Locum Tenens Tips

5 Reasons to Go from Residency to Working Locum Tenens

Residents working locum tenensPhysicians coming out of residency training are often faced with big decisions right away. If you are not exactly sure what you want to do, or where you want to settle down, hold off on making a long-term commitment. Instead, you can use locum tenens opportunities as a way to do some real-life research.

The benefits of launching your career with this practice alternative are both immediate and long-reaching. At the start, you are able to test out different settings and locations to alleviate fears of the unknown. Down the road, if and when you make a permanent commitment somewhere, the experience you will have gained can help you secure a better contract, and leave you confident you know precisely what you’re signing on for.

Here, we point out more ways to use locum tenens practice to your advantage right out of residency.

1. Broaden your practice perspective. Many residents are exposed to one primary practice setting, whether it’s a large medical center, a community medical center affiliated with a university program, or a federal agency such as the VA or a military branch. After residency, you may naturally gravitate toward positions in the same setting to which you have become accustomed. Locum tenens opportunities allow you to step outside your comfort zone so you don’t inadvertently limit your options.

You may want to try out many different settings, including rural hospitals and community clinics, to see where you fit best. If you are considering a solo practice in the future, you can spend some time in a small group setting to gain valuable exposure to the day-to-day aspects of running a small business.

2. Explore new locations. Whether you’ve been training in the Midwest and dreaming of the ocean, or soaking up year-round sunshine down south but longing for distinct seasons farther north, locum tenens practice offers a risk-free way to try new locations. Plus, reputable staffing agencies, such as Weatherby Healthcare, will help you get a license in a new state and cover the travel costs related to your contract.

If you prefer to stay closer to home, you can also mix things up in your own state, trading the bustle of a busy city for the peaceful pace of a small town, or vice versa. And even if you are already living where you want to be, temporary contracts let you fully explore the different options that are available locally.

3. Bolster your income. Physicians can make approximately the same income providing full-time locum tenens services as they can in a permanent position. But with locum tenens contracts, you also get covered housing, transportation expenses, and malpractice insurance. These are important factors to weigh, especially if you will be paying off student loans, saving for a down payment on a house, or setting up a private practice.

4. Lighten your load. Whether you need to carve out time to prepare for your boards, or just unwind after years of grueling postgraduate training, locum tenens opportunities can provide the flexibility you need. For the first time in a long time, you will be able to control your own schedule. Opting for temporary contracts lets you choose how much—or how little—you want to work.

5. Enhance your quality of life. When you’re just coming out of residency, you have enough on your mind without getting sucked into the office politics and bureaucratic headaches of a new facility. Starting out as a locum tenens provider allows you the freedom to focus solely on advancing your career and providing quality patient care. You are able to go into work, do your shift to the best of your abilities, and then go home, with no administrative baggage.

Going right from residency to locum tenens practice can offer peace of mind. For as long as you want, you have the freedom to try out new practice settings and locations, and focus on your patients. Later on, if you decide to commit to a permanent position, you can rest assured that you have explored all your options and made the best choice.

About the author

Lisa Daggett

Lisa Daggett is well-versed on the topic of locum tenens staffing and was a regular contributor to LocumLife, Healthcare Traveler, and Travel Nurse magazines. She served as associate editor of RN Magazine and as an editorial assistant for Business & Health.

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