How Can I Demand Pay for Required Online Education?

To submit a legal/professional nursing question for future consideration, write to the editor at syox@medscape.net (include "Ask the Expert" in subject line).

Question

A newly hired nurse is told to complete online orientation material at home. What is the best approach for asking to be paid for these hours?

Response from Carolyn Buppert, MSN, JD
Healthcare attorney, Boulder, Colorado

Question: How Can I Get My Pay?

The nurse who submitted this question provided more details about his or her situation.

I was recently hired as a per-diem registered nurse at a big hospital. I went through a 3-day hospital orientation, and my actual first day on the unit was a month away. The hospital told me to complete online orientation content from home, saying that it would take approximately 1 hour. However, the required education took 6.5 hours to complete, because it was a huge amount of material. For example, a section on pressure ulcers took 2 hours and included stringent testing. The compliance section was 63 pages of material, and I had to score 100% on the test to pass it. I appreciate that these aren't mindless tests; however I feel that I ought to be paid for the 6.5 hours of work. If I am required to do this, shouldn't I be paid? Because this is a new job, I'm not sure how I should approach this. I am afraid that I won't make it past my probationary period!

Cite this: How Can I Demand Pay for Required Online Education? - Medscape - Jul 08, 2013.

Commenting is limited to medical professionals. To comment please Log-in.

Comments on Medscape are moderated and should be professional in tone and on topic. You must declare any conflicts of interest related to your comments and responses. Please see our Commenting Guide for further information. We reserve the right to remove posts at our sole discretion.

My Alerts