5 Things I Love About Locum Tenens

• Travel: The best part of working in locum tenens is the travel! I am able to explore different parts of the country without having to pay for anything out of pocket. You get to really explore a town when you live there for several months versus just visiting for 3 days. I have friends and family that live all over, so it’s really nice to be able to meet up with them occasionally.

• Flexibility: Working as a traveling nurse practitioner, I can request as many vacation days off as I want. I usually present these dates to a site before starting, to make sure there are no surprises. I am also guaranteed to have all vacation days off. If I do decide to work on holidays, I am offered holiday pay. If I decide to work four 10 hour shifts or only 32 hours a week, the site will likely accommodate me. 

• Great Pay: By working locum tenens, I make more than I would make working at a full-time job. When I began working locum tenens, I started off immediately making $10/hour more than I did at my perm job. I am also guaranteed paid for any overtime hours worked, which is nice since most salary employees work more than 40 hours a week without overtime pay.
• Learning: Part of the appeal of doing locums is working in various environments. Depending on the type of facility and patient population, I am constantly being challenged and learning something new. The physicians at these sites are often welcoming and open to providing a quick consult if needed.

• Miles/Points: As someone who loves to travel, collecting airline miles and hotel points throughout my locum tenens assignments is a plus. I have joined most reward membership programs, and am constantly accruing miles/points. I am then able to use these miles to fly free during my vacations. In addition, my multiple hotel stays have gotten me top elite status, which comes in handy when I stay at these hotels during my travels abroad (free breakfast and room upgrade perks etc.).

What are some reasons you enjoy working locum tenens?