Training and Contracts

[Lorus]

Hey folks.

I will be graduating from a BSN program in May and I have started to talk to recruiters at a wide variety of hospitals. I will be heading directly into intensive care, and I'm shopping around for the best training programs I can find. (I know the concept of new grads heading into critical care is a controversial topic, but it would be good if we could save that debate for another thread if possible)

In your experience, have you found that most hospitals offering solid training programs expect trainees to sign a contract that requires the new nurse to work for x amount of time to 'work off' the cost of the training?

One hospital I've come across has a great training program, but expects graduates of the program to work for 2 years after completing the training. If a nurse breaks this contract for some reason, they are expected to pay the prorated difference (of the cost of training) that they have yet to work off. For example: Training costs $12,000. Every 6 months, they deduct 3k from the total you would have to pay back if you broke the contract. (FYI- these numbers were taken from an actual contract.)

Seems like a pretty crafty retention strategy to me...

Would you sign a contract like this?

-Thanks in advance for any thoughts you can offer.

[Headhurt, ADN]

I agree!!! As a new grad (or soon to be one in a matter of weeks), I have come to the conclusion that as a nurse...I don't know enough to find my butt with two hands! A lot of my classmates and myself are just now starting to realize just how little we know. It's one thing to be flying through clinicals...when you have a crisis, there is always your instructor there. In the real world, we have only ourselves. Sure, our coworkers will help us out, but in the end, it all comes down to us and our license.

There are some in our class who think they will have no problems, know everything...and some of the more seasoned RN's tell me that those are the most dangerous kind of nurses. I'm humbled to admit that I don't know my butt from a hole in the ground right nowin terms of nursing in the real world, and I am willing to submit myself to a two-year program to learn it.

[orrnlori, RN]

Confidence is good, over confidence is foolish. You don't know what you don't know. I agree that some new nurses can be scary when then think they know everything. I was green as a gourd right out of school and was thankful that I understood that fully. And lest anyone thinks they know everything once they have been a nurse for a while, I couldn't be a floor or unit nurse now after being in the OR for the last 5 years anymore that I could expect an ICU nurse to come to the OR and do my job. Each area is a specialty unto itself. That's why these programs are such excellent vehicles for training us all.

[Lorus]

I agree!!! As a new grad (or soon to be one in a matter of weeks), I have come to the conclusion that as a nurse...I don't know enough to find my butt with two hands! A lot of my classmates and myself are just now starting to realize just how little we know. It's one thing to be flying through clinicals...when you have a crisis, there is always your instructor there. In the real world, we have only ourselves. Sure, our coworkers will help us out, but in the end, it all comes down to us and our license.

There are some in our class who think they will have no problems, know everything...and some of the more seasoned RN's tell me that those are the most dangerous kind of nurses. I'm humbled to admit that I don't know my butt from a hole in the ground right nowin terms of nursing in the real world, and I am willing to submit myself to a two-year program to learn it.

ABSOLUTELY!

I am really looking forward to that STEEP learning curve after graduation. Thats when school really starts! Its one of the things I love about nursing... You learn something new everyday,, and you can turn around and immediately apply that knowledge in a situation that helps a patient. Very cool.

[kc_jellybean]

Headhurt - I start nursing school in May and will be shadowing @ KUMC's Coronary Critical Care Unit later this month. I just rec'd my packet that includes a little info on their nursing fellowship program. It sounds like just what I am looking for! :roll The info I have mentions a 12-14wk orientation, but does the program extend beyond that time? I've Googled the program and the only hits came right back to this board! Do you have a web address on the program where I can get more info? I would love to hear your thoughts on the program, feel free to PM me here or at kc_jellybean*at*yahoo*dot*com.

Thank you!!!

[Headhurt, ADN]

I don't have much info to offer on the fellowship in terms of a website or anything. I do know that the hospital orientation lasts 12-14 weeks as listed. You will also be assigned to a mentor who will follow your progress for 6-8 months. You will have reviews with the nurse recruiter (or whoever runs the fellowship) both with and without your mentor. You will have classes (EKG interpretations, Arhythmias, ACLS, etc) that will be paid for, and you will be paid to take them in addition to your training on the floor. So...it will be like you never left school. Their motto is "We practice what we teach." and I believe they really do.

They will reimburse you for nursing school, up to $3000 on your first day of employment with no contractual obligations, there is also a separate reimbursement for NCLEX reveiw courses. You will also receive $1200 referral bonus for every nurse you get to come on board (I have already one referral bonus under my belt). Their wages for a new grad have been the highest I have heard for KC, plus you get a raise after 6 months.

I did two days shadowing on the floor I am going to be working on, and I am excited to start. The shadowing is a great opportunity and wish all hospitals offered something like that. Take advantage of it!!