Should I quit my residency at 5 months?

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Dear Nurse Beth,

Should I quit my nursing residency program if its taking a toll on my physical and mental health? Going 5 months into this job I ended up having depression, back injury and IBS issues. It has really affected my job performance and everyday life but I try to downplay whats going on because I would have to pay the hospital back for the relocation bonus if I were to leave before 2 years, do they usually give nurses a certain period of time to pay the fees back? And will I have a shot or chance at applying at a family clinic with only 4 months of experience working in a stepdown unit

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4 Answers

Specializes in Tele, ICU, Staff Development.

I quit my nurse residency now they ar trying to say I owe them 3k.. should I fight this?

Review your employment contract, specifically the terms of any repayment requirements. Hospitals typically have policies that require repayment if you leave before a specified period. This period can vary but is often around 1-2 years.

Some hospitals go after nurses for repayment, some say they will and do not, and some do both without consistent reasoning. It sounds like your hospital is going to pursue payment.

Talk with the HR representative to discuss your concerns and reasons for leaving the residency program. There may be room for negotiation, a compromise, or making payment arrangements.

If you are uncertain about your legal obligations or feel the charges are unjust, consider seeking legal advice from an employment lawyer. They can review the details of your situation and provide guidance based on employment laws in your jurisdiction.

Then, you can decide if it's worth pursuing legal action. Remember that legal action can be expensive and emotionally draining, which could affect your health.

Best wishes.

No job is worth risking losing your license. Residency is not for everyone. No money is worth mental breakdowns, health issues, being overloaded, high acuity, concerns falling on deaf ears, no tech help, managers hide in offices with doors closed. You will find another job. It sounds like the company didn't meet their end of the deal, but of course want their money back. Sign of the times. 

When I say losing your license, it's your license in jeopardy - someone can throw you under the bus when you had good intentions, you may have not got to assess  with a patient because you were dealing with a code, ESI 1, etc.  

Your hard earned license is so much more important in the long run. You may go unemployed, but you still have your license. 

I quit my nurse residency now they ar trying to say I owe them 3k.. should I fight this?

justannurse said:

I quit my nurse residency now they ar trying to say I owe them 3k.. should I fight this?

You can try, but if you blindly signed a contract, you might have someone contacting you soon. If it's a big company, most likely they're prepared legally to get their money back. If you have documentation, maybe try filing a complaint, and go through the steps. But if the case goes to a third party, it might be harder to deal with. They're there just to collect money. 

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