New Nurse Dilemma

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I am a new nurse in Illinois. I was offered a job in a nursing home in Elgin, Illinois. The salary will be $27/hr, but no other benefits. And I am required to pay 20% for the nurse staffing agent. Should I take it or not? Thank you and God bless.

That sounds crazy to me. Don't do it.

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Specializes in ER/Tele, Med-Surg, Faculty, Urgent Care.

I haven't Heard of the nurses using agents to find jobs. What I mean is this isn't commonly done. What state is this for? Looking at your post it sounds like English is not your first language? Is this something that is commonly done where you live?

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Specializes in Critical care.

Assuming you work full time (36 hours/week) and if the 20% is before taxes that is over 10k gone A YEAR! That is absolutely insane!!

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I'll provide the caveat that I do not live in Chicago, but that sounds like low pay in general for an LTC position near a major city. When you factor in the lack of benefits and having 20% of your income funneled away before you even see it, you are being offered a raw deal. I made almost that much as a new grad RN in LTC 4 years ago, in a city that most definitely had a lower cost of living than Chicago.

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Is that even legal? Sounds like a scam to me...

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Do not accept it. Sheesh, guy sound worse than a pimp.

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I've been hearing about some organizations that put foreign nurses into LTC jobs with contracts that are akin to indentured service. That is NOT the way most conduct business.

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I'll provide the caveat that I do not live in Chicago, but that sounds like low pay in general for an LTC position near a major city. When you factor in the lack of benefits and having 20% of your income funneled away before you even see it, you are being offered a raw deal. I made almost that much as a new grad RN in LTC 4 years ago, in a city that most definitely had a lower cost of living than Chicago.

I do live in Chicago, and I can tell you that $27/HR isn't unreasonable for LTC. What is unreasonable is the no benefits and the 10% of your pay forever. You don't need a recruiter or an agency to find a LTC job in Chicago or surrounding suburbs. And you DEFINITELY don't need to pay through the nose for it. Do a little online searching, you'll find opportunities.

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goldentreasure did you sign a contract with the staffing agent? it would be reasonable to pay a set fee for the job find or a percentage of first paycheck if that's the method used but giving 20% forever doesn't even sound legally enforceable especially if you didn't understand what it was you were signing. for a contract to be legal you both have to understand the terms and I don't know how you could possibly have understood and still signed this.

if you have no contract then it's much easier to Just Say No.

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I didn't sign a contract yet. I am anxious about the offer that is why I resorted to asking you guys. Thank you so much for the response.

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20% forever doesn't sound right. If you would there 10 years you are still suppose to be paying them a finder's fee? Even when your income goes up? Be careful.

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