If you are a physician, nurse practitioner, or physician assistant looking for a new path, consider becoming locum tenens. As a locum, you will work with your recruiter to be matched with a placement in need of your skills and experience. Although no guarantees can be made, mention your dream places as you may be able to land a contract in New York City or Alaska, or somewhere in between. We love hearing your stories, so please let us know where you land!
What is locum tenens?
Locum Tenens is a Latin word meaning to hold the place. Our locums are temporary workers in needed areas. Nurse practitioners, physicians, and physician assistants are among those that our recruiters are currently placing around the country.
At AB Staffing, we’re placing medical staff in hospitals and clinics where the need is great. Whether because of the healthcare shortage, the pandemic, or rural areas, our locums are there to cover hours and shifts. In the last several years, this has become a way of life for physicians and others to gain experience or slow down their careers. They love the flexibility that being a locum offers.
What are the benefits of locum tenens?
The perks of locum tenens work include the opportunity to live in a new place while learning a new skill or expanding knowledge in a particular area of medicine. You will control your schedule. If you’d like to work a 13-week contract, the standard in the industry, let your recruiter know you’d like the next number of weeks off as well as your next available dates. It is also an opportunity to give back to a community that needs medical staffing.
What experience is needed?
As a locum, Physician Assistants and Nurse Practitioners will need 1-3 years of experience or completion of Residency for physicians. That is because there will be limited if any, training when you arrive at your new facility. Because you may need to hit the ground running, it is helpful to understand your role and procedures, before moving to a new location. As a Physician, you will also need to be Board Certified or Board Eligible before you begin an assignment.
How long do typical locum tenens assignments last?
Our typical contracts range from 13-weeks to 6 months. There may be an opportunity to extend if there is a need and you are interested. Always stay in communication with your recruiter and let them know how your experience is. This will help them place you on future assignments.
Where are locum tenens positions available?
We have positions in hospitals and clinics across the country in rural, suburban, and urban areas. Your recruiter can provide details about specific facilities in areas that may be of interest to you.
Can I choose my location?
Yes! Check our Job Board for current openings. If you are 50+ miles from home, that’s considered traveling. If you have a specific specialty or location, there may be limited options.
How do locums get paid?
A locum physician is considered an independent contractor which means you are responsible for paying your own taxes. That is part of the reason locums are paid more than staff positions; part of your income is for taxes. You will fill out a timesheet and we will pay you weekly. As a nurse practitioner or physician assistant, you will be W-2 and have taxes taken out of your paycheck.
Can I work as locum tenens if I’m retired?
Yes! There is a great need, especially with the burnout from pandemic care, so slowing down as a locum or coming out of retirement is greatly helpful. Because you control your schedule, you can try it for a contract and see how you like it.
Do I have to arrange my own housing and travel?
At AB Staffing, we have Housing Specialists who can help you find a place to live. Some assignments have dormitory or shared housing options while others leave accommodations up to you.
Can I bring my family and/or pets with me?
Yes, just let your recruiter know ahead of time so they can search for assignments that make sense for your family. It will be helpful for our housing specialists to know if you will be bringing pets, what kind and size, spouse, and children. While many locations have suitable options, others do not.
Can I work locum tenens part-time?
Yes….and no. You can work a contract but will need to work the hours as assigned. If you need to work part-time, let your recruiter know as soon as possible so they can match you to an appropriate contract. Some of our locums work 12-hour shifts so they can have several days a week off to explore their new city or go back home. Other contracts are full-time Monday thru Friday 8am – 5pm and some are 4, 10-hour shifts. It depends on your position and facility.
What benefits are locums offered?
AB Staffing offers Weekly Pay, Liability Insurance. Depending on the assignment, other benefits are available to you at an additional cost.
Who covers malpractice/liability insurance?
Your agency will provide that for you. AB Staffing provides this service to our providers at no additional cost.
What happens if I need assistance while on assignment? Who do I contact?
Much of your communication will be with your recruiter, including timesheets, on-the-job issues, and safety concerns. They can assist or direct you to the right people within our agency.
How are licensing and credentialing managed?
AB Staffing has a credentialing department that works with the hospitals to get you cleared and ready to work. In some cases, we can also help you obtain another state license quickly to help move the process forward.
Consider all that we’ve shared in this article about locum tenens work and decide if it would be a good fit for you and your career.
Interested in learning more? Contact us today!
