A Professional Tip Brought to You By: Deacon’s Medical Division

The need for locums has substantially increased since the pandemic, and will continue to grow with staffing shortages. As hospitals constantly have an influx of patients that have to be treated, there will continually be a need for locum support to fill these vacancies.

Locum work has become very popular the last two years, and will continue to grow to ease the staffing gap. Locum opportunities can be very beneficial to individuals for different reasons. Whether you are newly experienced and trying to gain more clinic knowledge, or you are considering retirement but still want to keep your skills sharp. The main benefits of locum work are financial freedom, flexibility and learning new skills at different clinics.

Now is a great time to investigate locum tenen work and if it could be the right opportunity for you! There are so many beneficial experiences to gain, and the market is growing crazy fast.

Is locum tenen work stable? Well, with every career change there is always a risk. Having a plan and knowledge of the job market is crucial as you look to transition into locum work. If your goal is to work back-to-back locum assignments, you will need to be searching for your next assignment at least a couple weeks out. This search can be draining if you do not know what you are looking for, so it is wise to seek guidance from experts in the space who can help. If you are savvy with your time and seek out help for your next assignment, the locum experience can be amazing!

Be prepared going in. Since locum assignments are temporary, that means there is likely a heavy workload to be done. You are expected to jump in and start training right away and learn the equipment so you can get caught up to speed quickly. Most locum assignments are 13 weeks long, and from there many people will either change locum assignments or choose to take a break depending on their personal goals.  There are so many great benefits that come from locum work, including the flexibility, and financial freedom. With that being said, there are high standards to meet, but the payoff can be great.

Finding locum tenen work can be stressful if you do not have help. Recruiters are designed to help you reach your career goals and can be a great resource in making this transition smooth. Embrace the locum life and all the wonderful benefits that come with it!