Working for FREE!!!!???

[Candogal]

I finally received a job offer after more than 6 months of searching as a new grad. The job is with an LTC, the pay sounded great until after I started talking and observing nurses. I have been told not only by several of the nurses but also administrative that it is basically impossible to get paid past your shift, and nobody ever gets out on time. Most of the nurses stay at least an hour after their shift and do not get paid. Today I shadowed an RN who was still charting 2 hours past her shift (I finally left while she was still charting so I have no idea what time she finally got out). I will NOT work for free!! I am so upset that all of my hard work and sacrifices that I went through to obtain my BSN has come to this.

[Candogal]

So I'm happy to report that I love where I am working now. Don't get me wrong it's crazy busy and I have a lot to learn but I'm not put in situations on a daily basis where laws are being broken over treatments and med passes ( A LOT of health code violations! some really serious). I still haven't reported them because it's not in my nature to cause trouble but my conscious is telling me that I have to. Anyway it's been 2 full weeks since I quit and I still have not received my 1 week paycheck from orientation. My husband said that they need to pay me. I would think that if I had to sign my name to giving medications that I should also be paid after all I put my license on the line. So my question is how long should I be waiting? It's been 10 business days and I tried calling but the person in payroll is not in and I really just want to be done with the whole nightmare of a facility.