New Grad Fellowship OR program 3 year contract vs tele job no contract

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I posted this on the general forum but wanted to put it here to see what the OR nurses think:

I am a new grad that was offered a job on a telemetry floor in a hospital where there is not a contract to sign. I was also offered a job that is an OR fellowship that starts with 6 months of training so I would have to sign a 3 year contract from the beginning. When I graduated I told myself that I just WOULD NOT sign a contract. I am a married 38 year old (no children) and held my first job for 7 years and 2nd job for 12 years before leaving to go back to school so I am not a job hopper but I don't like the idea of signing my life away. I don't know if it is worth my sense of freedom. It seems like a great opportunity that I would be crazy to turn down BUT I am just not 100% sure because of the contract. I am interested in the OR but given the limited exposure in school I can't be 100% sure & there is no backing out of the contract. I found it to match my personality better than any floor job & it was exciting. This would be at a level 1 trauma center. I am scared and lack confidence...but it is 6 months training.

The tele job is my first choice out of floor jobs (I was also offered a job on neuro and another job at a long term care facility) but I never saw myself as a floor nurse, although I could do it and would be great for experience & it would just be a stepping stone. I liked the director & she really liked me. She is big on growth and learning & doesn't expect you to stay on that floor. She says I could transfer to another department after a year.

Schedule and having a work life balance are important to me at my age. The OR fellowship is 4 ten hour shifts & I would work one weekend every 6 weekends. I would also be on-call two days every 6 weeks. They do self scheduling. I really don't like the idea of being on-call but I realize it is part of the job. The tele job is day shift 7a-7pm 3 days per week, 36 hours. I would work every other weekend (not a problem) but maybe not because some prefer to the weekend shifts for the diff. Basically OR =less weekends and being on-call. Tele = more weekends and no on-call.

I feel with tele I would move into other roles easier than OR vs OR and deciding to move to another dept because it is so specific.

Another problem is that a prior clinical instructor had her students at the hospital I would be at. She told me about this program because I was talking to her about OR. She got me the interview because she just ranted an raved about me to the charge nurse. The fellowship was full but they brought me in and offered me this position. It is kind of last minute. I feel they are doing me a favor and I know my instructor pulled strings. She just has been very impressed with this hospital. So I feel the pressure to do prove to everyone why they did this for me. However, I don't really like favors being done. So if I turn it down I will feel embarassed and that I wasted everyone's time. I honestly didnt' think it would pan out.

I think I would be a good fit for OR but I only shadowed a nurse twice in school so I can't really be sure. BUT I would be in contract for 3 years. That is a long time to not be in the right spot. Another problem (sounds dumb) is that I remember being in the OR and not being sure I could work there because it is soooooo FREEZING and I hate being cold and am always cold.

Plus, being on-call makes me REALLY nervous. So while tele may not be the dream job I would feel free and know I can grow. I graduate Summa Cum Laude so I feel I can succeed and am will move on to great things.

So my 3 problems with OR are: 3 year contract (I really hate this idea), being on-call (but I know it is part of the job-I just think I couldn't sleep a wink thinking I am just going to be woken to run in for an emergency surgery), and the freezing cold temperatures in there is a real problem.

Any advice? I need to decide pretty quick & I just keep going back and forth. I am not sure I would like the tele job either of course, but I would gain skills & confidence & can transfer departments after a year. I wouldn't have a contract hanging over me. The director of the unit was also really nice and really liked me. It's tough.

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What is a fellowship for a new grad RN? An orientation followed by a job? What does "fellowship" mean here?

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Sorry, I should have clarified. They just call it "fellowship" kind of like a residency program. I was offered a job as a perioperative staff nurse. I would go through the 6 month training. It is in class training and in the OR with a preceptor. After the 6 months then I am on my own working as an OR nurse. So it is basically a job that has rigorous training involved, but I would already be hired.

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We have the same fellowship for our new grad RN's at my facility... One thing that makes the 3 year contract an easier pill to swallow is that it is a prorated commitment. That for each month you work to complete your contract, it obligated amount you pay back is reduced 1/36th, so after 2 years the remaining amount you owe is down to 1/3 the original amount. Additionally, the contract is an issue if you leave the system, so you can transfer to another department. Perhaps you can clarify with them if any of this is true for your offer.

Good luck

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Thanks, this is good to know. I will find out today. :)

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So, they (disingenuously and inaccurately) use the term "fellowship" as a way to make a three year binding contract look like you're getting something special, when in fact, they are. That they do that is a reason to look a little deeper into the deal.

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Well, the fellowship really is 6 months of intense training. In the classroom only for the first 3 weeks and then classroom and with our preceptor the remainder. We have a textbook and online course work (peri-op 101), we also have homework & tests, but nothing I am worried about. I made it thru nursing school pretty well.

I did have all my questions answered today and I am very pleased with the outcome. The contract is hospital specific...so if it just doesn't work out I can technically stay within the hospital and not break the contract, although they would try to keep me in their area (such as pre-op even) because of them training me for 6 months. That is okay, I am interested in pre-op as well. The contract is for 9k but prorated each month I am there. Since I know I just have to stay within the hospital though, I am fine. I like to just find a job and stay put. I am not a job hopper & hate finding a new job & all the anxiety of starting a new one.

I had all my questions answered about on-call and schedule and it all sounds just fine. It is a very large OR at a very large level 1 trauma center so there is a lot of coverage. There are shifts 24 hours. They try not to call you in & try VERY hard not to call you in overnight...but if they are just really slammed then they have to. If you are there in the middle of the night & have to work the next morning they work to get you home so you can get rest (I was worried about patient safety).

As for the cold, I can layer underneath my scrubs, but short sleeve of course. They also order us thermal jackets that we can wear that I will purchase.

I am excited...I think this is it!!!

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Specializes in CCU, SICU, CVSICU, Precepting & Teaching.
Well, the fellowship really is 6 months of intense training. In the classroom only for the first 3 weeks and then classroom and with our preceptor the remainder. We have a textbook and online course work (peri-op 101), we also have homework & tests, but nothing I am worried about. I made it thru nursing school pretty well.

I did have all my questions answered today and I am very pleased with the outcome. The contract is hospital specific...so if it just doesn't work out I can technically stay within the hospital and not break the contract, although they would try to keep me in their area (such as pre-op even) because of them training me for 6 months. That is okay, I am interested in pre-op as well. The contract is for 9k but prorated each month I am there. Since I know I just have to stay within the hospital though, I am fine. I like to just find a job and stay put. I am not a job hopper & hate finding a new job & all the anxiety of starting a new one.

I had all my questions answered about on-call and schedule and it all sounds just fine. It is a very large OR at a very large level 1 trauma center so there is a lot of coverage. There are shifts 24 hours. They try not to call you in & try VERY hard not to call you in overnight...but if they are just really slammed then they have to. If you are there in the middle of the night & have to work the next morning they work to get you home so you can get rest (I was worried about patient safety).

As for the cold, I can layer underneath my scrubs, but short sleeve of course. They also order us thermal jackets that we can wear that I will purchase.

I am excited...I think this is it!!!

I'm happy for you. Even in your first post it seemed as if you were leaning toward the OR position, but the contract was a problem for you. I'm glad you've gotten the information you need about the contract and are ready to accept it. I've never tried OR nursing, but it seems as though it would be fascinating! Good luck!

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Thank you so much! I was leaning towards OR. I just really think I will like it A LOT! I was scared of the contract but now that I found out details it seems manageable. Hopefully I am there for years to come (more than the 3 even) as I am very excited about this particular hospital. It is Magnet Status! The instructor that referred me can't stop raving about the place.

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Well, the fellowship really is 6 months of intense training. In the classroom only for the first 3 weeks and then classroom and with our preceptor the remainder. We have a textbook and online course work (peri-op 101), we also have homework & tests, but nothing I am worried about. I made it thru nursing school pretty well.

I did have all my questions answered today and I am very pleased with the outcome. The contract is hospital specific...so if it just doesn't work out I can technically stay within the hospital and not break the contract, although they would try to keep me in their area (such as pre-op even) because of them training me for 6 months. That is okay, I am interested in pre-op as well. The contract is for 9k but prorated each month I am there. Since I know I just have to stay within the hospital though, I am fine. I like to just find a job and stay put. I am not a job hopper & hate finding a new job & all the anxiety of starting a new one.

I had all my questions answered about on-call and schedule and it all sounds just fine. It is a very large OR at a very large level 1 trauma center so there is a lot of coverage. There are shifts 24 hours. They try not to call you in & try VERY hard not to call you in overnight...but if they are just really slammed then they have to. If you are there in the middle of the night & have to work the next morning they work to get you home so you can get rest (I was worried about patient safety).

As for the cold, I can layer underneath my scrubs, but short sleeve of course. They also order us thermal jackets that we can wear that I will purchase.

I am excited...I think this is it!!!

how exciting!! Will you periodically keep us updated on how it's going?? I would like to start in the OR when I am finished with my program :)

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Specializes in OR, Trauma, OH, Vasc., Ortho, Gen.

Good luck let us know if you have questions or concerns

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If I had known then what I know now, I would have gone to a floor job for a year before taking a (long contracted) position in the OR.

I'm glad you've made a decision you're satisfied with, though. That's half of the battle!

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