Last year, I worked 6 months as a nurse resident at a large teaching hospital in Boston that I am not going to name (however it is currently #1 in the country, hint hint). At the time when I was applying for jobs, I was a new grad nurse after completing an Accelerated BSN program through this hospital's school, so when I got the offer I thought it sounded like a great opportunity. They made it sound like a great resume booster and a good educational opportunity so I took it, despite the abysmal pay at $12.38/hr with benefits. They even said they would try to hire me at the end of the residency, which was scheduled to be some time in April 2016 (although no official end date was ever set).
I knew the pay would be tough to live off of, especially living right in the middle of downtown Boston. I was fortunate that I had some money saved because at the time I was 27, and nursing this was a second career and second degree for me. I was in the first wave of residents starting in June 2015, with more that were hired in September and December. Little did I know, they would eventually hire around 500 new grad RNs, making my chances of being hired at the end of the program smaller and smaller. Only about the first month of the program was spent on "education", and then we were set free to work on various units throughout the hospital. Before I knew it, I was doing the same amount of work (if not more) than other nurses, however getting paid 1/3 of what they were. Nursing aides were starting out with $15/hr pay. At first it was fine with me, but then it got old really fast. I mean, minimum wage in Massachusetts is $10/hr! I've worked retail jobs getting paid more than I was as a RN!
The hospital took advantage of new graduate nurses and is continuing to do so, without any guarantee of a full-time position at the end of the residency. The job was not only difficult on the monetary side, but after the first month there was no part of it I would consider to be a "residency" (other than the bad pay). It was so poorly organized for a hospital that is supposed to be one of the best in the world. I made the decision to leave the program early, and it was the best choice I could have made. I am now employed at another hospital, earning a real nurse's salary, with the opportunity for job growth and am MUCH happier.
Yes, I now have the basic RN skills and the big-name hospital on my resume, but I felt so taken advantage of during this time and never fully respected by most of my other colleagues. Many of them viewed us as "fake nurses" or that we were only there because we couldn't get jobs anywhere else.
My advice to new grads looking into residency programs--make sure you know what you're getting yourself into! Perhaps if I was younger and able to live with my parents this would have been a better opportunity. However, as nurses, we are the ones who keep patients alive, the ones that keep hospitals open 24/7 to help those in need, but this program made me feel as though I didn't matter to the hospital not just because of the pay, but because I did not feel respected as a REAL nurse.
And after writing this, I feel the need to name the hospital...Massachusetts General Hospital. I'm curious to hear of other people's experiences with residency programs...please share!
Either each state or each hospital system must be different. This is absolutely terrible. People don't go to school for 3-5+ years just to get less than CNA pay for a not guaranteed job.
Im in AZ and the residency programs out here in the Phoenix metro area are actually very good. There may be a bad one at some no name hospital I haven't heard of, but for the most part the residency programs pay full new grad pay from day one. And they all start above $25. Usually a few dollars more an hour but I think there is one that's 25 or 26 for new grads. They are also set up with lots of class time in the beginning and slowly graduate to more and more orecepting then more solo time with scattered classes throughout 6 mos to a year.
I I would never work for a place like you describe. But I guess I understand why some people could get sucked in on a hope.
Oh and the residencies out here are used as a way to fill positions. So everyone selected for them is expected to fill a certain term commitment and has a job waiting for them if they make it through orientation.
I don't think hospitals should be able to call these new grad programs "residencies." Medical residencies are called residencies because they are steeped in a tradition in which the physicians were ACTUAL residents at the hospital, boarding there and so forth. Even today there are at least on call rooms where doctors can sleep over and stuff.
This new age nurse residency crap doesn't resemble medical residencies AT ALL. It's ridiculous to call them that. It's a total sham.
Wow. I had no idea things like that existed. I'm sorry $12.38/HR for a RN position? Whether or not it is a large hospital, that is crazy, I'm sorry. I get paid more than that as a tech.
You do need to do your research. The absolute only reason I would do that would be I was guaranteed a position at the end and the hospital had awesome benefits.
Just because certain areas of the country are not experiencing a shortage does not mean a system can take advantage of a new grad like that. She has the RN behind her name, she was performing the duties of a RN. I will say though this was the OPs decision as you presumably knew what the pay was in advance. I just never would have done it to begin with. Even with the prestigious hospital name behind it.
I don't think hospitals should be able to call these new grad programs "residencies." Medical residencies are called residencies because they are steeped in a tradition in which the physicians were ACTUAL residents at the hospital, boarding there and so forth. Even today there are at least on call rooms where doctors can sleep over and stuff.
This new age nurse residency crap doesn't resemble medical residencies AT ALL. It's ridiculous to call them that. It's a total sham.
FYI Y'all --- Medical residencies are generously funded ~ $100k per year per resident. They are also heavily subsidized by Federal funding and highly regulated to ensure that they meet all requirements for GME (Graduate Medical Education). Nurse residencies are funded entirely by the host facility based upon whatever resources they have to spare. HUGE differences. Other than the word "residency", they really have very little in common.
That's one of the reason that there is a movement to call the nursing ones "Transition To Practice" (TTP) programs instead. There is also a formal accreditation program for TTPs has been developed by NCSBN. It's a very new innovation, but in years to come, graduates who find an accredited TTP program will have the reassurance of knowing it meets all the essential criteria. Stay tuned for further developments. . . .
This is truly terrible and embarrassing. I can't actually believe someone said they should be thankful for that opportunity. Get real. That's work abuse. Ps.... I don't know any medical residents who get paid 100k. My boyfriend is one of those and in a speciality field. Half of that pay for 80 hrs a week of work. Equally if not more awful.
I am pursuing my BSN and am originally from Phoenix. I was looking into residency programs possibly in Phoenix. Do you mind sharing where you're completing your residency program.
This is truly terrible and embarrassing. I can't actually believe someone said they should be thankful for that opportunity. Get real. That's work abuse. Ps.... I don't know any medical residents who get paid 100k. My boyfriend is one of those and in a speciality field. Half of that pay for 80 hrs a week of work. Equally if not more awful.
Medical residents are FUNDED, not PAID...there is a difference...federal funding to support the hours of teaching what they need to know-we don't have that at this time; which would be a better alternative than free labor and a better structural program to help new nurses is the key and focus of this discussion.
Wow. Your experience is really disheartening. Glad you baled and are now working as an RN and getting paid what you need. I returned to nursing for the second time after a 22 year break (as a flight attendant). So I consider my nursing path non-traditional. I was 47 years old instead of 20 the second time around. I carefully considered how to enhance my nursing school experience. I worked as a unit secretary and phlebotomist and then a CNA in a busy outpatient infusion therapy clinic. I feel that I got a good strong intro back into nursing. I did not make less than $14.00/hr at these jobs back in 2005 I already knew how to wipe poopy butts and take vitals! In fact, I do a lot of that as an RN right now. I agree ...be a careful consumer when considering these types of programs.
When applying for a new job, the hiring hospital will call HR of the former employer. HR will let the hiring hospital know if the candidate is "eligible for rehire". Its basically a way of finding out if the employee has been fired. Hospitals check the Internet routinely on new hires. As part of leadership, I can cite dozens of instances of nurses turning their colleagues in for inappropriate posts on social media & other websites. An inappropriate post would certainly include even a hint of a HIPPA violation, but also the naming a former place of employment in a negative way. Coworkers can, and will turn each other in. The vast majority of staff caught posting inappropriately are either terminated or receive a high level disciplinary notice.
Wow, I am so sorry that this happened to you! New grads are frequently hired where I live, and start making like $80,000 per year right away. There is a big nurse deficit right now, due to a lack of available nurses and veterans retiring! Luckily you are almost done, right? and you will be able to get hired right away! Live and learn, you will ultimately be a better person for having gone through this! A compassionate friend, someday compassionate head of the ER!
I just want to ask if im still qualify to apply for residency program . I'm a foreign graduate. I graduated 2006 and I only have 1 year in the hospital back home..I came here in US last year and recently passed my NCLEX(New york)..Now, am struggling applying because of the gap years I didn't practice my profession.. I need you inputs! Thanks..GOD Bless us.
I'm a foreign graduate. I graduated 2006 and I only have 1 year in the hospital back home..I came here in US last year and recently passed my NCLEX(New york)..Now, am struggling applying because of the gap years I didn't practice my profession..
I need you inputs! Thanks..GOD Bless us.
mrsboots87
1,761 Posts
Either each state or each hospital system must be different. This is absolutely terrible. People don't go to school for 3-5+ years just to get less than CNA pay for a not guaranteed job.
Im in AZ and the residency programs out here in the Phoenix metro area are actually very good. There may be a bad one at some no name hospital I haven't heard of, but for the most part the residency programs pay full new grad pay from day one. And they all start above $25. Usually a few dollars more an hour but I think there is one that's 25 or 26 for new grads. They are also set up with lots of class time in the beginning and slowly graduate to more and more orecepting then more solo time with scattered classes throughout 6 mos to a year.
I I would never work for a place like you describe. But I guess I understand why some people could get sucked in on a hope.
Oh and the residencies out here are used as a way to fill positions. So everyone selected for them is expected to fill a certain term commitment and has a job waiting for them if they make it through orientation.