If you've spent any time exploring nurse anesthesia online, you've probably heard people talk about locums, 1099 practice, and the freedom and flexibility they can offer. But what do those terms actually mean? And how do they differ from traditional W-2 employment?

In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Nijma Yusuf, CRNA—founder of Direct to Locums, entrepreneur, and national advocate for the nurse anesthesia profession—to break down one of the most talked about and often misunderstood career models in anesthesia. We start with the basics, discussing the differences between W-2 employment, 1099 contracting, and locums practice before exploring the advantages, challenges, and common misconceptions surrounding each path. We also dive into Nijma's personal journey, including her decision to leave a large academic practice shortly after graduation and how that decision ultimately led her into the world of locums and independent practice.

One of the goals of the CRNA Mentor Podcast is to open your eyes to the many opportunities that exist within nurse anesthesia. Whether you're years away from becoming a CRNA, currently in nurse anesthesia school, or already practicing, this episode provides valuable insight into how different career paths can shape your professional growth, autonomy, and lifestyle. Most importantly, this conversation is not about which path is best—it's about understanding the options available to you and learning how to intentionally design the career you want to build.

Thank you for tuning in. If you're looking for mentorship, community, and guidance throughout your journey to become a CRNA, join the CRNA Mentor Community and connect with thousands of aspiring nurse anesthetists pursuing similar goals.

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New episodes drop every Monday—start your week off right with CRNA Mentor Monday!

Many nurses aspire to become CRNAs. But long before you ever administer an anesthetic, something else has to happen first—you have to begin thinking differently.

In this episode, I sit down with Brandon Brueckner, a new SRNA whose experience as a Critical Response Nurse at a Level I Trauma Center helped shape his clinical judgment, leadership skills, and provider mindset before starting CRNA school. Together, we explore how this unique nursing role exposes clinicians to rapid responses, deteriorating patients, high-pressure decision-making, and constant collaboration with intensivists, trauma surgeons, emergency physicians, and advanced practice providers.

We discuss: • What a Critical Response Nurse actually does • How repeated exposure to unstable patients sharpens clinical instincts • Learning to anticipate interventions before providers arrive • The hidden lessons gained from observing experienced physicians during emergencies • Why developing a provider mindset matters long before CRNA school begins

One of the biggest takeaways from this conversation is that becoming a CRNA starts long before your first day of anesthesia school. The real advantage comes from intentionally seeking experiences that challenge your thinking, expand your clinical perspective, and help you grow beyond task-oriented nursing into a clinician who understands the bigger picture.

Join us in the CRNA Mentor Community: https://facebook.com/groups/crnamentorcommunity

Check out my other CRNA Mentor resources: https://stan.store/CRNAmentor

New episodes drop every Monday—start your week off right with CRNA Mentor Monday!