Locum Tenens Job Placement
Why Locum Tenens?
There are many reasons for working as a Locum
Tenens CRNA. The most common of which are:
• Higher Compensation. Locum Tenens CRNAs
earn an average of 40 to 50 percent more per hour
than those who are permanently employed.
• Independence. The freedom to choose where
and when you work, as well as for whom.
• Flexible Schedule. Many Locum Tenens CRNAs
enjoy the flexibility of working as little or as
much as they choose. It is now your choice.
• Locum to Perm. Locum Tenens is an excellent
method of searching for that new position. Both
parties have the opportunity to evaluate the other.
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Ready to Make
the Connection?
The first step in making the connection into Locum
Tenens is to register with National Anesthesia
Services. You will need to complete and return
our brief application. In addition to the application,
you will need to complete a clinical skills checklist.
You will then need to return these items together
with clear copies of the following:
CRNAs:
• Curriculum Vitae/Resume
• All State Licenses
• Professional Liability Insurance (if applicable)
• BLS and ACLS Certification
• 3 Reference Letters or Completed Reference
Forms (supplied by National)
• Drivers License and Social Security Card
• Immunization Records
CRNAs should also provide copies of their CRNA certification/recertification
card, AANA (American Association of Nurse Anesthetists)
membership card and all diplomas/certificates from
nursing and anesthesia school.
Many hospitals also require proof of current immunization
records against hepatitis, measles, mumps and rubella,
as well as a recent TB/PPD skin test. We recommend,
at minimum, obtaining a PPD test showing results
within the last 9 months.
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How Does Locum
Tenens Work?
Once you are registered with National Anesthesia
Services, you will be eligible to accept CRNA
jobs with us. Your information will reside in our
secure database. When a request for coverage is
received from a client, we search our database for
providers who hold a license where the client is
located. Many of our clients exclusively utilize
our agency for staffing; however, some may use two
or three anesthesia staffing agencies, so it is
important that we quickly present our best providers
with our best opportunities. In order to do this,
we first call those CRNAs we already know to be
available and acceptable to our client. We then
contact other CRNAs that best suit the available
Locum Tenens job.
When you respond by telephone, our medical recruiter
will discuss the opportunity in complete detail.
If there is something we don't know, we'll get the
answer for you! At the end of the conversation,
if you are interested in the Locum Tenens job, we
will ask your permission to present your curriculum
vitae/resume to our client! * If you agree you
have made a commitment to us, then you will be expected
to hold your time for this assignment with the client.
Acceptance usually takes from 1 - 48 hours to obtain
depending on the client. We can give you a good
idea how long it will take to get an answer back
before we present you.
Upon acceptance, we will send you an agreement to
sign and obtain a written confirmation. During the
period between acceptance and the first day of your
new assignment, we assist with obtaining temporary
privileges and make your transportation and lodging
arrangements. We will also provide you with a supply
of timesheets and written Final Assignment Details.
During your assignment, you will interact
on a frequent basis with your medical
recruiter who acts as your advocate on this assignment.
Your medical recruiter will be responsible for finding
your next Locum Tenens job well in advance of the
end of your current assignment.
* Traditionally, upon receiving
the same curriculum vitae/resume from different
anesthesia staffing agencies, clients will accept
a candidate from the agency who presented that
candidate first. Some agencies will present candidates
to clients without the candidate’s permission
and without ever speaking to the individual about
the assignment. The result being, if you want
to work at that particular assignment you will
have no other choice but to work through the other
agency. You would be surprised how often this
happens. If you do wish to register with another
agency, please "get it in writing" that
they cannot present your credentials to their
client without first obtaining your permission
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How Long Are
Your Assignments?
Assignments can vary from one day to several months,
even up to several years. The average length of
an assignment for our Locum Tenens CRNAs is 60 days.
We also offer many one- and two-week assignments
to CRNAs that currently have full-time jobs and
are looking to make extra money.
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Can I Take
Time Off From An Assignment?
If you are in a long-term assignment and plan to
take vacation or CME time off during the assignment,
please give us as much notice as possible so that
we will have ample time to find replacement coverage
for you during your absence and allow us to inform
the Chief CRNA or Chief of Anesthesia.
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What Sets National
Anesthesia Apart From Other Agencies?
Two words set us apart,
RELATIONSHIPS and INTEGRITY.
National Anesthesia truly believes in building
relationships. We don't look at our CRNAs as a commodity
but rather as family --- we live the life with you
if you allow us to.
Integrity is the fabric of our existence; at
National Anesthesia, if we say we have an opportunity
for you, we do! The money we say we will pay you
will be paid in a timely fashion. If we say we are
going to do something for you, we do it! We do not
break our word and expect others to do likewise
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Will I Have
Enough Work?
The anesthesia services employment market is stronger
than ever. Currently there are over two thousand
advertised jobs for Locum Tenens CRNAs. The overall
market for Locum Tenens and Permanent anesthesia
positions should remain strong despite the increase
of anesthesia schools. In addition, over 50% of
the CRNAs currently practicing in the United States
are less than ten to fifteen years from retirement.
Most CRNAs who work Locum Tenens jobs on a full-time
basis carry multiple state licenses. This will increase
the opportunities for Locum Tenens placement. We
believe where you get licensed is very important.
Generally we recommend getting licensed in those
states where there is a high demand for services.
Feel free to contact one of our medical recruiters
at any time for licensure recommendations.
Although we cannot obtain a license on your behalf,
we can help expedite a license and help you through
some of the red tape. Please update us whenever
you acquire a new license.
A Nurse Licensure Compact has been implemented in
several states, allowing a nurse to have one license
(in his/her state of residency) and to practice
in other compact states under a system of mutual
recognition. At present, the compact only applies
to RN licensure, so a CRNA would still be required
to obtain an Advanced Practice License in each compact
state where he/she intends to work.
Currently, the Compact states are Arizona, Arkansas,
Delaware, Idaho, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland,
Mississippi, Nebraska, New Mexico, North Carolina,
North Dakota, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, New
Hampshire, South Carolina, Utah, Virginia, and Wisconsin.
Note: Colorado is predicting to become a compact
state in October of 2007. For more information about
the Nurse Licensure Compact, contact the National
Council on State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN).
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What Income
Can I Expect To Earn?
Most CRNAs working Locum Tenens at least 46 weeks
per year are earning an average annual gross income
of $184,000.00. By working overtime and taking call,
you can significantly increase this figure to well
over $200,000.00 per year. You will also be eligible
for another $5,750.00 to $8,050.00 in meal allowances.
You will be paid for each hour that you work with
an industry standard guarantee of 8 hours per weekday.
During weekday call, you will earn a pager fee in
addition to being paid for any hour you work. During
a weekend, the call fee will be the equivalent of
a 5-hour minimum, plus the hourly rate for any hours
worked. Hourly rates range from $100.00 to $110.00.
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As a Locums
Tenens Provider What Costs Will I Be Responsible For?
As a Locum Tenens provider you will be working
as an independent
contractor. Independent contractors are be responsible
for paying their own taxes (Federal, State and Local),
Worker's Compensation, malpractice, health, disability,
life, and dental insurance, as well as any AANA
(American Association of Nurse Anesthetists) or
other professional dues, CME expenses and state
licensing fees.
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What Legal
Structure Should I Operate Under?
Many CRNAs work either as Sole Proprietors or in
some corporate form such as an LLC, S Corp or C
Corp. Although more expensive, there are benefits
to working as a corporation. Please check with you
tax
and legal advisors before making any decision
regarding which form to work under.
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Am I Responsible
For Paying My Taxes?
Yes. It is important that you pay the correct amount
of tax in a timely fashion. Please check with your
tax
advisor.
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Who Pays
For My Expenses At An Assignment?
Most clients provide transportation, lodging and
a meal per diem for any day worked.
If the assignment is too far away from where you
live to drive, then you will receive roundtrip airfare
and a rental car for your use during the assignment.
If it is practical for you to drive, you will be
reimbursed for roundtrip mileage up to the standard
IRS rate in effect at the time.
Lodging can be a hotel room, a suite hotel or a
fully furnished apartment. Our agreements with our
client state that lodging must be acceptable to
the CRNA. Some providers choose to arrive and stay
in their personal RVs. In most cases, clients will
reimburse an amount equal to their standard lodging
package.
At most assignments, CRNAs also receive a meal per
diem of $30.00 per day worked
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What About
Health Insurance?
Being a healthcare provider, you understand the
importance of health insurance. Initially, coverage
may be obtained through your spouse's employer or
by utilizing Cobra health benefits from your former
employer, which can be purchased for up to 18 months
following employment.
There is a lot of talk these days about the skyrocketing
cost of health insurance, but there are many good
plans available at a reasonable cost. Contact an
insurance
broker in your area for a quote. Disability
insurance, while not health
insurance, is a form of protection you may wish
to consider as an independent contactor.
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What About
Professional Liability Insurance?
As an independent contractor, you will be responsible
for providing your own liability insurance. We recommend
obtaining a policy with limits of at least $1 million
per occurrence/$3 million aggregate. Some states,
such as Virginia, require minimum limits of $1.925
million per occurrence/$5.75 million aggregate.
Insurance is available through AANA (American Association
of Nurse Anesthetists) Insurance Services at (800)
343-1368.
Although obtaining your own policy is generally
less expensive, National Anesthesia has the
ability to insure CRNAs at a nominal cost per day.
Cost of coverage for CRNAs vary by assignment and
may be obtained by contacting us directly. Depending
on the assignment, this cost may or may not be covered
by the client.
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