Posts Categorized: Locum Tenens

Locum tenens hospitalists accept temporary work at hospitals around the country to fill in gaps created by physicians who are on leave or those who have left their positions. Locum tenens jobs come in many forms, all of which offer a wealth of benefits.

Flexible Scheduling Options

Locum tenens physicians can choose schedules that suit their personal needs, whether this means a full-time position with maximum earning potential or a part-time job that allows for greater work-life balance. As these are temporary positions, it’s easy to try out a particular schedule for a brief period of time and sample some different options. Locum tenens hospitalist jobs can provide extra income around an existing full-time position or allow physicians the flexibility to step away regularly for other opportunities like international work with organizations like Doctors Without Borders.

A Diverse Choice of Work Locations

In 2019, 85% of health care facilities used locum tenens physicians to fill gaps in staffing. Physicians can find locum tenens positions everywhere, from bustling urban areas to remote rural towns. This provides a wealth of options for those seeking new experiences. Physicians interested in travel can use this type of work as a paid opportunity to see new places and experience the many different sides of health care across the United States.

Extra Income

Physicians who want to pick up extra shifts to help pay off student loans or handle other expenses can often find a part-time locum tenens job near their home. This is a great way to fill in schedule gaps with lucrative work. Physicians who are stepping back from full-time work can also use a locum tenens hospitalist job as a convenient way to make extra money. Hospitalists can pick up these jobs as needed for additional income on a short-term basis that’s free from the commitment that a new full-time job requires.

Money-Saving Perks

Working as a locum tenens hospitalist comes with some perks that physicians won’t always enjoy in regular full-time jobs. The staffing agency often covers malpractice and professional liability coverage for locum tenens physicians. When travel is involved, some workplaces will even cover travel and housing expenses for physicians who aren’t from the area.

An Introduction to New Environments

Locum tenens work is particularly appealing to new physicians or those who are considering a major change in their work environments. Physicians who are newly out of med school can take on a variety of locum tenens hospitalist jobs to see what different states, cities, populations, and facilities are like.

These short-term jobs offer an easy way to sample these work opportunities without having a number of job changes. As a locum tenens hospitalist, employers expect the physician to leave after a set period of time, so there’s no need to deal with giving notice and quitting the position if it’s not the perfect fit. Professionals interested in locum tenens work can start exploring local options through The Talent Society. With an extensive job board of positions, there are myriad opportunities to explore.

Moonlighting is working another job outside your main source of income. It’s common in the medical field, allowing physicians and residents to make extra money and experience other work environments while allowing care facilities the chance to supplement staff and see more patients. Medical moonlighting can be a great opportunity for residents who are looking for supplemental income and additional learning experiences. Understand the pros and cons, so you can decide if moonlighting is right for you.

Pro: Get Additional Experience

Physicians at every level of their careers engage in medical moonlighting. When you practice medicine somewhere outside your current job or specialty, you gain experience that you otherwise might have missed out on. Moonlighting can help you keep your skills fresh, can give you an idea of completely different job environments, and can teach you things you might not learn in your residency program. Don’t forget that you’ll meet new medical professionals who can become part of your network.

Con: Sacrifice Free Time

The life of a resident isn’t easy, and moonlighting requires you to give up your already limited free time that you might otherwise spend with family, on hobbies, or resting. Some residents might be tempted to take on a lot of moonlighting work, but that can interfere with research opportunities and other events in your residency program. The best way for a resident to approach this potential pitfall is to set a limit on the number of moonlighting shifts per month, say one to three, while still staying within bounds of the 80-hour workweek limit. That ensures balance, while still giving you the benefits of moonlighting.

Pro: Make Extra Money

Medical school is not cheap, and when you’re a resident, you aren’t yet making the salary that you will as an attending. A major reason residents engage in moonlighting is to help pay down those school loans. Moonlighting can provide financial assistance with other types of debt, too, like with your house or car. It can also be a great way to earn some extra cash to help support your family. While it might be tempting to spend the extra cash on something fun, the most financially wise decision is to pay down debt or save it.

Con: Finding Jobs as a Resident Can Be Complicated

First, your residency program needs to allow residents to moonlight. Some programs don’t, so check before you look for any jobs. Some jobs require board-certified or licensed physicians. Additionally, check on the malpractice insurance offered by any potential jobs before you accept. Malpractice is a real concern for residents and understanding malpractice insurance helps find the right moonlighting situation. As long as you have the right information, these complications shouldn’t prevent you from moonlighting.

Does moonlighting sound like something you’d like to do? You can use moonlighting to try out different work environments and to let a few employers see what employing you would be like. While this type of work isn’t right for every resident, it can be a valuable and enriching experience.

For health care workers just starting out in their career, looking for adventure while they work in their field, or for those who may look for health care facilities in various locations, being a locum tenens is a viable option. Here is a list of the Benefits of Working Locum Tenens.

A locum tenens nurse practitioner (NP) substitutes for a regular nurse practitioner while providing similar services, including disease prevention education, physical patient examination, interpretation of diagnostic tests, writing medical prescriptions, and patient counseling.

Depending on their contracts, NPs may work for as long as a year in various working environments. Why would nursing professionals work as a nurse practitioner locum tenens?