Patient Care Providers

Patient Care Provider Facts

Examples of Independent nurses
Independent contractors provide nursing services to patients in their home. If services are in a healthcare facility, they are under the direction of the facility's nurse. The patient pays for the services. The nursing care must follow the state's nurse practice act.
Healthcare facilities and temporary staffing services can get in trouble with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) if they hire independent contractors. Agency contracts usually have a clause holding the nurse responsible for any back taxes and penalties.
Independent homehealth providers contract with the state Medicaid system and become an RN provider. The services are provided to Medicaid patients and money is collected from the state Medicaid program.

Holistic nurses are independent practitioners. The services provided must fall within the position statement issued by the state nurse practice act. Nurse practitioners can diagnose and treat; but a medical collaborator and/or supervision is needed in some states. Higher education is required in the form of a masters. Requirements are different in different states.
Esthetic nurses provide cosmetic treatments ordered by a physician. In most states, the physician does not have to be onsite.

Earnings
If you are working alone as a independent contractor, the earnings are limited to the number of hours you can physically work.
A forty-hour week yields about a $125,000 to $250,000 annual income depending on your bill rate. Nurse practitioners' bill rates are higher than an RN's. If you have employees, the amount is based on the number of employees and the number of hours they work minus employee expenses and wages.

Retrived from http://www.nnba.net/facts-direct-patient-care.htm on October 25 2008

Independent Nurse Contractor Guide http://www.independentrncontractor.com