same. Report them for every thing you can. Labor board, etc.

Good luck to you. Try moving to a state where slavery is still illegal. We yankees in the northeast never have to sign contracts like that to get a job. My prayers and thoughts are with you.

YOU are not to blame for this mess!

1 Votes
The price people pay for working for HCA...

Consult a lawyer. Report back here with their answer.

A perfect example of what I referred to in my first post. I learned about HCA at All Nurses. There is a wealth of HCA experiences over the years. Not all of those people could have been off the mark in their rendition of what it is like to work at an HCA facility.

Unfortunately every nurse I spoke to wanted to quit but didn't because of the contract. They were afraid to sue because we know others who did sue and lost, ended up paying more money in the end.

Specializes in ICU + Infection Prevention.

What does the contract say about if they terminate you? I bet you don't have to pay... I bet you can find a way to get fired... problem solved! (Just make sure you have a job/reference lined up)

You signed a contract but th question is: is it a legal contract. I would maintain documents if you have them on what the patient ratio was supposed to be and other things, then before you forget, write down in a notebook everything you can think of so that if it comes down to it you are not forced to rely on memory. Dates, times, even patient names if it will help your case. Speak to a lawyer, is there a union? I wouldn't pay them a dime I would force them to take you to court, they can't get blood from a stone, their contract might be illegal/invalid if what you say is true. But definitely speak to a lawyer. Good Luck!

No hospital would include a promised ratio or guaranteed support staff in their contract. The previous failed lawsuits must give you a good idea of where this is headed.

Nursing school led us to believe that our work day only consisted of assessments, giving meds, critical thinking, and superhero RN runs in during codes or some other incident. You may have thought those clinical rotation sites were fully staffed, they probably weren't. I used to write: "able to successfully care for nine patients" on my new grad resume". I thought I was doing everything for those nine clients, but, I actually didn't realize that wasn't true until my first real RN job. For example, I never did chart checks or med recs, during clinicals.

HCA or not, this is part of the learning course/curve at all hospitals in my state, even the magnet facilities. At least I believe so. We have to do it all sometimes. The RN role includes being able to be part social worker, case management, MD, pharmacist, CNA, respiratory or physical therapist, lab tech, and yes, cleaning janitor.

I hope you haven't quit yet. It gets better and you will see yourself improve. I'm not at the level of the gals/guys who have been LPNs/RNs for 8+ years, but, I'm a much better and confident RN. I'll take 6-8 patients any day over the 20+ that I've read, is expected in LTC/assisted living. Plus, you may want to definitely have another job before first. Those 300 jobs on job boards might not be hiring immediately.

Nevertheless, I've heard that hospitals threaten, but, they don't actually go after anyone who doesn't repay, after being trained. [insert emoji for my being shady]

+ Add a Comment