Free training at LTC - breaking the contract?

[lou_tango]

Hi all! I hope you can offer some insight or advice. I am going back to school this year (yay!) to become an RN. My clinicals won't start until this fall and I'm required to complete nurse aide training before that. I am scheduled to start taking the free training classes offered at my local LTC if I agree to work for them afterwards. I thought this sounded much better than shelling out $600 at a career center for the course!

Anyway, a few weeks ago I applied for a unit clerk/nurse's aide position at a local hospital. I wasn't expecting much since I haven't started nurse aide training or nursing clinicals yet, but they actually called me for an interview! HR woman told me that the nurse aide training isn't required but is helpful if I decide to do it.

I would much rather work in a hospital setting than an LTC because it's more in line with my career goals. So now I have this dilemma. My interview for the hospital job is on Monday and the free classes at the LTC start on Tuesday. I doubt I will get a job offer before Tuesday morning. So - should I just start the free classes at the LTC anyway and just not disclose that I may be taking another job? If I don't get the hospital job, I'll be glad to have the free classes underway and guaranteed employment at the LTC. If I do get the hospital job though, I'll end up quitting at the LTC as soon as the classes are over (and most likely will have to reimburse them).

Should I feel guilty about starting the free classes knowing I might not stay there? If I get the hospital job a week after I start classes - do I have to tell them (the LTC), or do I wait until I'm finished with the classes? Is there anything in an LTC contract that says I can't take another job? I don't know what to do.

Any advice would be great! Thanks!

[adorblepuppy]

Honestly in my opinion i would not take the job knowing that i was starting class. Or either i would just withdraw from the class. And take it at a later date. To me it will look bad on you to quit something you just started for another job. JMO.

[sonomala]

Have you already signed the contract? If so, you might be locked in.

If not, I would not rec starting the classes and then quitting. Thats never a good thing to do and word does get around through healthcare.

If you have the 600, and are sure that not getting the hospital job will leave you okay, I would go ahead and call the ltc and back out.

Keep in mind, in our area there are many, many, applicants for each hospital job so while I wish you great luck and want to read you got it, I would not set your future on one interview.