Changes After an Offer Letter Was Signed

As a new grad (May 2010) without experience, the job search has been quite a challenge. I was finally offered a job in St. Louis (I am from Chicago but went to school in STL for my BSN) and I thought things were looking up. I was willing to relocate and made a trip to sign my offer letter, complete my physical and sign a lease. I was schedule to start my first day of orientation in 2 weeks and move into my new apartment in 1 week from yesterday.

I got a call yesterday stating that I "was selected" to be a part of the new nurse residency program (The Versant Program) which is just starting at the hospital...I have heard this is a good program, but here's the catch...it won't be until June 20th! Can hospitals really do this after an offer letter has been signed by the hospital and myself???? I know I should be happy to have a job, but I have spent a lot of money to transfer my RN license, my living room is full of boxes, I have signed a lease and quit my current job and now I'm just to sit around and put my life on hold for 3 months?

The hospital told me they may be able offer me a position as a tech until then, but 1. $12 an hour is not going to pay my rent and 2. Is is legal for an RN to work as a UAP?

Thoughts??
I asked my fiancee (atty) for you & he said it wouldn't be an easy case to litigate, but you could get 3 months lost wages (difference between what you were making and $12 an hour), possibly 3 months rent, and whatever moving expenses you've already paid for, as long as the offer was not conditional. In doing that I'm sure you can figure that you'd lose your job, so you'll just have to weigh your options and figure out what's best for you now in terms of jobs. Maybe you can talk to them and tell them you've already incurred x, y and z expense, so you'll work as a tech but you also need some additional compensation to make up for the money you spent in reliance of their offer.

They can giveth and they can taketh away - be thankful, honestly!

I would call them and explain what you are going thru. All you can do is ask. If you don't, you will never know the answer.

Ethically what they did was wrong, but I don't know about legally. As to whether you can work as an UAP with an RN license; the answer is yes. Keep in mind that regardless of what position you are working if anything were to happen you would be held responsible at your highest license. In other words, if you don't follow up on a change in VS and there is a poor outcome for the patient, you could be held liable as if you were an RN...because you are. If it was the UAP, the RN in charge of the patient would be responsible, but in your case you are just as responsible.

They absolutely can change the terms of your employment anytime they choose. They can increase - or decrease - your wages; they can change your schedule; they can change everyone's benefits; they can even choose to have you not work for them any longer - with no warning and for no reason.Here in California you can work as an aid for up to four months without a CNA certificate and indefinitely with one. I'm not so sure about the "you will be judged as a nurse" comment... I'd have to read case law which establishes the same but since you would not be accepting the patient as a nurse and would not have the authority of the nurse, I'd be surprised if you were judged as a nurse. OTOH, the BONs typically have broad powers in sanctioning one's license so I'd be very careful.

Quote from ♪♫ in my ♥ I'm not so sure about the "you will be judged as a nurse" comment... I'd have to read case law which establishes the same but since you would not be accepting the patient as a nurse and would not have the authority of the nurse, I'd be surprised if you were judged as a nurse. OTOH, the BONs typically have broad powers in sanctioning one's license so I'd be very careful.

Call the appropriate person and say you are thrilled to be moving there but this change in start date is causing a huge financial burden. You would be happy to work as a tech but ask that they meet you 1/2 way on the compensation? All they can say is no! But if you back out you will lose alot of $$ plus the job. And right now it is tough to get a job period.

I would not challenge them or you won't have that job in three months. Move and take the tech position or move and wait. This is one of those unforeseen times when a person uses their six to nine months of savings that Suzy Orman and Dave Ramsey tell us to always have on hand.

Quote from caliotter3I would not challenge them or you won't have that job in three months. Move and take the tech position or move and wait.

I would jump. Work at McDonalds if you have to. Personally I'd kill for a two month vacation. A residency program is a fabulous thing. It starts you off on the right foot and gives you a huge helping hand to cement your skills. It sucks you have to wait but this is so much better than being thrown to the wolves and perhaps bouncing from one crappy job to another, or worse getting fired because you get unlucky. Fall in love with oatmeal and PBJ. Good luck and congrats.

Thank you everyone for your advice! I called the Missouri SBN and they said it is legal to work as a tech with a RN license....I found this article http://www.nursingworld.org/mods/arc...11/cerm202.htmwhich does not make this sound like the best opportunity. The HR lady is on my side and keeps apologizing because she knows this is unfair and the most they can offer my is $14.59. She states she has "exhausted all of her resources" and they will not budget with the wages. I called the leasing company and they said they would be willing to work with me due to the circumstances. One option is to suck it up and stay in Chicago until June, but what if suddenly they pull something like this in June? Then I will have an entire new class of "newer" new grads to compete with and have wasted 2 months. This program does sound beneficial, but it seems like I will be taking a big risk because the company has already made me lose my trust. If I have to wait, I need a 110% guarantee that I will start in June without any changes. I've already had a 10 month "vacation" since graduation and I feel like I will continue to lose my skills if I don't get into a hospital soon. Late yesterday I received a phone call from a hospital in Chicago (and interviewed this morning) for a Transplant ICU. They will make a decision next Friday and I could start in the beginning of May. The pay is much better, but they told me they are very short handed and their training program is practically non-existent. I spoke with a new grad nurse who has worked there for less than 6 months and she was just finishing a 16 hour shift. I'm not sure that this is a heathly work environment. I am extremely torn at this point and I really am not sure what to do...

I'd like to add to my earlier post.. this residency program would be a fantastic opportunity for you and even if less money then Chicago.. training is priceless. Can you function with $14.59/hr till June.. It will be good experience and maybe once you get going you could pull an extra shift if you needed more $$. And I agree 2 yrs from now these 3 months will not really make a difference in your life. But only you know how you feel.. Good luck with your decision.