Residency program question

roser13, ASN, RN · Mar 21, 2016

Do not apply for a residency program that you do not intend to complete. You might deprive someone else of the opportunity, someone who is willing to complete/grateful for the course.

Plus, you might be required to sign a contract in order to participate in the residency program. A contract that is legally binding.

INN_777, BSN, RN · Mar 21, 2016

Residency programs are ran by hospitals to help new grads adjust to their jobs, to provide them with additional knowledge, a sounding board etc. But these programs are not something you have to complete in order to switch to another job. In other words, whether or not you completed the residency program will not matter to your new employer in CA. They will be interested in your experience, accomplishments, references etc.

roser13, ASN, RN · Mar 21, 2016

Residency programs are ran [sic] by hospitals to help new grads adjust to their jobs, to provide them with additional knowledge, a sounding board etc. But these programs are not something you have to complete in order to switch to another job. In other words, whether or not you completed the residency program will not matter to your new employer in CA. They will be interested in your experience, accomplishments, references etc.

You do not know this for certain and should not be offering advice. Some residency programs do indeed require a contract with a minimum service amount of years.

Double-Helix, BSN, RN · Mar 21, 2016

Do you HAVE to join the residency program if you get a position as a new graduate? I agree with other posters that leaving in the middle of a residency may create problems for you. Legally, you could be contractually obligated to stay for the two years (no contract can legally force you to stay, but there may be consequences such as financial repayment). Breaking such a contract or leaving without completing the residency may also make you ineligible for rehire, which would reflect badly on you when you provided this hospital as a reference.

If you really don't plan on completing the residency, I would look at other hospitals to get your 1 year of experience. If you do accept a position in the residency, consider staying for the full two years. Really, it's just one more year that could really benefit your career.

dishes, BSN, RN · Mar 21, 2016

I think you are overestimating how much control you have of the future. Hopefully, you will graduate from nursing school and become licensed, but you might not be hired by 'the most prestigious hospital in your area' and you might not move to California and find an employer willing to hire you. One year of nursing experience doesn't make you very marketable, it makes you an advanced beginner who is somewhat proficient clinically.

RBlis · Mar 21, 2016

I think you are overestimating how much control you have of the future. Hopefully, you will graduate from nursing school and become licensed, but you might not be hired by 'the most prestigious hospital in your area' and you might not move to California and find an employer willing to hire you. One year of nursing experience doesn't make you very marketable, it makes you an advanced beginner who is somewhat proficient clinically.

Well I don't see it as overestimating myself, I'm just a positive person and if something doesn't go my way then I work harder to change it. I have always been a person who plans and am excited for my future; therefore, I aim for the highest but also have backup plans at the same time. I thank you for your advice and opinion.

RBlis · Mar 21, 2016

Considering the comments I have received on this post I do not plan on applying for this residency program simply because it won't be the most ethical and best option. Thank you to everyone for their advice. It really is greatly appreciated.

Double-Helix, BSN, RN · Mar 21, 2016

I think you are overestimating how much control you have of the future. Hopefully, you will graduate from nursing school and become licensed, but you might not be hired by 'the most prestigious hospital in your area' and you might not move to California and find an employer willing to hire you. One year of nursing experience doesn't make you very marketable, it makes you an advanced beginner who is somewhat proficient clinically.

I don't think there is anything wrong with the OP planning ahead and asking questions. He/she didn't suggest they were only applying to this one hospital. It's not unrealistic or presumptuous to expect to pass the NCLEX or eventually get hired by a facility in CA. None of us can control what happens tomorrow, but that doesn't mean we don't set goals or make plans for what we want our future to look like.

JustBeachyNurse, LPN · Mar 21, 2016

Considering the comments I have received on this post I do not plan on applying for this residency program simply because it won't be the most ethical and best option. Thank you to everyone for their advice. It really is greatly appreciated.

It's also possible the program may change by the time you complete school. But it's better to inquire now to see what ramifications may be if your pretty sure you don't intend to honor the two year commitment. On the other hand a two year residency in a competitive specialty may be exactly what you are looking for when you graduate so don't count it out yet.

calivianya, BSN, RN · Mar 21, 2016

New grads do not get hired outside of residency programs in my area, so if you don't apply for one, you might have trouble finding a job. On the flip side, you might indeed have to sign a commitment if you sign up for one. There are pros and cons to both, but I would apply for the residency programs just because getting a job as a new grad is hard. You might be risking not being able to get any job at all if you don't apply for the residency programs.

I would ask around to see if the residency program you are looking at comes after you if you break the contract. I left mine after a year of employment and they never came after me for the money. I do have friends who were in other residency programs who did have to pay their contracts back.

Also - how much is having a job worth to you? Even if the hospital does make you pay your contract back, would it still be worth it to work there if it got you experience in your dream specialty and made you marketable to future employers? I would say it would be worth it, personally. I still would have done my residency program even if I'd had to pay them back because that experience opened so many doors for me in the specialty I wanted.

DowntheRiver · Mar 21, 2016

I don't know where you live in Florida, but I live in Central Florida. Most hospitals, at least, wants New Grads with less than a year of experience starting with a New Grad program. Heck, I have almost two years of experience and I was just offered a Residency program in a very prestigious ER because I don't have any experience in that area. I'm actually thankful because it is going to break everything down for me - didactic, simulations, and working shortened shifts - so I can transition into being an ER nurse. I really wouldn't balk at the two years. Two years will fly right by. I actually started a New Grad program but left after 6 months because I couldn't commute anymore. They wouldn't transfer me because it was less than a year, so now for five years I'm ineligible for re-hire. Life lesson - THINK before you make that decision. My nurse manager was sad when she told me I was "ineligible for rehire" because she understood my plight but that's company policy.