Courtney Irving’s decision to pursue locum tenens was shaped by something simple and deeply personal: she wanted her career to fit her life, not the other way around. Before working locum tenens, she was in a role where she was putting in the effort and not feeling valued for it. At the same time, she kept coming back to one question:
"What if I could do the same thing, make more money, and be able to say I am not going to work Thanksgiving or Christmas because that is important to my family," she explained.
That thought did not stay hypothetical for long. It became the turning point that pushed her toward locum tenens jobs and a new chapter as a locum tenens CRNA, where flexibility and choice were not perks, but the foundation of the work itself.
Today, Courtney describes the shift with certainty.
"I love working as a locum tenens CRNA. It's probably one of the best decisions I've ever made, and I can't see myself going back to the W-2 grind."
Flexibility was the first change Courtney noticed when she started working as a locum tenens CRNA. Moving from a W-2 position into locum tenens CRNA work gave her more than the occasional long weekend off; it gave her control over her schedule. As a Mom, she wanted a schedule that allowed her to be present for the moments that mattered, without having to negotiate for them.
"I'm able to create my schedule around spring breaks and summer vacations and spend holidays at home, which is really important."
With locum tenens work, scheduling control is built into the model. Courtney can take locum tenens jobs that align with her priorities and intentionally shape her calendar, rather than trying to fit family commitments into a schedule created by someone else. Whether it was school breaks, soccer games, or holidays, the benefit was not only time off, but time that felt protected.
"It has really afforded me the opportunity to not only make a good living for my family, but also be able to support my daughter."
For Courtney, working locum tenens became a way to keep showing up clinically while also showing up at home, without having to choose between the two.
While autonomy over her schedule was a defining part of Courtney’s move into locum tenens, it was not the only one. Over time, working locum tenens also expanded her clinical exposure. Each new facility came with its own pace, patient population, expectations, and workflows. That variety pushed her to adapt quickly and grow more confident walking into unfamiliar settings.
“Working locum tenens, it expands the types of cases you’re doing. I’ve done everything as a locum, I get students all the time, I get more challenging cases, and it makes it so much easier for me to teach and allows me to give great anesthesia care.”
That growth has carried into how she works with new teams. Moving between facilities helped her become more comfortable learning expectations quickly, communicating clearly, and staying steady in her approach to care as settings changed from assignment to assignment.
Her clinical growth also connects to the work she does outside the OR. Courtney mentors through the Diversity in Nurse Anesthesia Mentorship Program, supporting nurses pursuing nurse anesthesia and offering guidance to CRNAs as they grow in the field. Locum tenens has helped widen her reach, connecting her with more students and colleagues across the places she practices.
As Courtney settled into locum tenens, she realized that the work is only part of what makes the lifestyle sustainable. The other piece is having a team that keeps things steady behind the scenes, especially between locum tenens jobs. That is why she has partnered with Medicus for the last three years, a relationship she describes as consistent, reliable, and genuinely supportive.
“I didn’t know much about Medicus when I started, but now I can’t see myself working for another locum tenens company. What you guys do is next level, definitely the best.”
What stands out most about Medicus for Courtney is its continuity. Her recruiter keeps close communication, follows through, and brings context to every conversation, so Courtney is not starting from scratch each time she considers a new assignment. That familiarity helps translate her priorities into real options, roles that match her schedule, align with what matters to her, and place her in clinical settings where she can do her best work.
With Medicus as her locum tenens agency, Courtney feels confident she has a partner who helps make working locum tenens more seamless, so she can stay focused on patient care and the life she has outside of work.
When Courtney talks about locum tenens, she describes it as a path worth exploring for CRNAs who want more control over how their work fits into their lives. Her advice is direct, grounded in her own experience working locum tenens and seeing what that change made possible.
“Transition to locum tenens, you will not regret it. You will not want to go back to W-2 at all. If you want to make the jump, make it.”
For Courtney, this has never been only about leaving a W-2 role. It has been about shaping a career that still centers the work she loves while giving her the autonomy to prioritize her family, keep growing clinically, and stay connected to mentorship. As a locum tenens CRNA, she has found a model that supports both professional fulfillment and personal balance, and she has built a locum tenens career that feels fully her own.
Interested in working as a locum tenens CRNA with Medicus? Click here to view our open locum tenens CRNA jobs or complete the short form below to connect with a Medicus recruiter.