I have been meaning to post on this for a while. I am seeing some very one-sided employment contracts and agreements that nurses are signing either as a contract nurse, APRN, independent contractor, or some other alternative work arrangement.
These agreements are so one-sided because the obligations, duties, and liability fall on the nurse and the employer can still term at will. These agreements turn my stomach because the agreements lack any type of fundamental fairness and in my opinion prey on unsuspecting nurses who just want to start work and move forward.
Yes, we are professionals but how many of us actually hire an attorney to review an employment contract?
I am all for alternative work arrangements for nurses because frankly the traditionally employer-employee relationship and at-will employment stinks. It sucks and its not until an incident happens to you in the workplace that you realize that you essentially are "rightless." Once HR gets involved, its a wrap most of the time, magnet or no magnet.
Healthcare Facilities will term a nurse who has worked at the facility for 15 years the same as they will term a new nurse not doing well in orientation. How can you be so heartless? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gWzlD7Lc6w8. Okay, I know folks are mad at Kanye West, but this song is tight.
This isn't legal advice its common sense:
1. Don't just an employment contract;
2. Pay a few hundred dollars and have your contract reviewed by a healthlaw attorney or nursing law attorney; and
3. Don't ask your supervisor to explain the contract to you. You need objective information, counsel, and advice.
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