If you’re exploring locum tenens work, you’ve likely read the articles, checked the requirements, and dug into the logistics that make each assignment run smoothly. But some of the most important questions are the ones only clinicians with firsthand experience can answer: What is it really like? How do you adjust to new teams and workflows? What makes the transition easier?

To bring that perspective forward, we asked several locum tenens physicians and advanced practitioners to share the advice they’d give colleagues who are considering this path. Here’s what they had to say.

Know Your Skills & Stay Flexible

Locum tenens jobs introduce you to new workflows and tools quickly, which is why clinicians often say the best place to start is with a clear understanding of your own strengths. That foundation helps steady the learning curve on day one.

Dr. Weaver, a locum tenens surgeon, shared this perspective after working across multiple facilities.

“I think the biggest thing is you have to have a sense of your own skills, because when you travel, you need to be able to handle different things and use different types of equipment. You can’t get in your own way. It takes a certain person to come in and say, ‘I can adjust to your program and provide the right type of care.’ I hear—and see—people who come in and say, ‘No, I’ve got to have this tool; this is the way I do it,’” he explained. “But once you learn that flexibility, it makes you better. You keep improving and growing, and the more facilities you work at, the better you get.”

Keeping this mindset in mind can help your early assignments feel smoother and build confidence as you adapt to new settings.

Stay Open to Learning

Physicians and advanced practitioners who work locum tenens jobs often talk about the unexpected ways locum tenens jobs expand their clinical skill sets. Each facility exposes you to different cases, routines, and communication styles, which create natural opportunities to grow.

CRNA locum tenens Michael encouraged physicians and advanced practitioners to embrace that process.

“I would say do it and don’t look back,” expressed Michael. “There's a lot of growth that goes with it. You go to a new facility, you’re going to learn new things or new ways of doing things. Some facilities, you’re going to end up doing cases that you wouldn’t usually do at your W2 job. And I think you develop some really great interpersonal skills. You’re at a new place, and you have to adjust, maybe even fit in, and I find it very important to be able to just like that, fit in, adjust, and function.”

The more you let yourself learn from each setting, the more the work adds to your confidence, communication skills, and clinical versatility.

Bring a Supportive Mindset

One of the most consistent pieces of advice from experienced locum tenens physicians and advanced practitioners is to approach each locum tenens job ready to support the team you are joining. You may be stepping into a department with staffing gaps, seasonal surges, or unexpected challenges. A collaborative mindset helps you integrate quickly and build trust.

Locum tenens OB/GYN Dr. Mackey described it well:

“Success as a locum doc requires flexibility,” explained Dr. Mackey. “Doctors are all about I can fix this, and locum doctors need to be all about I can do this, or I can do that, and if you bring that attitude, then it's fun, you’re there to help, not to cure, you’re there to support.”

Approaching each site with a supportive mindset can strengthen relationships quickly and create a more positive experience for you and the team.

Partner with a Reputable Locum Tenens Agency

While the insights above focus on mindset, many physicians and advanced practitioners say that having the right support behind you makes a real difference.

Partnering with a reputable locum tenens agency such as Medicus can help you find locum tenens jobs that align with your skills, guide you through licensing and credentialing, and support you with the details that come with practicing in multiple settings. This allows you to focus on patient care while someone else manages the logistics.

Locum tenens anesthesiologist, Dr. Goodwin, shared her perspective on working with Medicus, sharing:

“Working with Medicus is by far the easiest way to go, for sure,” expressed Dr. Goodwin. “Through just the support system, Alexia, all the travel folks, all the credentialing folks. Looking at my schedule on the app is very easy, looking at my pay, getting my pay, it is very simple. I really enjoy it very much.” 

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