A travel nurse I know is going to break her contract. She has been on the job for less than 2 weeks of a 13wk contract. She commutes to the job site and spends one or two nights a week away from home. She takes care of her own housing. There are no problems at the job site. She is going to break the contract because one of her children is having a tough time dealing with her mother being away. Besides having to pay back pre-employment costs, physicals, license fees, etc. What will she likely have to pay to the travel agency for breaking a contract?
Breaking a travel contract
It all depends on the company- "she" should check her contract very closely to find out what she will be held financially responsible for. If she is not using company housing, she will probably only have to pay back license fees, pre-employment costs like physicals or drug screens, and possibly have to pay back any travel reimbursement.
AmandaWIRN wrote:It all depends on the company- "she" should check her contract very closely to find out what she will be held financially responsible for. If she is not using company housing, she will probably only have to pay back license fees, pre-employment costs like physicals or drug screens, and possibly have to pay back any travel reimbursement.I am interested in travel nursing, but I am concerned about what it would take to break a contract if I find I am miserable. Other posters have mentioned being threatened with lawsuits by their agencies. Besides the repayments mentioned above, are there costs that have to paid to the agency or hospital for breaking a contract? Do contracts usually address this?
Yes, your contract should have this all spelled out. In addition to the costs mentioned above, if you take company housing, you will be held responsible for paying out the remainder of the lease your company signed for you- which could be thousands of dollars. That's why it's best to ask as many questions as possible BEFORE signing on, as well as making sure you get EVERYTHING in writing in your contract before signing.
If I do travel, I will certainly study any contract. I'm not quite sure myself, what I am trying to ask, but I will put it this way...I arrive at a contract site and I have not been reimbursed for anything. After 1 shift I decide traveling is not for me and I break the contract. Generally, are there any other fees I might have to pay for the breach of contract. Will I possibly be sued?
fancee wrote:If I do travel, I will certainly study any contract. I'm not quite sure myself, what I am trying to ask, but I will put it this way...I arrive at a contract site and I have not been reimbursed for anything. After 1 shift I decide traveling is not for me and I break the contract. Generally, are there any other fees I might have to pay for the breach of contract. Will I possibly be sued?
If your company has reimbursed you for your travel or license, you will have to re-pay them. If you have taken company housing, you will be responsible for paying out the lease they signed for you, as well as any utility install fees. They might also make you pay for any pre-employment drug screen or physical.
Cancelling a contract early can be very expensive- into the thousands of dollars.... I would advise you to do a LOT of research on the facility before you accept a contract there. Ask your recruiter if you can talk to another traveler who has worked at that facility, so you can find out first-hand what it's like. After that if you still don't like an assignment, your best bet is to just tough it out & finish out the contract. It's only 13 weeks. I'm not too happy at my current assignment, but I only have 7 more weeks to go, then I'm outta here!
Now, if you feel like your license is in danger, or if the facility is not holding up their end of the contract, then that's another story.
I've wondered that also if you had to break a contract. I think it is unfair that the hospital and company can cancel your contract, but you can't cancel your own.
If I take a travel assignment, I expect that I will be able to stick it out.
I appreciate your input. I don't mean to be a pest, but I guess I am still not making my self clear. I have searched the internet and have seen posts that spoke of thousands of dollars being owed and nurses being sued for breaking contracts. If I pay all expenses myself including travel and housing and absolutely nothing has been paid by the agency, will I likely have to pay "damages" for breaking the contract? Similar to how large companies that have agreed to merge and one backs out. I know a lot depends on the contract, but I won't see a contract until late in the process. So, I guess my question is do nurses usually have to pay "damages" for breaking a contract.
I appreciate your input. I don't mean to be a pest, but I guess I am still not making my self clear. I have searched the internet and have seen posts that spoke of thousands of dollars being owed and nurses being sued for breaking contracts. If I pay all expenses myself including travel and housing and absolutely nothing has been paid by the agency, will I likely have to pay "damages" for breaking the contract? Similar to how large companies that have agreed to merge and one backs out. I know a lot depends on the contract, but I won't see a contract until late in the process. So, I guess my question is do nurses usually have to pay "damages" for breaking a contract.
Again, it depends on your company and how your contract is written- check with your individual recruiter....
And Again, if you are not taking housing or travel reimbursement, you still might be held financially accountable for any pre-employment physical or drug screen, as well as license verification costs.
And Again, if you are not taking housing or travel reimbursement, you still might be held financially accountable for any pre-employment physical or drug screen, as well as license verification costs.
fancee wrote:I am interested in travel nursing, but I am concerned about what it would take to break a contract if I find I am miserable. Other posters have mentioned being threatened with lawsuits by their agencies. Besides the repayments mentioned above, are there costs that have to paid to the agency or hospital for breaking a contract? Do contracts usually address this?
I would recomend taking a 4 or 6 week contract first to see if its for you if you are concerned about this. Anybody can put up with something they hate for a month.
First off, I’d like to preface my comments by saying that in my fourteen years as a traveler, I have had two contracts terminated by facilities. I would also like to say that before I chime in with my two-cents worth, something you said really struck me. It was when you mentioned being on the job for one shift and deciding that an assignment was not right for you.
I am puzzled at how you could possibly know that travel nursing is not for you based on one shift, or even one assignment for that matter? We are all here to try to help you answer your questions on travel nursing, but I think the question that we might ask of you is what makes you think you would enjoy this career if you are already this concerned with how to back out of it?
Please don’t feel defensive at my remarks. No one can know exactly how they will feel about traveling until they have experienced it firsthand. However, you should most definitely know what it entails before you make such a career decision.
I just recently published a how-to book on the process of becoming a travel nurse and devote large portions of the first two chapters on outlining the positives and negatives of the profession. It is definitely not all a bowl of cherries, but for me, it is a professional that I would not give up for anything.
However, if you have never lived on your own, been 2000 miles away from all your family and friends, or had to start over in a new city where you didn’t even have a clue where the nearest grocery store might be located, then you need to seriously contemplate whether or not this would be something you want to try.
I do mention ways in my book to “start lite” like taking assignments close to home or in a state where you have relatives, but even I, with over 30 completed contracts and 14 yrs in the profession, still occasionally find myself on contracts that I dislike or downright hate.
My point here is that you need to first examine your reasons for travel and then take a long assessment of whether this is the career for you. Read up as much as you can on the lifestyle and go into it well prepared. If you do so, even if your work assignment sucks, you can still enjoy your assignment exploring the area on your days off. Rarely do you find a traveler that lives for the work; it’s the days off we cherish.
With that said, I can tell you that some of what people have written on here is correct, as far as I know, but then again, who am I? Really, who are any of us to speak to matters of legality unless we are an attorney? I guess this is my convoluted way of saying that any legal questions will ALWAYS be best answered by those in that profession.
I do agree with what Amanda has to say in that it will depend heavily on what your contract states. I have traveled with several different companies and no two contracts are exactly the same. However, while I would have to go back and look at the exact wording, my current contract states that I may break it, without penalty, by giving 30 days notice. Even so, my company could charge me with “fees” that they might incur as a result of having to break my housing lease (obviously not an issue if you provide your own housing).
Without being able to take a direct look at a contract, and not having the good fortune to have passed the state bar, it would be hard to state exactly what you would be looking at if you cancelled your contract. However, if you paid for your own housing, your own travel, and your own license, then there is really not much else to penalize you for other than breaking your word. To charge you for this, the company would have to take legal action and I doubt that most would be willing (the cost of litigation would probably pale in comparison to the judgement they would receive and most companies don't really want to get the reputation of suing their travelers). In case you are unaware, your contract is between you and your company, NOT you and the hospital.
I know that from talking to my recruiter, people do break their contracts. When they do, the company is entitled to levy “fees” (since my contract words it this way, I assume there is a legal distinction between the word “penalty” and “fee”). If they paid for your housing, travel, etc, then they would be entitled to possibly withhold this amount from your paycheck. However, if they did not pay for any of this, they could not arbitrarily decide a “cancellation fee” and enforce it unless it was clearly stated in the contract. They legally owe you for any hours that you worked and if they hold back this pay, then they might be the ones who are on the receiving end of a lawsuit.
Once again, I am not an attorney, nor do I play one on TV. These are the laws as I understand them and how they pertain to MY contract with MY travel company. While this certainly varies from company to company, it should all be spelled out in the contract you will sign to accept an assignment.
As I mentioned before, I cannot help but feel that someone looking for all the legal ways out of a travel assignment, before even completing one, might not be ready for the lifestyle of a traveler. And again, I mean no condescension; I just think you might need to rethink things and do some more research before considering your first travel assignment. I hope this helps.
I am puzzled at how you could possibly know that travel nursing is not for you based on one shift, or even one assignment for that matter? We are all here to try to help you answer your questions on travel nursing, but I think the question that we might ask of you is what makes you think you would enjoy this career if you are already this concerned with how to back out of it?
Please don’t feel defensive at my remarks. No one can know exactly how they will feel about traveling until they have experienced it firsthand. However, you should most definitely know what it entails before you make such a career decision.
I just recently published a how-to book on the process of becoming a travel nurse and devote large portions of the first two chapters on outlining the positives and negatives of the profession. It is definitely not all a bowl of cherries, but for me, it is a professional that I would not give up for anything.
However, if you have never lived on your own, been 2000 miles away from all your family and friends, or had to start over in a new city where you didn’t even have a clue where the nearest grocery store might be located, then you need to seriously contemplate whether or not this would be something you want to try.
I do mention ways in my book to “start lite” like taking assignments close to home or in a state where you have relatives, but even I, with over 30 completed contracts and 14 yrs in the profession, still occasionally find myself on contracts that I dislike or downright hate.
My point here is that you need to first examine your reasons for travel and then take a long assessment of whether this is the career for you. Read up as much as you can on the lifestyle and go into it well prepared. If you do so, even if your work assignment sucks, you can still enjoy your assignment exploring the area on your days off. Rarely do you find a traveler that lives for the work; it’s the days off we cherish.
With that said, I can tell you that some of what people have written on here is correct, as far as I know, but then again, who am I? Really, who are any of us to speak to matters of legality unless we are an attorney? I guess this is my convoluted way of saying that any legal questions will ALWAYS be best answered by those in that profession.
I do agree with what Amanda has to say in that it will depend heavily on what your contract states. I have traveled with several different companies and no two contracts are exactly the same. However, while I would have to go back and look at the exact wording, my current contract states that I may break it, without penalty, by giving 30 days notice. Even so, my company could charge me with “fees” that they might incur as a result of having to break my housing lease (obviously not an issue if you provide your own housing).
Without being able to take a direct look at a contract, and not having the good fortune to have passed the state bar, it would be hard to state exactly what you would be looking at if you cancelled your contract. However, if you paid for your own housing, your own travel, and your own license, then there is really not much else to penalize you for other than breaking your word. To charge you for this, the company would have to take legal action and I doubt that most would be willing (the cost of litigation would probably pale in comparison to the judgement they would receive and most companies don't really want to get the reputation of suing their travelers). In case you are unaware, your contract is between you and your company, NOT you and the hospital.
I know that from talking to my recruiter, people do break their contracts. When they do, the company is entitled to levy “fees” (since my contract words it this way, I assume there is a legal distinction between the word “penalty” and “fee”). If they paid for your housing, travel, etc, then they would be entitled to possibly withhold this amount from your paycheck. However, if they did not pay for any of this, they could not arbitrarily decide a “cancellation fee” and enforce it unless it was clearly stated in the contract. They legally owe you for any hours that you worked and if they hold back this pay, then they might be the ones who are on the receiving end of a lawsuit.
Once again, I am not an attorney, nor do I play one on TV. These are the laws as I understand them and how they pertain to MY contract with MY travel company. While this certainly varies from company to company, it should all be spelled out in the contract you will sign to accept an assignment.
As I mentioned before, I cannot help but feel that someone looking for all the legal ways out of a travel assignment, before even completing one, might not be ready for the lifestyle of a traveler. And again, I mean no condescension; I just think you might need to rethink things and do some more research before considering your first travel assignment. I hope this helps.
Now, if you feel like your license is in danger
Could you elaborate on that please? :nurse-hang:
I've had one assignment I wanted to walk out on. But I didn't. I stuck it out. And it's true that some are really bad. If they are abusive to you - giving you crazy amounts of call, repeated shifts of evening to day, etc, etc,, bad pt assignments, verbal abuse, etc, - then your recruiter, account manager and travel company should go to bat for you. If all that's been done and you don't get any results, you know to not work with that company again!!!
Oh, and let us all know the hospital and company so we don't get the same treatment!
One shift is nothing. There is an end to the contract and it is over before you know it. Stay focused and you'll get through it.
Then you can go get a permanent job and stop your thoughts of travelling.
Oh, and let us all know the hospital and company so we don't get the same treatment!
One shift is nothing. There is an end to the contract and it is over before you know it. Stay focused and you'll get through it.
Then you can go get a permanent job and stop your thoughts of travelling.
The penalties for breaking a contract should be specified in your contract. More importantly is that signing a contract is giving your word to perform work that the facility needs and has agreed to pay for. Breaking a contract for any but the most severe reasons is unprofessional and makes all travel nurses look bad.
Just wanted to followup on my original post.
My friend left, sadly I'm still here.
Since no one here knew for sure what happens when a contract is broken, I thought I'd let you know what happened to her. Since she hadn't actually been reimbursed for anything, nothing really happened. A few threats and phone calls, but nothing else.
This may not be the case for everyone. And contracts, as we all know, are VAGUE on everything, so don't look there for help.
And, Amanda and David, you guys should be aware that some people just want a direct answer, not counseling.
My friend left, sadly I'm still here.
Since no one here knew for sure what happens when a contract is broken, I thought I'd let you know what happened to her. Since she hadn't actually been reimbursed for anything, nothing really happened. A few threats and phone calls, but nothing else.
This may not be the case for everyone. And contracts, as we all know, are VAGUE on everything, so don't look there for help.
And, Amanda and David, you guys should be aware that some people just want a direct answer, not counseling.
displacedgarn wrote:A travel nurse I know is going to break her contract. She has been on the job for less than 2 weeks of a 13wk contract. She commutes to the job site and spends one or two nights a week away from home. She takes care of her own housing. There are no problems at the job site. She is going to break the contract because one of her children is having a tough time dealing with her mother being away. Besides having to pay back pre-employment costs, physicals, license fees, etc. What will she likely have to pay to the travel agency for breaking a contract?
First of all she should not have taken the contract or any travel contract - (young kids) it seems she let her desire to travel overtake her concerns for her kids Sorry in this case the Travel Company would be right in seeking compensation How much I can't answer that. I would if I was her seek legal advise. And think long and hard about traveling
displacedgarn wrote:Just wanted to followup on my original post.
My friend left, sadly I'm still here.
Since no one here knew for sure what happens when a contract is broken, I thought I'd let you know what happened to her. Since she hadn't actually been reimbursed for anything, nothing really happened. A few threats and phone calls, but nothing else.
This may not be the case for everyone. And contracts, as we all know, are VAGUE on everything, so don't look there for help.
And, Amanda and David, you guys should be aware that some people just want a direct answer, not counseling.
If you do not want to hear advice or opinions from experienced travelers, then please do not ask for our advice or opinions...
I left a travel assignment on my 1st night off orientation because the hospital was very short staffed and the charge nurse assigned me 11 patients on a med-surg-tele floor....... UNSAFE to say the least. The charge nurse and other staff nurse had 13 patients each. Where was I going to get resource help from and there would be no one at the desk to watch the telemetry.
I refused the assignment,left the hospital, packed my bags and left. The company backed me.
I refused the assignment,left the hospital, packed my bags and left. The company backed me.
I saw that DavidRn reported having his contract cancelled in 2 assignments. It's devastating in this recession time but I know I'll get another assignment.
My questions are this:
the hospital and company have a contract allowing them 30 days written notice for any reason
But my contract does not saying anything to that effect
What will happen to the remainder of the contract re: lost wages and housing?
I am on the hook for this lease.
Also, this hospital was a bizarre experience anyway. Actually, I am relieved but still was willing to complete my assignment.
No breaks, sabotage of equipment and rooms, shaking fingers in the face for requesting information or assistance. That sort of thing. They have gone through 6 directors I think within 3 years. It is an odd place. Hence, the travelers.
so, what, if anything can I expect from my company?
ps. It would not surprise me if they "invented" a reason to terminate me before the 30 days.
My questions are this:
the hospital and company have a contract allowing them 30 days written notice for any reason
But my contract does not saying anything to that effect
What will happen to the remainder of the contract re: lost wages and housing?
I am on the hook for this lease.
Also, this hospital was a bizarre experience anyway. Actually, I am relieved but still was willing to complete my assignment.
No breaks, sabotage of equipment and rooms, shaking fingers in the face for requesting information or assistance. That sort of thing. They have gone through 6 directors I think within 3 years. It is an odd place. Hence, the travelers.
so, what, if anything can I expect from my company?
ps. It would not surprise me if they "invented" a reason to terminate me before the 30 days.