Is A Sign On Bonus Worth A 3 Yr Contract?

[cnpta]

I Will Be Graduating In May 06 W/ My Rn. I Am Already Searching For A Job But I Just Don't Know If A Sign On Bonus Is Worth A 2 Or 3 Year Contract W/ The Employer. I Am Getting Offers At $18.25/hr And A 10 K Bonus To $19.34 And $0 Bonus And Some In Between W/ A 4k To 8k. It Is All Very Confusing And I Have Been Getting Mixed Reactions, So My Question Is What Is Everyone's Thoughts And Experiences W/ Accepting A Job W/ A 2-3 Yr Contract For The Bonus Money? Thanks

[rn in 3 years]

Of course you could put the bonus money aside in a money market account until the end of the three years as a cushion in case you decide to leave.

That is a really good idea. Take the bonus and stick it in an ING account and earn 3% interest on it. Then if you decided to leave it will all still be there plus some. If you stick it out for the 3 years then you will have the bonus plus the interest it has earned.

[OC_An Khe]

For a newly minted RN looking for a first job the sign on bonus shouldn't enter into the equation. Look for a job that suits your needs to grow as an RN. As you gain expirence in both being an RN and the job market for RNs then you can consider looking at sign on bonuses. I still shy away from bonuses though, as many other posters have pointed out there, is a reason for sign on bonuses. I would also ask if there is a retention bonus also. And if the answer is no then ask why not, don't you value your existing employees?