In recent years, hospitals around the country have increasingly required newly hired nurses and other health care workers to participate in and sign contracts for a variety of mandatory residency or training programs that result in employer-driven debt. 

These programs can include new graduate apprenticeships, immigrant nurse sponsorships, and more. Hospital employers often refer to these programs as an “enhanced” form of education, training, internship, apprenticeship, or new nurse orientation but they often have associated tuition, coursework, textbooks, supplies, or other costs. 

As a result, these employer-mandated residency and training programs are simply passing on the costs of basic on-the-job training to health care workers. 

The contracts further require employees to stay employed at the hospital for a set period of time. If workers resign or are terminated before the time period ends, they incur a penalty. In addition to training and residency programs, hospitals also force employees to pay for other work-related expenses such as necessary equipment, application and recruitment fees, relocation costs, etc.
 
Please take a few minutes to fill out this survey. The purpose of this survey is to better understand the prevalence and impact of employer-driven debt on health care workers’ professional and personal choices and lives. 

Your personal information will be kept confidential and will not be shared in survey results.
 
If you have any questions or concerns regarding this survey, please contact: EmployerDebt@NationalNursesUnited.org
The following questions are geared toward understanding your personal experience with nurse residency programs, training programs, immigration sponsorship or recruitment contracts, and/or employer-driven debt.

In the following questions, please choose the response that best fits your experience.

Question Title

* 1. Have you enrolled in or been required to enroll in a training, residency, or apprenticeship program in order to start or keep a job as a nurse or other health care worker? (Not including any educational degree program needed for your professional license or certification.)

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