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.
Is this something that should be taken up by the ANA and the SNA's?
YES, but they will not. Those that know me, know I so dislike the ANA despite being a board member at the local level for years. I believed we have a purpose and were representing the RN. . Being involved in the ANA and SNA I found that there is no one willing to really create a better life for nurses. Now their biggest money maker is the certification exams and they use all their PR people and money to create an atmosphere that certification is the end-all.
Did the ANA come out about the lack of PPE? No, except for some CEU webinars. While I saw an NP speak to Trump in the Oval Office, I don't know if she was representing the ANA , but she quickly backed down when Trump denied her reality.
I have attended state conventions of the SNA that were so poorly run that the organizers did not know when a speaker did not show up! I sat in a room for 15 minutes, went to the conference desk and the representative said " go to a different presentation La DE La"
The ANA is worthless in representing the rank and file (those of us who pay dues). They really do not have your back at all.
3 minutes ago, feelix said:
however, are mostly social clubs that provide you a few CEUs on the side
YES, but they will not. Those that know me, know I so dislike the ANA despite being a board member at the local level for years. I believed we have a purpose and were representing the RN. . Being involved in the ANA and SNA I found that there is no one willing to really create a better life for nurses. Now their biggest money maker is the certification exams and they use all their PR people and money to create an atmosphere that certification is the end-all.
Did the ANA come out about the lack of PPE? No, except for some CEU webinars. While I saw an NP speak to Trump in the Oval Office, I don't know if she was representing the ANA , but she quickly backed down when Trump denied her reality.
I have attended state conventions of the SNA that were so poorly run that the organizers did not know when a speaker did not show up! I sat in a room for 15 minutes, went to the conference desk and the representative said " go to a different presentation La DE La"
The ANA is worthless in representing the rank and file (those of us who pay dues). They really do not have your back at all.
we were writing the same thing!
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. Every institution you work for employs lawyers to represent their interests.
These organizations, however, are mostly social clubs that provide you a few CEUs on the side.
My concern was related to the nursing organization, ANA as a whole. An organization that represents nurses for over 100 years, is not representing us as I feel and wrote about. This is not a hospital, rather it is an organization that was founded to help RN nurses, Should (we non ANA members) attain a lawyer to sue our professional organization?
I
17 minutes ago, Curious1997 said:
Every institution you work for employs lawyers to represent their interests.
This is not an institutional problem.......Would you IM me where you went to school?
My concern was related to the nursing organization, ANA as a whole. An organization that represents nurses for over 100 years, is not representing us as I feel and wrote about. This is not a hospital, rather it is an organization that was founded to help RN nurses, Should (we non ANA members) attain a lawyer to sue our professional organization?
I
This is not an institutional problem.......Would you IM me where you went to school?
I don't engage with angry people who don't seem to understand that you have a choice in what you read or consume.
Do you judge appearances before you engage anyone? If you don't like what I have to say, you have a choice unless your internal turmoil prevents you from doing so.
Why would you possibly ask such an innane question? I haven't the slightest interest in knowing anything about you.
If anyone here is not social media savvy, there is such a thing as ghost reviews in this world of social media marketing. Which means people not entirely neutral flood the review section with tailored responses drafted by the seller, in order to influence future buyers.
Online clearinghouses like Amazon are growing wise to such employer sponsored reviews and so should Allnurses.
If anyone here is not social media savvy, there is such a thing as ghost reviews in this world of social media marketing. Which means people not entirely neutral flood the review section with tailored responses drafted by the seller, in order to influence future buyers.
Online clearinghouses like Amazon are growing wise to such employer sponsored reviews and so should Allnurses.
Overall, I don’t think 99% of these contracts should exist. However, I have a hard time using the term predatory as well. It’s a legally binding contract. What needs to be done is nursing schools and mentors should be educating these new grads about said contracts prior to them graduating so they are more fully aware of the risks.
Ever heard of predatory loans that crashed the market in 2008? Those were legal too.
The relevance is, Allnurses should start investigating if suddenly there is a flood of posts out to support a certain employers actions. They should look into the authenticity of those posts, as to whether those are independent views, or a corporation trying to cover their residue.
The relevance is, Allnurses should start investigating if suddenly there is a flood of posts out to support a certain employers actions. They should look into the authenticity of those posts, as to whether those are independent views, or a corporation trying to cover their residue.
Do you have any examples? I'm sort of sure that most of the nurses here are with the new grads. After all we could be in similar situations later. The way things are going, it's only a matter of time before we are all going to be stiffed somehow? Arbitration for everything except they will pay for the arbitrators and we know who the final judgement will favor.
In a pandemic, employers were playing hard ball with us even with increased scrutiny from the media. You don't think this will embolden them?
The best part about it is that hopefully those idiotic Drs will also realize that they are in the same boat and were equally used without representation. They always seem to think that they are above us and are held to different standards. Maybe now they can understand that we collectively make a better team because it will always be management against everyone else!
They have different remits from ours with different processes and we are viewed as minions to be exploited!
The ANA is worthless in representing the rank and file (those of us who pay dues). They really do not have your back at all.
I agree. I remember the ANA came out against mandatory safe staffing ratios in MA, combined with the lobbying from the hospitals the measure failed. I would like to see the National Nurses United take over across the country and replace the ANA entirely! Then nurses would finally be better off and have a true voice in patient care, not being patted on the head with the faux shared governance model and Magnet Status. Every time you bring something up, oh no it costs too much, cant afford it BS. Magnet status is just the ANA's money maker to certify and recertify. Not a fan!
They assigned me to a nurse with no formal preceptorship training, paid that person 7% additional per hour (like... an extra $3-5/hr ish) and they sat at the nurses station shopping on Amazon and told me to find them if I had any questions. And this was the ER!
We did the math, for the 12 weeks, 36 shifts for 12 hours it was about $1500 cost to the hospital. So where did they get that high number they felt their training was worth?
That's the amount they expensed out showing they spent on you. You were a tax deduction.
londonflo
3,002 Posts
YES, but they will not. Those that know me, know I so dislike the ANA despite being a board member at the local level for years. I believed we have a purpose and were representing the RN. . Being involved in the ANA and SNA I found that there is no one willing to really create a better life for nurses. Now their biggest money maker is the certification exams and they use all their PR people and money to create an atmosphere that certification is the end-all.
Did the ANA come out about the lack of PPE? No, except for some CEU webinars. While I saw an NP speak to Trump in the Oval Office, I don't know if she was representing the ANA , but she quickly backed down when Trump denied her reality.
I have attended state conventions of the SNA that were so poorly run that the organizers did not know when a speaker did not show up! I sat in a room for 15 minutes, went to the conference desk and the representative said " go to a different presentation La DE La"
The ANA is worthless in representing the rank and file (those of us who pay dues). They really do not have your back at all.
we were writing the same thing!