New Grad confused about stipend and 2 year contract.

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Hello everyone, This is my first time posting but I come on this site often for advice. My question is regarding a job I was offered. When the position was offered to me, I was told that the starting pay for new graduates is $24/hr and that they offer shift differentials for night and weekend shift. Then when I went to turn in my paperwork, I was told that the pay is actually a base of $10/hr and that a stipend will be added to each check to make the total pay equal approximately $24/hr. If I do not stay with the hospital for 2 years, I have to pay back the total stipend amount I had been paid. I am a new graduate so I don't know if this is common practice or if it is bad practice. I know that many of my friends that got jobs at other hospitals did not have to sign a contract and receive just a regular hourly rate. I'm not sure what to think of the situation. Can anyone give me some advice about this? I would greatly appreciate any info from anyone, especially if they have this type of contract.

This sounds a lot like what HCA is offering in my state- Texas. It's why even though I've been looking for a few months, I've been reluctant to apply for HCA jobs. Very bad business, I think.

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Specializes in Critical Care.
Hello everyone, This is my first time posting but I come on this site often for advice. My question is regarding a job I was offered. When the position was offered to me, I was told that the starting pay for new graduates is $24/hr and that they offer shift differentials for night and weekend shift. Then when I went to turn in my paperwork, I was told that the pay is actually a base of $10/hr and that a stipend will be added to each check to make the total pay equal approximately $24/hr. If I do not stay with the hospital for 2 years, I have to pay back the total stipend amount I had been paid. I am a new graduate so I don't know if this is common practice or if it is bad practice. I know that many of my friends that got jobs at other hospitals did not have to sign a contract and receive just a regular hourly rate. I'm not sure what to think of the situation. Can anyone give me some advice about this? I would greatly appreciate any info from anyone, especially if they have this type of contract.

Is this a hospital in America? I can't believe that. I would run away and never accept such terms! It sounds downright illegal! If it is legal it is unethical. I would never agree to those terms!

They are blackmailing you if you accept $10 hour with the $14 hour as a stipend that you would be forced to repay if you didn't stay. I would go on food stamps before I would take such a terrible job offer!

What state and what hospital system is offering this ******** offer? Something is very fishy and ****** here! Run, don't walk away!

PS When you sign a contract you are supposed to be getting something in return, not just your regular wage rewritten as a stipend! You are supposed to be getting an actual bonus like $5,000 or maybe even $10,000 extra for signing the contract! This is like fraud! Signing a contract where your regular pay is being held against you to keep you from leaving. What do you get out of this situation? Nothing! You'd be like an indentured servant. God help us if other hospitals start this crap!

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This sounds a lot like what HCA is offering in my state- Texas. It's why even though I've been looking for a few months, I've been reluctant to apply for HCA jobs. Very bad business, I think.

What is HCA?

edit; never mind I googled it

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Specializes in Urology, HH, med/Surg.

Hospital Corporation of America... Their facility in my area went bankrupt many years ago

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