Plenty of aspects of locum tenens has changed within the last 10 years. For one thing, it has become more popular for nurse practitioners. I remember when I started, there was no information out there to become a traveling NP, hence why I created this blog. Now you can find travel NP influencers, books, and other websites.
A lot of medical facilities are now used to having locums providers, compared to when I started. At that time, other providers saw locums as “risky”. They assumed locum providers couldn’t get a permanent job anywhere else, which is why they had to do locums. Now many providers are interested in doing locums, whether on the side or even briefly between career gaps. I know plenty of full-time colleagues that asked me for locum tenens recommendations since knowing them. They now see locums as flexible and rewarding.
There are more way more agencies. Before it was just the large ones such as Barton and Comp Health. Now you have many mom and pop agencies, that tend to pay more and provider better concierge service. You can definitely leverage your opportunities by being credentialed with multiple agencies.
The pay has definitely increased. This may mostly be due to inflation and how companies had to become more competitive with pay after covid. Since starting a career as a locum tenens NP, my income has increased by 70%. That definitely surpassed the annual 3% raise you typically get staying at a full-time job.
Housing options has become more flexible. I remember initially locum tenens agencies only wanted their clinicians to stay at extended-stay hotels. It slowly turned into furnished apartments and Airbnb. Now they even offer housing stipends as an option.
It has been nice to see Locum Tenens evolve over the years, mostly for the better. Does anyone else remember any large changes in the locums space over the last decade?
