New Grad Contract — Enforceable?

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Hear me out. I am a new grad, and got a job June of 2020 at a hospital. Once I was on my own, I began having IMMENSE anxiety and depression. I got on an antidepressant for the first time in my life. I would have panic attacks DAYS before my scheduled shift even began. When I was at work, I was filled with almost unbearable anxiety as well. This would be reflected in my doctor’s summaries. Anyway, fast forward and I decided to resign. YES I had signed a contract. The contract is quite vague. I am wondering if any of my fellow nurses have had experience leaving jobs when still under contract... was the contract enforceable? I live in Nevada... curious to see if any of you live here.

I am thinking I’ll speak with an attorney to see if I could go the mental health route. My mental health was awful and I don’t feel that my worst enemy should have to go through such anxiety. 

Please don’t be rude, or tell me I should have just dealt with it, or whatever. Fact is, I couldn’t deal with it, I was an emotional mess, and it wasn’t right for me. I don’t feel that contracts are fair, and it feels like they “own my soul” and are still haunting me.  thanks in advance! ♥️

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Specializes in ER.

Good you got a lawyer. 

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Specializes in New Critical care NP, Critical care, Med-surg, LTC.

I'm glad that you made your mental health a priority based on your feelings. I think that unfortunately, since you signed the contract, you will probably be responsible for paying back whatever is specified, but you have a lawyer for that. It seems worth it if your mental health is better off for it, and even if you have to pay it back you have many years in your career. Good luck.  

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4 hours ago, Swirl531 said:

Hey all,

hear me out. I am a new grad, and got a job June of 2020 at a hospital. Once I was on my own, I began having IMMENSE anxiety and depression. I got on an antidepressant for the first time in my life. I would have panic attacks DAYS before my scheduled shift even began. When I was at work, I was filled with almost unbearable anxiety as well. This would be reflected in my doctor’s summaries. Anyway, fast forward and I decided to resign. YES I had signed a contract. The contract is quite vague. I am wondering if any of my fellow nurses have had experience leaving jobs when still under contract... was the contract enforceable? I live in Nevada... curious to see if any of you live here.

I am thinking I’ll speak with an attorney to see if I could go the mental health route. My mental health was awful and I don’t feel that my worst enemy should have to go through such anxiety. 
please don’t be rude, or tell me I should have just dealt with it, or whatever. Fact is, I couldn’t deal with it, I was an emotional mess, and it wasn’t right for me. I don’t feel that contracts are fair, and it feels like they “own my soul” and are still haunting me.  thanks in advance! ♥️

If there was some "out" for mental health (or health otherwise) in the contract, you might skate by ...especially if you didn't hop straight to a new job. Of course then, you may open yourself to mental health issues with the BON by claiming you were too impaired to practice.

It is good that you have a lawyer who can help you sort through this. I think some employers don't bother with trying to enforce these contracts, even when they can. Hopefully your employer will be one of them.

And you probably realize this by now, by the time to decide that a contract is "not fair" is before you sign it. Claiming that it's not fair after the fact is not likely to get you anywhere.

I will hope for a good outcome for you. First nursing jobs are very tough- even without signifigant issues.

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Specializes in CVICU.

I'm glad you made the decision to care for your mental health. I know many nurses who have left before completing their residency contracts. The employer has not penalized any of them. 

Best of luck!

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Only a lawyer can help you with the issue. It is a legal contract. We are nurses.

 Best wishes.

 

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Specializes in Infusion.

I had to break a 2 year contract after only 4 months due to health reasons, diagnosed with RA and was in a terrible flare......they charged me $650.  Basically kept my last paycheck.  Even with a valid medical reason and doctors note, they made me pay.  I was not happy about it.  I could understand if I just changed my mind, but I loved my job, but just couldn’t physically do it.  

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Honestly, $650 seems like a relatively small fine in the grand scheme of things.

 

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If the contract wasn't fair, then you shouldn't have signed it, or should have negotiated it.  Once you signed it, you agreed to it, fair or unfair.  I understand your reason for quitting, but if they enforce the contract, that is a consequence of the situation.  I sounds like the consequence is a better outcome than staying in the job you couldn't function in.

I will echo being careful saying your mental health was so bad you couldn't work, the BON can take that as an admission that you are unfit to work as a nurse, when the reality is that perhaps you're better suited to a nursing job outside of the hospital.  

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Specializes in Psychiatry, Community, Nurse Manager, hospice.
On 3/5/2021 at 1:33 PM, Swirl531 said:

are-new-nurse-contract-enforceable.jpg.1dea4e1467e7bca3c1479a9f3a218085.jpg

Hear me out. I am a new grad, and got a job June of 2020 at a hospital. Once I was on my own, I began having IMMENSE anxiety and depression. I got on an antidepressant for the first time in my life. I would have panic attacks DAYS before my scheduled shift even began. When I was at work, I was filled with almost unbearable anxiety as well. This would be reflected in my doctor’s summaries. Anyway, fast forward and I decided to resign. YES I had signed a contract. The contract is quite vague. I am wondering if any of my fellow nurses have had experience leaving jobs when still under contract... was the contract enforceable? I live in Nevada... curious to see if any of you live here.

I am thinking I’ll speak with an attorney to see if I could go the mental health route. My mental health was awful and I don’t feel that my worst enemy should have to go through such anxiety. 

Please don’t be rude, or tell me I should have just dealt with it, or whatever. Fact is, I couldn’t deal with it, I was an emotional mess, and it wasn’t right for me. I don’t feel that contracts are fair, and it feels like they “own my soul” and are still haunting me.  thanks in advance! ♥️

If you mean a contract that states you owe the hospital x dollars if you leave before 1 year, those are not legal to create in my state, and I don't think they are enforceable anywhere.

I think you should quit your job if you want to quit your job. 

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Specializes in Geriatrics.

I plan ahead for most things. Life lessons I have learned: never take an RN salary job, don’t lease a car, never take a student loan, don’t fall for sign on bonuses and don’t sign any job related contracts. I have friends who were forced into paying bonuses back plus interest even when they were basically forced out of their job. Good luck to you! 

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