Hospitals paying for your stay?

[sillymu]

I'm a nursing student graduating in May. I've started applying for Nursing Jobs out of state and I'm currently waiting to hear back for possible interviews. My boyfriend has this idea that if a hospital is interested they should pay to fly me out and pay for my accommodations to stay during the interview process. I've worked in healthcare for 5 years, including a very prestigious hospital. I don't think they do that sort of thing unless you're like some big shot doctor. I am wondering if hospitals actually do this for nurses. If so, would they do it for a new grad? I'm sure the answer is no, but I'd like some feedback or info from those who have experienced something like this.

His reasoning is because he works for an Ivy League institution and they did all of this for him when he was interviewing. For some reason he thinks this is normal across all career fields, but I tell him it's not realistic when you have hundreds of candidates trying to get a job. You can't just throw money at every new grad that wants to work in your facility. Relocation package sure, but to pay to get me there for an interview sounds a little weird. We're willing to drive and pay for accommodations if need be.

[guest769224]

I got 5K relocation assistance as a new grad back in 2016. That was in the state of Utah.

[NICU Guy, BSN, RN]

7 hours ago, ruby_jane said:

That's really cool - when was this? Recently? My experience is skewed by living in the NTX- no real nursing shortage (what we have is a shortage of well-trained acute care nurses willing to stay) so a bonus is pretty much out of the question.

October 2014.

[EllaBella1, BSN]

I was paid a relocation bonus, but not to fly down for an interview. I interviewed over Skype. I'd say 99.9% of hospitals aren't going to pay for you to come interview.

[LibraNurse27, BSN, RN]

I was hired over the phone when I was a new grad at a hospital in Arkansas and givena $2,500 relocation bonus which actually went pretty far because things were so cheap there. But I would say beware of being hired and accommodated so easily because once I got to the job it was absolutely awful... super high ratios, burned out staff, “preceptor” who worked 30 12 hour shifts in a row too tired to train me, etc. I lasted 7 months, got a job back home and had to pay back the bonus ?at that point would have emptied my bank account to get out of there!

[HomeBound]

11 hours ago, NICU Guy said:

It has happened to me as a new grad. Vidant Health in Greenville, NC. They paid for my airfare, two nights hotel in Greenville, and rental car. I was amazed that they would do that for a new grad interview.

Same here. I interviewed at a place in NC--flight was paid, nice nice hotel, and a car. NC and the Southern tier states seem to be famous for this "but you don't like snow. you should pay us in order to work here!" and it doesn't pass by me that they are all red red red states, longing for the labor laws of the 1900s and as rabidly anti-union, anti-worker's rights as you can possibly get.

It would have been the job from hell. I could not have sat down and penned a more horrible schedule or pay package if I had tried. 4-10s or 3 12s, solid week of call every three weeks, you work your 10 or 12 hour shift, go immediately on call (it was cath lab so ....you're staying)--do all cases after your own shift, and then....surprise!! you get to come back in the next day. you don't get a day to rest. In other words, in one week, you may likely have been working 36-40 hours straight with no rest. All for the bargain price of $24/hr.

"Because this is the way it's always been done here. The nurses here do it, so why can't you?" Uh....this is why they had to recruit 3000 miles away--nobody in that area, and there is a huuuuuuuuuuuge number of new grads who would have jumped at that job---will take it.

They were so desperate, there was an RT, and ARRT and an RN on staff. Not even all nurses. It was, literally....the job from hell.

I wasn't a new grad, but the thing that you need to remember is---if a hospital is willing to fly you out, bypassing a skype interview---and pay the airfare/hotel and maybe relo? It's a toxic place to work. Nobody in the immediate area will touch it. They have to recruit from far away....and they want to lavish gifts on you to butter you up---I was offered at the end of the "shadow" shift. They wanted an answer right then and there.

It's a guilt trip after all of the expenses they lay out and they know it.

I negotiated relo in my most recent job--$5000---but it had a rider that if I left before 2 years is up, they get a pro-rated amount back from me and can hold my last paycheck in order to assure they do.

[HomeBound]

12 hours ago, sillymu said:

Wow. That's pretty cool, but I'm still unsure/on the fence about it happening in a larger city.

Greenville is also a very expensive town to live in, remember that if you think it's such a cool thing.

It's a college town with a huge teaching hospital. Try and look at the rentals there and see why they'd offer anything like this---and then remember---the starting pay at Vidant is around $23-24/hr. Parking at Vidant is....how shall I say it nicely---well, I can't say it nicely. They will spend an entire day on threatening you about parking. Boots on cars, tickets, etc.

There is also the "bait and switch" there--they offer high salary for "Tiered PRN" schedules---and say you will get a $40/hr Tier for committing to a certain schedule, and then yank it out from under you at the last minute--saying there are "no more positions of that category left"---and tell you that they can offer you $29/hr for PRN.

Then there's the predictive testing--PBDS--that has you going through vignettes of patient scenarios...you have to write down everything you see, what your diagnosis is of that patient, what labs you would anticipate being ordered, what diagnostics, etc....and it's timed. There are 8-9 of them.

Plus some version of the BKAT and an arrhythmia exam.

They assure you that this is all just to "see where you are" and how they can help. Not so. A friend went all the way thru the weeklong orientation, and was told that her offer was rescinded because of her poor performance on the predictive test.

This was, by the way, for a Med Surg position.

These are questions that you need to ask ANY prospective employer, New Grads---what are the requirements? What is the schedule? What about rotating? How about floating? Do you get a solid, permanent preceptor (not 5 different ones, depending on who shows up that day)? Is there a structured teaching program for you as a new grad orientee?

What about parking? If my shift is an off hour one, will the bus be there to take me to my car? What are rents like in the area? How about state income taxes?

Reasonable hourly rates can turn very quickly into minimum wage jobs if you aren't paying attention. It's always so cute and romantic to live in downtown NYC or SF---but when the reality hits---you are either being recruited to a HIGH COL area for a seemingly "high rate of pay" or a toxic hospital where locals or internal candidates can't be found because they've caught on.

[LilPeanut, MSN, RN, NP]

50 minutes ago, HomeBound said:

What are rents like in the area? How about state income taxes?

Though honestly, that is something you should research before going for an interview somewhere. If you ask that, you should already have an idea of the answer.

[HomeBound]

33 minutes ago, LilPeanut said:

Though honestly, that is something you should research before going for an interview somewhere. If you ask that, you should already have an idea of the answer.

Keyword being "should".

I've known a lot of nurses and other healthcare providers that are shocked...shocked I say...that they cannot make it in Fresno at $75/hr. Never thought about....oh....that CA state income tax is the highest in the country practically.

Another shocking thing to some is that an employer will unilaterally take parking or union or retirement--whether you want it or not. The UC system does that--you can't even fight it--they have to have that pyramid scheme for Calpers going strong, so they need new blood coming in to pay for the retirees.

The bottom line is--if the offer sounds too good to be true, especially for a NEW GRAD? I probably is--check deeply and thoroughly. Don't be afraid of boundaries and breaking points. If you know you will be living paycheck to paycheck, one broken down car away from losing your rental? Don't do it.

Getting something on your resume is laudible--if you have a year that you can spend on something truly fabulous that will just be the golden ticket for the rest of your life---go live like a frat boy eating ramen noodles until you get that year in--but a career? You cannot go to these places with high taxes, high rents, and "reasonable" payscales. There are always hidden costs--you just have to screw your head on straight and find out what you're willing to put up with to get what you want.

[LilPeanut, MSN, RN, NP]

Hey, again, as someone living in SF working in the UC system, it's not that bad When I got divorced, I faced the prospect of never being able to retire. Now, I at least have hope that some day I can retire. Though I do have mixed feelings with the union, because I think sometimes the expectations from the union can be too high as far as benefits/pension/etc. Sometimes both sides can get greedy and not compromise as much as they should.

I tell people who want to live in NorCal that don't look at your pay and think "I'm going to be rich", but rather that it is compensating for the cost of living. I will always have a much smaller apt or home here than I had in other states and cities, but in those places, I was trapped inside my home for 6+ months of the year because it was either too hot or too cold to do stuff outside. Living here, I can pretty much go out every day. I don't need a huge living space. It's a different way of living in general. And the taxes here aren't bad - in reality, they are lower than my taxes in Ohio, because in OH, in addition to state taxes, we had RITA, which was a pain.

For a single person starting out, 75/hour is definitely livable. If you're the sole bread winner, with multiple children going to private schools and you want to own a home in the Marina, it's definitely not going to be enough.

[sillymu, BSN, RN]

3 hours ago, HomeBound said:

Greenville is also a very expensive town to live in, remember that if you think it's such a cool thing.

It's a college town with a huge teaching hospital. Try and look at the rentals there and see why they'd offer anything like this---and then remember---the starting pay at Vidant is around $23-24/hr. Parking at Vidant is....how shall I say it nicely---well, I can't say it nicely. They will spend an entire day on threatening you about parking. Boots on cars, tickets, etc.

There is also the "bait and switch" there--they offer high salary for "Tiered PRN" schedules---and say you will get a $40/hr Tier for committing to a certain schedule, and then yank it out from under you at the last minute--saying there are "no more positions of that category left"---and tell you that they can offer you $29/hr for PRN.

Then there's the predictive testing--PBDS--that has you going through vignettes of patient scenarios...you have to write down everything you see, what your diagnosis is of that patient, what labs you would anticipate being ordered, what diagnostics, etc....and it's timed. There are 8-9 of them.

Plus some version of the BKAT and an arrhythmia exam.

They assure you that this is all just to "see where you are" and how they can help. Not so. A friend went all the way thru the weeklong orientation, and was told that her offer was rescinded because of her poor performance on the predictive test.

This was, by the way, for a Med Surg position.

These are questions that you need to ask ANY prospective employer, New Grads---what are the requirements? What is the schedule? What about rotating? How about floating? Do you get a solid, permanent preceptor (not 5 different ones, depending on who shows up that day)? Is there a structured teaching program for you as a new grad orientee?

What about parking? If my shift is an off hour one, will the bus be there to take me to my car? What are rents like in the area? How about state income taxes?

I’ve done lots of reasearch on where I’m applying as far as taxes, rent, and general cost of living is concerned. I’m originally from the south so I’m familiar with certain areas already. I’ve also looked at parking already because that’s a huge concern for me. I’ve worked at a hospital in the past where parking was horrible and I eventually left that job. My shift was only 8 hours then, but the parking situation was so ridiculous I couldn’t imagine working 3 12s and dealing with it. Also I’m not that young so I’ve got a lot to consider before accepting a job.

I’ve got a list of questions ready to ask in my interview, but I’ll definitely incorporate yours. Thanks.

What your friend went through sounds like a horror show! Structure and support as a new grad is important. You have to make sure they won’t throw you on the street 1st chance they get.

[jobellestarr]

I believe that Mayo in Rochester does this. Also, I’ve gotten relocation expenses paid for several jobs.

[DowntheRiver]

22 hours ago, 2Ask said:

Not sure if relocation reimbursement is available for a new grad though? They were recruiting experienced nurses. I recently saw a Florida hospital system advertising a $10K signing bonus plus $3K relocation for experienced nurses- wow! Get some experience in the right specialty and the perks go up.

Here in Florida Advent Health (formally Florida Hospital) does offer high relocation bonuses and sign on packages for experienced nurses in larger metro areas. I do believe they also offer relocation expenses for new grads but you work at one of their less prestigious facilities, such as those along I-4 (Altamonte, Daytona, etc.). BUT, it is a good opportunity because we do need nurses here. You'll get some good experience and can transfer within the company to the larger metro hospitals (Orlando + Tampa) when you have more experience.

We have a huge continuously growing senior adult population and more move here every year.

P.S. I do not work for Advent Health nor have I ever. Just born and raised here and have several nurse friends who do.