Old dog wants to learn new trick :D

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I keep reading all of these posts referring to contracts and agreements- what in the world are those? Is it union stuff? Whenever I've gotten a job, they tell me to show up on this day, and I say "OK" and that's the end of it (or the beginning:D). What happens if YOU decide you don't want to follow the agreement? :eek:

Sorry if I sound so dense on this- but in IL and TX where I've worked, I never had to sign anything but a W-4, I-9 form, or other basic federally required forms. :confused:

Back in the dark ages (mid 80s) nursing school wasn't paid for unless a scholarship to a 4 year school- and a lot more people went to diploma and ADN programs back then. I can see where a facility would expect a certain amount of time if they pay for school. That's fair. :) Thanks for the info on all of this :)

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Specializes in Emergency Dept. Trauma. Pediatrics.

The ones where you agree to work there for x amount of time when they haven't paid for your school or anything are from what I have seen, usually New Grad residency programs. You agree to commit to whatever time frame and they agree to take you on as a new grad and give you extensive training that is usually a lot more then non residency programs. They are investing a lot of money into you and they want to ensure they get it back. Especially since the retention rates for new grads after a year is not good normally.

Where I got my job as a new grad I did not have to agree to anything. I was enrolled in their residency program but it's a 1 day class every other week for 6 weeks and one of those weeks it's a hi tech simulation day on running codes and stuff you would see in emergency situations. They have had a huge increase in new grad retention rates after the year.

They also have a nice tuition reimbursement program and if you apply for that and receive it you agree to work for 1 year after each payment. So it works out to you working for one year from the date of your last payment. If you break the contract you have to repay all the money given within 30 days.

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The ones where you agree to work there for x amount of time when they haven't paid for your school or anything are from what I have seen, usually New Grad residency programs. You agree to commit to whatever time frame and they agree to take you on as a new grad and give you extensive training that is usually a lot more then non residency programs. They are investing a lot of money into you and they want to ensure they get it back. Especially since the retention rates for new grades after a year is not good normally.

Where I got my job as a new grad I did not have to agree to anything. I was enrolled in their residency program but it's a 1 day class every other week for 6 weeks and one of those weeks it's a hi tech simulation day on running codes and stuff you would see in emergency situations. They have had a huge increase in new grad retention rates after the year.

They also have a nice tuition reimbursement program and if you apply for that and receive it you agree to work for 1 year after each payment. So it works out to you working for one year from the date of your last payment. If you break the contract you have to repay all the money given within 30 days.

Ya know....that part just kills me, with all of the new grads here who can't get jobs....

The tuition assistance/reimbursement contracts make sense, and I'm familiar with those- a facility would be nuts to fork over money for school for nothing in return :)

When I was a new grad, I got the keys to the med room, and saw the back end of the previous shift go for the door !! :D Almost... I only got 2 days orientation. There were no residency programs in 1985, at least where I was :D

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Specializes in Emergency Dept. Trauma. Pediatrics.

Just noticed my typo, new GRADS not new Grades. lol

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Specializes in RN, BSN, CHDN.

Also if the hospital has given you a sign on bonus or relocation help then you are expected to sign a yr or 2 yrs contract

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Also if the hospital has given you a sign on bonus or relocation help then you are expected to sign a yr or 2 yrs contract

Yeah, they learned that the hard way about 20 years ago, when they'd pay the bonus with the first 2 checks, and never see the nurse again.....:cool:

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Specializes in RN, BSN, CHDN.
Yeah, they learned that the hard way about 20 years ago, when they'd pay the bonus with the first 2 checks, and never see the nurse again.....:cool:

:lol2::lol2:too funny! I signed a sign on bonus and I was very lucky it was a great place to work and I stayed 3 yrs before moving accross country. I have heard horror stories about some facilities who have paid sign on bonus

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:lol2::lol2:too funny! I signed a sign on bonus and I was very lucky it was a great place to work and I stayed 3 yrs before moving accross country. I have heard horror stories about some facilities who have paid sign on bonus

I worked at an adolescent residential facility that opened an acute unit for their kids (and supposedly for the community but 'someone' never marketed it, so I sat there for 16 hour shifts Sat/Sun for 3 months, and had 3 kids over 2 weekends....) and they moved the campus to their other property about 20 miles away- too far for my rickety car. I hadn't been hired for that campus or for the residential kids....I wasn't going. They had paid a bonus, and wanted it back- but wouldn't give me my check to go cash so i could give it back to them....they finally ended up giving me the check (they owed me a full 2 weeks on that check), and said they'd send a bill... never heard back.

Major management and bookkeeping problems there- BUT they were good to those kids. I liked the job- just couldn't do the drive or afford a car....:(

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Specializes in Certified Med/Surg tele, and other stuff.

Union answer: We almost went on strike and it was called off two days prior. This was our process:

4 months out, we held a vote asking members if they were going to support a strike. It was 80% agreed to.

in the meantime, management at other hospitals were being put on notice to work. Those that chose to not walk out, were to train the managers.

Two days before our strike date, management struck a deal with our union.

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Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.
I keep reading all of these posts referring to contracts and agreements- what in the world are those? Is it union stuff? Whenever I've gotten a job, they tell me to show up on this day, and I say "OK" and that's the end of it (or the beginning:D). What happens if YOU decide you don't want to follow the agreement? :eek:

Sorry if I sound so dense on this- but in IL and TX where I've worked, I never had to sign anything but a W-4, I-9 form, or other basic federally required forms. :confused:

It's not only union contracts or bonus/new grad contracts....you have contracts with agency nurses signed through their agency, contracts for dialysis nurses and outside contractors for services. Travelers also have contract each negotiated with each new facility for cancel terms, float terms, length of stay and renewal terms....some even have PTO and vacation time negotiated into the contract depending on the position and length of assignment.

I have worked at union facilties with strikes and potential strikes, management, educators, supervisors and administrators must step up. There are agencies that specialize in that kind of temp work, crossing picket lines. The are exsorbadently priced and are a finical hardship for the facility, therefore encouraging settlement of a new contract.:smokin:

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