Protecting yourself from cancelled contracts

[livingkennedy]

This is mainly for my research into IC nursing.

Let's say you form a contract with a hospital - you move there, sign a short term lease on an apartment, work zero shifts or only a few and then they cancel the contract - how do you protect yourself from this financially? It seems that all the contracts I've read can be cancelled for any reason. Is this just a risk you have to live with? Many of the contracts require 30 days written notice - does that cover you for anything? It seems to me they can still cancel without paying anything (if you didn't work a shift) or very little of your supposed guaranteed hours.

It seems many hospitals might be hesitant to sign contracts that have anything that might protect you.

[NedRN]

It is up to you how vigorously to defend your contract. If you are terminated for cause, then no, there is nothing you can do. If you are terminated without a contractual reason, you can now sue for the balance of the contract. But legal action usually is not worth it from a financial perspective, it is only a poor way to get emotional resolution.

Terminations for any reason happen industry wide one out of ten assignments. Not a big deal over the long term. Most hospitals are honest in my experience and I've seen blatantly incompetent travelers survive a month or more because the hospital was worried about the contract.

I wouldn't take a risky assignment. But if you must, don't get a three month lease. Houseshare, extended stay, short term in hotel while you see how things go.