New Grads who have signed a contract for new grad program

[BettyBoop01]

Have you regretted it? How much to break your contract? I am interviewing for a position that comes with a 2 year commitment and I am fine with that, but at this point in the interview process I dont want to bring up all the questions about what the actual contract entails. I DO PLAN TO ASK IF OFFERED THE POSITION I just dont want to ask until the offer is there, I do not want them to doubt my commitment. I do plan to stay 2 years at least.

I plan to stay for 2 years, but I just have that little nagging "what if" so I am just trying to get a feel for what the typical contracts out there right now are like.

Like if you end up hating the floor or find it isnt a good fit, you pay to break it or can you move to another area? Or just suck up the 2 years and then move on? If you hated it, did you know right away or did you hate it and find that it got better with time? As a new grad I dont really know what I want to do, so I plan to start in a med surg position.

Can you get raises during the contract period?

Anything I should ask or look for before signing a contract?

[mswhitern]

Hi Bettyboop, what state r u n

[ObtundedRN, BSN, RN]

My hospital has a new grad program for new grads going into critical care. It's a 2 year contract as well, but the cost of breaking your contract is only $3,000, and that is prorated based on the time you've completed. $3,000 is a nice chunk of money, but not as much as I would think considering all the time and money they spend to train new grads.

[Penguin67]

The terms of your contract should be clearly explained in your contract. It wouldn't be inappropriate to ask to review a copy of the contract during your interview. All hospitals can make their own new grad residency contract, so asking on this forum is probably not going to give you anything concrete to work with. When you get your contract, it should specify how long you are to work, and what the penalty would be for breaking the contract.

[SummerGarden, BSN, MSN, RN]

i cannot tell you the terms of a hypothetical contract, you will need to read yours to answer your questions. on the other hand, i know of a few new grads who signed contracts at my former hospital, but it was due to special circumstances such as they had adns paid for or were from out of town and had relocation expenses and bonuses (back when those were provided). they were new grads in various areas of the hospital: er, or, icu, ob, and med surg (yes there are contracts for med surg). i only knew of 2 new grads that liked their jobs and were happy enough to do the two years without complaint. the rest of them hated his/her jobs, the floors, and were stuck for the two years. there were no transfers to different floors, no excuses that would allow them to leave, nothing... they were stuck until recently when their contracts ended. now i noticed that all of them (except the happy ones) are no longer working for my former employer. read your contract carefully.

[TickyRN]

At least make sure the contract would allow you to transfer to a different floor after a while, in case you dont like your floor. You dont want to be stuck on a floor you dont like for 2years.

[gracieD]

I signed a contract for 2 years for my new grad program. In my interview I asked what percentage of 'contract' nurses stayed on their assigned unit beyond the required timeframe. I also asked what were the reasons that they left - good answers will be relocating, going back to school, etc. Their response should give you an idea of the turnover rate of new grads at the facility and can also tell you about the work environment of the unit.

[redhead_NURSE98!, ADN, BSN]

I am wishing I had this problem right now, LOL

-Dec 2010 grad!

[optimist]

I signed a 3 year, $3000 contract and realized after 6 months that I hated the position. Actually, LOATHED, might be a better description. It happened that I was put out on medical leave about that time and just never returned. I know failing to give a proper notice is unfavorable, but I couldnt take one more day in that place. A few months later I was sent a prorated bill for the amount I owed, that went in the trash and I havent heard anything from them since (2 years now). I keep in contact with some coworkers and learned that most of the people I began orientation with there have bailed on their contracts too.

[nurse2033, MSN, RN]

Once you get your offer, then feel free to ask ALL details of the contract. A friend of mine recently broke such a contract because they treated him like a smelly brown substance. If the unit is a good place to work it should be fine, but they might have a contract because of high turnover you might get stuck somewhere you don't want to be. Do your research first, good luck

[Errn22]

Keep in mind, the circumstances vary from hospital to hospital.

I signed a contract at a local hospital while in school...they paid for my schooling and I would work for them 6 months for every semester they paid for (ADN). I am very happy with my decision. It's been almost a year and it has flown by! I was grateful for a job in this economy, especially when many of my classmates were unable to get a job. I looked at it this way...it's two years, it's a job, and it's experience. But also, my hospital allows unit transfers after 6 months if there is a position available and you are qualified.

Just my two cents! Weigh the pros and cons of YOUR situation and the hospital...and good luck!

[janee214]

I am in a two year contract that repaid my school loans. I can work anywhere in the hosptial but if I broke the contract I would have to pay back whatever is left.