OR Orientees

Mine was 2 years, and we were obligated to pay back if we left early.

I start my 6-mos OR internship March 6th and am supposed to sign a 1-yr commitment beyond the internship. I'm not sure of the consequences of breaking the commitment since I haven't actually signed anything yet, but since I received a scholarship from this hospital for school, I AM obligated to pay them back with 18 mos service, so at least in that respect I would owe them money.

BTW, I know some hospitals will buy out a scholarship since it turns into a loan if you leave early, so maybe the same thing could be done with the contract. Something to look into, if you're that unhappy. Good luck.

Marie i'm assuming that you scub as an LPN in that respect RNs, LPNs, and ORTs function the same (scrubbing)--- once you get your RN should you remain in the OR you will just be oriented to the role of circulator. I scrubbed for about 4.5yrs as an LPN and now i'm an RN but my facility is "orienting" me to scrub and circulate and require payback if i dont stay for 2 years after orientation. I was just curious about paybacks the hosp where i got my LPN/scrub experience from did not require any commitments.

thank you both for your reply

This question is for those starting or orientation ladyt618 and nocrumping but anyone with input please respond. Are you required to pay back any money to the facility should you decide not to complete the orientation or stay for > 3 years?

No, I signed no contract, but when I asked if I was required to, the recruiter said "no, but you are "expected" to stay for the full orientation and keep a full time position for at least 2 years" I take that as no, I dont have to pay it back if I leave.

Now you got me thinking, should I ask specifically? Wouldnt they make me sign something if that were the stipulations??

Marie i'm assuming that you scub as an LPN in that respect RNs, LPNs, and ORTs function the same (scrubbing)--- once you get your RN should you remain in the OR you will just be oriented to the role of circulator. I scrubbed for about 4.5yrs as an LPN and now i'm an RN but my facility is "orienting" me to scrub and circulate and require payback if i dont stay for 2 years after orientation. I was just curious about paybacks the hosp where i got my LPN/scrub experience from did not require any commitments.

thank you both for your reply

There isn't a payback requirement while traning to be a curculator where i work. Just if you're training to scrub.

nope, not where I hired on. There was no time commitment whatsoever.

There isn't a payback requirement while traning to be a curculator where i work. Just if you're training to scrub.

Marie..... my program is the type where they train to circulate, the AORN periop 101 course, but they also have a new component of it where a tech school teaches us to do the scrub part...now, I am just asking your opinion... if a commitment was required, wouldnt they have allready made me sign something aknowledging that? ( like in HR)They havent, I am allready attending general nursing orientation, since its a new hospital for me.....

I haven't been asked to sign anything, at least not yet. I'll be going to fill out the new hire paperwork on Monday. I don't know if that will be included. We shall see.

The program at my hospital is 9 months (circulating and scrub). We are required to sign a contract and say we are staying for 2 years to "pay back" their investment. If we decide to leave we are supposed to pay $10,000. I have heard that the contract is not enforceable (per the unions) because even though you are being taught during the program, you are also working. I am scheduled to go through the program in September (unless we move first). I was hoping to go though, then leave. I would likely pay the $10,000 because I would not want to burn any bridges.

I was told that my 6-month internship would be mainly training to circulate. However, the manager in charge of the internship said she "hoped" to have a 3-month scrub class down the road, maybe in the fall. I hope so, and wish my internship included a definite scrub component like Inspir8tion says she gets during her internship. I'll just cross my fingers and also encourage the other interns to request the scrub class.

[color=darkslategray]my facility (where you are required to learn to scrub and circulate) does not have contracts - the incentives to stay are bonuses paid out over the course of 2.5 years. a different mentorship program had a contract with an initial bonus where, if you did not stay at least 2 years, you had to pay back the bonus. while this would probably be ok if i had a strong familiarity with the program and facility, and my personal life was such that i wouldn't necessarily have to move at a moment's notice. i did have a friend that was married to someone in the military, and the nature of the military is "we tell you to go, and you go." this sort of contractual obligation didn't sit well with her, either.

Thank you all for the replies very informative, its interesting to know how things vary form facility to facility. For those of you who do not have commitments or money paybacks i am envious--- study hard and learn all that you can about perioperative nursing, i am sure you guys will do well in your new position. My story is a bit different where we were asked to sign a contract one month after we began the orientation--- a bit underhanded i must say. I've been in the OR 5 months and so far 6 nurses have resigned from the OR including the "nurse educator" no consistent preceptor and the program is a bit shaky. I smelled something funny the day i signed on but i was so desperate for the experience i jumped on board. I know i will not stay at this facility for 2yrs + 9 mos (payback time) so i will have to chuck up the change $7,500:( but i'm sure my freedom will be well worth it meaning i can work per diem and not be on "lock down" from mon-fri 7a-3:30p

thanks again