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helpful hints

helpful hints

Choosing An Assignment
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Some helpful questions to ask yourself when choosing an assignment are:

1. Does this assignment match your reasons for traveling? The reasons for travel may be many and diverse. Therefore, I recommend, listing them first and then answering each reason separately “Yes” or “No”.

2. Does the staffing agency match your priorities? Staffing agencies are different. However, what is good for me may not be what you are looking for. Inquire into their Credentialing Department. Who will you be working with? Who and how do they find your housing? FYI, staffing agencies cannot use Air B&B’s to find housing. Speak with someone in the Billing Department about time sheets, overtime, reimbursement etc.

3. Does the assignment description match the agency’s description? This may only come with experience. However, remember the agency recruiter has no idea what it is like to work as a CRNA. So, if you can, ask your fellow CRNAs about the position you are interested in. I hope this website will facilitate this process for you. Also, please remember once you find a position there will be other staffing agencies asking you.

Contracts
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Contracts should be clear and concise. If it is important to you, look for “non-compete” clauses. In other words, does the contract state, you can only work at this facility if you work through the agency you are presently contracted. This can be a problem for you down the road. Although, contracts are “breakable”, I do not recommend this. Make sure everything you need is stated in the contract including but not excusive to: starting and end dates, shifts, overtime and holiday payment, housing, transportation. Review thoroughly prior to signing. Breaking a contract is detrimental to you and traveling CRNAs in general. A great deal of work went into getting you to the job. Choose your battles wisely.

First Impressions Make Lasting Impressions
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The first impression you will need to make is with the Anesthesiologist vetting you for the assignment. Usually this is a simple phone call. I recommend keeping it short and to the point. Be honest and get only the information you need to make an informed decision on whether to pursue the assignment further. This may be your only chance to get the truth behind the agency’s description. Is it a big hospital? How many CRNAs? How many MDs? What are the majority of cases? Do CRNAs do: nerve blocks? OB? Hearts? How flexible are the shifts? Are 8, 10, and 12 hour shifts available? I recommend staying away from “anesthesia politics”. This is not the time to discuss the merits of a CRNA vs AAs, or team approach vs independent practice.

Other first impressions are on your first day, week, month of an assignment. Remember, as a Traveler, every day is an interview. Because of the nature of contract work and the limited time you are there, every impression you make follows you. Therefore, I live by the rule my mother used to say, “If you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say anything at all.”. However, if the situation requires you to speak up, do so--diplomatically.

First Day On the Job
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There usually is a steep learning curve that happens the first week into your new assignment. It’s important to learn as much as possible in the first few days. People are open to answering your questions. Things to learn early in an assignment include: OR layout, equipment, perioperative flow, charting, pharmacy and, most importantly, names! This can be difficult. Anesthesiologist’s frequently use cell phones to communicate. Therefore, when taking someone’s number, also take a picture. That way you will always have a face to match with the name and number. (I got this tip from another traveler. It’s a keeper!)

Trust Your Instincts
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I recommend NEVER taking on a case you are uncomfortable with. As a Traveler this is especially important. The short-term nature of contract work makes it difficult to build trust. It is imperative to the safety of the patient that the Anesthesiologist trusts you and that you trust them. MDs trust you because of your education and the grueling credentialing process you went through to get there. You trust the MD, again, because of their education but also because they work there and know the surgeons and work environment specific to that institution. This is true whether you work 1099 or W-2. The difference is, a Traveler doesn’t have the lasting support found when working as a W-2. Put simply, it is easier to “let go” of a Traveler then a resident CRNA. Make sure you pick your battles carefully and stay true to the priorities you chose when starting an assignment. Traveling CRNAs, as all CRNAs, need to stick together and support each other. Remember, how you practice is a reflection on us all as Traveler’s and CRNAs.

Stress
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Anxiety is similar to fear. However, with fear you know why you are afraid. For example, I’m afraid of heights. So, I avoid them or get over it (no pun intended). However, anxiety is far more elusive and damaging. Anxiety is the emotion of fear without knowing the reason behind that emotion. How does this pertain to travel? Well, it is better to know and face your fears then to let them lie dormant under the surface.

FYI: I exercise, eat healthy and practice yoga which are all helpful to relieve my stress. But that’s just me.

Liability Insurance
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I have my own liability insurance that I keep active for all sites. It is through the AANA, an association I fully support and believe in. It is not cheap. Although I have never have had to use it, I believe it is worth the cost. However, if you choose to use your staffing agency’s LI, you will need to keep track of name, address, phone number, policy numbers and dates of who is insuring you. This gets tricky if you are switching staffing agencies with each assignment.

FYI: I exercise, eat healthy and practice yoga which are all helpful to relieve my stress. But that’s just me.

Assignment Completion
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Upon completing an assignment, getting “all your ducks in a row” is as important as it is upon starting an assignment. When people know your leaving, they tend to forget about you and all the good work you’ve done for them. Therefore, it is your responsibility to get what you need prior to leaving. Number one on that priority list should be references. Number two, case logs. And number three, all contact information on persons and departments responsible for verification of employment and performance. You will need these details for your next and/or future assignments.