Are private duty nurses, independent contractors, or self-employed?

I suppose a nurse "independent contractor" could be doing a wide variety of things and not just private duty.
I do private duty but through an agency. So, I am not self-employed nor am I an independent contractor. I prefer to do private duty through an agency. I like how the agency is the liaison and deals with all the logistics, paperwork, taxes, insurance, etc. I wouldn't want the hassle of being on my own.

The same here, I do private duty but through an angency also, this way I don't have to worry with all the non nursing paperwork.


Just makes life easier that way, at least for me .

I'm the clinical director of nursing for an agency that contracts with nurses to perform private duty. We consider the nurses who contract with us as independent contractors. We also consider them to be self employed. The nurses decide when they want to work. They are responsible for all nursing supplies such as blood pressure cuffs, gloves, and writing utensils. Most of our independent contracting nurses are LPN's. Under their scope of practice, they have to work under the direction of either a MD, dentist, or RN. We do not put any nurse under contract, it's per diem per shift. These nurses are considered both independent contractors and self employed.

Hmm. This is an excellent question. The best place to get an answer is through the labor board. If your were working as nurse, finding your own clients, setting your own fees and getting paid directly by the clients then you would clearly be an independent contractor. But if you are working though an agency that finds the clients, sets the fees and Does have a schedule for you and you are putting in full time hours for them. Think about it most agencies have shift work available meaning you have to work 12 hour shifts or 8 hour shifts or hours that the Client decides they want a nurse to be there. Doesnt sound like a nurse controlling their own hours to me. And the pay is set. You get paid whatever the agency tells you you will get paid, you have no control over it. And if you dont work the hours and days they need you to work the agency usually wont offer you any work and give the job to someone else. I know some agencies give nurses their entire salary and expect them to pay their own taxes out of it. Even so doesnt mean you are not their employee. A lot of agencies wind up getting into trouble with the state workers comp, unemployment insurance benefits, over stuff like this.