Imagine having a meaningful and successful medical career without long hours and stress.
Sounds too good to be true?
The growing trend of locum tenens work allows healthcare professionals to work temporary positions to fill gaps in staffing at hospitals, clinics, and private medical practices. Whether you’re seeking better work-life balance, exploring new locations across the country, or gaining diverse experience, locum tenens offers the opportunity to take control of your schedule and career path.
Keep reading to discover why more healthcare providers are turning to locum tenens—and how it could benefit you and your professional medical career, too.
Table of Contents
- Top Benefits of Locum Tenens Work
- Possible Downsides of Locum Tenens Jobs
- Take Advantage of the Benefits of Working Locum Tenens With Trusted Locum Staffing
Top Benefits of Locum Tenens Work
Working as a locum tenens physician provides lots of flexibility and career advancement opportunities in a profession typically known for long work hours and stress. These positions are also actively sought out for their benefits, and fortunately, there’s a growing need for them in the physician community due to the aging workforce. According to Staffing Industry Analysts, locum tenens advanced practitioner positions grew 23.8% in the first half of 2024.
What are the benefits of locum tenens? Some include:
- Higher-earning potential
- Lighter administrative load
- Greater flexibility
- Opportunity for expanding networks and professional development
- Freedom to travel
- Better work-life balance
Let’s explore the benefits of this career opportunity and how working locum tenens can better support your well-being professionally and personally.
Higher Earning Potential
Most people dream of earning a significant income, but what if you could earn more without being overworked? As a locum tenens staffer, you can often make more money than you would in a full-time position. Healthcare settings hire locum tenens when they have a gap to fill, so many times they are willing to pay more to find a quality candidate and ensure they have enough staff to meet their facility’s needs.
A significant motivating factor for physicians is obtaining an income that will provide a balanced quality of life while quickly paying down medical school debt. Being a locum tenens physician allows you to have the work flexibility that most could only dream of and earn more, which is a win-win situation in the medical world.
Lighter Administrative Duties
For a physician working a full-time job, many administrative duties are required, such as:
- Handling medical records
- Billing and insurance
- Ensuring compliance
- And more
Although administrative duties are expected, 12.7% of physicians raised concerns over excessive administrative tasks in a recent American Medical Association (AMA) study in 2024.
As a locum tenens, you typically require less administrative work, allowing you to focus on practicing medicine and seeing more clients. When performing locum tenens work, your primary administrative duty is electronic record keeping, which can be a relief for physicians who are used to more time-consuming administrative tasks.
Greater Flexibility
The flexibility of working locum tenens cannot be beaten. You can choose how often, how long, and when you work, providing flexibility to a career field usually known for its long working hours.
Additionally, due to the nature of the career, no long-term commitments are required. Depending on your life circumstances, career goals, or need for change, you can move on to additional work opportunities with a short lead time.
An Expanded Network
Networking can benefit any career, but in the medical field, it can open up different career opportunities. Working in various facilities allows you to meet more medical professionals than you would typically meet in a full-time setting, allowing for more significant growth opportunities. This can benefit those seeking a new locum tenens job or permanent career change.
More Opportunities for Professional Development
In addition to networking, you can grow professionally due to the exposure to different medical settings. As a locum tenens staffer, you can:
- Be exposed to new specialties
- Expand skills
- Increase knowledge
- Work with diverse patient populations
- Stay current with new technologies and procedures
The Chance To Try Various Jobs in Different Areas Risk-Free
After completing medical school, knowing exactly how you want to practice can be overwhelming. Do you want to work in a private practice or a hospital setting? Would you like to specialize in a specific field? Working as a locum tenens physician allows you to test the waters before committing to a particular work style.
The best part? If it is not a perfect fit, you can move on to the next opportunity, allowing you to find your dream work setting faster.
Some popular settings for locum tenens work are:
- Hospitals
- Clinics
- Rural healthcare settings
- Private practices
- Surgery centers
- Nursing facilities
- Rehab facilities
- Mental health facilities
- And more
Possible Pre-Retirement Shift
For those in medicine nearing the end of their professional careers, transitioning to locum tenens can be a gradual move to retirement. This career opportunity is becoming increasingly popular for those considering retirement.
Some benefits of considering locum tenens work before retirement are:
- Having more control over your schedule
- Allowing for flexible hours while deciding on the next move
- Scoping out new locations to work or retire
- Committing fewer hours to your work schedule
Burnout Beater
As a physician, burnout can happen quickly and impact your professional and personal life. According to the American Medical Association, 48% of physicians experience burnout. Some work conditions that often lead to burnout for physicians are:
- Time pressure
- Chaotic environments
- Low control over work pace
- Not enough time allotted for patient care or follow-ups
- A large amount of administrative work
By working as a locum tenens doctor, you can often choose where and how often you work. You can also switch jobs if the environment is not what was expected.
Freedom To Travel
Working full-time can limit your travel opportunities, but working as a locum tenens physician can provide the opportunity to earn a significant income while exploring different parts of the country. This can benefit those who enjoy traveling or want to experience different environments before settling in one spot. Additionally, many common travel expenses such as airfare, transportation, and lodging are included when relocating for your new locum tenens job.
Possible Downsides of Locum Tenens Jobs
Although there are many positive aspects to locum tenens work, medical professionals should be aware of some considerations before embarking on this new career path. Trusted Talent understands these challenges and provides solutions and support to ensure any hesitations are met with positive solutions.
Challenges of Credentialing and Licensing in Multiple Locations
When working in a locum tenens position, you must have qualified and up-to-date credentials and licensing in the state where you practice. Some states require little paperwork, while others are more complex and time-consuming. This is also an essential consideration for those wanting to travel from state to state.
How Trusted Locum Staffing Can Help
Trusted Locum Staffing provides a streamlined credentialing process that allows you to get the correct paperwork filed quickly for your new job. Our team of recruiters is available 24/7 to support and answer any questions you may have about a locum tenens job, giving you the peace of mind you need when making a big career jump.
Hassles of Setting Up Travel and Housing Arrangements
Working locum tenens requires interim housing and travel arrangements, which can be overwhelming or expensive over time. Choosing a place to live, whether temporarily or long-term, can be difficult.
It can often be stressful to find a location that provides safety and security if you have never visited the area. Some considerations should be:
- Safety
- Distance to work
- Opportunities to build community
- Price
How Trusted Locum Staffing Can Help
Our concierge care team and travel team will take care of every detail of your travel and housing arrangements. They are available to answer any questions and assist in finding a safe and practical home, whether for you or your family. After you settle in, someone from the team will check in throughout your contract to help in any way possible.
Potential Lack of Support
Being in a career that requires moving, working in different settings, and starting over often can be unnerving and lonely. It is essential to ensure that you feel comfortable in your work environment, whether you have been there for a few months or years.
Additionally, a new work environment can introduce a different set of regulations, expectations, and professional needs. New circumstances, such as finding your own healthcare benefits, may also cause increased confusion and stress.
How Trusted Locum Staffing Can
Being in a new city can be isolating, but Trusted Locum Staffing can ensure you have a supportive community available. You can count on us to provide:
- Priority placement that is dependent on your goals and priorities
- 24/7 support from our recruiters
- White glove service to ensure your assignment is handled with care
- Comprehensive malpractice coverage to ensure you are taken care of no matter the situation
Additionally, our team understands what to look for in contracts and can help ensure you commit to a locum tenens position that benefits you and protects your time, career goals, and finances. If the position requires outside health benefits, our team can help find the best fit for you.
These are just some of the benefits you can expect from your Trusted Locum Staffing recruiter. Someone from our team will always be available to assist and advocate for you, ensuring your needs are met around the clock.
Take Advantage of the Benefits of Working Locum Tenens With Trusted Locum Staffing
After hearing about all the wonderful benefits of locum tenens work, you may be ready to take the leap into a new career opportunity. When looking into locum tenens work, you must be supported and set up for success. If you want to take your career in a new direction with a locum tenens position, we offer the support you need to ensure you are taken care of every step of the way.
While using Trusted Locum Staffing, you will be matched with a:
- Travel team – This team works closely with you to match your career goals and supports you through interviews, moving, and while working in your new position
- Compliance team – This team ensures you meet facility standards and supports the process through certifications and licensing.
- Payroll team – This team makes sure you are paid accurately and on time. They support any questions you may have about deductions, benefits, and more.
Each team is dedicated to ensuring your success in your locum tenens career. Interested in taking the next step? Start browsing locum tenens jobs with Trusted Talent today.
