I want to quit....

Specialties Ob/Gyn

Published

:o I knew what I was getting into.....a nurse residency program with a 2.5 yr contract at the busiest LD in the country. We average about 45 deliveries per day 95% of our patients are illegal immigrants who speak Spanish only. (I do not...but I am learning quickly). The penaltly for leaving the program before the contract is up...$10,000...that right 10K. Is this legal? I am so depressed about the situation...I come home crying from my 12hr...really 14hr shifts everyday. This was my "dream job". I am so disappointed from the stress mentally and physically. Yesterday...started my second day in surgery in a C/S....while still in surgery I am assigned two admissions. One for decels in triage, one with a seizure disorder, my third patient is 21 wks fetal demise. Delivers in the bathroom 5 minutes after taking my C/S to recovery. All four patients...Spanish only....I been an LD nurse for 3 months. Some of my precepors are like angels....some are like devils...management is okay so far...pay is good. Am I wrong to want to leave ASAP? Can they make me pay $10K.....I don't have it anyways....I have never quit at anything before. I am so sad. Did you know that the lady with the fetal demise was left only completely after her delivery in the bathroom...because I has 3 other patients....in the hallway by the way? Please help.
Specializes in ICU of all kinds, CVICU, Cath Lab, ER..

The best advice is written: get out. Keep your license and your sanity.

If you have a lawyer let them handle the contract. I never paid the money back - not after what they put me through, and they never bothered me.

All the best!!!

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Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.

It may be WELL worth your while to get out and go ahead and buy out your contract. This is so unsafe it's insane. And OB is the most ligitious area in nursing----the risks run very high of being sued as any outcome that is not favorable and perfect is considered fodder for suit. If it were me, I would get out, and pay back whatever money was paid when I signed on. It's not worth it to be penny wise and POUND FOOLISH in this case. BY that I mean, it's worth it to buy out a contract in a very unsafe unit to avoid a lawsuit, which could end up costing an astronomical amount to you in both money and mental sanity.....

Best of luck to you.

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Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.

PS I would NEVER EVER want to deliver at this hospital. The care there sounds unbelievably rotten. Poor patients.....poor nursing staff. Sounds like hell on Earth.....

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Sorry you're having to deal with this! Did you sign the contract with a notary public and/or a witness? When I signed a similar contract as a new nurse, they made us sign it with a notary public witness. I had to leave just a few months earlier than contract completion and the hospital did follow up and make me pay back a prorated amount. But I know of a situation at a different hospital, where there wasn't a notary/witness and the hospital didn't pursue it when the nurse left. In any event, I agree with those who have suggested getting an attorney and seeing what your options are. It's not worth risking your license or a lawsuit in such a litigious practice area. Good luck!

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Specializes in Peds Rehab, Informatics.

Are you at Parkland?

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Unfortunately, this happens quite a bit in Texas. They do not have any ratio laws. And due to the number of illegals coming over from Mexico, most OB depts are overwhelmed.

And med surg units can have 15 patients per RN.

As I said before, check out the specifics of your contract. And the cancellation is not based on if the training was completed, as another poster suggested. I deal with contract issues all day along, especially from the International Forum.

And to answer about getting fired, do you need to pay it back? The answer would be yes, unless you can prove unsafe practices, and have documented proof to back you up. Contracts usually state if you leave voluntarily or are fired, the amount is due.

Suggest that you speak with an attorney that is familiar with this type of situation, preferably a JD that is also an RN. They would be the most familiar. This type of contract is not specific to this type of unit.

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That place doesn't sound like a hospital, sounds like a zoo.

I don't know how far into the 2.5 yrs. you are, but that's a long time to suffer in misery like that. Likely, they made you sign a contract because they knew what a nightmare of a job it is. I'd leave and arrange to make payments. If payments weren't good enough the state labor board could probably help you work out a deal.

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Sorry for what you are going thru. But you did sign a contract, and one that is legally binding. They did train you and invested time and money into doing that. You went in with no skills and were trained by them.

It is your choice as to what to do, but as you said, you knew what you were getting into. And if they have a cancellation clause in their contract, then you are legally responsible to pay it to them.

And this is the same for any nurse that signs any work contract. And Texas does not have any ratio laws, and we hear of med-surg nurses there having around 12-15 patients in some of the border towns.

Oh God Suzanne, I beg to differ! Is this anyway to show our sensitivity and compassion to one of our fellow nurses? You might as well just say "Your screwed honey". My advice is this, you cant let these abusive employers suck the life out of you, yes you signed a contract but just because you sign a contract doesnt mean there is no way out. There is always a way out sister, just hang in there. You should contact an attorney and have him overlook the contract, you can opt out of it and say that the working conditions were harsh - just tell them about the poor woman they left in the bathroom!! I mean for god sakes how can these people get away with this kind of inhumane cruelty. I just want you to know sister I am with you all the way, and if you dont like your life - you should change it!!! And always remember, they cant take blood from a stone - if you dont have hte money you dont have the money - what are they going to do? sue you? well maybe they will, but I wouldnt suffer through hell because someone was threatening me with 10 grand over my head. FORGET THAT!!!! Hang in there honey!!

Peter

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It may be WELL worth your while to get out and go ahead and buy out your contract. This is so unsafe it's insane. And OB is the most ligitious area in nursing----the risks run very high of being sued as any outcome that is not favorable and perfect is considered fodder for suit. If it were me, I would get out, and pay back whatever money was paid when I signed on. It's not worth it to be penny wise and POUND FOOLISH in this case. BY that I mean, it's worth it to buy out a contract in a very unsafe unit to avoid a lawsuit, which could end up costing an astronomical amount to you in both money and mental sanity.....

Best of luck to you.

Exactly - this is more like the support you need to be getting not. I mean in this situation you dont need to hear suzanne saying "Well you signed hte contract so you have to stay" i am sorry that is pathetic and you need to get out of that helhole while you still can.

Peter

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Specializes in Nurse Manager, Labor and Delivery.
Are you at Parkland?

If this is the hospital I think you are talking about...they did a big "documentary" on this Maternity Floor and boy...they made it seem so much more organized and sane. Though I can never EVER imagine having 45 deliveries in ONE DAY....I can't even begin to fathom having been assigned patients while I wasn't even on the floor. This is not a kosher thing. Having nurses "watch" your patients till you get back....yikes. I am hoping they are documenting care and strips. This sounds like a nightmare and honey...I am no quitter either, but I think my best bet would be to head for the high road right out of there. The only other option to keep would be to make it a safer place to work.

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The job sounds beyond horrible. If you don't leave, you will end up hurt or ill. Doesn't sound like anyone has the wherewithall to sue but trust me, in a bad outcome someone will help them. Doesn't sound like the hospital is providing anywhere near anyone's standard of care. A good nurse-lawyer can help you better than anyone else. Get out of there. Shouldn't we enjoy our jobs at least some days ?? My goodness.

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RNTEX, I got out of a contract for a large teaching medical center when I confronted the director of nursing and HR with my serious concerns about patient safety. Actually, lack of safety. I simply told them that I wasn't going to put my license on the line. That I felt completely unsafe to perform my nursing duties, then I stated examples. Then I asked them if I needed to bring an attorney into this. They, surprisingly, didn't even blink, they found my contract and gave it back to me right then and there along with a letter stating that I was released from this contract. I left that same day and never looked back and they never asked for a dime. It was also within the orientation period.

It's not worth your license, or losing a patient, or the extreme stress. Good luck to you. Gather your facts, take notes, a present all these.

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