VISTA Archived Blogs

Dear Locum Tenens Clinicians,

“The meaning of life is to find your gift. The purpose of life is to give it away.”

-Pablo Picasso 

This first ever National Locum Tenens Week, the team at VISTA wishes to extend a sincere and tremendous thank-you to locum tenens physicians and advanced practitioners everywhere.

What do almost all medical school graduates have in common? This isn’t a clever riddle. The answer is enormous debt.

In 2015, the average medical school debt balance for graduating physicians was $183,000. Added to the average undergraduate balance of $24,000, the total average student loan balance for a doctor was a staggering $207,000—and that number is no doubt even higher today.

Whether you’re just out of school or not, locum tenens can provide a great opportunity for physicians and advanced practice providers to pay down student loans and other debt. How does locum tenens work set you up for financial success? Three big ways.

What comes to mind when you think of the Southwestern United States? If it's desert expanse and scorching temperatures, you’re partly right—but there’s a lot more to take in. The Southwest includes Arizona and New Mexico as well as parts of California, Nevada, Utah, Colorado and Texas. No matter where you’re from or where specifically you land, the Southwest has a lot to offer as a new escape with your next assignment as a locum tenens physician, PA or NP.

The need for change. We’ve all felt it at some point or another—the urge to switch things up, or the suspicion that maybe the path we’re on isn’t a good fit. If you’re a physician or advanced practitioner and you’re feeling stuck, bored or just unsure, locum tenens may be exactly what you need.

Ah, summer. Temperatures are climbing and vacation plans are being made across the country. It’s a great time to try out a new location and switch up your locum tenens scenery! 

Here’s a quick peek at six states for locum tenens physicians, physician assistants and nurse practitioners to investigate while the heat is on. These places are extremely cold for most of the year, so take advantage of the summer weather to enjoy and explore:

Working with an established locum tenens staffing agency comes with a lot of benefits. But if you’re just starting out, it can also come with a lot of questions. Take it from clinicians like you! 

Here are some of the most common answers to questions about connecting with a locum tenens recruiter: 

If you’re unfamiliar with locum tenens work, you might think that short-term assignments cannot lead to meaningful connections with patients. After all, you don’t see the same patients regularly—as you would in a permanent placement—and you might only see a patient one time. So how can a relationship be established, let alone a deep connection?

Hospitals, doctor’s offices and clinicians of television are not exactly true to life. But sometimes the themes shared on our favorite binge-worthy shows hit the nail on the head. Focus beyond the absurdities and McDreamy good looks and there’s something we can all learn, whether you actually practice medicine or not.

Congratulations! You survived school, passed your national board certification exam and are ready to head into your career as a physician, nurse practitioner or physician assistant! Or perhaps you graduated some time ago but you’re considering a career change. Maybe you just know a few new graduates that could use some advice! This post is for you.

It’s natural to feel nervous on your first day at a new job. Whether you’re just starting out as a locum tenens clinician or you’re a seasoned provider beginning another assignment, all of the unknowns of a new work environment can leave you feeling a mix of excitement and anxiety.