Do you have a probational period at your job when you got newly hired?

elkpark · Nov 3, 2006

Congratulations! I know from previous threads that you've been looking for a while. I hope this will work out well for you.

Every job I've had in the 20+ years I've been a nurse has included a probationary period, during which either the employer or new employee can decide that things "just aren't working out" and terminate the relationship, no questions asked.

It's a standard arrangement in most employment situations. 90 days is pretty typical, in my experience.

EricJRN, MSN, RN · Nov 3, 2006

90 days is also what I've seen most commonly, both within nursing and outside of it.

UnidentifiedNurse · Feb 21, 2007

I'm really confused about the probationary period. I read in the above post that during a probationary period, either the employer or employee can let each other go if things don't work out. However don't some hospitals have a deal that an employee has to commit to the hospital for a certain amount of time (mainly one year minimum) if hired? Can someone clarify this for me? Thanks

llg, PhD, RN · Feb 21, 2007

I'm really confused about the probationary period. I read in the above post that during a probationary period, either the employer or employee can let each other go if things don't work out. However don't some hospitals have a deal that an employee has to commit to the hospital for a certain amount of time (mainly one year minimum) if hired? Can someone clarify this for me? Thanks

Some employers do require their new employees to sign a contract promising not to leave within a certain time frame. This usually happens when the employer is going to provide a lot of training for the new staff member -- and they don't want people who come to work for them only for the training and then leave as soon as the training is over. Such contracts are also common when the employer is offering special benefits, such as student loan forgiveness. If the employee leaves prior to the time at which the employer has "gotten their money's worth," the employee has to pay back the cost of the training or the scholarship or the student loan repayment money or whatever.

Some companies also have restrictions on benefits during the probationary period. For example, you might be accruing paid vacation time but not allowed to use it ... or you might not be eligible for the retirement program immediately ... etc.

My employer has such a contract for certain positions in which the orientation and training are exceptionally long -- but has a standard 90-day probationary period for most employees.

RENAISSANCE RN · Feb 23, 2007

6 months. I think that is a little excessive.

UnidentifiedNurse · Feb 27, 2007

After the probationary period, is that when a CN1 gets upgraded to a CN2? And for those of you who got upgraded, did you have to go through a various amount of reviews and tests before getting upgraded?

DolphinRN84, MSN, RN, APRN, NP · Feb 27, 2007

After the probationary period, is that when a CN1 gets upgraded to a CN2? And for those of you who got upgraded, did you have to go through a various amount of reviews and tests before getting upgraded?

At my hospital, after one year you become a CN2...I'm a new nurse of almost 4 months now and I know that at my facility we automatically become CN2 after one year. Though I'm sure we have to work on competencies. Not sure until I get there. :)

DutchgirlRN, ASN, RN · Feb 27, 2007

90 days at my HH new job. I've been a nurse 30+ years. The hospital also has a 90 day probationary period. I think it's standard. At least in Tennessee.

Congratulations and Good Luck with your new job!

Trauma Columnist · Feb 27, 2007

Yep 90 days is standard here too.

UnidentifiedNurse · Feb 27, 2007

At my hospital, after one year you become a CN2...I'm a new nurse of almost 4 months now and I know that at my facility we automatically become CN2 after one year. Though I'm sure we have to work on competencies. Not sure until I get there. :)

Yes the competency part is what I'm wondering about. How do they test for competencies? I've also been a nurse for 4 months, but there's still a few skills I don't feel comfortable doing by myself yet.