Today, physicians and advanced practitioners are increasingly seeking work-life balance. So much so that in 2024, 54% of physicians reported they would take a pay cut for better work-life balance. As the pursuit of this balance continues to shape career choices, it is leading many to explore locum tenens careers and the autonomy that comes with them.

As inquiries about locum tenens careers grow, we spoke with some of our partnered locum tenens physicians and advanced practitioners to understand why they chose this path. Here’s what they had to say:

Flexible Scheduling

One of the biggest benefits of locum tenens careers is the increased control over scheduling. Unlike traditional employment models, locums can choose when, how long, and where they want to work. This flexibility allows physicians and advanced practitioners to align their professional lives around their personal lives. With locum work, you can pursue hobbies, spend time with family, and more without restrictions or limitations.

For example, Dr. H, a Hospital Medicine physician, shared, "I love the scheduling flexibility, the fact that I never have to work on holidays, the fact that I can take time off to do medical mission work abroad, and just control my schedule. I enjoy the flexibility of being able to work in a variety of settings, whether it's a large university hospital with every subspecialty under the sun or a small rural hospital where I run the ICU. Plus, I just love that I'm not geographically constrained.".

The ability to tailor work schedules provides locum tenens with the flexibility to achieve the ultimate work-life balance and mitigate the chances of experiencing burnout.

Increased Work-Life Balance

The autonomy provided by locum tenens careers enables physicians and advanced practitioners to pursue interests outside of medicine. This freedom helps to balance professional and personal aspirations in a way that traditional roles often do not.

Dr. January, an OB-GYN, has leveraged the work-life balance of locum tenens to start and run her own company.

 

Financial Advantages & Travel Opportunities

In addition to flexible schedules and increased work-life balance, locum tenens careers often offer the chance to travel, experience new locations, and earn higher compensation than permanent jobs. This combination of benefits makes locum tenens opportunities an attractive option for many physicians and advanced practitioners.

Clarissa, an Oncology PA, highlighted these perks, saying, "I love the flexibility- having more time to travel and taking quality time off. Financially, it's been huge not worrying about rent, car upkeep, or expenses... and I am getting paid significantly more than I was at my permanent positions. I love having the opportunity to have new experiences. I get to travel, meet new people, and learn new things from different teams.".

Gaining Diverse Clinical Experience

Another significant benefit of locum tenens jobs is the opportunity to gain diverse clinical experience. Working in various healthcare settings helps physicians and advanced practitioners expand clinical skill sets and gain access to a variety of patient populations, all while making an impact on communities in need of care.

Critical Care PA Sharon shared her experience: "I have been able to work in 8 different states, a variety of hospitals of different sizes, different patient populations, and patient care settings, with many different resources. I'm getting a varied view of how different hospitals approach certain pathologies, different patient situations, and what their resources are. I think it has made me more savvy, specifically at advocating for my patients, connecting them with the care they need, and knowing what other options are out there." She explained," Maybe if I'm in a smaller place and they don't have certain technologies or resources, I can educate them on that and really expand healthcare to better patient care across the board in every place that I go.".

Focusing on Patient Care & Reducing Burnout

In traditional healthcare jobs, physicians and advanced practitioners often face significant administrative responsibilities such as charting and paperwork. In 2024, 62% of physicians attributed burnout to bureaucratic tasks. One of the benefits of locum tenens is the ability to steer clear of administrative burdens, enabling physicians and advanced practitioners to focus solely on clinical duties.

With locum tenens careers, physicians and advanced practitioners can dedicate time and energy to what matters most—providing high-quality patient care.

Locum surgeon Dr. T explained why she enjoys locum work, "I go to the hospital, I take care of patients, and then when my time is up there, I walk out. I don't have to deal with any of the other things that a regular job would put on your plate. I really just take care of patients, none of the administrative work or anything else. I always tell people it's the closest thing to what I thought medicine would be like because it's not what I thought it would be in a regular job setting.".

Locum tenens jobs offer streamlined paperwork, minimal bureaucratic involvement, and clear contractual terms. This allows physicians and advanced practitioners to focus more on patient care, boosting job satisfaction and providing more time for personal pursuits.

Partnering with Medicus

Partnering with Medicus is not just about securing locum tenens jobs; it’s about having a dedicated team that supports every aspect of the locum experience. Our team’s commitment to understanding and addressing the unique needs of each locum physician and advanced practitioner ensures a seamless and rewarding experience.

Here’s what some of our partnered locums have to say about working with us:

CRNA Jon shared, "The team at Medicus is accessible and answers my questions whenever I have them. Everyone has been amazing, and I've had a great experience at Medicus. They've done a good job getting to know me and my needs, and that has definitely helped with the planning of my next assignment.".

Hospital Medicine Physician Dr. H expressed, "My recruiter has always worked really well with me and suits my style. Everyone really on the team has been great; they let me know when things related to licensing or credentialing need to be done. The ability to communicate in various forms, whether it be by phone, email, or text message, has been great. Medicus has always had good work for me. I've always appreciated the placements and the variety. I've never felt the need to work for another locums company.".

 

At Medicus, the strength of our relationships is what sets us apart. We are dedicated to ensuring each partnered locum tenens physician and advanced practitioner finds the locum job that aligns with both their personal and professional goals.

Interested in working locum tenens with Medicus? Complete the short form below to connect with a Medicus recruiter.