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Onboarding tips from a CRNA: How I set myself up for success in every new role

Smiling healthcare professional in scrubs and a patterned surgical cap wearing clear-framed glasses

Summary

  • Learn how to navigate onboarding for both locum tenens and permanent roles with practical insights from an experienced CRNA.
  • Follow this physician and APP onboarding checklist to prepare for credentialing, first-day logistics and long-term success.
  • Avoid common onboarding mistakes that can delay your start date or impact your early experience in a new role.
  • Understand how recruiters, employers and job boards can support smoother transitions — whether you’re starting a full-time job or a locum assignment.

Starting a new clinical job — whether it’s a permanent position or a locum tenens assignment — can feel exciting, stressful and overwhelming all at once. I’ve experienced both sides of healthcare staffing throughout my career as a CRNA. I started in a permanent role, and for the past several years, I’ve worked locum tenens assignments in a variety of facilities and practice settings.

No matter what type of role you’re stepping into, I’ve learned that onboarding can definitely impact your experience.

A strong onboarding process helps you feel confident, prepared and integrated into the team faster. A poor onboarding experience can create unnecessary stress before you’ve even started caring for patients. And in healthcare, where patient safety, workflows and communication matter so much, those early days really count. Research consistently shows that effective healthcare onboarding improves confidence, retention and overall job satisfaction. 

Over the years, I’ve developed onboarding habits that help me succeed in both permanent and locum CRNA roles. 

Start credentialing early — seriously

If there’s one onboarding mistake I see clinicians make, it’s waiting too long to complete credentialing paperwork.

Whether you’re starting a permanent job or a locum assignment, credentialing is the foundation of your start date. Delays with licenses, privileges, references or compliance documents can push everything back. In locums specifically, facilities often secure coverage far in advance, so a delay can sometimes mean postponing or losing an assignment altogether.

I’ve learned to submit everything as early as possible and stay proactive throughout the process. Don’t assume ‘no news is good news.’ Follow up, confirm documents were received and ask questions if requirements seem unclear. Having everything organized saves a ton of stress.

Checklist outlining essential documents healthcare professionals should organize in an accessible digital folder to streamline locum tenens credentialing and onboarding, including licenses, certifications, immunization records, DEA information, case logs, CV and references.

Prepare for day one before day one

One of the biggest things that helps me feel confident walking into a new facility is eliminating as many unknowns as possible ahead of time.

It sounds simple, but these details matter. Walking into a facility already knowing where to park or who to call immediately lowers stress levels.

Pre-assignment checklist highlighting key details locum tenens clinicians should confirm before starting a new role, including facility access, parking, EMR credentials, reporting instructions and important contacts.

For locum providers especially, every assignment comes with a learning curve. You’re adapting quickly to a new team, a new workflow and sometimes an entirely new EMR system. The more prepared you are beforehand, the easier that transition becomes.

Learn the environment quickly

Whenever possible, I always take a site tour or ask for a walkthrough of the department.

Knowing where things are located not only helps you feel more comfortable, but also prevents that awkward first-day feeling where you’re constantly stopping to ask where basic things are.

Healthcare facility orientation checklist outlining important areas locum tenens clinicians should locate before starting an assignment, including operating rooms, medication and supply areas, call rooms and staff break spaces.

Don’t underestimate the importance of team culture

I wish more clinicians talked about culture fit during the job search process.

Pay and schedule matter, of course. But the way a team communicates and supports each other has a huge impact on your day-to-day experience. I’ve found this especially true in anesthesia.

Even in short-term locum assignments, feeling welcomed by a team changes everything.

I make it a point to introduce myself early, learn names quickly and identify at least one person I can comfortably go to with questions. Those small interactions make a big difference.

Interview checklist highlighting key questions healthcare professionals should ask when considering a permanent role, including workplace culture, leadership, scheduling flexibility, orientation and provider turnover.

Those conversations often tell you more than compensation numbers alone. Many CRNAs I’ve talked to about first-job experiences say culture and overall team happiness matter just as much as salary in the long term. 

Locum onboarding moves faster — but the fundamentals are the same

People often ask me if onboarding is different in locum tenens compared to permanent jobs.

The truth is: yes and no.

Locum onboarding usually happens on a faster timeline. Facilities need coverage quickly, and you’re expected to adapt fast once you arrive. But the fundamentals are still the same:

  • Clear communication
  • Strong preparation
  • Organized credentialing
  • Understanding expectations
  • Building relationships
In fact, because locum providers move between facilities more frequently, onboarding skills become even more important over time.

I’ve learned that flexibility and organization are two of the biggest predictors of success in locums.

Recruiters and support teams matter more than people realize

Speaking of locums — one thing I’ve appreciated most is having recruiter and credentialing support throughout the process.

A strong recruiter helps keep timelines organized, communicates expectations clearly and acts as a resource when questions come up. That support can make onboarding much smoother, especially when you’re juggling travel, licensing and credentialing deadlines simultaneously.

That said, even in permanent roles, support systems matter. HR teams, department leadership and onboarding coordinators all play a huge role in shaping your early experience.

Good onboarding should feel collaborative — not like you’re figuring everything out alone.

My best advice for clinicians starting a new role

If I could give one piece of advice to any physician or APP starting a new role, it would be this: plan ahead, but stay adaptable.

Every facility does things differently. Every team has its own workflow and culture. The clinicians who succeed are usually the ones who stay open-minded and flexible while still advocating for what they need.

And remember: onboarding isn’t just paperwork and orientation modules. It’s the foundation for your confidence, relationships and long-term success in a role.

Whether you’re starting your first permanent position, transitioning into locum tenens or simply looking for a better fit, investing time into preparation upfront will make the entire experience smoother, for you and for your patients.


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Onboarding tips from a CRNA: How I set myself up for success in every new role
Amy Engelhardt

Amy Engelhardt is a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA) with more than eight years of clinical experience. After beginning her career in a permanent role, she transitioned into locum tenens working across diverse healthcare settings. She brings a well-rounded perspective on clinician onboarding, credentialing and adapting to both short-term and long-term roles.

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