6 Reasons to Choose Locum Tenens Work

Temporary work placements for healthcare providers are known as locum tenens assignments. These assignments cover a wide range of specializations and can last anywhere from months to years. Why choose locum tenens? Temporary work is a great option for the nurse practitioner who loves to travel, needs a flexible schedule, or just wants to earn additional income.

Why choose locum tenens?

This article discusses six key reasons to consider temporary work:

1. The promise of adventure
   
2. Gain new experiences
   
3. Scheduling flexibility
   
4. Extra compensation
   
5. Patient care quality
   
6. Tax benefits
   

This article was originally written for HealtheCareers.com.

The promise of adventure

Locum tenens assignments can be found all across the country. Where have you always wanted to explore? The golden coast of Santa Cruz? The vibrant streets of New Orleans? A nurse practitioner with an itch to travel and a taste for excitement is an excellent fit for locum tenens work.

Gain new experiences

Temporary work is a great opportunity to experience a wide variety of clinical settings. Work with a range of different patient demographics, utilize cutting-edge technologies, and collaborate with practitioners from around the country. The experiences enjoyed on locum tenens assignments can be a valuable career asset.

Scheduling flexibility

Wouldn’t it be great to choose your own work schedule? Locum tenens assignments provide the flexibility to choose a placement when you want for a duration that works best for you. Full-time work is available but for the nurse practitioner who has a family or other non-career commitments, part-time placements are an excellent option. Assignments can range anywhere from days to years, so the choice is yours!

Extra compensation

When answering the question of “why choose locum tenens”, this is always a big one! Nurse practitioners on locum tenens assignments commonly receive higher than standard pay. In addition to extra compensation, temporary placements also frequently pay for your licensure, lodgings, and transportation. Even if you have a full-time job already, short locum tenens assignments are a great way to earn extra income on the side. Nurse practitioners are typically in high demand, with the highest compensation going to specialists in the fields of psychiatry and oncology.

Patient care quality

As independent contractors, nurse practitioners on temporary assignments are paid on an hourly or weekly basis, not by how many patients they see. This allows you to focus on high-quality patient care rather than maximizing productivity.

Tax benefits

There are several wonderful tax benefits to working as a contractor. Your income will usually be reported on a 1099 form, not a W2, which allows deduction of work-related expenses. These deductible costs could be a new laptop computer, your health insurance premium, and your licensure costs. You can even deduct unreimbursed travel and lodging expenses!

Ready to get started?

Now is an excellent time for nurse practitioners to pursue locum tenens assignments! There are an almost endless variety of placements available, letting you choose the contract that fits your desired schedule, location, and duration. The choice is yours—get started today!

I hope this article helped answer the question of “why choose locum tenens”. Questions? Thoughts? Comment below, or email me!