VISTA Voice

Working locum tenens in the government sector comes with unique professional and personal benefits. You have options across the nation, the flexibility to make your own schedule, plus the chance to give back to deserving populations in potentially exciting settings. And when you partner with VISTA, you have dedicated recruiters by your side, just as passionate about finding the right match as you are about finding a rewarding experience.

Last week, the World Health Organization released an advance preview of its new International Classification of Diseases (ICD-11), which includes significant improvements on previous versions that aim to help health professionals record conditions more easily and completely. The revision simplifies the coding structure and is now completely electronic, introducing a more user-friendly format that reflects years of collaboration.

Getting enough quality sleep is a common struggle for all Americans, no matter their occupation. Add in frequent travel, and it can be even more challenging. For locum tenens clinicians, the ability to travel is a unique benefit, but it can require some adjusting. Fortunately, there are a number of tips you can follow to maintain healthy habits and feel ready to take on your assignments at your best.

Nurse practitioners play a critical role every day across the country, helping to fill the gap in coverage created by the physician shortage and delivering holistic, high-quality care. They have stories to tell, and compassion and lessons to share.

Previously on our blog, we listed our picks for the most savvy docs on social media. Today’s post is all about nurse practitioners, featuring handles and pages to follow for news, conversation and #NP inspiration. The following NPs:

• Are in good standing within the medical community.
• Post regularly and offer helpful health and lifestyle content that extends beyond personal opinions.
• Engage authentically with their followers, sharing personal experiences and building relationships.
• Have noteworthy social clout, as reflected in their number of followers.

If you’re looking for an easy way to make your social scrolling pay professional dividends, or you just want to know what social influencers in your field are sharing, click the Follow button for these five NPs.

Anytime you start something new, it’s likely that you’ll experience some hiccups, or at least run into some questions. It’s just the way it is — from riding your bike when you were a kid, to learning the ropes as a professional in a new environment. No one just knows anything! We learn through practice and experience, and by doing our homework.

Locum tenens can be a rewarding option for clinicians at any stage in their career (fresh out of residency to semi-retirement) and in any capacity (full-time work, or in addition to your current position). No matter how you’re approaching locum tenens, getting started might seem daunting. But, as an industry leader with years of experience, we can tell you that there are steps you can take to set yourself up for a smooth launch into locums. Plus, you have a handful of resources at your disposal — kind of like training wheels that you don’t have to take off.

You don’t have to look hard to find work after completing your residency or fellowship. Demand for physicians and advanced practice providers is high across the board — from coast to coast, in urban and rural areas and every practice setting. But the first assignments you take on can help set the pace for your career. It’s important to take time to consider what you want, and prepare yourself to transition from residency to reality.

Even though you just graduated, you’re already off to a great start! You’re here, exploring what locum tenens could mean for your professional path. Now keep up the good work, and check out the following tips as you take on the world and begin your search for locum tenens work you’ll love. 

Every physician’s professional journey looks a little different. While it starts with years of education and a passion for patient care, you never know where your path can end up taking you. Dr. Hope Eliot discovered locum tenens later in life, after more than 25 years of working in the same practice and growing weary of the pace. Following her first encounter with VISTA back in 2006, we maintained dialogue for five years, answering her questions and helping her see the possibilities of a more flexible lifestyle.

Dr. Hope Eliot accepted her first locum tenens assignment in September of 2011 and went from “in a rut” to on the move, checking states off her wish list and enjoying new adventures. She spent the next five years working locum tenens exclusively with VISTA, completing some 13 assignments with several returns and extensions before settling down for full-time work in a new home, with a new grandson nearby.

Keep reading to learn about Dr. Eliot’s partnership with VISTA and success with locum tenens in her own words. 

Doximity recently released its second annual Physician Compensation Report, drawing on the responses of more than 65,000 licensed U.S. doctors across 40 different specialties to provide the most comprehensive view of physician compensation available. Despite the education and training required to practice medicine, there’s seemingly no exception when it comes to the gender wage gap. In fact, on average, the gap is greater in medicine than in other industries.

At VISTA, we’re just as passionate about our work as the clinicians we place. Our job isn’t simply to fill open assignments and keep healthcare facilities staffed with qualified providers — our job is to build relationships and launch or grow careers. We’re there for our candidates and strive to make the process as smooth as possible.

We shared the inside scoop from a healthcare recruiter previously on our blog. Today’s post puts the spotlight on Jahan Yu, a Recruiter on the Psychiatry team at VISTA.

Yá'át'ééh! That’s “Hello” in Navajo, or “Welcome!” If you’re looking for something different out of your next locum tenens assignment, we invite you to explore the Navajo Nation. Its awe-inspiring scenery, remarkable history and beautiful traditions make for a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

What’s more, you would be making a difference for a deserving population, and you can get started with any active state license. Keep reading to learn about what you can expect from a visit to the Navajo Nation.