Unpaid new grad RN residency

jadelpn, LPN, EMT-B · Dec 7, 2015

Unpaid? What is in it for you?

What are the parameters on which they will base their hiring at the end of the 12 weeks?

Are you in an area where this is the facility's busy season? In other words, are they looking for free help until the end of their season?

If it becomes a competitive nightmare with no sense of if you will actually have a job at the end of it, I am not sure if I would be a part of it.

And just as an aside....how is this legal?

Hoosier_RN, MSN · Dec 7, 2015

I would think that if you're not on the clock (thus not getting paid) you could not legally do anything procedural for the facility. Varies by state. I wouldn't do it unless you absolutely will not get any kind of experience any other way. As jadelpn stated, you may be giving volunteer work during the busy season, or helping to give some vacations during holidays.

BlueDawnRN, BSN · Dec 7, 2015

The only reason I'm employed in a hospital right now is because I did their unpaid residency for 12 weeks. All my classmates who told me I was crazy for basically working without pay are currently unhappy in jobs with unsafe nurse to patient ratios and can't get into a hospital. It really stank at the time but I have no regrets.

Getting a job at the end was not guaranteed but basically that's to cover themselves in case you end up being completely incompetent. Hospitals don't have the money to train new grads. So as unfair as it is, programs like this are how they're able to get new grads in.

I'm still upset I didn't get paid for 12 weeks but it's better to suffer through 3 months of unpaid work than be in a job you hate for a year or more. I just tried to look at it as 3 more months of nursing school.

It's legal if you're not doing patient care independently and are working under a preceptor. You can't benefit the organization. So you can't take your own assignment or cover a vacation, for example. You can't give meds or do bedside procedures alone. Believe it or not it's perfectly legal. I looked into it before doing it.

I love my job right now, I have a supportive work environment, great supervisors and amazing benefits. I don't regret doing an unpaid residency.

Everline · Dec 7, 2015

I find this to be outrageous. But as long as there is a surplus of new grads, hospitals will get away with this...and more.

heronurse · Dec 7, 2015

They said a job maybe offered if youre competent. I dont know, dont have any experience so I think this is my best bet

seasidesoul · Dec 7, 2015

I haven't heard of this in my region. I would never agree to it. How are you supposed to pay rent? Bills? For 3 months? Truly trying to wrap my head around it.

igueva · Dec 7, 2015

I have been looking for a job for a little while. I am have been accepted for residency program through College. It is only very little pay.....but it is a chance to get a job. As someone mentions hospitals do not have mine for new grads training. Do you know if it is full or part time? Mine is 2 days a week and 6 hours training in College. I am planing to work part time. I am trying nursing homes or medical offices which are more willing to take new grads. If I want get part time in nursing, I will try food business. You can try residency and still look for the job. I hope everything will work out for you. Good Luck

BlueDawnRN, BSN · Dec 7, 2015

I basically paid my bills the same way I did when I was in nursing school. Worked while doing the full time residency. But after 3 months I had a full time job while my classmates who said they could never agree to such a thing were still looking for work.

I agree it's taking advantage of new grads but it's the only reason I have a hospital job right now. The alternative would have been to not hire new grads at all which is what most places are doing.

RNKPCE · Dec 8, 2015

I know of a hospital that partnered with university to do a transition program after graduation and they graduate nurse would actually have to pay like a summer school class to do an 8 week or so program which was part classroom but mostly clinical. At the end there was no guarantee of a job but if the student is a good fit and they have positions open you probably will get hired. This will likely decrease the length of the orientation/preceptorship of the new employee as well. I agree that working for free in a program like this or even paying like I was talking about it better than no job after 6 months.

llg, PhD, RN · Dec 8, 2015

I know of a hospital that partnered with university to do a transition program after graduation and they graduate nurse would actually have to pay like a summer school class to do an 8 week or so program which was part classroom but mostly clinical. At the end there was no guarantee of a job but if the student is a good fit and they have positions open you probably will get hired. This will likely decrease the length of the orientation/preceptorship of the new employee as well. I agree that working for free in a program like this or even paying like I was talking about it better than no job after 6 months.

I like this approach -- and similar "hybrid" programs that seem more of an extension of someone's basic education. I also like the short-term transition programs that provide education and pay a bit of a salary, but don't guarantee a job.

The cost of orienting new grads has simply gotten too high, and many hospitals can't afford it. Back when I was a new grad many years ago, my orientation to a NICU was only 5 weeks. That just isn't good enough any more -- but 20 weeks is too expensive. If we are going to provide the longer orientations that new grads want and need, we need to find ways to keep the costs down.

New grads have to realize that until they develop a few skills and can take a patient assignment on their own, they are simply not worth the same salary as someone who is taking their own assignment. Hence, the lesser salary makes sense. But I prefer the "lower salary" option and not the "no pay at all" option. Those trainees are still contributing some work to the facility.

Wrench Party · Dec 16, 2015

I'd rather move to the middle of nowhere for a few years and get paid for experience than put up with this tripe. Again, HOW

is this legal? :no:

No health insurance, no benefits, no living wage? Working under my license? BULL.