New 2-year contract required months after being hired on. Should I decline?

[LonghornChic, BSN]

I accepted a position at Hospital A as New Grad RN in an IMC unit in early February. There was no contract involved. I have already completed all the necessary paperwork and am set to start July 2017.

I had originally turned down another job offer at Hospital B in a Level 1 Trauma ICU because that organization required a 2-year contract, however, they paid $2 extra an hour and had a larger shift differential. Despite the larger pay I turned this offer down because I am weary of contracts, especially considering that I will be a new grad in a high acuity and high-stress unit. The uncertainty of locking myself down for 2 years in a specialty such as this is a little concerning to me. If there was no contract then I would have gone for this offer but I chose Hospital A instead.

Fast forward to April. Several students in my cohort have secured employment in Hospital A but the only caveat is that they are now required to sign a two-year contract with a $10,000 penalty for breaking the contract. One of the students informed me that per HR all new grads will be required to sign the contract and that they are in the process of contacting all new hires from January on forward. There is no pay increase attached to these new contracts. I have yet to receive any information from HR about this but I have confirmed this information from several credible sources. Additionally, the previous new hires were never informed of any new changes so all this is new to us.

As a precautionary step, I reached out to my old contacts at Hospital B and they are willing to offer me a position on a Trauma floor with the same stipulations as before (it pays not to burn bridges). I did this because I am planning to contact HR at Hospital A to determine if I must sign a contract. If I am required to sign a contract then I would prefer a pay increase to match Hospital B. If they are unwilling to do this then I will not be able to accept their new contract and will take the offer at Hospital B.

Here is my dilemma: I really like Hospital A but am upset that I was never informed of this new change and will be required to do something I did not want to do in the 1st place. If I will have no choice but to make a contract then I feel like my best option will be to go with Hospital B because of their increase in pay. Hospital B is also a good facility but I much prefer A. I am not the type of person that breaks agreements so this is stressing me out a bit.

Is this a good way to approach this issue or should I just stick with Hospital A since I already signed on with them in February? Any advice would be of great help.

[ThatStoney]

It sounds like you are doing everything right in this case. If Hospital A does wind up requiring a two year commitment from you, explain your situation to them. Tell them why you chose them over other organizations and see if they are willing to match it. If not, then I see nothing wrong with moving over to Hospital B. I don't even see it as a loyalty thing since you have not even started working there. They may not like it, but employment is a two-way street and both parties should be happy with the end result.

Good luck with your decision-making!

[HyzenthlayLPN]

If they are changing the terms of the agreement, THEY are breaking the agreement, not you. If/when they contact you to sign a contract, tell them that you accepted the job specifically because they did not require a contract while the other job offer you received (that offered higher pay) did. Tell them you prefer to not sign any contract (don't say you WON'T, just state it as a preference and see what they say).

[AJJKRN]

Sounds like the other hospital caught wind of the contract and decided that they didn't want to train new grads for an expensive price tag and have the potential to lose out on their investments either.

Not saying this is ideal but I would look at it from the hospital's point of view as your point of view is geared at protecting you as they only want to protect themselves.

Either way...if they are both decent places to work then I would be very thankful to even have a job offer.

[LonghornChic, BSN]

Thank you all for your comments. I'd hate to start off on the wrong foot with Hospital A. I'm really hoping that we can come to a mutual agreement.

[LonghornChic, BSN]

Sounds like the other hospital caught wind of the contract and decided that they didn't want to train new grads for an expensive price tag and have the potential to lose out on their investments either.

Not saying this is ideal but I would look at it from the hospital's point of view as your point of view is geared at protecting you as they only want to protect themselves.

Either way...if they are both decent places to work then I would be very thankful to even have a job offer.

You hit the nail right on the head. Hospital B recently implemented 2-year contracts and since it is the largest healthcare employer in the area, other facilities followed suit. Healthcare is a business after all. I did view it from their perspective but I just feel that potential future employees should have been made aware of this new rule that would ultimately affect them. A change of this magnitude has been months in the making at the very least. It just all feels like a deception.

[llg, PhD, RN]

If the contracts are similar ... choose the hospital where you would rather work to be happy. Don't let this glitch in the hiring process push you into being resentful and unhappy wherever you go. Also, it is rarely a good idea to choose where to work over a couple of dollars per hour. Follow your heart on that one. The little extra money won't make you like a job. If one job is really more appealing to you, take that one. You'll be happier in the long run.

[TraviesaRN]

I have been surprised at how many hospitals require contracts on new grads, I had never heard of it until the last few years. I can understand the reasoning from the hospitals end, but I am thankful I didn't have to as a new grad. I signed one contract for a very generous sign on bonus and generous moving expenses and I regretted it. Mostly because I didn't like feeling like I was stuck. If you're going to be pressured into a contract regardless, definitely go to the better deal and where you feel like you'll be happier. I would imagine as a new grad and especially in a CC area the time will fly.

[Wolf at the Door, BSN]

which unit do you prefer to start out in? figure that out and do that.

[canoehead, BSN, RN]

As a new grad, some people accept signing a contract in exchange for the orientation the hospital will provide. You have completed the orientation, and done well, and now they may want you to sign a contract? I don't see how signing benefits you. If it's sign the contract or we'll fire you, then as a good employee, you are being treated badly. Does the contract stipulate working conditions, or pay raises that you want? If you decide to sign, this is your chance to write out all the things you want the employer to do for you. It may be worthwhile to consult a lawyer so you don't miss an opportunity. I'd be looking for education reimbursement!

[RHope]

If you like hospital A better, you may do better staying there. Would also consider things like staff to patient ratios, unsafe policies, working conditions, attitudes of staff, managers, and doctors. Even though hospital B may offer a dollar or two more, it may not even be worth it in the end.

[dishes, BSN, RN]

You have completed the orientation, and done well, and now they may want you to sign a contract?

The OP hasn't completed orientation and it doesn't seem like they have completed nursing school yet as they don't start the position until July 2017.