Signing new grad contract?

[kurlykay]

I recently passed my NCLEX RN and was hired on a telemetry floor. Yesterday, I got a packet in the mail and the hospital wants me to sign a new grad contract that I will pay back my new grad orientation fees ($11,000 for 12 weeks) if I quit or I'm fired within 18 months. Is this something that most new grads have to do? I'm a little worried about being locked into a job if something doesn't work out. What have you other new grads experienced with contracts and getting your first RN job?

[ADNCyn]

Did I mention RUN!!! okay, now it's said.

[Altra, BSN, RN]

RUN!!! nuf said.

Yep -- couldn't agree more ...

Yes, it is expensive for employers to train new employees - that's why hiring decisions should be made carefully. And I have no problem with signing bonuses being paid out in increments over 2-3 years, to avoid having people job-hop just for the bonuses. But the situation that's being described here ... well, that just outrageous! To answer your question, no, this is NOT typical.

I'll have to run this one by an HR manager I know ... it should be good for a chuckle :chuckle

There will be other opportunities. Good luck to you. :)

[wonderbee, BSN, RN]

Excuse yourself and run for the fire exit! It almost sounds like setting yourself up for indentured servitude.

[RNBSN1]

Excuse yourself and run for the fire exit! It almost sounds like setting yourself up for indentured servitude.

I couldn't have stated it better.

[Nurse Ratched, RN]

Amazing. I can't believe they actually get people to sign these contracts. This must be an incredible hole to work in if they have to resort to this.

[Silicone]

Danger, danger - RUN. Run away!!

I'd be sorely tempted to call and tell them you're not going to

be able to start work until your lawyer has time to look over the

contract and advise you. Don't bother with actually getting a

lawyer though, just immediately start looking for another job.

Samantha

[ManEnough]

I definately smell fish too! Perhaps many of their new grads were ditching their jobs and this policy was enacted for a reason? I guaratnee my employer has spent well over $11,000 training me and I was told at my interview "we like our new grads to stay at least 18 months." Fair enough. But nothing was signed, nor should it be!

[sjt9721, BSN, RN]

I'd like to know the name of the hospital.....................

[ratchit]

To quote some wise people who beat me to it- RUN.

Look at it this way- if you presented the hospital with a contract that said if they don't honor the verbal agreement they made with you about scheduling they will have to pay you $11K, would they sign it? No. And that is an agreement they KNEW about. Why should you sign a contract that was never discussed with you?

Look over any paperwork that you received and signed, especially your job offer letter. See if it is mentioned anywhere. They can't spring this on you after the fact and expect you to accept it. I would be tempted to say to them "Do you want people stupid enough to sign this caring for patients at this hospital?"

I wrote a paper in nursing school- OMG was it 10 years ago?- and remember that the cost of orienting a new nurse then was $10K. I'm surprised they only expect to invest $11K now. The other point I remember from that paper was that new grads on average only stay in their first job for 9 months. I can see why they are looking to keep staff longer, but this is ridiculous.

If they are trying to force you to stay in a job for 18 months under threat of repaying $11K, you probably don't want to work there. I would refuse to sign it and see if they force the issue.

[Silicone]

I wonder what's so horrible about the place that they can't

keep people onboard after orientation is over - do they

treat their employees so badly that they run at the first

opportunity?

The hospital doesn't even have any confidence in their ability

to keep employees. It doesn't sound like they are interested

in finding out why people leave and figuring out what to change

to keep them. Instead of deciding to reward people for staying

on with the hospital (retention bonus, better hours, pay

incentives, etc), they decided to punish people for leaving.

That *alone* speaks volumes.

Samantha

[Hellllllo Nurse, BSN, RN]

An orientation fee? $11.000.?

If a facility is a good place to work they do not have to pull tricks like this to keep employees. Obviously, this facility has to set traps to keep employees. Anyone who would sign something like that (especially after not being told about it beforehand) is a fool.

[jeepgirl, LPN, NP]

i can understand if you took a bonus that you'd have to be prorated back. but they are saying that if she quits she'll have to payback her orientation wages and what it cost to train her?

how the heck does that make sense?

i have NEVER heard of such a thing, and i would never sign anything that said that!