Did you sign a contract for your first job?

RedhairedNurse, BSN, RN · May 5, 2009

I signed a two year contract. No big deal to me, only have one more year and it goes by so fast. It was a big bonus too, so I think I would have been a little

stupid for not taking it. It's made out over a year and the doesn't generaly start until orientation is over. I think the managers usually get an idea of whether they want to keep you around or not during this period.

If you don't want to sign it, don't sign it. But I work with a lot of people

that have signed.

Violet08 · May 6, 2009

There is not a sign on bonus. I don't really have a choice about signing the contract, the job offer is contingent on signing and I don't have any other offers.

I am not that concerned about it, other than the parts that say they can change their end of the agreement. I just didn't know if it was standard for new grad jobs. I was told it would be a 8 week orientation but the contract said they could shorten the orientation. I talked to the educator today and the total time in orientation will be 11 weeks, so I really don't think they'll put me on my own earlier.

mnf626 · May 6, 2009

I am just curious as to what hospital you are refering to for this contract...I had a similar problem at a hospital. I was offerend a job and then a few days later they told me about a contract that I would have to sign. It stated that if I left before two years was finished or I was terminated for any reason (including layoff) I would have to pay 15k dollars in 30 days. If I did not pay it in 30 days I would have to pay for the leagal fees to sue me as well. I did not sign this contract nor do I think any new grad should...obviously this hospital had problems with turnover...there has to be a reason behind that.

southernbelle08 · May 7, 2009

This is just my personal opinon.

I would not sign a contract unless I was 100% sure I wasn't planning on going anywhere in the next however many years. My first job gave the option of signing on for 2 years. I decided against it, and I was gone from that hospital within 8 months time. For me, it was better to have a way out, than to start a job I was already unsure of and know I couldn't leave without issue.

Just my take though! GL in whatever you decide!

BlessedRoseRN · May 7, 2009

I didn't have to sign a contract when I started my nursing job earlier this year. If i had to I wouldn't be working there now. I think alot of those contracts are unfair. A few of my friends did go somewhere and had to sign for like 2 years and if they do not fulfill the contract they will have to pay like 10-15K back for orientation. I really don't see where they are spending 10-15k in orientation for nurses.

Editorial Team / Moderator · May 7, 2009

No contract here, but I have made use of the tuition reimbursement, which obligates me to stay or pay. LOL

Bobylon · May 8, 2009

No contract here, but I have made use of the tuition reimbursement, which obligates me to stay or pay. LOL

Same sort of situation here.....sort of. Our local hospital likes to "homegrow" their nurses, and I graduated from their LPN program, which was fully paid for by them - schooling, books, NCLEX fee, clinical uniforms, steth, etc. Everything !!! ....just have to work it off (@$1 an hour, but it doesn't come out of my pay, just credited to what they shelled out for schooling me). So I have to work there a couple of years or so (which I fully expect to do -I like it), or buy out of it. No biggie, from my point of view :smokin:

Violet08 · May 9, 2009

I signed the contract.

The other nurses with experience in orientation were really surprised that we had to sign.

Just to be clear, this is a contract just to be hired as a new grad. The hospital didn't pay for school or offer a bonus. I did find out that they just started the contracts a few months ago. They said they have a problem with retention, but I think it may just because the pay is low for the state.

I will say that it is considerably less than the $10,000 to $15,000 that the other posters quoted.

ImMrBill3, RN · May 9, 2009

I am in a work for hire state none of that here, but also no reason or notice needed for dismissal or resignation. Every application for every job has bold type about termination at any time with or without notice or reason. I am not a fan of work for hire but I did use it to resign from a place without giving notice, just quoted the application and said as per terms, bye.

NeoNurseTX, RN · May 9, 2009

I signed a two year contract at my first hospital (only because there was nothing else I could find for a new grad at the time of year I was applying). I don't think they're really legal and I doubt a hospital would pursue you if you didn't pay up (would probably cost them more to take you to court than you owe them!), but by word of mouth, I found out not all the new grads had to sign the contract and they were all invalid. Of course the hospital didnt' tell us this but I confirmed it with HR.. and it was true. It was a good thing since I left before that was up...

SQueenRN, BSN · May 18, 2009

i signed a 2 year contract for a $2,500 sign on bonus (dispersed throughout the 2 years). If i were to leave the hospital before my contract was up, i have to pay the money back.