serious bad karma, and yet...

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I'm a new nurse with an ethical and practical problem. I was fortunate to be hired right out of school in exactly the job I wanted - on a specialty unit, with great support for new grads and a long orientation. In exchange, I signed a contract promising to stay 2 years, with financial penalties if I don't.

The work itself is great - reasonable management, humane working conditions, great coworkers, interesting patients. Amazing training for a new grad. I'm grateful to have it.

Here's problem #1: money. I make just over $20/hour, and it's not a particularly low-cost city; Houston TX is roughly comparable. I'm a second-career nurse, in my 40's, and my employer contributes nothing to my 401k (there is a pension, but 0% vested for 5 or 7 years I believe). Raises are minimal; I could expect to increase maybe $1/hr in the next couple years.

Of course, I knew the pay when I was hired. Somehow it didn't translate to the reality that my monthly net pay barely covers our rent after health insurance is deducted. I'm not able or willing to work a bunch of overtime or get a second job. This isn't a sustainable situation.

Problem #2: my whole family is elsewhere, in a city with a comparable cost of living and nursing salaries that are 30-50% higher.

I'm thinking about bailing at the end of my first year, when I'm no longer a "new grad." Part of me feels terrible about the idea - because I don't believe in blowing off commitments, because the unit managers have trained and treated me well, and because I think it's harmful to the job prospects of new grads coming behind me.

Part of me is awfully cynical about hospitals generally, and notices that (apart from managers and a handful of staff nurses) the most "senior" nurses in my department have been there for 1.5-3 years. There is a lot of turnover, which is probably why they require the payback. I could view my contract as business, more like a lease than a personal promise - if I leave early, I would of course pay back the required money.

At the root of things, no one knows how much time we have, and all things considered I'd rather spend mine close to family.

My questions are:

1) Has anyone considered a similar dilemma? What did/would you do?

2) Practically speaking, what are the implications? Are they likely to refuse to give me references or actively torpedo my job applications? (I would, of course, acknowledge to any prospective employer up front that I left my contract early).

Doesn't feel right to take all the training and walk away a few months later. But then, it doesn't feel great to be broke and far from home either.

Thanks for reading and considering.

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If the only complaint you have about the job is low pay for a new grad, I would consider staying the two years. A new grad with a job in desirable specialty with good training and support might be worth the investment of time, even if the pay is not what you hoped.

Perhaps as a second career nurse you are used to earning more money in your previous job and are dealing with the stress of living on less? From my own family experience of having the family income drop by half, it takes about a year to adjust to living on barely enough money.

In a couple of years you will be in a better position to negotiate for a better salary in a good job.

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Specializes in Peds critical care.

Nursing salaries that are 30-50% higher for new grad nurses? That seems unrealistic.

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You say you owe a payback if you leave. did they give you a bonus when you came on board?

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Specializes in Critical Care, Education.

If you breach the terms of an employment contract, you will be categorized as "not eligible for re-hire" by that organization. Althoug you will be able to pay back the financial penalty, that categorization will stay on your employment history forevermore.

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Forget about earning 30-50% more than you are now; upon explanation that you signed a 2-year committment but bailed out at 1 sends a huge red flag waving in the face of a prospective employer. It says "this person used the last facility for the short-term, had them invest in her education, and then she jumped ship. How long's she gonna last here, and what are we going to lose on her?"

You knew the deal going in, and you signed the line at the bottom. No surprises. No switches. Just after-the-fact regrets. You should live up to your contracted agreement, and THEN you might be employable elsewhere, wherever you plan to live.

Before that time, you look like too high a risk to be bothered with, since there will be many applicants for whatever job you seek.

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Specializes in Peds/Neo CCT,Flight, ER, Hem/Onc.

"My questions are:

1) Has anyone considered a similar dilemma? What did/would you do?

2) Practically speaking, what are the implications? Are they likely to refuse to give me references or actively torpedo my job applications? (I would, of course, acknowledge to any prospective employer up front that I left my contract early).

Doesn't feel right to take all the training and walk away a few months later. But then, it doesn't feel great to be broke and far from home either"

You sound like a person with a lot of integrity. I think you know in your heart what the right thing to do is. I'm pretty sure you will get quite a few responses that say "Do what's best for you" "They won't be loyal to you so you don't need to be loyal to them" "You need to follow your dream" But here's the thing, the reason hospitals are resorting to contracts is because so many new grads have started taking whatever job is available and then bailing immediately or shortly after orientation is over for something "better". It sounds like you are in a supportive environment that will help you progress from new grad to competent and comfortable nurse. This is priceless. There are hundreds of threads from new grads complaining that they can't find a job or their work environment is insufferable. The money thing is going to be difficult but not insurmountable. It will require sacrifice and work that isn't fun but is only for a short time. The full two years will pass before you know it and you will have excellent experience and your integrity to show for it.

And as another poster said leaving without fulfilling your contract will not look good on your resume for this hospital or any other and likely will be an enormous roadblock to finding another job. The nursing world is much smaller than people seem to think. It could very likely torpedo your career.

Best of luck to you.

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Specializes in Pediatric/Adolescent, Med-Surg.
If you breach the terms of an employment contract, you will be categorized as "not eligible for re-hire" by that organization. Althoug you will be able to pay back the financial penalty, that categorization will stay on your employment history forevermore.

This is not necessarily true. I was a newish nurse when I broke my 4 year contract at my first job. My employer has always made it clear that I am eligible for rehire at any point. If you do choose to leave, just try to leave on good terms so you can be rehired if necessary

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If you breach the terms of an employment contract, you will be categorized as "not eligible for re-hire" by that organization. Althoug you will be able to pay back the financial penalty, that categorization will stay on your employment history forevermore.

This is the reason I would not do it. Even the subtle blacklisting by faint praise, tone of voice, etc., approach is worth avoiding at all costs, especially for a new grad on their first job. Don't sabotage the beginning of your career when you admit there are advantages to your new job. Hang in there for two or three years to get the maximum benefit, then leave on good terms.

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This is not necessarily true. I was a newish nurse when I broke my 4 year contract at my first job. My employer has always made it clear that I am eligible for rehire at any point. If you do choose to leave, just try to leave on good terms so you can be rehired if necessary

Your situation is highly unusual; typically, it's extremely difficult to leave a job "on good terms" when you are breaking a contract to do so.

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Specializes in retired LTC.

Comments by PPs make salient points. Other than your wanting to relocate to be with family I don't see any benefits. I will concede that FAMILY is truly, truly important for many, so I can't fault you for that desire to reconnect. I understand well that family draw.

But unless you already have an another position confirmed, there is NO GUARANTEE that you will find another one that will come anywhere close to the one you currently have, as you describe it. Today's job market is a killer with oversaturation of nurses. And even if you do secure another position, I doubt that you will find anything better than what you have now. After reading about so many others here on AN, a new job could well be worse.

You are an RN with only one year experience. There are many other nurses out there with a lot more experience competing against you for the same few available positions. And there is the new graduate pool to draw from. I doubt you'll be commanding any great salary, contrary to what you're thinking. Other benes are prob still minimally scarce. Such is the state of the healthcare industry.

Also, ageism exists in our industry. It's hard to prove, but it is a reality. I have felt it and so have others here on AM. So that may also work against you.

You could well be facing more difficulties (financial and job-wise) than you have now.

You know, there's a couple of current posts right now from teachers that are seeking advice re making the switch to nsg. You speak from first-hand experience re some of the caveats that respondents have offered.

Good luck with your decision.

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For the record, I did NOT get any money toward my education, or any kind of up-front payment, from my current employer. They require all new grads to sign this contract (probably because, as someone pointed out, a bunch of new grads took the training and bailed out). Of course they invested in training me, as any hospital spends a lot of money to train new grads.

As another clarification, it's NOT an employment contract in the strict labor-law sense. I am still employed "at-will," without a guarantee, and can be terminated for no stated reason, or for any reason apart from illegal job discrimination, at any time. The agreement is very clear about that.

The 30-50% higher pay is just the reality in the other job market. Newish nurses here start at $20/hr; nursing salaries there start around $28-$30. It's not that I would command a higher premium or get hired to a better part of the salary range - the pay scales are simply different because the job markets are different. My state is one of the lowest-paying for nurses.

I don't like the idea of bailing on a contract. But, not sure I'm willing to spend another year or two only seeing my family every few months, unless it's absolutely necessary. That's the crux of it. I think that as I get older I care less about being a good employee and more about being a good family member, though of course they're not mutually exclusive.

Anyway, thanks for the comments.

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