Work-life balance through locum tenens: Seeking career growth
Locum tenens positions are becoming an increasingly popular option for doctors. Many physicians want more flexibility and control over their schedules. These temporary jobs allow physicians to take charge of their work-life balance. They customize when, where, and how often they work through temporary assignments.
Locum tenens doctors have the flexibility to pick their schedules. They can choose the length of each job assignment. In addition, if they want, they can long breaks in between jobs. This enables them to insert extended periods for rest, personal interests, vacations, continuing education, or simply enjoying life outside of work. Any physician looking for a change should learn about locums tenens opportunities.
The ability to choose assignments
In addition to flexibility in scheduling, many locum tenens providers also have more options in terms of assignment locations compared to traditional physicians. Thanks to the temporary nature of locum tenens, doctors can consider geographically diverse job opportunities without needing to officially relocate. Whether wanting to remain in a home-based area with occasional changes of scenery or deliberately accepting assignments nationwide, the variety keeps career experiences exciting. Locum tenens physicians may even get paid to essentially vacation by picking up work in interesting new destination locations.
Financial incentives
Locum tenens physicians and providers can earn very lucrative salaries, often significantly higher than permanent staff. At premium rates ranging from $100 to over $200 per hour, working extra shifts can rapidly increase total pay.
Overtime, holidays, and less desirable shifts are almost always paid at time-and-a-half or even double time. A locum working Christmas could easily clear over $1,000 just for that one day. This helps locums maximize both their per-hour rate and total hours.
Additionally, locum tenens agencies usually cover costs for travel, housing, malpractice insurance, and licensing in new states. By reducing living and practice expenses, more pay goes directly into the locum’s pocket. This allows them a very flexible, travel-based lifestyle at a high salary with minimal expenses.
More autonomy, less security
The main tradeoff with the locum lifestyle is less stability and job security. However, by consistently receiving excellent evaluations from healthcare facilities, physicians can develop the right contacts and have steadier work opportunities. The relationships built with staffing agencies can also provide support in finding appropriate assignments. As long as patient care remains a top priority, skilled locum tenens clinicians will be in high demand.
Importance of community
Additionally, while locum tenens offers doctors more liberty in charting their course, the paths between assignments can be challenging to navigate at times. Traveling to assignments as a solo practitioner rather than being part of a tight-knit healthcare team can be isolating for some. Building a local network of colleagues, friends, and mentors is crucial. Having connections outside of the workplace provides valuable emotional, social, and professional support during the ups and downs of an alternative career like locum tenens.
Customized work-life balance
In the end, locum tenens gives physicians options, perhaps the most valuable element for better work-life balance and well-being. The flexibility to choose when, where, and how intensely doctors work gives them back some of the autonomy traditionally relinquished in long-term medical positions. Determining an individual philosophy on career versus personal pursuits and deliberately aligning locum tenens opportunities with those values allows these clinicians to shape specialty careers with proper life boundaries intact. With so much potential for professional satisfaction and personal fulfillment, it’s no wonder an increasing percentage of physicians are now embracing locum tenens.
