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!
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!
What state do you live in? I have already started looking into nurse residency programs. I am waiting on my acceptance for degrees. I feel it is never too early to start!! Were you in a residency? What dept do you work in?
Hope2banurse1
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What state do you live in? I have already started looking into nurse residency programs. I am waiting on my acceptance for degrees. I feel it is never too early to start!! Were you in a residency? What dept do you work in?