Breaking New Grad Contract

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Hey everyone,

about a year ago I accepted a graduate nurse position at a hospital in florida. I was required to sign a contract that stipulates I work for 2 years or pay back $13,500. I have already worked for a year. The dilemma that I face is that my fiancé had to relocate to another state for his job. I have had a really difficult time the past 6 months that he has been gone. I feel constantly alone and isolated, especially because I work night shift and everyone is asleep when I'm wide awake. I just put my notice in to quit, so I can move there and be with him. My question is, has anyone else ever broken a graduate nurse contract? Did you end up having to pay back money? Do you regret your decision? Did it have a terrible impact on your career going forward?

If anyone else has advice who hasn't been in this situation I would appreciate that as well.

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Specializes in Psychiatry, Community, Nurse Manager, hospice.

It's very unfortunate that you live in a part of the US that doesn't legally prohibit contracts like these. This should be illegal everywhere. No employer should be able to coerce an employee into work by threat of financial penalty.

Not all contracts are enforceable by law. I don't know if yours is or not, but my suggestion is that you see a contract lawyer in your state.

Either way, it seems like you have made the right decision.

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Specializes in Prior Auth, SNF, HH, Peds Off., School Health, LTC.

Letting them know that you’re moving to be with your fiancé (especially since you can prove his out-of-state job started after your contract began) might make a difference in whether they’ll hold you to the penalty.

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If you've been there a year it shouldn't affect your career. Do you have the paperwork that states the terms of your original agreement? You need a copy if that. If you don't have it then get one from HR. Look at any clauses or ways to get out of it.

After one year, the amount may be less that you have to repay. Even if you have to repay some money it was probably worth taking that job to gain the experience. Just move forward and if you have to pay it back, and cant get out of it, then set up a payment plan stretching out over years with zero interest and start paying it back. Good luck!

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Specializes in Critical Care; Cardiac; Professional Development.

Not every hospital enforces the penalty. Mine definitely does.

I disagree that these should be illegal. The resources it takes to train a new grad are huge. New grads unprepared for practice combined with hospitals having to eat it is why there aren't enough new grad internships.

OP, its six months. You can do anything for six months. If someone said they would GIVE YOU $13,500 to work there another six months, would you take it? Because that is essentially the choice being made.

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6 hours ago, not.done.yet said:

Not every hospital enforces the penalty. Mine definitely does.

I disagree that these should be illegal. The resources it takes to train a new grad are huge. New grads unprepared for practice combined with hospitals having to eat it is why there aren't enough new grad internships.

OP, its six months. You can do anything for six months. If someone said they would GIVE YOU $13,500 to work there another six months, would you take it? Because that is essentially the choice being made.

It’s not six months it’s another year :(. On top of that the job is crappy. I feel unsupported, unappreciated, and micromanaged. Maybe that’s just all of nursing. And if that’s the case, the profession is not for me. I can’t keep chugging along for another year when I have no support at home either. My mental health is deteriorating with each shift.

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Specializes in Critical Care; Cardiac; Professional Development.

Then you know what you must do. It will be okay. But yes - they can and probably will exact the cost of you leaving early. $13,500 is measly in comparison to losing your mental health.

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You've already quit, so you will have to pay. It takes a lot of backbone to be a nurse and be independent. Maybe you don't have the right stuff. Just saying that it is a tough job and it takes a tough person. If you are the sensitive dependent type then it's not an occupation that suits that type of personality.

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7 hours ago, not.done.yet said:

I disagree that these should be illegal. The resources it takes to train a new grad are huge. New grads unprepared for practice combined with hospitals having to eat it is why there aren't enough new grad internships.

If the grads were negotiating what kind of stellar training and support they would receive in return for 2 years' work or $13.5K, you would have a good point. I haven't heard of that though.

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Specializes in ICU.

Check your contract. Most of them have the amount you have to pay back go down for each month you work. You may owe less.

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23 minutes ago, JKL33 said:

If the grads were negotiating what kind of stellar training and support they would receive in return for 2 years' work or $13.5K, you would have a good point. I haven't heard of that though.

Just to give you an idea of my “training”. A new grad trained me. She wasn’t even with the unit for 6 months before she started precepting me.

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44 minutes ago, Forest2 said:

You've already quit, so you will have to pay. It takes a lot of backbone to be a nurse and be independent. Maybe you don't have the right stuff. Just saying that it is a tough job and it takes a tough person. If you are the sensitive dependent type then it's not an occupation that suits that type of personality.

I disagree. I am a very kind and empathetic nurse. My patients all love me. I’m independent and autonomous at work and I’m also a team player when I need to be. My fiancé is on the other side of the country. Just because I miss him doesn’t mean I’m spineless and codependent. It just makes me human.

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