Contract questions

OMG cruisin_woodward! If all this is going on before the contract... just think what's going to happen after you sign it! I'm looking through the post trying to figure things as far as getting a job and negotiating ...oooh this is scary!!!

He has texted me 4 times today already...I'm off today. I feel stressed out non stop. I may as well be back in school. The amount of time I am putting in doing patient notes (on my own time), is quite ridiculous.

I got a second call from a major Detroit Hospital today regarding a position in the CT ICU. This would be my DREAM job. I forwarded my resume, and am keeping my fingers crossed. I just don't know if I can quit once that contract is signed. I also realize that this would not look favorably on me if I do quit. But I am finding that I absolutely HATE this job.

As far as the sexual harassment goes, I am in an orthopedic practice. My colleague is a PA with 40 years of experience. I am a new grad, and learning from him. He is a great teacher, but some of the things he says and does is quite inappropriate. He feel the need to teach me how to do prostate exams, and testicular and inguinal hernia exams. He is offering to let me learn on HIM. I'm sorry, maybe he has good intentions, but that seems inappropriate to me!

Crusin', IMO you may want to remove your picture from your avatar if you are talking so openly about your practice. Yes, do not sign a contract and try to stick it out for at least a year. I hope you find your dream job!

I'm sorry that you're having a hard time with your first job cruising_woodward. I agree with BostonRN13...I hate starting new jobs:nailbiting:

*cruisin_woodward

Cruisin, That sounds awful. A contract is usually a good thing because it sets expectations as to the work you will be doing, and what you will be compensated for. But, you can sit down with the provider or office head or whoever would be appropriate at any time and discuss these issues of concern. We all do some uncompensated charting, but you may have a patient load that leaves you no time to chart except after 5 pm, so that is something that might be adjusted. Getting texts is not a big deal, but being expected to respond to them is. Certainly you can let them know you do not wish to respond to texts during non-work hours when you are not on call. Being on call an additional weekend is not right; you should either receive additional compensation or it should be taken off your schedule.

You do not need a contract to discuss these things with your supervisors. They may not know it bothers you or may just think that they can take advantage of you because you let them. And no, a contract does not prevent you from quitting (that would be illegal), though it may have some non-compete clauses or similar.

As for the sexual harassment (and yes, that is sexual harassment), that is illegal as well as gross. You need to let this guy know that you think his actions are inappropriate and ask him not to make the comment/offer again or you will report him. End of story. If you don't let him know they bother you, the actions will not stop. You may also want to tell your supervisor as well, to put them on notice that you feel sexually harassed. By law, they cannot take any retaliation against you.

I think you need to either take steps to make your job life better, or quit. If you want to take the great new opportunity, go for it. I think that "sticking it out" is highly over-rated. But if you stay, do take steps to try to make your situation better. If they don't respond, then they don't respond, but at least you tried.