Locum CRNA Jobs in West Virginia

What Life Is Like in the State of West Virginia

West Virginia is defined by rugged Appalachian mountains, tight-knit rural communities, and a slower pace of life surrounded by forests, rivers, and vast outdoor recreation areas. For CRNAs working locum tenens assignments, the state offers a unique blend of high-need rural hospitals, regional medical centers, and academic facilities that depend heavily on temporary anesthesia staffing. Many West Virginia regions struggle with ongoing provider shortages, making locum CRNAs essential for maintaining surgical services, obstetric coverage, and procedural care across much of the state.

1. CRNA Work Environment

• Diverse Practice Settings:
  • CRNAs in West Virginia practice within large systems such as WVU Medicine, CAMC (Charleston Area Medical Center), Mon Health, Marshall Health, and Appalachian Regional Healthcare, as well as dozens of community hospitals and critical access facilities scattered across the state.
  • Locum assignments often include mid-size regional medical centers in cities like Morgantown, Charleston, Huntington, Beckley, Parkersburg, and Wheeling, along with smaller hospitals that rely on locums to keep ORs and OB units functioning.
  • Many facilities have limited anesthesia staffing flexibility, so absences, turnover, or increased OR volume often translate into immediate locum needs.
• Supervision Model & Scope:
  • West Virginia is a supervision state and has not opted out of physician supervision requirements. However, real-world autonomy varies widely depending on the hospital, team structure, and available anesthesia personnel.
  • Larger hospitals typically use the care team model with anesthesiologists directing CRNAs. Smaller and rural facilities, by necessity, often allow CRNAs to practice with broad independence within the supervision framework.
  • The West Virginia Association of Nurse Anesthetists (WVANA) advocates for improved CRNA utilization, expanded rural access, and reductions in administrative barriers that affect practice flexibility.
• Locum Demand & Case Mix:
  • West Virginia has one of the strongest locum CRNA markets in the region due to ongoing provider shortages, challenging recruitment pipelines, and geographic isolation in many counties.
  • Case mix varies significantly: larger regional centers may include trauma, cardiac, neuro, vascular, thoracic, and complex oncology; community hospitals typically focus on general surgery, OB, ortho, ENT, GI, and chronic pain procedures.
  • Rural hospitals often provide locum CRNAs broad responsibility, including OB coverage, on-call duties, and emergency cases where they may function with fewer direct resources than in larger systems.

2. West Virginia Licensing & Travel Notes

• Licensure: A West Virginia RN license and CRNA recognition through the West Virginia Board of Nursing are required. The state is not part of the Nurse Licensure Compact for APRNs, so CRNAs must obtain a WV-specific license.
• Turnaround Time: Licensure processing can vary but often takes several weeks. Verification delays can occur, especially for providers licensed in multiple states.
• Malpractice Coverage: Most locum agencies provide malpractice insurance; some hospitals also include CRNAs under system policies. Providers should confirm limits and whether tail coverage is included.
• Nearest Airports: Major access points include Charleston (CRW), Clarksburg–Bridgeport (CKB), Huntington (HTS), and Pittsburgh International Airport (PIT) for northern assignments.
• Travel Considerations: Mountain terrain, two-lane roads, and winter weather can extend travel times. Snow, fog, and winding elevation changes are common, especially in the central and eastern mountains.

3. Cost of Living

• Housing & Short-Term Stays:
  • West Virginia has one of the lowest cost-of-living rates in the country. Short-term rentals and extended-stay hotels are affordable and widely available near regional medical centers.
  • Smaller mountain towns may have limited housing options, so many locum CRNAs rely on agency-arranged lodging or corporate housing tied to major hospitals.
• Everyday Expenses:
  • Utilities, groceries, and fuel are typically lower than national averages, making take-home pay go farther.
  • Rural areas tend to have fewer dining, shopping, or entertainment options, leading many locums to spend less overall during assignments.
• Financial Trade-Offs:
  • Locum pay in West Virginia ranges from moderate to high, with rural and hard-to-staff facilities often offering some of the most competitive rates in the state.
  • Assignments that include call, weekend coverage, or OB responsibilities often pay premium rates and can significantly increase weekly earnings.

4. Major Cities & Assignment Locations

• Charleston & South-Central West Virginia:
  • Charleston Area Medical Center (CAMC) anchors this region, offering high-volume surgical services, trauma care, and multiple specialty lines.
  • Locum CRNAs may experience a wide case mix, from complex inpatient procedures to high-throughput outpatient surgery.
• Morgantown & North-Central West Virginia:
  • WVU Medicine operates one of the state’s most advanced medical systems, with major campuses in Morgantown and additional hospitals across the region.
  • Assignments here may include academic-style OR environments with trauma, cardiac, neuro, oncology, and transplant exposure.
• Huntington & Western West Virginia:
  • Marshall Health and Cabell Huntington Hospital provide steady OR volume with a mix of general surgery, OB, ortho, GI, and specialty procedures.
  • This region tends to offer consistent locum demand due to staffing shortages and busy OR schedules.
• Beckley, Bluefield, & Southern Counties:
  • These areas contain several high-need community hospitals and critical access facilities that rely heavily on temporary anesthesia coverage.
  • CRNAs in southern West Virginia often work with small teams, take more call, and handle a broader range of responsibilities.
• Eastern Panhandle (Martinsburg, Berkeley Springs, Charles Town):
  • Close to Maryland and Virginia, this region has growing population centers, expanding hospital systems, and increasing demand for anesthesia coverage.
  • Assignments here may offer a balance of suburban lifestyle and manageable commute times to larger metros.

5. Lifestyle & Recreation

• Outdoors & Recreation:
  • West Virginia is known for world-class outdoor activities: hiking, whitewater rafting, fishing, mountain biking, rock climbing, and exploring state and national parks.
  • New River Gorge National Park, the Monongahela National Forest, and Seneca Rocks are major attractions for weekend adventures.
• Culture & Community:
  • The state’s culture emphasizes hospitality, tradition, and community pride. Locum providers often feel welcomed in smaller towns where hospital staff and residents appreciate visiting clinicians.
  • Local festivals, small-town diners, bluegrass music, and Appalachian heritage contribute to a distinctive cultural experience.
• Climate:
  • West Virginia experiences all four seasons, with cold winters, snowy mountain regions, and warm, humid summers.
  • Weather can vary dramatically by elevation, affecting travel time and reliability, especially for early-morning OR shifts.

6. Things CRNAs Should Know

• Transportation & Commuting:
  • A personal car is necessary for almost all assignments. Public transportation options are limited outside major towns.
  • Mountain roads, narrow passes, and changing weather add complexity to daily commutes, especially during winter assignments.
• Scheduling & Workload:
  • Many hospitals run lean anesthesia teams, meaning locum CRNAs may work independently within supervision requirements or handle wide-ranging responsibilities.
  • Expect busy OR schedules, frequent add-ons, and call shifts in rural regions.
• Practice Culture & Onboarding:
  • Credentialing can be straightforward for smaller hospitals but more extensive for WVU Medicine or large systems with academic ties.
  • Clear communication about expectations for induction, airway management, OB coverage, and documentation workflows helps ensure smooth onboarding.
• Professional Community:
  • CRNAs in West Virginia are supported by the WVANA, which provides continuing education, legislative advocacy, and opportunities for connection.
  • Locums who return regularly often establish long-term relationships with regional hospitals and secure recurring contracts.