Before you reach the end of your residency or fellowship, it is important to take a step back and decide which direction you want your medical career to take.
Navigating life after residency or fellowship can be overwhelming. To help make the transition simpler, start by asking yourself these questions:
- What practice setting do I want to work in?
- Where do I want to live?
- What kind of patient population do I want to work with?
- What would my ideal work schedule look like?
- What does success look like?
Answering these questions will give you clarity about your career goals and help you find a job that aligns with your personal preferences.
The earlier you begin planning, the more time you will have to explore different career paths, research potential employers, and prepare for the interview process. Pursuing a permanent position is a common career choice and can be a great way to maintain consistency and stability. Locum tenens careers are also growing in popularity, offering physicians flexibility, autonomy, career growth, and, as a bonus, higher pay rates due to rising demands for care.
What Is Locum Tenens?
Locum Tenens [lo·cum te·nens] noun 1. Latin for one holding a place.
Locum tenens refers to a physician who works a temporary assignment. Locum tenens roles can last anywhere from a few weeks to several months, depending on the needs of the healthcare facility and your availability.
Healthcare organizations may choose to onboard locum tenens physicians for various reasons, including requiring coverage for a physician on parental leave or vacation, being short-staffed, or an increase in patient volumes.
The Opportunities & Benefits of Locum Tenens Work After Residency and Fellowship
Locum tenens offers a flexible solution for healthcare facilities in need of coverage. Here are a few reasons why locum tenens may be a great first step in achieving your personal and financial goals:
1. Earn Higher Pay:
Locum tenens physicians typically earn higher hourly pay compared to similar permanent positions due to the temporary nature of the job and increased need for coverage. Locum tenens physicians provide a critical solution for healthcare facilities, helping ensure the communities they serve have access to quality care.
In addition to earning higher pay, all travel, housing, and transportation expenses are covered when you partner with Medicus. If you are looking to start paying down student loans or travel to new places, locum tenens may be an excellent career option.
2. Enjoy a More Flexible Schedule for Enhanced Work-Life Balance:
Today, nearly half of physicians reported experiencing burnout, with two out of three stating they would be willing to accept a lower salary for a better work-life balance. With a locum tenens career, you can avoid burnout without the pay cut. The locum tenens lifestyle allows you to avoid administrative burdens and maintain control over your workload by choosing assignments that align with your preferences.
In addition, working locum tenens allows you to have increased autonomy over your career. Choose when and where you work by building a schedule that suits your personal and professional life. When accepting a permanent position, you typically have to commit to a defined schedule with little room for flexibility or downtime.
3. Experience Different Clinical Settings and Areas of the Country:
Accepting locum tenens assignments at different types of facilities allows you to experience a variety of practice and work settings. This gives you time to transition from the rigors of medical training and determine where and in what type of healthcare practice you may want to work permanently. Do you prefer a large medical center, a rural hospital, or a small group setting?
You can also experience new locations and environments with a locum tenens career. Would you rather stay in a small Midwest community or a big city on the West Coast? Locum tenens work offers a way to experience life in new places, giving you a unique perspective before making big life decisions or settling down roots.
4. Broaden Your Experience While Expanding Your Professional Network:
Locum tenens work gives you the opportunity to deepen and broaden your medical experience. After residency or fellowship, you can choose assignments to gain specific knowledge and skills that interest you. You can learn from and work alongside healthcare professionals who can become invaluable resources in your growing medical career. Practicing in different areas and clinical settings helps build your professional network and connects you with new mentors.
In conclusion, start your career planning early and ask yourself what you truly want out of your medical career. Starting your job search can be overwhelming, but Medicus Healthcare Solutions is here to make it easier by helping you reach your career goals and personal preferences.
To learn more about a locum tenens career after residency or fellowship and navigating the job market, download our Resident and Fellowship Toolkit by filling out the short form below.
Download the Complete Resident & Fellows Toolkit here
Download the Complete Resident & Fellows Toolkit here
