Pros and Cons of Locum Tenens CRNA Jobs

Locum tenens work has become an increasingly common career option for Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs). By taking temporary anesthesia assignments at healthcare facilities, CRNAs can experience different practice settings, schedules, and professional environments.

However, locum tenens work is not inherently better or worse than permanent employment. Like any career path, it comes with both advantages and drawbacks. Understanding these pros and cons can help CRNAs make informed decisions about whether locum work aligns with their personal, professional, and financial goals.

This article provides a balanced overview of the benefits and challenges of locum tenens CRNA jobs, with a focus on realistic expectations rather than outcomes or promises.

Advantages of Locum Tenens Work

Many CRNAs are drawn to locum tenens roles for the flexibility and variety they can offer. While experiences vary, several potential advantages are commonly cited.

Higher Hourly Pay (Contextualized)

Locum tenens CRNA positions often offer higher hourly or daily pay compared to permanent roles. This is partly because facilities are compensating for short-term needs, lack of benefits, and the temporary nature of the assignment.

It is important to view higher pay in context. Locum compensation typically does not include benefits such as health insurance, retirement contributions, or paid time off. Additionally, gaps between assignments can affect overall annual income.

Schedule Flexibility

One of the most appealing aspects of locum work is the ability to choose when and where to work. Some CRNAs use locum assignments to take extended time off between contracts, while others maintain near full-time schedules with short breaks in between.

This flexibility can be especially valuable for CRNAs seeking greater control over their work-life balance or those transitioning between career stages.

Geographic Variety

Locum tenens allows CRNAs to work in different regions, states, or facility types without committing to a permanent relocation. This can appeal to those who enjoy travel or want exposure to diverse healthcare systems.

Geographic variety may also provide insight into where a CRNA might eventually want to settle in a permanent role.

Skill Diversification

Working in multiple facilities exposes locum CRNAs to a wide range of anesthesia practices, case mixes, and care models. Over time, this can contribute to broader clinical experience and adaptability.

For experienced CRNAs, locum work may also help maintain clinical sharpness by working in different environments with varying expectations and workflows.

Disadvantages of Locum Tenens Work

Despite its advantages, locum tenens work also presents challenges that may make it less suitable for some CRNAs.

Lack of Benefits

Most locum tenens CRNA roles do not include traditional employee benefits such as health insurance, paid time off, retirement plans, or disability coverage. CRNAs working locum assignments must typically arrange and fund these benefits independently.

When evaluating locum opportunities, it is important to consider total compensation rather than hourly pay alone.

Travel Fatigue

Frequent travel can become physically and mentally demanding over time. Adjusting to new locations, housing arrangements, and daily routines may contribute to fatigue, especially during longer or back-to-back assignments.

While some CRNAs enjoy travel early in their locum careers, others find that constant movement becomes less appealing over time.

Credentialing Delays

Credentialing and licensing requirements can be time-consuming, particularly when working in multiple states or facilities. Delays in credentialing may postpone assignment start dates and create gaps in income.

Managing paperwork, documentation, and compliance requirements is an ongoing responsibility for locum CRNAs.

Inconsistent Income

Unlike permanent employment, locum tenens work does not always provide a steady paycheck. Income may fluctuate due to assignment availability, credentialing timelines, or personal scheduling choices.

CRNAs considering locum work should plan carefully for periods without active assignments and account for variability in cash flow.

Lifestyle Considerations

The impact of locum tenens work extends beyond compensation and scheduling. Lifestyle factors play a significant role in determining whether this career path is sustainable.

Family Impact

Time away from home, irregular schedules, and travel demands can affect family life. CRNAs with partners, children, or caregiving responsibilities may find certain locum arrangements more challenging than others.

Clear communication and careful planning are often necessary to balance locum work with family commitments.

Burnout Risk

While locum work can reduce burnout for some CRNAs by offering flexibility and change, it may increase burnout for others due to constant transitions and lack of routine.

The absence of long-term workplace relationships may also impact job satisfaction for CRNAs who value team continuity.

Stability vs. Flexibility

Locum tenens represents a tradeoff between flexibility and stability. Permanent roles often provide predictable schedules and long-term security, while locum work emphasizes autonomy and adaptability.

Understanding where one falls on this spectrum can help clarify whether locum work is a good personal fit.

Lifestyle fit is often the deciding factor in whether locum tenens work feels sustainable. CRNAs who value independence and variety may thrive, while those who prefer routine, long-term colleagues, or geographic consistency may find permanent roles more satisfying.

Who Tends to Thrive in Locum Roles

Although locum tenens is not ideal for everyone, certain CRNAs may be more likely to find it rewarding.

Early-Career vs. Late-Career CRNAs

Some early-career CRNAs pursue locum work to gain exposure to different practice settings, while more experienced CRNAs may transition to locum roles later in their careers for greater autonomy.

New graduates, however, may find fewer locum opportunities available until they have developed sufficient independent clinical experience.

Single vs. Family CRNAs

CRNAs without significant family obligations may find it easier to accommodate the travel and scheduling demands of locum work. Those with families may still pursue locum roles, but often prefer shorter assignments or regional opportunities.

Permanent-Job Burnout Cases

Some CRNAs turn to locum tenens after experiencing burnout in permanent positions. In these cases, locum work may offer a change of pace, reduced administrative burden, or renewed professional engagement.

However, locum work should not be viewed as a guaranteed solution to burnout, as it introduces its own set of stressors.

Locum tenens CRNA jobs offer a unique mix of benefits and challenges. Higher pay potential, scheduling flexibility, and professional variety can be appealing, but these advantages are balanced by inconsistent income, lack of benefits, and ongoing administrative demands.

There is no universally correct choice between locum tenens and permanent employment. The right path depends on individual priorities, financial tolerance for variability, lifestyle needs, and career stage.

Carefully weighing both the advantages and disadvantages — and reassessing them over time — can help CRNAs determine whether locum tenens work is the right fit at a particular stage of their professional journey.