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.
