Why Locum Tenens is the Perfect Fit for Your Healthcare Career
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, there are numerous job openings currently available in the medical field. They're projected to grow more plentiful in the years to come as well. In fact, experts are forecasting about 1.8 million new openings per year over the next decade. Reports show that the demand for medical care in America is rapidly growing. In contrast, millions of healthcare professionals are either retiring or choosing other career paths, and there aren't enough rising professionals coming into the industry to bridge the gap.
While those factors mean that members of the medical field have a world of opportunities at their disposal both now and in the years to come, not all positions are right for all doctors, nurses, physician assistants, and other healthcare professionals. For some, permanent positions with specific medical facilities just aren't the best fit. On the other hand, locum tenens work could be the answer many are looking for. Consider some of the reasons locum tenens positions, like those you'll find through LocumStory, may be the perfect fit for your healthcare career.
Freedom and Flexibility
Freedom and flexibility are leading reasons why many medical professionals choose to become locum tenens providers. This type of work allows you to choose whether you want short-term or longer assignments. You can also choose to stay close to home or travel across the country. Additionally, locum tenens work gives you the freedom to mold your work schedule around your family and personal pursuits for a better work-life balance. That, alone, could make a world of difference in your life and give you far more personal satisfaction in your career.
Less Administrative Burden
Quite a few medical professionals choose locum tenens work because it comes with less of an administrative burden as well. Many doctors, nurses, and other members of the medical field point out that they spend far more time than they'd like on the administrative tasks involved in healthcare. In fact, some feel they spend more time covering those responsibilities than they spend with their patients. That's not generally the case for locum tenens providers, and you can choose positions with administrative requirements that mesh with your needs and expectations.
Diversifying Your Skills and Experience
Locum tenens work also gives you opportunities to diversify your skills and experience. You can choose assignments with different types of medical facilities, including hospitals and private practices. You can also work with different patient demographics and in a variety of areas from highly populated cities to rural areas and everywhere in between. Each assignment brings new experiences and helps you to broaden your horizons. You can spend your entire medical career gaining new skills and experience or use locum tenens assignments to help you find the right permanent position later on.
Transitioning Into New Stages of Your Life
Medical professionals also use locum tenens work to help them transition into new stages of their lives. Some take on locum tenens assignments at the beginning of their careers to help make the transition from medical school into permanent practice a bit easier. Others give up permanent positions for temporary assignments to help ease them into retirement. Healthcare organizations often have specific needs for locum tenens assignments, which can create opportunities for professionals to work in different settings. Whether it’s filling gaps during staff shortages or gaining experience in a new specialty, these assignments provide flexibility and variety. Of course, at any stage of your career where you feel you need a change, becoming a locum tenens provider could help you find exactly what you're looking for.
Transforming Your Medical Career By Becoming a Locum Tenens Provider
Many students forge through medical school with the anticipation of settling into a permanent position at a healthcare facility or opening their own practice once they graduate. When that time comes, though, quite a few find that course of action to be less than satisfying. In some cases, locum tenens work gives them everything they'd initially hoped for in a medical career. If you want to experience an array of healthcare settings in different communities or you're looking for a change in your career, becoming a locum tenens provider could be the perfect fit.