Job offer during school?

[TiffanyBCbus]

Hello everyone,

I am in the process of applying to accelerated BSN programs. I have some debt from undergrad so I was trying to financially map out nursing school. I keep reading in the literature that hospitals in my area will pay you $10K signing bonuses payable over a two year period or $10K during nursing school to cover costs of classes and supplies. In return the student must commit two years to the hospital- if they leave the hospital they have to repay. I am in Cleveland, and am primarily talking about the program Cleveland Clinic has. To me this seems almost too good to be true- guaranteed employment and money to help with school? I am sure there are GPA requirements etc. Do they only give this to a few kids or is it feasible if you are doing really well in school and willing to commit to a particular hospital? Thanks so much!

[pharmgirl]

I accepted a scholarship from the hospital that employed me as an extern over the summer. Free money and a guaranteed job, what's the catch? There isn't one, the only thing is I have 2 years to repay the money if I dont work for them.

My dilemma with this was I was also offered a position in the ER department at the hospital where I'm doing clinicals. Same pay, same distance from home, same schedule. While I would really prefer the ER department I dont want to burn bridges at the first hospital who have been so wonderful.

Just something for you to think about, you never know what is coming down the road. Thank goodness I have 6 months yet to think about what I'm going to do. Good Luck to you

[TiffanyBCbus]

Thank you for your reply it was very helpful. I guess I am not used to places who actually want to hire you before you are done with school, especially in this economy. Thanks!

[OCD_Mom]

I am in a similar program here., with a 3 year commitment. Just weeks ago I picked up my books (over $1300.00) all paid for. They also arranged for the 30 of us to be in the class together, no one else is in the class. All of our clinicals are at their facilities, they have LOTS of hospitals here with different specialties. Family friends graduated with BSN in the last year and can not find jobs and that scares me. I would rather have the security of a job once I graduate plus there are only 2 major hospital Groups here so you were going to work for one ofr the other, the bigger one is paying my way. More than likely they will be the ones to offer the specialties I am interested in after a few years of floor and critical care experience.

[Meriwhen, ASN, BSN, MSN, RN]

It's not uncommon around here...but keep in mind that if you agree to it, once you've graduated you've committed to the hospital that gave you the offer. If your dream job opens up elsewhere, you'll have to turn it down...or you could take it and then have to repay all the money given to you.

Plus there's no guarantees that the hospital will be able to give you a job in an area you want: you may want to work in ICU when you graduate, but they can only place you in Ortho or L&D. Or they may not even be able to place you at all, as happened with one of my classmates--last I heard she's still working at the facility, but not as an RN

So you have to weigh the risks and benefits. If you don't mind working in any area those two or so years while you honor your committment, then it might not be a bad thing. If you have your heart set on a particular career path right after graduation, you may want to think a bit more before accepting.