HCA StaRN contract

Nurses General Nursing

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Hello, I'd like to open a discussion about HCA and the contract that they make you sign when you go through their residency program for nurses. I quit a month or so ago, and I got the letter where they are asking for the money back. I contacted a lawyer because I know of someone who got a out, talked to a lawyer and was not required to pay anything back. However, due to the coronavirus the lawyer is taking forever to get back to me (social distancing, doing everything through email and phone). Has anybody have experience with this and got out? I appreciate the help.

Specializes in PACU/ED.

Hi erica1223,

I was not in the " Star RN" program.  I was initially using the education reimbursement for the first year of school.  I was "entitled" to $5,250 annually (an amount they used to give to full time employees) to help further my education.  I would have to submit my request for reimbursement before class started, and when it ended I had to submit my grades and show my tuition costs before they would reimburse me.  However, during my one year hiatus from school, they changed that policy to "yeah we'll give you money for school but if you leave within two years, you owe us back the money we gave you that used to be a perk/incentive".  It made no sense to me how they could just give you something that seemed to be a perk, then change it so they could benefit from it monetarily.  It seems this hospital corporation only cares about dollars/numbers and less about their employees.  So I did not request for the education "reimbursement" since now it has been removed from something that used to be a benefit/perk for working for this corporation.  It seems they take more from healthcare providers, increase their expectations of us and continue to take away any and all incentives.  I do know someone who moved to another unit and went through a (one positive thing: thorough) orientation, but under the Star RN program. So even though he doesn't quite love it, he has to stay there for two years otherwise he owes them money.  Gotta love (more like hate, imo) corporations where only the CEO's/administration reaps the benefit and gives themselves bonuses.  But hey, it's only at the cost of their employees satisfaction and their lives...........    

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Hello, 

 

I also quit my STARN contact. Of the 5 people I started with we all quit before the 2 years were up. HCA came after 3 of us, but 2 of the girls still haven’t heard anything and it’s been a year.   I am not sure how they decide who to come after, but I know several people who have quit and not paid. It hasn’t effected me yet (like credit) but I’m not sure what will happen till after covid. 

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I signed the contract in March '19 and had to leave September '20 due to a family emergency (I relocated cities). I received the letter from Benefit Recovery Group earlier this week asking for the pro-rated amount for the StaRN program plus the remainder of the relocation assistance I was given upon hire. 

I'm also wondering if it will be reported to my credit if I don't pay. Having to relocate has drained me of my savings so I can't afford to pay what they are asking which is close to $3,500.

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I just accepted an offer for the Nurse Residency at an HCA here in Texas and am now coming across a bunch of posts saying how bad the program is. The start date isn’t til February and I’m a little reluctant to start now reading about how HCA treats its employees. Since I already accepted my offer, is it too late to back out? Has anyone else experienced backing out prior to receiving any training and know if I will be responsible for paying?

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Hey, 

congratulation on the job! You should be fine to quit because they say the cost is for training you. Have you already signed the contract? I would recommend getting experience any where else and getting hired after a year to 6 months. Then you technically aren’t consider a “new grad”. Good luck! 

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On 12/14/2020 at 4:42 PM, NurseMel2020 said:

I just accepted an offer for the Nurse Residency at an HCA here in Texas and am now coming across a bunch of posts saying how bad the program is. The start date isn’t til February and I’m a little reluctant to start now reading about how HCA treats its employees. Since I already accepted my offer, is it too late to back out? Has anyone else experienced backing out prior to receiving any training and know if I will be responsible for paying?

Hi Nurse Mel,

reading this in April 2021 because Im in the same boat. I was wondering what happened, if you backed out after signing and if they made you pay? 

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54 minutes ago, pinky87 said:

Hi Nurse Mel,

reading this in April 2021 because Im in the same boat. I was wondering what happened, if you backed out after signing and if they made you pay? 

Hello! I ended up speaking to my recruiter to pick his brain and he said as long as I pulled out of the contract prior to my start date that I wouldn’t have to pay. My husband is in the military and is projected to get orders within the next year, which would release me from my contract. So ultimately, I decided to stay but I am glad I did. I’m lucky to have actually gotten a really great manager who has been very accommodating. I accepted a position in Med-Surg which wasn’t my first choice and was very honest with my manager and let her know that I am very interested in L&D. She was very understanding and asked me to stay on the unit for at least 6 months and that she would help me transfer to L&D. I have since been in contact with the L&D nurse manager and she told me “the day after you reach 6 months, meet me in my office.”

I don’t know if this post was helpful or not but I really think the decision on wether or not they come after you to pay is based on the unit manager. I was told that you are technically eligible to transfer after 6 months, whether that be to another unit or another HCA facility. So you have that option as well if you end up not liking where you are and don’t want to break your 2 year contract. 

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On 5/17/2020 at 10:11 AM, Ayeeewoods said:

I’m also about to quit . Please let me know how this goes !!

Hi I just did, were you able to resign?

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On 11/1/2020 at 9:59 PM, frank68go said:

I signed the contract in March '19 and had to leave September '20 due to a family emergency (I relocated cities). I received the letter from Benefit Recovery Group earlier this week asking for the pro-rated amount for the StaRN program plus the remainder of the relocation assistance I was given upon hire. 

I'm also wondering if it will be reported to my credit if I don't pay. Having to relocate has drained me of my savings so I can't afford to pay what they are asking which is close to $3,500.

Hi I just got the letter. What ended up happening in your outcome?

On 10/22/2020 at 2:10 PM, Sierra Engle said:

I quit at an HCA hospital 2 months ago and just received a letter from the Benefit Recovery Group requesting over $6,300. Over 10 nurses and more than 4 CNAs left our floor in the span of 4 months because of the burn out and unsafe patient/staff ratios. Unfortunately I was the first person to leave that was still in their 2 year contract, so the others that left after me have not received a letter yet. Our floor had almost 30 falls this year in only 6 months and some nights our CNAs were getting 17 patient. It was scary and frustrating, especially as a new grad who just signed a 2 year contract. I am able to pay the money but I really do not want to since I would have stayed but had to leave because of the conditions. I called the Benefit Recovery Group and they said if I paid the fine in full then they would lower the amount to $5,600. I am suppose to call in tomorrow to pay it, but after seeing this thread I am curious if anyone else ignored the letters and if it affected their credit score or anything else? I am in Utah and quit at St. Mark’s hospital. 

Hi I just got the letter, what was your outcome?

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On 10/28/2020 at 5:28 PM, Karlie2114 said:

Hello, 

 

I also quit my STARN contact. Of the 5 people I started with we all quit before the 2 years were up. HCA came after 3 of us, but 2 of the girls still haven’t heard anything and it’s been a year.   I am not sure how they decide who to come after, but I know several people who have quit and not paid. It hasn’t effected me yet (like credit) but I’m not sure what will happen till after covid. 

Hi I just got the letter, If I may ask, what was your outcome?

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On 6/17/2020 at 11:30 PM, babiwang6 said:

I did find an attorney. He told me that the contract is illegal in some states, but unfortunately not the one I live in (Texas). He said my best bet was to try to get a payment plan. To be honest I did not get a lot of help from him. I have talked to other nurses who were part of the same cohort as me, and they quit either before or after me. Nobody has received letters or calls asking from HCA about the money. I am the only one in my cohort who has. Also, one of the nurses who quit got $5k relocation money and she has not been asked to pay it back nor pay the $10k for breaking the contract. I just thing it's odd that some people are forced to pay and other aren't. I know about someone who used to work at my unit and quit right away, apparently she chose not to pay, but I do not know what was the outcome.

One thing that the lawyer mentioned is that the amount is out righteous (I agree) and the contract doesn't even explain how they came up with the amount. It just says "we estimate". If any of you have more information about people who didn't pay let me know.

Hi, how can you refer me to this attorney so that I could discuss this case? Please let me know thanks!

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On 10/2/2020 at 6:45 PM, mursegoals said:

I received my letter from Benefit Recovery Group last week. About 2 months after I quit. Trying to find out if they will report to credit agency. 

Hi! What was your outcome?

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