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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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Click Here to Register Now
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