Hey, y'all! I am compiling stories from folks who have broken predatory new graduate contracts, and have faced financial and career consequences as a result (I'm looking at you, HCA). The hospitals have held all the power in these dealings, and it's time we receive justice. Many of us have struggled and worked hard to provide excellent care for our patients under dire staffing and resources, only to receive backlash when we decide it's time to leave these unsafe conditions. I want to help tell our stories and prevent this disgusting practice to end. Here is my story:
I recently left a position at an HCA facility before my new grad contract was up (I had completed 3/4 of the two years), and I now owe them thousands of dollars. The unit I worked on was chronically understaffed, overworked, and underpaid. I continued to work hard and try to boost morale despite the daily strife. I volunteered to work in the COVID units back in April 2020 when little was known about the disease, and how to protect ourselves from it. Then my home unit was also turned into a PCU COVID unit, where I spent many of my shifts until I left in December 2020. My mental health had been deteriorating as a result of the stress and exhaustion. I had many conversations with my manager about the unacceptable conditions, and how it was affecting my mental health. No attempts were made to remedy the unit's situation. I told my manager I was accepting another position to take better care of myself. I am now being harassed by their collections agency, Benefit Recovery Group, to pay up the money I owe for the "Residency Program," (aka a three month orientation similar to what an experienced nurse would receive if they were changing unit specialties).
I don't believe I should be penalized for leaving unsafe working conditions after I had made multiple reports. I also cited my health as a reason for leaving, and it's only ironic that a hospital would come after an employee for prioritizing their health. Attempts at contacting HR and my previous manager have been futile. I am now frustrated, angry, and hungry for justice for myself and others who have been wronged by hospitals.
Please message me if you want to share your story. I will respect your need for anonymity if that is what your wish. Thank you for your time.
Which is why I have frequently said that nurses need to pay a retainer to a lawyer who actually will have their backs, which will be necessary at some point.
No, the organization will fire the nurse... They are disposable. Think about when the industrial revolution happened. The toilers, er workers, had their backs broken for so little wages.They were disposable. The same happens today in countries that make "our fast fashions". No, Curious, what you don't know is employers always have the upper hand against the lawyers who represent the employes (sorry! but there is always a learning curve). For clarification: read about the 'Radium Girls". They were disposable.
love the idea of getting local news interested! Perfect! Give them a black eye and a warning for future nurses! There is an article in the Dallas Morning News about a hospital there, Parkland, that has gone after almost two dozen nurses that quit early or even if they were fired!
the pen is mightier than the sword. (Edward Bulwer-Lytton in 1839) We need those that suggest meaningful actions instead of
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If someone expressed a desire to leave especially in our line of business and has submitted something in writing, or can prove a verbal expression, just knowing of the possible outcomes from a disgruntled employee and the potential lawsuit, should make any employer think thrice!
No, the organization will fire the nurse... They are disposable. Think about when the industrial revolution happened. The toilers, er workers, had their backs broken for so little wages.They were disposable. The same happens today in countries that make "our fast fashions". No, Curious, what you don't know is employers always have the upper hand against the lawyers who represent the employes (sorry! but there is always a learning curve). For clarification: read about the 'Radium Girls". They were disposable.
Neither the industrial revolution or the radium girls are relevant here. Different time period.
Hospital uses lawyers to protect their interests, so why shouldn't nurses? They used contract lawyers to draft their agreements to indenture their nurses. If a nurse is unhappy later on with that arrangement and the hospital still wants to keep her under duress instead of making an alternative arrangement to recoup their investment, knowing full well that they usually overwork contracted nurses because they can, then that nurse needs to protect themselves.
The reason so many people end up working for others is because it's less risky than venturing out independently. It takes a certain mindset. Hospitals know this and they rely upon this less risky mindset to keep their staff through threats and intimidation eg a contract. Except this is a profession that should never employ those methods because of the potential for disaster. A lawyer can point that out in a much more convincing way to allow release from the contract. Slavery isn't permitted. There are always release clauses and arrangements.
Specializes in Pediatrics, Pediatric Float, PICU, NICU.
5 minutes ago, Curious1997 said:
Isn't it, if you can't extricate yourself from it?
No. And you can extricate yourself from it, there is just a financial consequence to it.
Again I’m against these new grad contracts. But to say it’s like slavery of all things, no.
No. And you can extricate yourself from it, there is just a financial consequence to it.
Again I’m against these new grad contracts. But to say it’s like slavery of all things, no.
I think you are reacting to the emotional impact of the word instead of the broader contextual implications. Also, slavery didn't just occur in America. It's happened in many different guises over the years in every country in the world. Romans were the worst slavery exponents.
Anytime you force anyone to do your will without their consent for example when these new grads found out the hours they have to work or the lack of choices etc, that constitutes slavery. I don't just attribute that word to the general implications here.
Instead of hospitals facilitating other measures to appease the grads like counseling or satisfying their grievances to ensure some satisfactory medium for both, they almost always resort to heavy handed tactics.
Supposedly the nurses organizations would adequately represent their patrons but politics and greed even in so called unions who actually have to represent all of their members instead of just your situation. That is why you need an advocate just for yourself!
No. And you can extricate yourself from it, there is just a financial consequence to it.
Again I’m against these new grad contracts. But to say it’s like slavery of all things, no.
No, the organization will fire the nurse... They are disposable. Think about when the industrial revolution happened. The toilers, er workers, had their backs broken for so little wages.They were disposable. The same happens today in countries that make "our fast fashions". No, Curious, what you don't know is employers always have the upper hand against the lawyers who represent the employes (sorry! but there is always a learning curve). For clarification: read about the 'Radium Girls". They were disposable.
Yes I had read about the Radium Girls recently and there is an article on Buzzfeed by Kate Moore, The Light That Does Not Lie.
·Posted on May 5, 2017
The Forgotten Story Of The Radium Girls, Whose Deaths Saved Thousands Of Workers' Lives
I was not able to link it here, but you can Google it. A terribly sad true story of how these women's lives were put in jeopardy and they were literally treated as disposable.
I would suggest that people have choices! Contract or no contract.
If someone expressed a desire to leave especially in our line of business and has submitted something in writing, or can prove a verbal expression, just knowing of the possible outcomes from a disgruntled employee and the potential lawsuit, should make any employer think thrice!
Any good lawyer would immediately question the assessment ability of the employer to hire an employee especially a new grad, if an incident occured. Me, I don't like to lose and I would skewer an employer in so many ways and I am not even a lawyer just knowledgeable about some things re the law.
You would also question why did you need a contract in the first place, what about the job required indentured servitude.
I would also question why not release the employee and seek restitution by garnishment of future wages instead of opening Pandora's Box?
There are too many horrendous outcomes for any employer to hold an employee in our line of business. You are opening yourself up to lawsuits from the employee and the victim to the victims family.
And MOST IMPORTANTLY you may not be aware of this, but there are so many regulatory bodies involved in health care, that a single incident could involve not just the hospital, but numerous individuals involved from the hiring process to the preceptor and the charge nurse. I would peel management like an onion! And all would be liable to civil suits, if handled by the right lawyer! Especially the licensed ones!
My father is a lawyer and he has an aphorism that allows him to win almost all of his cases 'if it ain't broke don't fix it'!
Lawyers are trained to think within the confines of the law. He uses that against them often. They are predictable! In corporate law which is his specialty, contracts come up often. Lawyers are generally confident in their interpretations because of precedent and statutes. This places them in a bubble. You can bet those lawyers who wrote those contracts didn't stray from the letter of the law!
People are emotional and erratic! They don't follow the letter of emotions or the statutes of predictable behaviors!
How do you contract that?
Wow! You seem to be headed towards a class action.
londonflo
3,002 Posts
No, the organization will fire the nurse... They are disposable. Think about when the industrial revolution happened. The toilers, er workers, had their backs broken for so little wages.They were disposable. The same happens today in countries that make "our fast fashions". No, Curious, what you don't know is employers always have the upper hand against the lawyers who represent the employes (sorry! but there is always a learning curve). For clarification: read about the 'Radium Girls". They were disposable.