January 2019 update

I haven’t been writing or “vlog” -ing lately.  I think it’s important to occasionally update you on the site.  Where we are and are headed can help you see the new information and point to available resources.  

we had a conversation with Bonnie about her career as a locum CRNA via Skype which was transferred to YouTube.  She comes across quiet due to recording via Skype.  In the future we’ll go back to zoom as it records better. I had a couple other recordings but CRNAs decided they would prefer not to post.  Conversations don’t have to be 45 minutes or longer!  Even a recorded question or two would be great, if you want to post for the benefit of the group!  

We are adding to the CRNAandSRNA.com site many of the resources that are part of the LocumCRNA.com site.  The Amazon Store has added books and common travel needs for CRNAs.   

We added a financial advisor with MassMutual who was at the VANA conference and have asked about some guest posts for our blog.   

On the CRNAandSRNA.com site we added CRNA owned companies that are not just CEU or recruiting agencies.  Recruiters can post on the job board that is relatively new on both sites and CEU companies (all CRNA owned) have there own static page always available to you!   

Needs:

I need people willing to discuss on the YouTube channel.  

I need to update the CEU listing for current programs. 

i need to finish all state boards of nursing and CRNA licensure requirements, all state boards are linked to their respective website but I haven’t completed listing their individual requirements.   

I’d love to get more of the CRNA owned companies on the website and maybe list by state.  I think many would be reps like R&F and I think if that’s the case we can put a primary post for the company then each individual that sells.... I can’t have 100 R&F companies as many would quit looking after one scroll.   

I, also, would love to get more information on helpful static pages.  I am going to work on one for student loans as this is always a re-post on the sites, otherwise I need to know what would be most helpful for you?  

Thats your update for January 2019!  Email me at LocumCRNAs@gmail.com if you have suggestions or want to help-out! 

LocumCRNA.com and a new investing page?

I’m thinking it might be interesting to go through investments?  We work hard and make a decent income. What do we do with that income, or how do we invest and protect our investments? 

I’m thinking about using my continuous growth in showing what I have been up to on the investment space.  I can show the websites and what I’m working on in that space.  I can go through real estate holdings and what that looks like.  Not to forget sep IRA V’s Solo 401k and stock market investments.  Then businesses and the different types of investments that I look at and consider. 

I wonder if this is something you would want as a page as it only somewhat relates to our site because locums is the way I finance life and the investments?  

Change is inevitable

It’s Thursday and I’m in my last two days of Massachusetts. This is what I’m doing.  I’ve confirmed my credentials for Texas and started the credentialing in Virginia. Virginia is a different group as the previous took 8 months and came back with telling me I would have to resubmit everything and starting over.  I’ll never deal with a group that does that again.  

So, I’m preparing my luggage and work bags.  I’m making sure copies of hotel bills are sent to the agency.  I’m making sure the final hourly bill is sent tomorrow after work.  I’m slowly packing and getting things ready to go.  I’ll be doing homework the next two nights so more time can be spent with family when I get home.   

I sent in my foreign corporation documents by fax and mail to Texas.  This took 4 minutes from searching the foreign corporation and Texas Secretary of State.   

Min the meantime I’ve been in contact with my accountant.  Talking about the change of location.   

I’ve tracked my route to Texas and planned the day of start in Texas so that all is ready and done for a good and quick start.  I have a badge and person that I’m meeting.  Hotel is set and ready to go.  Seems all I need to do is show up and get started. 

Otherwise we are working on the real estate.  We are offering currently on another potential rental, but we are only getting it if it’s at a deal level. The market is turning again to a buyer level in some environments like where I invest, YouTube for Francisco (growing and getting ready to monetize with ads), and getting Elizabeth set for schools and bank accounts (preparing to pay her annually for work). We are finally hunting for what may be our November vacation as we haven’t done a just Francisco and I vacation in a year or two ;).  The journey continues.   

Leveraging Relationships

  you relationship building and keeping up with your previous facilities, colleagues, and friends?  Are you taking opportunity to go to state level CRNA meetings for continuing education?  

Everyday facilities are looking at the cost of anesthesia and if they can keep expenses low.  Groups are turning over, people go on vacation or maternity/sick leave, & independent practitioners are looking for quality people that don’t want their job but can come in and help.   

Update your resume and keep people aware of your ability to help them given your scheduling.  Keep your files up to date so your credentialing would be easy.  Keep some of you appointments at facilities you might like the opportunity to return to.   

Maintain quality interactions and keep your social media up to date and appropriate so that people know your personal and business life are together.   

Debt reduction as a locum.

I’ve been so fortunate that Francisco is an amazing parent!  Elizabeth has been at home with Francisco 90% of the time and we found a great babysitter through a friend.  Francisco has been knocking it out-of-the-Park with his YouTube channel/ website ConMuchoSabor.com.   

I looked at our debt 7 months ago and was so stressed that we were over $250k in debt not including our home.  I traded my truck for less than half the cost new SUV.  I went to work on locums and raised my rate while telling the place I needed any hours or call I could get.  I’ve been away from the family returning about every 4 weeks for a few days to a week.  We’ve still had time to visit family and a good “working” vacation.  I’m happy to report that our net worth is positive and debt is below 100K.  I’m going to a 2 week on 2 week off lifestyle with intermittent days on my weeks off that will allow us to keep decreasing our debt and allow me more time at home!  Our rental properties have picked up and are now paying for one new property per year and paying thier own expenses.   

I have approximately 3 more weeks away before getting started on my new locum contract!  I’m 12 weeks into my MBA carrying a 3.8 gpa and learning weekly.  I get to pour over financial reports and am doing better each week with my own reports as well!   

I continue to consider business opportunities and think that with time 1,2 or 3 could become something just like the rentals, YouTube or the websites.   

I just wanted to check in and thank you all for the positivity and thank our Locum professionals for keeping us in great standing so we can work, travel, & provide for our families!  We are so blessed!   

Flexibility with Travel, Work, & Vacations

The flexibility & vacation time in working locums drew me in and kept me as a locum nurse Anesthetist.  

Work flexibility with a few facilities around the country has allowed the opportunities to do more with my time. 

Recently, my family visited Costa Rica and extended family!  I was able to speak and although I was a little excited, nervous, & even got a little lost in speaking; it was great to see other CRNAs and have them meet the family.   

We moved to Virginia for surrogacy and failed our first attempts.  It was a true and sad failure but due to locums I’ve been able to pay down the debt that occurred for this attempt.   

We’re paying down our debt load and continued to build the real estate venture over the past 6 months.  It’s been amazing to follow a move and family changes over the past 6 months.  I’ve been able to build on relationships and although working a lot... we are still well on our way to continued financial success in our lives.  Although, I know it’s possible to do this in one location with one job, it’s getting done on a condensed schedule.   

Life, flexibility and continue strong work ethic are leading to change as I continue all the things that are important in our family life.   

Finally, school is just about to finish the first 10 week term toward the MBA.  Nothing game-changing but working on a business mindset continues to be a fun opportunity for change despite my whining and complaining :).   

Totally looking forward to the coming weeks and months!  More to come. 

Mid Year Assembly

I am admittedly non political by nature.  It’s very different for me here at the mid-year assembly and I sometimes feel an almost uninvited vibe being here.  Maybe it’s not uninvited but almost disingenuous vibe.  That feeling of people meeting people to say they know them but no uniform familiarity.  I have to say I came here on a whim and not as a planned event to where I would meet with certain people or advance specific agendas.  I am excited that I have seen some people that I knew from years ago.   

I’ve seen some of the very active and vocal people in the profession and learned from the sessions despite my critiques.  I think we all have our roles and I’m still wondering where mine will be in the coming years.  Totally worth trying new things though.   

I feel like I’m trying to grow but I’m still at the kids table.   I look forward to my meetings over the next few days and will totally share with you some pictures of our trip in DC.  It’s a great time to be out and about and I know Francisco and Elizabeth are getting plenty of pictures while here :).

Locum world

CRNAs glamorize locum position thinking that life is greener on the other side.  It can be nice but it can have its negatives.  It depends on your attitude, expectations, experience, and what you plan to walk away with.  It’s not all roses.   

I look at being a locum as slightly higher paid than the average CRNA as I risk not being able to find work, having to travel with or independent of my family, having to find my benefits, and learning the business end of anesthesia.   

Why am I needed?  When a place has a strained relationship, malignant personality, change in practice type, change in group, or people move-on/retire/pass away.  These are the typical reasons I get called to a group.  The less likely reason, albeit valid at times,  is vacation coverage.  This is typically a nicer reason or maternity leave can be more fun in small places.  

I don’t say this to whine or complain.  This is what goes with the job.  I am still expected to go in happy and excited to be at work.  Happy and excited to work with that Anesthesiologist or surgeon that people warn can be “a little challenging”.   

I would be remiss in not telling you that there are negative things that come with being a locum just like come with W-2 jobs.  You are very unlikely to find a perfect 7-3 m-f no call no overtime on some days and you can do everything you want and or say I don’t do XYZ.  That’s hard to find permanently much less as a fill-in worker.  Flexibility and optimism are definitely needed in our work.  

I am not saying you have to do what’s unsafe for the job.  Please don’t think that.  I’ve shipped out and cancelled cases that needed to be.  I’ve done some cases that were not wanted by others though because they had to be done.   

Please please as you walk into the land of Locums know it’s not all roses... even roses have thorns.  :).  

Is it difficult to set-up a sep-IRA?

I have been a CRNA for quite some time, as you might be aware.  I have tended to keep my earnings and retirement away from the stock market.  As many would chastise me for not taking advantage of tax sheltering, and even I wish I were a better saver.  

I have always invested in real estate.  For a while it was my own home.  Then it was the start of rental property in Kansas.  I am still invested in Kansas and started on my current home in Virginia.  

I have avoided the stock market though.  I have used an E-Trade account as if it were a casino.  I haven’t been an investor but a speculator.  I have invested over the years in the military Thrift Savings Plan ... 1% for 9 years... you know how little that is.  I forget to take time to learn about those things.  I know I need to shelter my taxable income so I am actually doing this.  

I went for weeks totge website for Vanguard but then they said they couldn’t verify me.  Then I had to fax things for the Solo 401K but... I missed 2017.  So, I decided I would do a simple Sep-IRA if I could.   

I was checking my E*TRADE to make sure my Roth IRA transaction went through and then I had an epiphany.  Why not try to set up just an IRA.  I saw the set-up a retirement account button and so I clicked on it.  Bam, Sep-IRA option right there.  Two minutes later i had $6k coming out of my account to fund a Sep-IRA for 2017.  I have until my taxes are filed toget those dollars cought up. I would prefer a Solo-401k but I didn’t get it set-up in 2017 which means no $$$ can beplaced in it for 2017.  So, i now have a sep and I’m working on saving a tax bracket or two by saving more pre-tax dollars toward retirement as my rentals are post tax.

Is it possible to invest in retirement with real estate?  Yes, but have I done this... no.   

Every year, I will try to be more active in my tax planning and save betterfor my family and child or children (someday).   

Credentialing

I just had the nightmare.  A recruiter for a company that didn’t follow-up on my credentials despite my repeated requests to ensure all was ready to go for my March 1 start.  I received an e-mail after hours and very late that questions 4 parts of the credentialing packet which makes no sense.  This means they could not have ever looked at my credentialing paperwork.  I’m telling them that I am taking other work and if they desire to credential I will give them days as I have them available.   

I have called them every two weeks and this failure is blatantly unacceptable.  This is the reason agencies get a bad reputation as they fail to perform at the job.  Credentialing, follow-up, and ensuring an easy contract is the whole reason I see to utilize an agency.   

I am now having to go back to some standby work in order to fill a month but those fill in days don’t pay what they should as a day here and day their do not pay for the days missed in-between.   

I honestly don’t know how I could have been more on top of this.  I have written each of the people at the company and told the how unacceptable this is.  I am now scrambling to be able to pay my financials as I have been biding my time since January to start in March.  

I have been saying more and more that I have to get to zero (credit) debt as I know things happen.  I’m now kicking myself for these things.  So, learn from me and at least have more than two months of savings.  I do have multiple places I am credentialed so work isn’t the problem... it’s work in the area I wanted that is more of a challenge.  

I am contacting several contacts ASAP.  I’ll let you know what happens.