Burnout is a significant problem in healthcare. Many doctors are leaving the industry, and they aren’t alone. Nurses, physician assistants, and support staff are others taking part in this exodus. People may leave a career they spent years pursuing because they want work-life balance.
A Workable Solution
Many organizations hire locums for residents to fill empty gaps in staffing. Locum tenens choose which assignments they accept, allowing them more control over their work-life balance. The locum can establish work boundaries, such as deciding which facilities to work with to maintain this balance. This medical professional may work in a busy hospital or take a position with a small clinic that sees limited patients. They can take time off when desired. The individual must compare the pros and cons of each assignment to ensure it fits their lifestyle and needs. Finding these assignments isn’t as challenging as many imagine. A staffing agency can help with this.
New Environments
Locum tenens choose their assignments to try different settings to learn which they prefer. They may work in a hospital one day and a small private practice the next. One assignment may be in a major city, while the next is in a rural area. Upon leaving medical school, many individuals take locum tenens positions to determine which settings best fit their lifestyle.
Flexibility
Some medical professionals serve as locum tenens so they have time to give back to others. They enjoy their work-life balance, and part of this balance is helping underserved communities. They can take assignments when desired and use the time off between assignments to help people who might otherwise not be able to access healthcare. This flexibility means they can work as medical missionaries without sacrificing time with family and friends. The added compensation locum tenens receive allows them to take time away for both purposes.
Less Baggage
People often don’t realize the baggage medical professionals carry around with them. Locum tenens typically don’t stay in the same place long enough to develop relationships with patients. They may not learn the outcomes for patients they treat, but they also don’t bring work home. When they are with their family, they aren’t thinking about the patients they saw that day. They recognize there is a good chance they won’t see these people again. They are free to pursue their interests and have time for family because they are more present at work and home. Their patients and loved ones benefit.
Family Time
One theme that often comes up when discussing locum tenens assignments with medical professionals is family time. Many in the field say they have had family dinners, birthdays, and special occasions interrupted by a call from a patient or fellow healthcare worker. Furthermore, healthcare workers never know when they will get off. If a medical emergency comes in as they leave, they may be at the office or hospital late. That’s rarely an issue with locum tenens. When they are done for the day, they are done. They head home to the family and enjoy time together without interruptions.
Medical professionals who work in locum tenens positions typically find they can live the lives they desire. They earn more money, pick their schedule, and take time off when they want. All they have to do is turn down assignments. Finding a work-life balance is easy when someone has this control and can continue a career they love. They will enjoy their work more because they know they can have time off when needed. Who wouldn’t love that?
