Are you considering becoming a Locum Tenens? It can be a great opportunity for many healthcare professionals but it’s important tp understand the pros and cons before making the decision. In this blog post, we’ll discuss the advantages and disadvantages of Locum Tenens and help you decide if it’s right for you. Lets dive in and explore the Locum Tenens pros and cons!
Pros
The Paycheck
For many Locum Tenens, the income you receive on assignments is one of the biggest pros of the job. So much so, that there are even students who come right out of residency and jump straight into a Locum Tenens position to pay off student loans. This means that if you have any payments you’d like to get out of the way, this is an excellent opportunity to do so.
Or, you could be on the opposite spectrum, wanting to create a foundation for yourself. A nice block to build your career, your surroundings and yourself on. Whatever your reasonings are, being in demand for hospitals needing your extra hands comes with great pay.
On top of this, having a specialty under your belt could bring you more lucrative positions with once again, greater pay.
Work/Life Balance
We have spoken about this before, and it should be an important focus for many people. Many positions in the workforce, unfortunately, run you into the ground. While the health care industry is not so much different, its reasonings definitely provide a more understandable ground. We mean this in the sense that you are consistently helping people with any injury or illness. All day long. The issue with people needing doctors and nurses so badly is burnout. Burnout can occur when individuals become overwhelmed by the demands of their job and feel unable to keep up with the workload.
Locum Tenens positions can be managed in a way that minimizes the risk of burnout, allowing for a more successful and rewarding experience. This is due to your short-term contracts. Once your assignment is completed, you have the option to go straight back into another role or take some time off before beginning again. You can work and take a week, even a month, to get ready for your next assignment.
Avoiding The Politics
If office politics isn’t something you particularly enjoy or want to be a part of, then this most definitely is a position for you.
When you are hired as a Locum Tenens, the healthcare facilities only want you for one thing, your skills. Anything to do with you or what you are doing; naturally lands on someone else’s desk. Morning and afternoon meetings don’t involve you, you won’t be asked to weigh in on anything, typically concerning policies and you get to go home at the end of the day hands-free. A very, very significant pro of working as a Locum Tenens.
Travel
Without a doubt, one of the biggest pros of becoming a Locum Tenens is the travel. Maybe not as pro as the pay, but definitely up there. If you have a sense of adventure and have been cooped up in one place for far too long, then the travel aspect of the job is going to be huge for you. There are many incredible places to visit around the country, plenty of cool things to do, food to eat and people to meet. You’ll really have the opportunity to venture out and see what each area you land in has to offer.
While you are making friends with your co-workers, be sure to use travel as a means of becoming friends. You can always have them show you the local spots and things you won’t be able to find on TripAdvisor.
Cons
Being Flexible
While you could plan out your whole calendar to line up with your perfect outcome, we have to remember that sometimes things just don’t go to plan. This too can happen in a Locum Tenens position.
Hospitals may terminate contracts on short notice due to insurance-related issues or operational changes; they may also require relocation to a position available in a rural area.
Taking on this position means needing to roll with the punches. Positions that fall through can be picked up by other opportunities and rural positions can not only bring a brand-new experience but much more pay. If you can see the good in the sudden changes, or at least be ready for them, you’re going to be okay.
You Are Temporary
Some people thrive in leadership positions. They handle the people, shifts and unconventional circumstances super well. In a Locum Tenens position, your usual leadership role will fall to just another physician.
It is important to remember that your role is to practice medicine and that, while you may be in a temporary position, you should refrain from providing advice or opinion unless specifically requested.
Other than, of course, practicing medicine, your position in the facility kind of really depends on you. You may miss out on office gatherings, but if you put your best foot forward, your colleagues will do their best to keep you in the loop and involved.
Time Away From Family
It is easy to become entrenched in the familiar day-to-day routines of being close to our loved ones, making it difficult to envision embarking on an unfamiliar journey alone. Locum Tenens often spend extended periods of time away from home.
While there are many Locum Tenens pros and cons, it is how we view the cons that allow us to be able to enjoy the pros. Heading into a travel position can have some struggles in its limited time frame, but boasts massive benefits in pay, balance and travel.
If you’re a Physician or Advanced Practice Professional considering a Locum Tenens position, TheraEx Locums is here to help! Our experienced recruiters understand your unique needs and can provide you with the guidance and support you need throughout the process. Plus our 24/7 availability ensures that you always have the help you need.
If you have any questions on how to become a Locum Tenens, please do not hesitate to contact us here.
