As the demand for qualified physicians continues to grow, the number of physicians in the country continues to stay the same. Therefore, the option of locum tenens work becomes a more real and viable source of income and employment. Nowadays, many physicians even work exclusively as locum tenens practitioners. When you are considering supplementing your full-time position with locum tenens work, it is important to consider the pros and cons of locum tenens work.

Here are a few points that are discussed the most as the positive and negative aspects of traveling for locum tenens work:

  • One pro of locum tenens work is the scheduling flexibility aspect of the work. As a locum tenens physician, you can essentially name your schedule and your availability. Whether you want to work a few shifts a week, a few days a month, a full week every couple months, or just a few time slots here and there, you have a lot of control over your schedule.
  • One of the cons of locum tenens work however is that, although you do have control over when you work these shifts, most locum tenens positions will want a certain amount of production out of you with some consistency. This could mean not being in your hometown for special occasions such as birthdays, weddings, anniversaries, holidays, etc.
  • Another pro of locum tenens is your ability to get out there and explore the country. Working in locum tenens shifts allows you to move out of your hometown and into cities that you may have never visited before. This is eye-opening and provides you with the experiences that will be with you forever. An additional plus point of this is that you can have a say on where you go too and can show preference for cities and geographic areas that perhaps you have always wanted to visit.
  • One con that goes along with this is that traveling to different cities in different states will also mean having to pay due diligence to credentials and licensing. Various states approach this differently, so you will want to make sure that you have all of the licensing and credentials you need to practice medicine in any area you go to. (Realistically, if you work with a medical staffing organization, like Medstaff, then this will not be that much of a worry. The staffing agency will not send you to a place that you are not fully qualified to practice medicine in, but it is still a good idea to double check for your own peace of mind).
  • One of the strongest pros of engaging in locum tenens work is the valuable, professional experience that it provides. Constantly working with different healthcare facilities, colleagues, patients, and demographics will teach you thousands of things that you just can’t learn in medical school or from working at your regular job. This experience enhances your resume and gives you valuable connections with other professionals. It is just as much a networking opportunity as it is a learning opportunity.
  • However, a con of this is that, every time you go to work at a new healthcare facility, you will have to learn their policies, rules, restrictions, and procedures. While this is valuable in its own way, it can quickly become tiring and strenuous too.

If you are interested in locum tenens work, the opportunities are certainly there. The demand for locum tenens physicians is higher than it ever has been before and that need continues to grow annually. To get started with this additional income opportunity and beneficial profession, contact Medstaff today at (800) 476-3275.