$8000.00 Penalty for Quiting Critical Care Nurse Residency Program Before 3 Years

Nurses General Nursing

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Fellow Humans:

I have an offer to enter into a Critical Care Nurse Residency Program that will give me seven months of training for critical care. However, I will need to sign a contract to stay at this particular place of employment for three years. And if I decide to leave before the three years I will have to pay a penalty of $8,000.00 for early termination of contract.

So, I would like to know other nurses opinions about this before I make the decision because I do not see it as being a very good deal.

Remember that the $8,000.00 is NOT for a signing bonus!

Happy Holidays,:D

Kevin

this is a contract like any other kind of contract..each person knows what they are getting and if you decide that you can live in a small town and work in that kind of enviorment you can choose to sign up

i do like the idea of having it read and evaluated by a lawyer, this is just good business sense, also do talk with the other nurses, do a tour of the hospital, know what you are getting into

this is not an indentured servant situation, but if you feel like this going in you won't be happy, choose another hospital there are jobs that will suit you much better

good luck

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Specializes in Neurosciences.

I do plan on having the contract examined by an attorney because it is good business decision.

Also, I am liberal when it comes to my outlook on life and politically and the town that I would be moving to is more conservative. And I have had a difficult time making friends in the larger town that I currently live in because of the way that I view the world. So, I am afraid that I could spend another three years of my life having very few friends in I decide to move.

Finally, I am a 42-year old single man and I really do not see a a lot of dating possibilities in a town of 15,000 people because I will not date individuals that I work with in the same facility. I did date women that were in the same college program as me and it was horrible to work with them in clinical after the relationship ended because we were both emotionally raw from the breakup.

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Specializes in Critical Care.

Having the contract examined by an attorney is a great idea. That way you know if and when you can do something to get around the stipulation.

Yes, the area ia more conservative, but with the clinic here, it's not as bad as you would think. We do have the loud-mouths who irritate everyone, but by and large they are easy to ignore. I am pagan working in a catholic facility and I have found tha the majority of the staff and patients are able to look past that and see the person I am. I have not come up against any overt hostility and usually get more questions about my religion than anything else.

I wish you luck in your decision and I know that you will think about it long and hard before you decide. It defintiely sounds as if we will be losing out on a great nurse if you don't end up coming here.

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Specializes in LTC, Med/Surg, Peds, ICU, Tele.

You have the same problem if you are a conservative thinker in an urban area. You will be a social outcast if you make your views known.

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Specializes in Case management, UM, AL, psych, CD.

There is no way I would commit to this! You have no idea where your life will take you and 8K is alot of money! MY vote is NO WAY!!!

Goodluck!! :banghead:

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Specializes in ER, PACU, Med-Surg, Hospice, LTC.

I worked in a Hospital that has "contracts" for training employees.

When I first came on board with this facility, I signed one. It was for 1 year. I could do that. Then I found out that the 'one year' didn't officially start until 6 months into the program, so it was really an 18 month program. Sneaky facility.

In a nutshell it stated that if we quit at any time during the training period (18 months), we had to pay back $10,000. I stuck it out, but I would have quit had their not been that stipulation. It was awful! We were totally taken advantage of and their was nothing that we could do about it. Sure, quit, but who has an extra 10K sitting around cause you don't like your job? I didn't.

(I couldn't afford to save $10,000 for a safety-net bailout nor could I afford more debt, esp. at the tune of 10K!! I should have asked the government to help me, Hahahahaha!)

So, every few months, there would be a new group of recruits with their contracts. Some of these people were so unhappy they quit. and basically stated that if the Hospital wants their 10k they can take them to court. I never did hear of anyone being taken to court.

I later found out that the contract was really not a legal and binding contract at all, but basically phoney-baloney, carefully worded scare tactics to keep staff on board. A person really didn't know what they were getting into.

I would take the contract to a lawyer and see what they say.

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Specializes in Adolescent Psych, PICU.

I can see both sides of this. There are good and bad points. 3 years is a long time though.

Is ICU what you want to do? Are there any other ICUs in your area that hire new grads without this type of commitment (sign on bonus is different). Have you talked with RNs who work for this hospital and what do they have to say about it?

ICU can be REALLY HARD for a new grad. I was hired into ICU right out of nursing school, it is VERY scary place to work, but also a place where you will learn a LOT and have major skills. I did a 2 year/$4000 sign on bonus and if I wouldn't have signed on I would have gotten scared a couple month into work and quit. What I'm saying is my sign on bonus and work commitment have forced me to stay when otherwise I would have left because it is a scary place to work.

For me *personally* I wouldn't commit to work anywhere for 3 years because a lot can happen in 3 years.....illness, pregnancy, getting married, I mean the list is endless. But if there were no other good alternative and this hospital had a great reputation then I might consider it because having an ICU background is also an investment for YOU and your career. But if there were other just as good hospitals without that type of financial commitment I would look else where....$8000 is a lot to pay back if something happened or what if you ended up hating ICU? I just can't help but to think this isn't a good idea for a new nurse who has no experience and really doesn't know what he/she wants (because you have no experience to base it off of).

BUt my commitment has forced me to face some work fears and become a better nurse every day--of course my $4000 prorated sign on bonus is much easier to pay back than $8000 one would be. Almost every new ICU nurse I know (myself included) has throw up before work, gotten the runs, have a lot of anxiety, lost sleep the night before work, doubted themselves, felt like they were in over their heads, left work crying, etc. A lot of new grads think they want ICU until they are actually doing it....then they run as fast as they can away from it....and the hospital has spent about $50,000 training them.

But really it sounds like you don't want to work there anyways and you have already accepted the fact it seems that small town life is not for you. I personally can get along with anyone liberal or conservative but it seems you have a harder time with that. I have a pretty open mind and have lots of diverse friends (evangelical Christians, atheists, etc) but if your not open minded enough and can only hang with liberal people, then than might not work out for you. I've lived in small towns and big cities (Im a military brat) and each has their own problems and delights!

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Specializes in ER, OR, ICU, PACU, POCU, QA, DC Planning.

Kevin, have you done your year of med-surg yet? It's really important to do this before going into such a technical specialty like ICU.

BTW, have you thought of a larger city? I love Phoenix, but live in Michigan. Want to go back as soon as I can sell this house...may be in several years. Lots of variety, lots of different hospitals, and lots of geriatrics!

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I wonder if they can even inforce this legally !!!!! Ask a lawyer. Of course, if you also have to give the normal equilavent of your annual vacation ---------for example, 3 weeks notice for resignation, they could possibly-------- just not pay you !!!

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Specializes in NICU.

When I took my job a year ago, I signed one of these contracts to remain at the facility for 18 months after orientation was over or I would have to pay max $3000, prorated for my time. At the time, I thought well, 18 mo isn't THAT bad if I don't like it...but now I look back and think what a huge gamble I took. Luckily, I DO like my hospital but considering I've only completed 6 mo of my obligation (6 mo on orientation didn't count)...another year would be torture if I really wanted out. 3 years plus orientation is a long time to commit to a hospital you aren't sure you will even like.

I'd also find out what happens if they fire you. I've seen several nurses go through the orientation process only to be fired for not catching on quick enough. Not saying that would be you, but I've wondered if those people have to pay back the money as well.

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Specializes in Med/Surg, OB, Home Health/Hospice.

NO WAY!! I would join the Armed Services FIRST if I wanted to sign 3 years of my life away. At least then there are long term benefits!!

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Specializes in Cardiothoracic Transplant Telemetry.
I'm not a nurse yet, but I'd say no way! I live in California, and out here they pay you to stay on board with no such thing as a contract that forces you to work a certain amount of time.....especially with a monetary penalty as the consequence of leaving early. I would endure the former, especially if I were in the armed forces....but the later (monetary penalty), heck no. I can't believe that. Conspiracy theory... what if part of the plan was to take in new nurses with the intention of finding a reason for letting them go before their three years came around? Something fishy with whoever in their hiring/retention department is thinking. You have TONS of opportunities. Definitely keep looking.

Hmmm, looks like location plays a crucial role in what you can expect from your employer as far as "benefits". All situations are dynamic. I hope the right factors play in your favor.

The contract that I signed for my new grad training WAS in California. That being said, the program was comprehensive and thorough. I stayed my 18 months and didn't begrudge them one minute of the time. I left after my time was up because I wanted to move back home. Others did leave before their contracts were up, and paid the portion of the training that was remaining.

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