What happens when you quit a nursing contract?

[anyname02]

To quickly sum it up: I signed up for a travel assignment for the first time. The job posting said that the position included benefits including health insurance. I came down with Covid-19 after 40 hours of work. I contacted the nursing agency to ask about health insurance, and they informed me that I don't have any health insurance! They said I am only eligible after working 130 hours. I work in the high risk Covid ICU. I don't feel safe to return to work. What happens if I say, "Sorry, I'm not going back?" I'm still feeling symptomatic as of right now, but slowly getting better. Does anybody have any information regarding nursing labor laws and legal contracts? The contract says that they will "indemnify" me and make "payroll deductions" for any penalties that are incurred, which I admit I don't fully understand. I am in California.

Thank you very much! Any advice is very much appreciated.

[mmc51264, BSN, MSN, RN]

I have no travel experience, but there has to some sort of plan for Covid exposure. You cannot safely work if you have Covid and/or are symptomatic.

[anyname02]

13 minutes ago, mmc51264 said:

I have no travel experience, but there has to some sort of plan for Covid exposure. You cannot safely work if you have Covid and/or are symptomatic.

So far, I have been calling in sick each day and the hospital itself has been understanding. They don't want me to return to work if I am symptomatic. The problem is, it is a 13 week contract that I signed up for and I'm concerned that the agency is going to push me to return to work to finish out the contract and I still won't have any health insurance until I reach 130 hours. I survived one exposure, but what happens if I contract it again? My family depends on me. I don't know what to do.

[Sour Lemon]

2 hours ago, anyname02 said:

To quickly sum it up: I signed up for a travel assignment for the first time. The job posting said that the position included benefits including health insurance. I came down with Covid-19 after 40 hours of work. I contacted the nursing agency to ask about health insurance, and they informed me that I don't have any health insurance! They said I am only eligible after working 130 hours. I work in the high risk Covid ICU. I don't feel safe to return to work. What happens if I say, "Sorry, I'm not going back?" I'm still feeling symptomatic as of right now, but slowly getting better. Does anybody have any information regarding nursing labor laws and legal contracts? The contract says that they will "indemnify" me and make "payroll deductions" for any penalties that are incurred, which I admit I don't fully understand. I am in California.

Thank you very much! Any advice is very much appreciated.

It sounds like you need legal advice. Or maybe you needed it before you signed the contract. Have someone look it over and see what they have to say.

[anyname02]

41 minutes ago, Sour Lemon said:

It sounds like you need legal advice. Or maybe you needed it before you signed the contract. Have someone look it over and see what they have to say.

This is a non-answer. And if you're going to be shady, I can be shady too.

[Sour Lemon]

On 6/11/2020 at 12:02 AM, anyname02 said:

This is a non-answer. And if you're going to be shady, I can be shady too.

It's not a non-answer. You need someone with legal knowledge to review the actual contract that you admit to signing without understanding. It's not something that can be sorted out on a chat forum, unfortunately. Either that, or just do what you feel like doing and see what happens. Maybe you'll get lucky. Sometimes people do.

[Jedrnurse, BSN, RN]

7 hours ago, anyname02 said:

This is a non-answer. And if you're going to be shady, I can be shady too.

"No T, no shade."

You are new to AN; included in the terms of service is not giving legal or medical advice. The best route to get your question answered is to have your contract reviewed by a lawyer.

I hope you bounce back from the COVID-19; feel better soon!

[Been there,done that, ASN, RN]

8 hours ago, anyname02 said:

This is a non-answer. And if you're going to be shady, I can be shady too.

Sour Lemon is a highly respected member of this community. She gave you excellent advice.

[Been there,done that, ASN, RN]

You are entitled to special compensation through The CARES Act.