First Nursing Job

[mikkie1317]

Hello

I applied into a versant program and got an offer which was not even my top three choices. Floating between Med surge and Telemetry, with no opportunity to transfer to another unit. My contract is 5 years. My top three choices were ER, ICU and Telemetry.

What do I do. I feel trapped already and I have not even signed the contract yet.

[Nurse_]

It is expensive to hire and train new nurses. That being said, I think it's absolutely ridiculous for the hospital to ask you to sign a five year contract with them.

Ask the hospital what would happen if you choose to leave before the contract ends (some hospital will set a specific amount you'll owe to the hospital when you decide to break the contract).

Part of the negotiation is to ensure that you get what you want. If you are going to invest half-a-decade with them, you should get the floor you want.

If not, then you should look for other opportunities. I know it seems like you are throwing a perfectly good job offer but there'll be others, it won't be right away, but it'll be there.

[notnursezelda]

Part of the negotiation is to ensure that you get what you want. If you are going to invest half-a-decade with them, you should get the floor you want.

If not, then you should look for other opportunities. I know it seems like you are throwing a perfectly good job offer but there'll be others, it won't be right away, but it'll be there.

this makes sense. half a decade is a long time to not being doing something you want.

[thinwildmercury]

Wow, that is absurd! I have never heard of a five year contract :0 I understand their investment but a hospital should not want to retain a nurse who is unhappy being there! Lol Definitely ask what will happen if you break the contract--I have heard sometimes it is nothing, sometime a couple grand and sometimes tens of thousands of dollars.

Do you mind stating what hospital this is for? Or at least what part of the state?

[zzbxdo]

I've heard of 3 years with a 5k contract breakup, but not 5 years. What's the cost of breaking your contract? Get some experience and live a stingy year or two, pay out the contract break up, move on with life. At least you have telemetry? ER and ICU new grad positions are pretty tough to get considering applicants/positions.. You'd be betting away a lot to give up offer.