Drug testing, physical, and denying a job

Nurses General Nursing

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Hello, so I am a new grad and I am in the process of finding and accepting a new nursing job and I was scouted for a staffing agency for a hospital in the area that I am trying to work in. In order to even talk with someone from the hospital I had to fill out all the paper work, get a physical, drug test, and tb test. Finally after two weeks I got a call to interview at the hospital but I got offered a job else where and turned it down. After messaging the guy about not accepting the job, he never messaged me back, sent a letter to my parents home address (after all the paper work I filled out had my current address on it) of a bill for the testing. I messaged him asking for my paperwork that I signed because I did not read anywhere that I had to pay for it without going through with it but the only reason I went through with a physical was because he told me I had to in order to be able to talk with someone at the hospital.

Is is it a normal thing to go through the hiring process, deny a job, and have to pay back the amount for the physical, blood work, and testing??

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Specializes in NICU.
In order to even talk with someone from the hospital I had to fill out all the paper work, get a physical, drug test, and tb test.

Why did you go through a staffing agency? Hospitals interview people without going through a staffing agency.

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Because I have not been able to find a job and I missed most of the new grad programs due to the time I took my NCLEX. I am also moving in a couple of weeks so I was a little desperate for a job.

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I would inform them you were never notified about having to pay back that money. Now you might have signed something and neglected to notice the small print explaining this. I had to pay for a physical before I started a job once, however, I knew this up front and it only cost $40.

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I very well plan on telling him that. If I knew I would have to pay him back for all of it, I probably wouldn't have gone through with it. I also feel that his actions were a little unprofessional because he could have told me that if I didn't go through with it then I would have to pay it back.

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Rest assured there is a reason why he did not disclose the fees. He is not new to this form of deception.

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

You should have gotten a copy of the contract you signed. Some agencies charge the employer's these fees others charge the prospective employee. I never sign any contract with taking it home for a read over. If I have questions I have my lawyer/sister look it over.

Hppy

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I got a copy of the contract but the other paperwork I signed I didn't. So if he doesn't give it to me I will not pay it back.

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Well I don't feel like if it was in something I signed, I don't need to repay him. Especially after I told him I wanted to check out the hospital before I signed anything, drove 4 hour, paid for my parking, for them to turn me away and after I told him my experience, he said I wouldn't be able to talk to anyone until I signed. And he knew I was going to be going down there before I signed and said nothing to me.

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Specializes in M/S, LTC, Corrections, PDN & drug rehab.
Well I don't feel like if it was in something I signed, I don't need to repay him. Especially after I told him I wanted to check out the hospital before I signed anything, drove 4 hour, paid for my parking, for them to turn me away and after I told him my experience, he said I wouldn't be able to talk to anyone until I signed. And he knew I was going to be going down there before I signed and said nothing to me.

Well it is either in paperwork you signed or it isn't. You can't just "feel" like it wasn't in the paperwork or that you don't want to repay him. Because if it is in black & white in the contract, then you have to. Regardless of if you drove 4 hours to the hospital, paid for parking & were turned away. If you signed the contract (& says it in there), it is legally binding.

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Specializes in Psych, Addictions, SOL (Student of Life).
Well I don't feel like if it was in something I signed, I don't need to repay him. Especially after I told him I wanted to check out the hospital before I signed anything, drove 4 hour, paid for my parking, for them to turn me away and after I told him my experience, he said I wouldn't be able to talk to anyone until I signed. And he knew I was going to be going down there before I signed and said nothing to me.

Buried in your contract is most likely a line that states something like "I agree that I am responsible for cost incurred under the contract. (or something to that effect). Like others here have stated you cannot just decide that you don't feel you should pay it. If it's in the contract and you signed it you owe it regardless of your feelings.

You would probably be best to just pay it, otherwise you may find yourself with a mark on your credit for hundreds more when you include fees and penalties. Plus you will get the pleasure of being called at all hours by collection agents.

Hppy

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Specializes in M/S, LTC, Corrections, PDN & drug rehab.
You would probably be best to just pay it, otherwise you may find yourself with a mark on your credit for hundreds more when you include fees and penalties. Plus you will get the pleasure of being called at all hours by collection agents.

Hppy

Exactly this. So go ahead & don't pay the company back. But don't be surprised when your credit tanks, your start getting calls at all hours by collections (or just a straight call from an attorney) & you might even get dragged into court. So you do whatever you want but if you signed on the dotted line & you *do* owe money, you can't avoid it.

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