paying for "surgical training"

[JaneQ]

Has anyone ever heard of this?

The last hospital I worked at had a program where they trained RN's in surgery for 3 months. Then if you worked for them for two years you "worked off" the cost of the training ($2,000.00).

I left this facility after three and a half months of working there because of politics ("lifer" tech's sabataging the new RN), very bad working conditions, and an anesthesiologist who basically killed my patient. The management knew of this anesthesiologist history, and nothing has ever been done about it. By, the way he's still working.......

I have received a letter from said hospital requesting that I contact them, because I owe them $2000.00 for a "sign-on bonus" I never received a sign-on bonus, and the recruiter originally told me they were not giving sign-on bonuses.

What I want to know is: Is it illegal for them to charge an employee for training? and that is why there are trying to pass it off as a sign-on bonus?

Frankly, my credit is not that great, they will be lucky to get $10 a month out of me. I just feel like they really didn't give me "circulator training" since I already had 3 years of circulating c-sections and gyn surgeries.

Just Curious...

[P_RN, ADN, RN]

First off

What did you sign if anything?

I hope the letter you got was just boilerplate that they send to every employee who leaves. Gather up all the paperwork you have and see if perhaps they deposited money or something that would indicate you got the "bonus." Frankly I'd fight this but then I am a contrary sort.

As far as the training fee, when I worked OR the RN circulated...period. If you wanted to learn scrub then you had to pay for surgical tech training on your own time. I was told they could hire 3 techs for what they paid an RN. But then that was back in the olden days.

[Agnus]

I personally I would ignore the letter. Unless you have a signed contract that spells out that you would repay this money and give the specific circumstance under which you would repay they have nothing to stand on.

I received a bill from an ER that was paid for by my worker's comp. They routinely send double billing to people in hopes they are naieve enought to pay it.

It is not an ethical practice but it happens. If these people persist in trying to collect then you might tell them the next time they contact you about this you will be refering them to your attorney. That should stop it.

[Gomer]

Yes, I've heard about pay for training programs (have a couple of them in CA) and if you signed an agreement to stay and work (for a given time) or leave and pay for the training then you do owe the hospital money. And, yes, it is legal.