Curious about locum tenens, but unsure what holds up in practice? You are not alone. Many physicians and advanced practitioners see the advantages of flexibility and autonomy, but lingering misconceptions about locum tenens can make the decision feel uncertain.

To bring a real-world perspective to the conversation, we asked Medicus locum tenens physicians to share the myths they had heard before starting locum tenens jobs and what they found once they began.

Myth: Locum Tenens Does Not Offer Career Stability

Reality: Locum tenens is flexible, not unstable. With planning and the right opportunities, many clinicians create a consistent work schedule.

It can be easy to assume that working locum tenens jobs is unpredictable because assignments are temporary. Locum tenens radiologist Dr. Nguyen has run into that assumption more than once, especially from colleagues who worry the work feels unpredictable:

“There may still be a bias that locum tenens is a bit chaotic. I had a colleague who was very nervous about that, and they said, ‘I don’t know if I can do this, it seems unstable.’ The first thing I said is that's not necessarily true, that there is quite a bit of stability in it; the flip side is that you do need to be flexible in that role.” - Dr. Nguyen, Locum Tenens Radiologist 

Many clinicians discover that stability looks different in locum tenens, but it is still possible. Between ongoing physician shortages and routine coverage needs such as PTO and leave, many facilities regularly turn to locum tenens to bridge coverage gaps, resulting in consistent locum tenens jobs nationwide. Clinicians who want continuity can often pursue long-term locum tenens jobs that keep them in one setting for several months or more. Clinicians who prefer variety can build predictability by scheduling short-term locum tenens jobs back-to-back, creating a level of stability that can feel similar to a permanent role.

Key Takeaway: Locum tenens is flexible by design, but it does not have to feel unstable. With the right mix of planning and opportunities, clinicians can shape a locum tenens career that delivers both work-life balance and consistency on their terms.

Myth: Locum Tenens Jobs are Limited to Hard-to-Staff Clinical Settings

Reality: Locum tenens jobs are available across nearly every care setting, from small community sites to large health systems. 

For clinicians who have not worked locum tenens, it can be hard to separate the idea of a short-term job from assumptions about the quality of the team and the clinical setting. Sometimes the myth sounds like this: if a facility needs coverage, something must be wrong. Dr. Goodwin, a locum tenens anesthesiologist, remembers hearing that stigma early on:

“I’ve always heard this kind of stigma that if you do locum tenens work, it is in bad hospitals, with bad staff, and bad surgeons, and I haven’t had a bad experience. Every place I’ve been with Medicus has been great: the support has been great, the staff is great, and the surgeons are good. So, it really is actually a very lovely work environment. I’m really happy to say that it’s kind of one of those surprises where you say, yay, this is great!” - Dr. Goodwin, Locum Tenens Anesthesiologist 

In practice, healthcare organizations of all types use locum tenens to support coverage and continuity of care, including community hospitals, rural facilities, surgery centers, and academic medical centers. For physicians and advanced practitioners, that range can translate into something simple and valuable: choice. Clinicians can pursue locum tenens assignments in settings that suit how they like to practice, and if one environment is not the right fit, their next locum tenens assignment can take them elsewhere.

Key Takeaway: Locum tenens can expand clinicians' practice locations. Many find that locum tenens jobs offer more choice in clinical settings and locations than they expected.

Myth: Working Locum Tenens Closes the Door on Permanent Roles

Reality: Locum tenens jobs can expand your options, not narrow them.

A common concern among physicians and advanced practitioners is that taking locum tenens jobs signals a departure from permanent practice or makes it harder to return to an employed role later. Dr. Helo, a locum tenens radiologist, has heard this myth firsthand and sees it differently:

“People think that by doing locums you box yourself off from perm jobs, and I think that's kind of the wrong attitude. I like to supplement my income with locums, and I also know that with locums, if anything were to happen with my perm job, I can fall back on locum tenens jobs.” - Dr. Helo, Locum Tenens Radiologist 

In reality, working locum tenens does not mean stepping away from permanent practice. Many clinicians take locum tenens jobs alongside an employed role to supplement income, or between roles to stay clinically active and try out new locations and facilities before making a longer-term commitment. Over time, varied locum tenens assignments can strengthen a clinician’s CV through experience across different settings and workflows, which can be an advantage when pursuing a new permanent role.

Key Takeaway: Locum tenens jobs can build clinicians’ experience without limiting their options. Many clinicians find that varied locum tenens jobs strengthen their CV and support future permanent roles.

From Myths to Next Steps

With these common myths addressed, you may be considering what locum tenens could look like for you. At that point, the questions tend to shift from perception to process: fit, timing, and how the logistics are handled. Partnering with the right locum tenens agency can help bring clarity to the process and make it easier to move from questions to action.

At Medicus, we take the time to understand your goals and connect you with locum tenens jobs that align with your career goals and preferences. Our team supports you through every step of the process, from licensing and credentialing to travel planning and assignment logistics, so you can focus on providing care. Medicus clinicians also have access to the My Medicus Loyalty Program, which includes personalized benefits, travel perks, and exclusive events designed to make your partnership with us even more rewarding.

Ready to take the next step? View our open locum tenens jobs here, or complete the short form below to connect with a Medicus recruiter.