Independent Contractors in Acute Settings

[Wa State RN]

I am a independent contractor for hospital setting (tele floors) and I go through an agency here in town. They find me the work and I go. They don't take out taxes etc so I have a great accountant to help with all the write offs. My question is this: Do I need to go through an agency to do this? Or can I go directly to a HR rep and approach them? It sounds weird to do it on my own but from what I have read it seems like lots of you all are going out and making your own contracts etc. Is that because it is out of the hospital setting? If anyone can help with this quesiton I would appreciate it.

[nightingale, RN]

Yes, you can do it on your own. It is "complicated". I think, there are a lot of subtle pushes you need to continue on in to be successful. Hopspitals for one, IMO, do not "want" to give independence to their nursing pool. I doubt those that do subcontract with me via the agency really know I am subcontracting as an independent.

I do not want to discourage you, for I feel that there are those possibilities to drectly contract, I myself have been unable (or in great part unwilling to dedicate the time to be "dedicated to ONE facility) but... yes it can be done.

The key, is finding the decison maker for the contracts at the hospital. Not necessarily, and not most often, Human Resources. When you place your call to find the decision maker for the contract, as for the person who handles Vendor Contracts, keep notes and contact names, and be prepared to be diligent.

I am sure many on this board can offer great advice.

May I please get the name of your agency who handles subcontracts as I am keeping a list.

Let us know how you are doing and please keep in touch.

[renerian, BSN, RN]

I think the hardest part was paying for or having workmans comp which is unlikely, paying medicare taxes and social security.

renerian

[xkred27]

I too am an independent contractor who works for an agency that does 1099. Recently I have establish an S-corp for additional tax savings. I have a co-worker who is doing the same thing, except for his next contract he set it up on his own. He feels that the hospital views him as being more legitimate since he has his own corporation. As an additional benefit, they will be paying less for his services since he is not going through the agency. The only concern that I would have is that if your agency were to find out that you were setting up contracts on your own they, you might loose them as a resource