Memorial Health University Medical Center Residency Savannah GA

I'm about to graduate with my BSN in a few weeks and was contacted for an interview for Memorial Hospital's nurse residency program. I wasn't planning on doing a residency program, so I know very little about residencies in general and how they work. The nurse recruiter told me about an $8,000 promissory that I would have to sign if offered a position along with a 4 year contract. She also said that if I left before 4 years, I would have to pay back the hospital. I was in information overload when I was speaking with her, and didn't ask what this was for. Is it something they give to me in return for signing a contract, or is it the cost of the training?

If anyone has any experience with this hospital, please let me know what it was like! I would hate to sign a 4 year contract and hate my job.
I just left their nurse residency - i was fortunate failed nclex and they released me from contract (never thought id be so happy to say i failed nclex! Ha) but the 4yr 8k contract is just to guarantee them a body for 4 yrs. you receive nothing out of it - no increase in pay, no bonus - nothing. Depending on where u work u may get acls, pals certified. But that is not worth 8k. The nurses that precept you get no extra funds for doing so because it is expected of them in Order to gain points to go up the nursing ladder. Good luck. As a new nurse grad dont settle.
Wow, thanks for the advice!
I am having interview with there for winter 2015 program. Did you accepted the position?
I did accept the position in the pediatric specialty unit and so far it was a great decision. I got offered my dream job which doesn't always happen for new grads. I love the people I work with and haven't had any problems so far. I know there are some management issues, but I think they're the kinds of things that happen everywhere. So far, I love it! Good luck!
I got hired GI surgery step-down unit. Please I need information about this unit. I never heard before. I know it's not icu but it's not med surge as well. Please help.
I'm sorry, I really don't know much about other parts of the hospital, especially the adult floors. But congrats!
How long the residency program takes ??
The program itself is a year, but you have to sign a 4 year contract. The first 2-3 weeks you have a bunch of classes/hospital orientation. Then you have orientation on your unit which is typically 12 weeks and then you're taking patients on your own. There's only a few residency classes after that, so it's not time consuming.
Are they schedule us to work at night or weekends during orientation phase?
It depends. For me, I have to rotate days/nights for a full year.
I guess we are gonna be last seniority so we would cover night shift .. Smhhh
A lot of people actually prefer nights. On my unit the waiting list for nights is much longer than days