--- title: Take Control of Your Schedule With Locum Tenens description: Locum tenens offers doctors a multitude of possibilities; including taking control of your work schedule. In this blog, VISTA explores the flexibility that locum tenens provides. --- [![VISTA-logo-primary-tagline](https://blog.vistastaff.com/hs-fs/hubfs/VISTA-logo-primary-tagline.png?width=150&height=51&name=VISTA-logo-primary-tagline.png "VISTA-logo-primary-tagline")](https://www.vistastaff.com) # [VISTA Archived Blogs](https://blog.vistastaff.com) ## Take Control of Your Schedule With Locum Tenens ![](https://blog.vistastaff.com/hubfs/vistastaff-oct2015/favicon002.png)Posted by [VISTA Staffing](https://blog.vistastaff.com/archive/author/vista-staffing) on Oct 3, 2018 9:00:00 AM - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) If you’re looking to try something new, gain flexibility, meet new people, or just earn extra money, locum tenens offers a multitude of possibilities. In previous posts, we’ve talked about how these positions are[ in high demand](https://blog.vistastaff.com/3-reasons-to-feel-good-about-locum-tenens),[ offer better pay equity](https://blog.vistastaff.com/the-growing-gender-wage-gap-in-medicine-and-how-locum-tenens-is-different), and[ can double vacation pay.](https://blog.vistastaff.com/make-your-vacation-pay-double-with-locum-tenens) Today, we want to focus on the flexibility this type of work provides. ### How Does Locum Tenens Work? Locum tenens clinicians take on temporary assignments to provide healthcare to patients in need. Assignments may last for a few weeks or a few months. And by partnering with a staffing agency like VISTA, clinicians can find work in all 50 states. Shifts and patient loads will obviously vary by location, facility, and specialty, but clinicians who work locum tenens generally earn a higher hourly rate than those in permanent positions. ### So Why Do It? The result of all these options comes down to a few things. You can gain new experiences and get to know new people. That actually includes patients, depending on the position you take, and your work will support their continuity of care. It also provides financially. Depending on your specialty and your location of interest, your ability to thrive on locum tenens work alone may vary. However, it can definitively supplement full-time positions. The work is what you make it, which brings us to our most important point. ### The Flexible Schedule Is Key As a clinician, consider how you’d like to spend your time beyond achieving career goals and offering your patients the best care possible. According to the [American Medical Association](https://wire.ama-assn.org/life-career/how-many-hours-are-average-physician-workweek), nearly 25% of physicians work between 61 and 80 hours per work, while roughly half of all physicians said they prefer to work fewer hours. With locum tenens, however, you have the opportunity to control your own schedule and work in areas that match your interests. This allows you to: - - ##### Spend more time with friends and family without affecting important relationships with patients and coworkers. - ##### Prevent burnout by working in different settings and/or utilizing different aspects of your medical training. - ##### Transition in and out of work based on other needs and life circumstances. - ##### Take more time to travel, relax and enjoy other hobbies. - ##### Take working vacations that allow you to travel with your family while continuing to earn income. ### From the Experts You don’t have to just take our word for it. Connect with other locum tenens clinicians to hear their stories. Jennifer Trieu, M.D., shared her [experience with locum tenens](https://www.aafp.org/news/blogs/freshperspectives/entry/locum_tenens_work_offers_freedom.html) with the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP). By taking locum tenens positions after graduating from her residency program, she was able to experiment with different clinical settings and discover what she wanted (or didn’t want) for her long-term career. It gave her the freedom to travel with her mother, as well as take time off to plan and enjoy her wedding and honeymoon. Most importantly, locum tenens gave her the flexibility to relocate to another facility once her fiance was matched to a pediatric residency. To be clear, locum tenens may not be the best fit for everyone. And most agencies, like VISTA, can also place you in [permanent clinician jobs](https://www.vistastaff.com/physicians/permanent-physician-jobs) if that’s what you choose. Take the time to consider what best suits your personality, schedule, and working style. Any clinicians that are interested in having more flexibility in their schedule should explore their options and [learn more about locum tenens](https://www.vistastaff.com/physicians/us-locum-tenens). [![15 FAQ from first-time locum tenens clinicians](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/1554807/60ce5456-bc82-4ba9-addd-6d7327ed3a30.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/1554807/60ce5456-bc82-4ba9-addd-6d7327ed3a30) Topics: [VISTA](https://blog.vistastaff.com/archive/topic/vista), [Locum Tenens Work](https://blog.vistastaff.com/archive/topic/locum-tenens-work)   **Want to read more? Click [here](https://blog.vistastaff.com/archive) for even more industry updates.** **Welcome to our Blog!** **About VISTA Staffing Solutions** VISTA Staffing Solutions has over thirty years of experience providing award-winning customer service to clients and providers alike. Headquartered in Salt Lake City with additional offices in Atlanta and Houston, and employs approximately 1,000 people between corporate staff and field clinicians and contracts with over 2,500 physicians across 60+ specialties and subspecialties. VISTA helps U.S. hospitals, medical practices, and government agencies optimize their physician staffing, ensure quality and continuity of care for patients, and maintain financial stability. As a leading provider of U.S. Locum Tenens and Permanent Physician Search Services, VISTA also operates VISTA Select, a first-of-its-kind technology and services solution utilizing advanced data and analytics to provide healthcare organizations with customizable workforce optimization solutions.  ### Subscribe to Email Updates ### Posts by Topic - [Physicians (95)](https://blog.vistastaff.com/archive/tag/physicians) - [VISTA (63)](https://blog.vistastaff.com/archive/tag/vista) - [Stories From VISTA Physicians (58)](https://blog.vistastaff.com/archive/tag/stories-from-vista-physicians) - [Advanced Practice Providers (49)](https://blog.vistastaff.com/archive/tag/advanced-practice-providers) - [Industry Updates (40)](https://blog.vistastaff.com/archive/tag/industry-updates) - [Licensing & Credentialing (27)](https://blog.vistastaff.com/archive/tag/licensing-credentialing) - [Locum Tenens Work (24)](https://blog.vistastaff.com/archive/tag/locum-tenens-work) - [Locum Tenens Clinician (18)](https://blog.vistastaff.com/archive/tag/locum-tenens-clinician) - [Facilities & Practices (9)](https://blog.vistastaff.com/archive/tag/facilities-practices) - [Locum Tenens Government (7)](https://blog.vistastaff.com/archive/tag/locum-tenens-government) - [Interview/Hiring Tips (6)](https://blog.vistastaff.com/archive/tag/interview-hiring-tips) - [HR (4)](https://blog.vistastaff.com/archive/tag/hr) - [Recruiting (4)](https://blog.vistastaff.com/archive/tag/recruiting) - [Staffing Technology (2)](https://blog.vistastaff.com/archive/tag/staffing-technology) - [Government (1)](https://blog.vistastaff.com/archive/tag/government) - [Labor Strategy (1)](https://blog.vistastaff.com/archive/tag/labor-strategy) - [Medical School Debt (1)](https://blog.vistastaff.com/archive/tag/medical-school-debt) - [workforce optimization (1)](https://blog.vistastaff.com/archive/tag/workforce-optimization) [see all](https://blog.vistastaff.com/archive/take-control-of-your-schedule-with-locum-tenens#) ### Corporate Background At **VISTA Staffing Solutions**, we want to make it possible for you to work on your terms, allowing you to provide your expertise to those who need it most. We have opportunities for physicians in all specialties, from domestic locum tenens jobs to government and permanent positions, with openings covering all 50 states. Founded in 1990, VISTA is headquartered in Salt Lake City with additional offices in Atlanta and Houston. **[PHONE: 800-366-1884 | 801-487-8190](tel+:18014878190)** **CORPORATE OFFICE:** 2800 East Cottonwood Parkway, Suite 400, Cottonwood Heights, Utah 84121  [AN INGENOVIS HEALTH COMPANY](https://www.ingenovishealth.com/)   | [Staffing Solutions](https://www.vistastaff.com/staffing-solutions/) | [VISTA Select](https://www.vistastaff.com/staffing-solutions/vista-select/) | | --- | --- | | [Trust, Transparency, Accountability](https://info.vistastaff.com/trust-transparency-accountability) | [Careers](https://www.vistastaff.com/current-openings/) | | [Clinician Job Board](https://www.vistastaff.com/job-board/) | [Contact Us](https://www.vistastaff.com/contact-us/) | | [Advanced Practice](https://www.vistastaff.com/advanced-practice/) |   |     [![icon-blog.png](https://blog.vistastaff.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Badges_Icons_and_Banners/pinpng.com-blog-icon-png-2064259.png?width=21&name=pinpng.com-blog-icon-png-2064259.png "icon-blog.png")](https://blog.vistastaff.com)[![icon-fb.png](https://blog.vistastaff.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Badges_Icons_and_Banners/60fea6773d624000048712b5.png?width=20&name=60fea6773d624000048712b5.png "icon-fb.png")](https://www.facebook.com/VISTAStaffing)[![icon-twitter.png](https://blog.vistastaff.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Badges_Icons_and_Banners/twitter-3-24.png?width=20&name=twitter-3-24.png "icon-twitter.png")](https://twitter.com/vista_staffing)[![icon-linkedin.png](https://blog.vistastaff.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Badges_Icons_and_Banners/linkedin-3-24.png?width=20&name=linkedin-3-24.png "icon-linkedin.png")](https://www.linkedin.com/company/vista-staffing-solutions-inc-)[![icon-instagram](https://blog.vistastaff.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Badges_Icons_and_Banners/Instagram%20white%20icon.png?width=20&name=Instagram%20white%20icon.png)](https://www.instagram.com/vistastaffing/)[![icon-youtube](https://blog.vistastaff.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Badges_Icons_and_Banners/toppng.com-youtube-clipart-png-black-white-youtube-symbol-1024x721.png?width=28&name=toppng.com-youtube-clipart-png-black-white-youtube-symbol-1024x721.png)](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC4bKhEXo9HZKIfo8ZW6hyYg)   [![VISTA-logo-staffing-IGV-white](https://blog.vistastaff.com/hs-fs/hubfs/VISTA-logo-staffing-IGV-white.png?width=180&height=128&name=VISTA-logo-staffing-IGV-white.png "VISTA-logo-staffing-IGV-white")](https://www.vistastaff.com) © 1999 - 2023 VISTA Staffing Solutions