Locums Agencies

[Fin P]

Looking for guidance on affiliating with a Locums company. Which ones are the best for CRNAs. Looking for a company 5hat looks out for me as much as I do for them. Honest, upfront about rates, lodging, expenses, work conditions ect. Those of you who have run the gambit are welcome to reply. Thanks in advance
Fin

[mattyrn]

crnatogether[dot]com

[Bucky1982]

I know this is an old thread- but it seems as if the forums on this site may be starting to gain a pulse again, haha… so shouting into the void here… but any CRNAs who have left a W-2 job to go out as an LLC doing PRN or taking Locums assignments. The money (on the surface) seems better, but has anyone out there done this for a number of years and can compare the pros/cons? I have plenty experience, but am also very comfortable with my job at a major metro hospital.

[GassyCRNA]

So I do prn/locums, and I can definitely tell you—not all agencies are created equal, not by a long shot. Each one obviously has its own pros and cons. In my experience (and from talking with other CRNAs I’ve worked with), the bigger agencies tend to be the ones that offer the lowest pay/rates—likely because of their overhead. I don’t give out my CV before I know where the job is, and I would never lock into a schedule without flexibility. Also, in my experience, agencies that really push large referral bonuses? Red flag.

I’ve done both PRN and locums assignments over the past 5 years, and honestly, I prefer it to when I was W2 at a facility. I actually left the facility I used to work for and now do PRN there because the rates are higher. I make more, but you do have to be proficient at managing your own schedule, paperwork, etc.

In my experience, if you work consistently (or supplement with multiple PRN gigs), form an LLC for tax optimization, pick high-paying locations (like rural or short-staffed sites), and stay on top of budgeting and benefits, you’ll definitely be making around $50k more annually. Could be more or less depending on location. Reply if anyone out there wants more specifics.

[teddy-byebye]

Fin: I’ve got a lot of CRNA years behind me, but I’ll be transparent: I haven’t done locums myself (but I sure get the texts and calls from them daily, lol)… that said, I’ve worked alongside a lot of locums CRNAs across different facilities, and I’ve watched the difference between a good agency relationship and a bad one play out in real time.

If your main goal is a company that’s honest, upfront, and protects you, here’s how I’d approach it.

1. They give you the full deal sheet before you commit. Not “great opportunity, details later.” A legit recruiter can quickly provide:

– Pay structure (hourly / daily / blended)

– Guaranteed hours (or not)

– Call expectations (amount + how it’s paid)

-OT rules (after 8? after 40? weekend diff?)

– Who pays lodging, travel, rental car, mileage, parking

– Credentialing timeline + who handles it

– Cancellation terms (this matters more than people realize)

If they can’t or won’t put that in writing early, that’s not busy, that’s a red flag.

2. They’re direct about the work conditions. The best agencies/recruiters don’t oversell. They’ll tell you, “It’s independent, heavy OB, lots of epidurals.” “You’ll be solo at night.” “It’s medically directed but you’ll be moving.” “It’s bread-and-butter but high volume.” etc, etc.

If everything is described as “easy” and “great staff” with no specifics, assume you’re not hearing the whole story.

3. They don’t play games with rates. A good recruiter is comfortable answering: What is the bill rate or is this a fixed pay package. Is this rate all-in or plus travel/lodging?. What’s the overtime rate and when does it start. etc. If you feel like you’re negotiating in the dark, its probably because you are.

I have also seen colleagues use the leverage of talking to multiple agencies at once. Even if you end up loyal to one recruiter, it can help to start wide. Try picking a few agencies and have quick intro calls. Tell them your must-haves, have them send deal sheets, compare offers side by side, I bet you’ll learn fast who’s organized, honest, and aligned with your goals.

Questions I’d ask every recruiter: Who covers malpractice and tail? What’s the expected case mix? What’s the supervision model? What’s the call schedule? How often? Are there CRNAs currently there I can speak to (even briefly)? What’s the charting system? Any known issues: turnover, surgeon conflicts, staffing gaps? Do you cover lodging directly or reimburse? Those are just what I can think of ff the top of my head that I would want to know. A recruiter who answers these cleanly is usually worth your time.

Red flags I’ve seen from the facility side (that agencies sometimes gloss over)… We just need coverage ASAP with vague details = often a staffing/retention problem. High turnover among locums = something is off (culture, scheduling, expectations). Unclear call compensation.

About “best locums companies”… “Best” probably honestly comes down less to brand and more to: the specific recruiter, the transparency of the contract, their willingness to protect you on expectations, cancellation, and pay terms. I’ve seen CRNAs rave about one agency and trash the same agency because it was a different recruiter and a different facility. If you want a practical approach, shortlist agencies that place CRNAs frequently (not just “anesthesia” broadly), have clear credentialing support, don’t dodge deal-sheet specifics. Do 15-minute calls with a few agencies and tell them, hey I’m looking for transparency: rates, lodging, travel, call expectations, and working conditions in writing up front. If you can’t send a full deal sheet, I’m not moving forward. The good ones should respect that immediately.