Crna 1099

[rodvigcrna]

I am saddened to inform that I no longer passionate.

I graduated from anesthesia school recently and decided to take a position at a level one trauma center with a high acuity neonatal intensive care unit thinking that I would get great experience and grow as a CRNA. I was happy to make the money a new graduate CRNA makes out of school. I like the extra income, but I was more interested in learning.

Instead I have been hitting a wall that is making me bitter and frustrated.

I find the CRNA's rarely ever do central lines, arterial lines, or regional anesthesia ath the facility I am working at. I don't even touch the difficult airway cart. We are not aloud to handle the fiberoptic scopes. To make matters worse, there is alot of micromanagement at the facility. I might as well be a monkey watching the monitor for the anesthesiologists. :monkeydance::monkeydance:

To add insult to injury. New graduate CRNA's are assigned to mostly bread and butter stuff. ALOT of endo !!!! Hard work for half the money I can make at a surgery center.

Meanwhile, my husband carries me on his healthcare insurance plan from work. I have no need for the insurance being provided to me at work, and I am not compensated for declining to take it.

Instead of letting the situation ruin my mental well being, I have decided that I will concentrate on making my career as lucrative for me as I possibly can. I am considering giving up my full time position and working at a surgery center or a comunity hospital as a 1099 contracted person.

My question is. How do I do this?

What are the benefits?

Are there any benefits?

Your help will be greatly appreciated.

RODVIGCRNA

[kukukajoo, LPN]

Good for you for taking your career in your own hands! Someday I hope to become a CRNA if I can ever get out of nursing school!

There is another board on here under nursing specialty forums that is just for CRNA's and I am sure someone on there can help you with the process of becoming a 1099.

Best wishes to you in your future!

[justme1972]

I don't know anything about hospital workers (I'm a student), but I do know alot about 1099 contract workers.

The truth is, when you are 1099, you are self-employed. Just like a Building Contractor, some Real Estate agents are 1099, some nurses are 1099.

You get a much higher salary, but nothing else...no social security, no 401K, no pension, no health insurance, no life insurance, no job protection, no guarantee of work tomorrow, no workman's comp, no disability (short or long)...you get money, and that's it. It's up to you to purchase any benefits you want.

You will also have the expense of working with an accountant because you will most likely be required to filed quarterly taxes, which you have to budget for yourself, b/c the employer won't do it for you. If you find yourself out of work, you can't file for unemployment...b/c that benefit goes out the door as well...you also don't have any level of job protection unless the contract specifies for a period of time.

I would highly suggest contacting a CPA to find out the pros and cons of being a 1099 employee versus a W-2.

Many find out it's not worth it.

[TazziRN, RN]

I don't know where you live, but I worked at a rural hospital where CRNAs were part of the staff and did many of the cases. It's only recently that MDs were on staff as anesthesiologists; until then we used only CRNAs and they were supervised remotely by an MD. The way it works now, the MDs are there certain days of the week for scheduled cases, the CRNAs are there the other days and they also do all the on-calls. They are part of the hospital staff so they get benefits.

[meandragonbrett]

Look online at the various anesthesia staffing websites. It sounds like you need to work private practice and then just do cases at the local hospitals. That way you're not involved in the hospital politics (as much). Also ask about scope of practice. If you like the hospital you are at over all, but just not liking the way CRNAs are treated, try gathering some articles about APRN in acute care and APRN skill sets. In the local trauma center has CRNAs on staff and they do all of their own lines, swans, etc. as well as being VERY autonomous. They cover all anesthesia services (CV, OB, Trauma pager, etc.) Good luck and I hope you rediscover your passion!