Innovation Wavers for Employment

Published

  1. Did you have to sign an innovation waver prior to empolyment

    • 0
      Yes
    • 1
      No

1 member has participated

I have worked in the field of Prosthetics and Orthotics for about 14 years, and every place I have worked had me sign a waiver stating that anything I invent while working for them also belongs to them.

I have lots and lots of college science credits, ranging from robotics, microcontrollers, hydraulics, pneumatics, networking, automation, Orthotics fabrication, Prosthetics fabercation.. and so on... I'm an inventor, I tinker with ideas and prototype those ideas for fun.

My question is how often have you fellow nurses came across employers that require you sign a similar waiver? I want to avoid this if at all possible.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in NICU.

I have never invented anything as a staff nurse. Maybe at a large academic hospital and you work in research you may run into waivers, but working as a staff nurse there is no opportunity for it to be necessary.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Palliative, Onc, Med-Surg, Home Hospice.

Not nurses but my FIL, father, and cousin (all engineers) and SIL(Chemist) had to sign similar waivers. My FIL has 7 patents in his name, my cousin has 3 or 4 and my father has 1, but the item is owned by the company they worked for. This is common practice. My SIL knows that should she discover something new and useful, she will only be known as the person who discovered it, not the owner. As far as I know this is actually common practice. I don't think it's going to be different for nurses.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Complex pedi to LTC/SA & now a manager.

Not common at all in nursing

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Depends on which country you are in? Worked in England at John Radcliffe hospital in Oxford. Community nurses were having problems with overweight patients re lifting of legs for dressings etc. I came up with a solution and without a waiver, lost the rights because I worked for the trust.

That's the way the cookie crumbles.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

It's v. common in academia and other research settings that any work you do, including inventions, new drugs, etc., belongs to your employer. While I've never had a position that required me to sign an actual, physical waiver document, it was always understood.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion