The Benefits of CRNA Travel Jobs
Anesthesia practice has come a long way since the first nurse anesthetists administered chloroform during the Civil War. Every year brings greater possibilities for independent practice and greater choices for choosing your workplace settings.
As a new decade gets underway, it may be time to consider: is your CRNA job as good as it gets? Or are you looking for a possible change in your career?
The professional and personal benefits of locum tenens nurse anesthetist jobs may be just what you’ve been seeking.
Just like with permanent positions, traveling CRNAs can administer anesthesia in a variety of inpatient or outpatient settings. But these temporary assignments can add flexibility, extra income, travel benefits, and other lifestyle perks to your career options.
CRNA jobs noted for compensation and growth potential
Certified registered nurse anesthetists (CRNAs) are overwhelmingly satisfied with their careers, with 98 percent reporting in Medscape’s 2019 Nurse Satisfaction Survey that they are happy with their career choice. CRNAs are also the highest-paid advanced practice nurses.
In its 2021 Best Jobs ranking, U.S. News ranked nurse anesthetists:
#9 in Best Paying Jobs
#10 in Best STEM Jobs
#8 in Best Healthcare Jobs
#19 in 100 Best Jobs
U.S. News bases their rankings on a number of factors, and the researchers found that compensation and opportunities for growth are higher than average for CRNAs, but ranked them lower than average in the area of flexibility regarding alternative work schedules and work-life balance.
Whether working in hospitals, surgery centers, or other outpatient clinics or practices, CRNAs enjoy helping patients and developing an appropriate plan for anesthesia care, especially when allowed to practice at the full extent of their training.
As of January 2020, 30 states have granted CRNAs independent practice without requiring physician supervision. Other states, such as South Carolina and Florida, will consider that move this year.
Nurse anesthetists practice in all 50 states and U.S. territories, and are the anesthesia providers of choice for the Veteran’s Administration. CRNAs are also the main anesthesia providers in many rural areas of the country.
Preparation for practicing as a nurse anesthetist is changing, and starting in 2025, all CRNAs will need a doctoral degree to qualify for entry to practice. The stats on CRNA careers
CRNAs are in high demand, and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects a 17.0 percent employment growth for nurse anesthetists between 2018 and 2028.
BLS researchers noted that the median salaries for nurse anesthetists were approximately $168,000 in 2018, with some cities paying as high as $285,000.
The Medscape 2019 APRN Compensation Report, which surveyed 460 CRNAs, found that they earned an average compensation of $188,000, down just slightly from the previous year’s high of $192,000. The report also found that part-time or per diem CRNAs were paid a higher hourly rate than full-time salaried CRNAs, $111 vs. $92.
The locum jobs currently available from Staff Care show that current locum tenens CRNA pay rate can range from $103-$145 per hour.
The American Association of Nurse Anesthetists reports that nearly 40 percent of CRNAs are men, compared to other nursing jobs where men account for closer to 10 percent of the workforce.
Benefits of CRNA travel jobs
Traveling CRNAs can earn excellent salaries—as noted above—and have the opportunity to choose where and when they want to work, in part-time or full-time temporary assignments across the country. Their salary rates and other benefits are guaranteed by contract.
As locum tenens providers, they step in for anesthesia practitioners during short-term vacancies, vacations, patient census fluctuations, and other periods of transition.
Some additional benefits of travel CRNA assignments include:
- Career-building nurse anesthesia jobs in top facilities
- The freedom to choose the practice setting, location, and schedule
- Job placement assistance from a dedicated CRNA recruiter
- Licensing and credentialing assistance for each travel assignment
- Free housing, paid travel, excellent compensation, and professional liability coverage
- The chance to try out a new city or visit loved ones during assignments
Nurse anesthetists may choose locum tenens assignments at nearly any stage of their careers, as solo adventures or as a chance to travel with a spouse, family, best friend, and/or pet.
Ready to try travel CRNA jobs? CONTACT OUR STAFF CARE RECRUITERS
We are pleased to honor all nurse anesthesia professionals during National CRNA Week, 2022, and throughout the year.