What is an Independent Nurse Contractor, you ask?
An Independent Nurse or sometimes called RN Contractor is a nurse who is paid a flat rate for a service she or he provides. This nurse is not an employee of the company, hospital or office she may be preforming her services in. She is responsible for paying her own taxes on the income she makes and also is responsible for her own medical insurance.
An Independent Nurse contractor contracts his or her services usually by the hour.
An Independent contractor can also contract directly with a patient/client for a variety of services.
The contract is similar to those used by nursing agencies and travel companies. You would outline the services you will provide, the responsibilities of both the healthcare facility and the nurse, and the length of time the services are to be provided.
You will be able to negotiate your compensation, hours worked and length of time your services will be needed.
Nurse Contractors practice in all aspects of the Healthcare Industry;
- Home Health
- Nursing Homes
- Hospitals
- Ambulatory Care Centers
- Doctors Offices
- Insurance Companies
You are self employed if you are working as an Independent RN contractor so know how to start, market, run and grow your business.
If you want to be a nurse entrepreneur (self employed) working where and when you want doing bedside nursing this may be for you. But do your research first. Find out if there is a market in your area.
You will have to market yourself heavily. That means getting yourself out there, going to different facilities and doctor’s offices offering your services. You’ll be selling yourself so you’ll need to have some level of comfort here. Not for the nurse who hates selling.
Happy Contracting!
Tina 🙂