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

fragino · Dec 24, 2008

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!!

Ummmm...if you think that this contract is restrictive, wait until you live in and try to get out of that 3 year Armed Services contract.

Magsulfate, BSN, RN · Dec 24, 2008

Now that I see it's s small town, I can tell you precisely what the problem is, from bitter personal experience.
I moved to a very small town from NYC. Became a nurse. Went into a unit - LTC - on which everyone, from aides to the DON, is related to one another. EVeryone in the facility is related to one another. And they were very mean to me, who was perceived as a big old snob city outsider.
They can't keep people because they are tormented right off of the unit.
I'm back in that facility, but not on the floor, and am doing fine. But my boss has advanced degrees and LIKES that I'm going on for the MSN, and doesn't think that I want her job because I am interested in learning.
This is only my experience, but if you are moving to a small town you will have a terrible time making friends - yeah, it's safe and friendly, but you will be the outsider, you will have a hard time creating a social life, and you will have a hard time fitting in on the unit, which will be full of unspoken local traditions to which you are not privy.
YMMV.

You're right, small towns certainly have their political circles. These people have been there their whole lives! It's hard to work at a place like this unless you like being considered the outsider. Favoritism is rampant in some small town hospitals.

Creamsoda, ASN, RN · Dec 25, 2008

Small hospitals can be somewhat smothering, with hard to change cultures and limited escape routes. I ended up feeling quite trapped in one. How big is this ICU?

I totally agree. That is a big comitment. I have been a nurse for 3.5 years and havent stayed at one place long. Started out in med-surg, after 9 months accepted a position at a small ICU in the same hospital(I got 3 months critical care training and classes), worked there for 9 months, decided I needed more of a challenge, so I applied at a large trauma center ICU Which I love and have been there for almost 2 years, but unfortunately (well im happy about it really) im moving to a new city this months so i have to quit this job and I definately would have stayed longer had my fiance not gotten a job in a different city. But as you see its hard to see where life will take you, and you dont want to be tied down. You might hate the ICU eventually because its small. Thats what happened to me. The gossip was awful, although I never was involved, but its still draining listening to it. And I agree with the poster who said small hospitals have their own set of politics involved. I much prefer large centers where I dont know most of the people except who I work directly with, and its easier to stay out of gossip. If you stay for a while like a year and a half, and decide to leave, would you only have to pay back half that cost? If so then I might consider it, but only if the amount I would owe goes down the closer to three years you get.

africanaloe · Dec 25, 2008

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,
Kevin

I'm not sure is s'one answered in my way but I was too lazy to go through 8 pages of opinions and/or advise.

From my own brother's experience and mine s'times its not so bad. He worked for a different company from mine and in the 1 yr he was with them he did some overtime in the process. The most important question is to ask if the contract is taking into consideration a 36 hr week.:)...makes a difference, if internship counts etc. My bro had a 2 yr contract but because he did some overtime in the process, he got credit for all the hours he worked extra and so he only had like 1k to pay back which they gladly took from his Paid Time off and gave him the rest of the check!

At my previous hospital, which was a different company they didn't do that run around.(4 months orientation, 7k if default,2 yrs commitment and a $2500 sign on) ...They would say it but never ran after you...basically you walked free with some newly gained RN experience ..lol..

So don't be scared- you will not be leaving for a new job anyways until you have at least 1 yr experience. Trust me the internship is so intense that the first 4 months esp if critical care its like your last semester in school..sorry. Its always nice FOR YOU to get some 1.5 experience at your first RN experience cuz when you leave employers(read hosp managers- Agency doesn't care) really don't equate the first 6 months as "valid" experience...

btw I noticed your's is 7 months..I'd say that's abit lengthy but I assume it could be a large teaching facility or trauma hosp etc. My friends who went to a longer internship were definetely experienced in many other little things that I had to learn along the way eg bedside dialysis(CVVH and CVVHD), balloon pump and all those other interesting things they make you learn!

pagandeva2000, LPN · Dec 25, 2008

Thanks for the slam on small towns. I used to live in a big city. I GUESS NOTHING LIKE THAT EVER HAPPENS IN THE BIG CITY CAUSE THEY'RE MORE SOPHISTICATED THAN US SMALL TOWN FOLKS.

Nope, gotta disagree with you there! Sue did NOT mean it the way you may be implying. I have known her long enough as well had enough personal chats with her to know that she was in no way disrespecting small towns.

pagandeva2000, LPN · Dec 25, 2008

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.

I would be concerned about this as well, which is why seeing an attorney is the way to go. They are saying this to you with the assumption that you actually do well on probation...well, what if you don't? What if, for example, that you are terminated because you didn't fit into their scheme of things socially (it happens...BELIEVE ME)? Have several horrible preceptors that set you up to fail... and you STILL owe them that much money??

ECKPowers · Dec 25, 2008

now that i see it's s small town, i can tell you precisely what the problem is, from bitter personal experience.

that is perhaps the most presumptious statements i have ever heard. since you can tell what the problem is from knowing very little, perhaps you should start giving tarot card readings to the president of usa! i am so glad you explained it all to us.

i moved to a very small town from nyc. became a nurse. went into a unit - ltc - on which everyone, from aides to the don, is related to one another. everyone in the facility is related to one another. and they were very mean to me, who was perceived as a big old snob city outsider.

that is so biased it's ridiculous. i have lived in kc and in a small town, and there are pro's and con's to both places. and as for the "big old snob city outsider", perhaps you acted like a snob and they didn't like you. many times when people complain of many other people treating them harsh, perhaps someone should step back and realize the crowd just might be right. there will always be clique's in almost every enviroment, but to blatantly suggest that small towns are the root of this problem shows ignorance.

they can't keep people because they are tormented right off of the unit.

i'm back in that facility, but not on the floor, and am doing fine. but my boss has advanced degrees and likes that i'm going on for the msn, and doesn't think that i want her job because i am interested in learning.

this is only my experience, but if you are moving to a small town you will have a terrible time making friends - yeah, it's safe and friendly, but you will be the outsider, you will have a hard time creating a social life, and you will have a hard time fitting in on the unit, which will be full of unspoken local traditions to which you are not privy.

that is ignorance, prejudice and generalizing. you are assuming that kevin will have a negative experience based on your own experience. how dare you insinuate that small towns will cause him to not be able to make friends, or have a social life.

it may seem to you as odd, but at least they told you before you were hired and were stuck in the situation. professional executives sign contracts that sometimes has a clause about having to compensate the company for the loss of money spent on training and so forth should the employee resign before the contract is completed. there is a reason that contracts exsist. to explain stipulations to both parties involved. if you do not find the stipulations to your liking you can easily turn down the job offer.

just because i have a bad experience with a waitress of applebee's doesn't mean that someone else will.

ymmv.

RNgonewild · Dec 25, 2008

Eh, I would tell them to bite me. They pay me I don't pay them!

FireStarterRN, BSN, RN · Dec 25, 2008

There are certain dynamics to small town living that are particular to small towns. They definately favor their own, I've noticed. Yes, I live in a (very, very) small town(pop. 938). Social structures are less fluid in small towns.

RN1982 · Dec 25, 2008

Wow, can people lay off Sue about her experience living in a small town. Gees, she's just telling her experience. Get off the cross. Some of the comments in regards to her post were rude. We should be able to share our experiences without fear that we will be criticized for it..

Kev, this is a big commitment. Think about it. They want you to give them 3 years of your life. You can't go anywhere unless you want to fork over the $8k. I would advise you not to sign the contract. I don't know how tight the market is in your area but I would look elsewhere before even considering this job.

krazykev · Dec 25, 2008

I agree that individuals need to lay off Sue because she is just sharing her experience. AND from how I have seen people treat Sue on this subject from sharing her experience is what does make me rethink about moving to a smaller town.

If you are thin skinned when someone makes a comment that may touch a nerve, then please do not reply.:argue:

shodobe · Dec 25, 2008

I live in a small town, pop 800, and absolutely love it. I just don't work in this small town. Why you ask? I wwork in the OR and they just don't run the dept the way I would like it to work. It seems no one wants to work very hard, especially anesthesia, and I like to work OT and such. This is the way they have been working for many years and it isn't my place to try to change things. I also have worked at the hospital I am at now for over 30 years, so it isn't in my best interest to move on. Kev, I know you have had so many opinions from about every corner of the nursing spectrum. Look at what's best for you and try to imagine where you want to be in 3,5 even 10 years from now.It is always nice to know you have options for most decisions. Good luck Mery Christmas