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Discussion

To break the contract or not....that is the question

Funny how six months can change your whole life. When I graduated in May this past year (2011), I thought all my dreams had came true. A 21 year old (now 22) single mother getting my BSN was just unbelieveable to me and also the fact that I had job offers lined up left and right.

I chose a large magnet hospital despite the fact that it was the only one to require a contract (18 months). Now six months later I'm tired of the hour long commute and understand now that 12 hours shifts can turn into 13 and 14 hour shifs in a heartbeat.

I work on one of the busiest floors in the hospital, our slogan is "if you can work here, you can work anywhere" which is very true. Unfortunately for me, although a very good experience, the commute and the 12 hours are not working out family wise.

I've tried everything, switched to day shift from night shift. Unfortunately that's when I started not leaving until 830 or 9pm at night because of all the extra things on dayshift (doing our own discharges, doctors continously writing orders, no time to chart) and not getting home til 10 to 11pm at night. I am truly a single mother, no help from my son's father AT ALL.

My mother helps me out a lot but I thought when I got my degree and became a nurse, I wouldn't have to depend on her as much.

Boy was I wrong!!!! Because I have to wake up so early my son spends the night at my mothers house because my daycare doesn't open until 6 and I leave at 520am to get to work on time. I'm really trying to fufill my contract which will be up in January 2013 and I also want to work out my full year at my current job as well (June 2012). But its easier said than done, I'm spending $400 to $500 in gas each month, driving a total of 120 miles each day I drive to work (360 a week).

I've put in applications and I actually have an interview with a hospital in Augusta which is a friendlier place to live but unfortunately if I quit my job and I would be forced to pay out the contract and Augusta is another hour long commute. I've thought about applying to a hospital which is 25 miles away that had offered me a position before I graduated.

If I could get a job here, dayshift then I wouldn't have to depend on my mother as much especially during the week because I could leave my house at 6 and still make it to the job at 6:45 and home in enough time to pick up my son. My only problem is getting the money together to pay the hospital I am currently in back ($2,000). They have hired a lot of new grads and overtime is scarce. I've picked up some extra days but keep getting canceled due to low census or enough staff. That's another reason I would like to leave that hospital.

What should I do???

Sorry for the long post.

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    i think you should fulfill your contract where you are. is it possible that you could move closer to your work and find a daycare for your child near there as well? your rent might be higher, but you'd save in gas money and commuting time. does the hospital have a day care for employees? can your child's father help you out. (i understand that he hasn't been, but could he if you took him to court and forced the issue?)

    you're in an excellent place to learn a lot and after you've worked there for a year and a half, you will be able to easily find another job and keep up with the pace. but leaving so soon looks bad on your resume and means you're not going to learn as much as well.

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    im not a nurse or a mom just yet, but i understand wanting to spend more time at home. I wouldn't leave your contract job for another job with the same commute time(Augusta). If you were to leave your contract job, i would leave it for something closer. It is your choice overall, you have to do what is best for your family! good luck!

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    hi, i was in the same position as you and probably the same hospital. I did 9 months of my 18 months and i had to resign. when i asked the manager about paying the money back she said i can send a check to her. I have not recieved anything in paper asking me too pay. I did email her asking for something in writting. I do think they can work something out with you if they really want you to pay. I really will not worry about it as of yet. If you can find a job thats convenient for you then you can pay them off at your pace. Sorry you have to go through this. it was a tough decision for me but being a single mum too, i had to do whats best for my child and i.

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    Your son ,and your time with him.. is The most important issue here.

    Take the job (its ONLY a job).. that works out best for YOU.

    Consult a lawyer regarding the B.S. contract they made you sign.

    Good luck.

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    And now you know why new grads have such a hard times getting hospitals to take a chance on them.Did you not anticipate these issues, length of commute, and the extra time to get used to a new career???? These are reasonable things to consider when picking a job.You have to do what you need to do. But remember this when new grads complain that no one wants to take a chance on them.

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    I agree with the epithets others have voiced. You knew it was going to be a long commute when you went in. This hospital took a gamble on you so you shouldn't just toss them aside, but on the other hand they wouldn't think twice about getting rid of you.

    I stayed at my job that had a 2hr+ each way commute for more than a year because of the contract and feeling obligated to them and there were a whole bunch of other problems besides that going on and I still stuck through it. I regret it.

    Does your hospital actually enforce the contract? Most don't or they will just take it from your last paycheck. Pay out if you get another job but don't do anything before you get another offer in writing.

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    I know that a nurse I work with had a retention hiring bonus and when she quit she had it all ready to pay back, VA hospital BTW, and they said they could not take her money, the contract was unenforceable...So I agree with seeking legal advice regarding the contract. Regarding the job, I would look at the pros and cons, make a list, and your choice will be right in front of you. Good luck.

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    Your main complaint seems to be the commute, which is the one factor you COULD anticipate when taking the position. Therefore it being an issue now is a little baffling. Nobody would expect you to love it, but what did you tell yourself about it when accepting this position? You won't get less "bleed over" in terms of shift time in most other places; this is pretty common until you get better time management as a new RN. And even considering a different position with a similar length commute makes me scratch my head. What good would that do you?? Chances are you will switch hospitals, still have a lot of staying past your scheduled shift and still have a long commute. Even with the closer hospital, until you get more experience you are probably going to be there past your shift time.

    Frankly it just sounds like your honeymoon is over and you are wondering if the grass is greener elsewhere because you had so many offers. Everywhere you work is going to have issues that make you less than thrilled some days. My honest advice is to stop wondering, put your head down, fulfill your contract and THEN start looking at other options. It sounds like you are in a workable situation to me. Not ideal, but nothing ever is and the commute was a conscious decision you made. You can't claim "I didn't know it would be like THIS!"....distance is distance. Whatever you told yourself before taking this job is what you need to be repeating to yourself now. Your time management will improve as you get more experience, your shifts will get closer to ending on time and the time you spend at this hospital will go by one way or another. This isn't so much about doing right by the facility as it is having the maturity to realize you are going to struggle with these exact same issues no matter where you go. Even a short commute is a long one during rush hour.

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    I agree with the others. You knew when you accepted the job that commute would be an issue. We all know how long it takes to get to and from work. I would stick it out for at least the year, otherwise you look like a job hopper to prospective employers.

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    Sorry you're in such a "sucky" predictament. Like some have said, I would definitely finish out the remainder of the contract. I don't want to say it'll get better later, because it probably won't. Not that age has to do with anything, but being so young and having to deal with your current situation will definitely test your maturity. Don't burn your bridges. Good luck to you!!!

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    • Author

    Still torn but I've decided to stick it out at least until next January, yes the commute was equated when I listed pros and Cons of the job but being a new grad not knowing any better I thought magnet status and the fact that it was a big hospital would give me a great experience. Although I've learned a lot the stress has been overwhelming to say the least. And the contract was put into place because the hospital has such a HUGE turnover and new grads are virtually their only source since they've lowered their pay for experienced nurses. Believe you me if they could stop taking new grads, they would. In fact they are extending the contract to 2 years for new nurses coming in this year. Some floors enforce the contract, others do not. My friend left before her probationary period was over and is now making payments to the hospital for the contract repayment. I do feel I should carry my obligation through and I plan to but to say I should've known better is kind of harsh when I see hundreds of posts everyday of ppl wanting to quit nursing. Yea nursing school is tough but it doesn't prepare you for the older nurses trying to bully the new nurses, or the management team who offers no support. Yea it'd be bad to leave this job but as someone said earlier, they would have no qualms about letting my ass go if it came down to it. I love nursing, the non political part that involves actually helping the patients and have already signed up for a FNP program, Lord willing I can get in and leave bedside nursing behind in the next 2 to 3 years

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    Hey there, I was in a very similar situation....graduated May 2010, was ecstatic, got a job at a large hospital an hour from my house in their 6 month residency program, no contract but a verbal "I am committed" kind of a thing. And, the truth is I was committed at that time. I finished the residency, and started working nights on my home unit. One month later I was looking for another job. The 12 hr. shifts were 15 hr. w/the drive and the 30 min. before and after for report. I was exhausted, a walking zombie, and dreaded going to work. I have two girls at home and I literally would go days w/o spending time w/them. I decided enough of this crap and spent 3 week submitting apps, I got one call-back and did one interview and I luckily got that job. It was 25 min. from my house doing home health/hospice. I'm still there and really like it. I say absolutely find something else if this situation isn't working. But, don't take a diff. job an hour away, go for the hosp. close to home, an hour is too far and too much money in gas. I know it's a very hard decision, I wish you the best of luck :)

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