HCA to Pay Nearly $3 Million Over Nurse Training Agreements (1)

HCA Healthcare Inc. will pay a total of $2.9 million to resolve allegations that it required nurses to repay the costs of mandatory training if they didn’t remain with the hospital giant after two years.

Nashville-based HCA required entry-level nurses to complete a specialty training program before starting work in acute-care hospitals, often leaving them saddled with debt if they left their jobs early or were fired, according to Thursday filings by the attorney general offices of California, Colorado, and Nevada.

“This case is a window to a broader, disturbing trend of employer-driven debt, and one we’re committed to fighting,” ...