As the hospital floor buzzed with activity, Juliette Ngwe, early in her nursing career, often found her attention drawn to the quiet corners of the halls, where patients wrestled with challenges less visible than their vital signs.

"I found myself consistently drawn to patients who were struggling emotionally, psychologically, and spiritually," she explained. "I witnessed how easily their needs were overlooked in fast-paced hospital settings, and how transformative it could be when someone simply took the time to listen, understand, and provide care without judgment."

What she witnessed in those early years set the direction for her career, ultimately leading her to become a psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner (PMHNP).

Becoming a Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner

Deciding to become a psychiatric nurse practitioner was not a decision Juliette took lightly; it came from a deep-seated belief that mental health is both profoundly necessary and often underserved. Her early experiences as a nurse brought that belief into sharper focus.

“I pursued advanced training to become a psychiatric nurse practitioner,” Juliette explained, “I wanted to be on the front lines, helping to destigmatize mental illness, offering hope, and improving access to quality psychiatric care—especially in communities and facilities that are often stretched thin." 

Choosing a Career as a Locum Tenens PMHNP

After several years of working as a full-time PMHNP, Juliette saw firsthand how uneven access to psychiatric care could be. She began looking for a way to maximize her reach beyond the walls of a single facility and bring care directly to communities in need.

That search led her to locum tenens. As a locum tenens PMHNP, Juliette could ensure coverage in facilities stretched thin, reducing wait times and delivering psychiatric care to communities that needed it most.

Beyond patient impact, locum tenens also offered Juliette something equally important: career balance. The flexibility of the work gave her more control over her schedule, helped her avoid burnout, and allowed her to continue developing her skills across various healthcare settings.

With all that in mind, in 2022, she decided to leap into working locum tenens. All she needed was a reliable partner.

Finding a Locum Tenens Agency

When it came time to find a locum tenens agency to partner with, Juliette wanted more than placement services. She wanted a partner who cared about her both professionally and personally.

"When I made the decision to work as a locum provider, I wanted a company that not only understood my professional goals but also supported me as a person,” she explained.

In her search, Juliette discovered Medicus Healthcare Solutions. From her first interaction with the Medicus team, to her recruiter Emily,  she quickly noticed Medicus’ mission as a locum tenens staffing agency was remarkably compatible with what she sought in locum tenens work.

"They didn’t just treat me like another clinician filling a role,” Juliette explained, “They took the time to understand why I do what I do and matched me with assignments that truly aligned with my expertise and passions." 

That alignment gave Juliette the confidence that she was making the right move with the right partner in place to support her locum tenens career.

Experiencing Seamless Support with Medicus

Juliette’s transition into working locum tenens was straightforward. Her onboarding process was smooth and transparent. She was especially impressed by how organized and communicative her recruiter and Medicus’ in-house licensing and credentialing team were as they helped her acclimate to working locum tenens.

"Every credentialing step, every facility introduction, every detail, I never felt like I was navigating it alone,” Juliette expressed.

What stood out most was the ongoing support. Whether she had questions, concerns, or unexpected challenges, someone at Medicus was always available to help.

"They don’t rush you, and they never make you feel like a burden,” she expressed, “I’ve had real conversations with real people who care about how I’m doing, not just how I’m performing. That kind of human connection and reliability is rare. It’s one thing to find a locum company that places you in a role; it’s another to find one that stands beside you in that role." 

Two years later, that partnership continues to give her the stability and support she needs to pursue her passion for expanding access to mental health care.

Highlighting the Role of Partnership in a Locum Tenens Career

 

For Juliette, success in locum tenens has been about more than the work itself; it has also depended on finding the right partner. In her case, Medicus has become a driving force in her career as a locum tenens psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioner.

“Medicus has consistently gone above and beyond to make sure I feel empowered, supported, and valued,” she shared. “From regular check-ins to swift communication with facilities when issues arise, to simply remembering to ask how I’m doing, they’ve proven time and again that they’re more than just a staffing agency, they’re a partner in my professional journey.”

Drawing from her own experience, Juliette encourages physicians and advanced practitioners considering working locum tenens to look for the same kind of support.

"If you’re a provider who values flexibility, meaningful work, and genuine support from a team that cares, I can’t recommend Medicus highly enough,” she shared. “They make it possible for clinicians like me to show up fully for our patients, because we know someone has our back." 

Interested in partnering with Medicus as a psychiatric NP locum tenens? View our open locum tenens jobs here, or complete the short form below to connect with a Medicus recruiter.