A locum tenens physician is one that travels to different facilities to fill short and long-term needs. This may mean covering for an absent doctor or providing supplemental coverage during a facility’s busiest season.

In 2016, healthcare staffing was projected to grow by a healthy 13% and 2017 is predicted to see a continued growth of 8%, according to Staffing Industry Analysts. At this point, many physicians have either heard of locum tenens or worked alongside locum doctors. Even with this growth in popularity and awareness, there are still some uncertainties and misconceptions about the industry.

Take a look at the top seven most common locum tenens myths that separated fact from fiction then check out the latest hot locum tenens jobs on our website.

1. Doctors only work locum tenens because they can’t find full-time jobs. Locum tenens is a choice, and should not be looked at as inferior. In fact, locum tenens is a very attractive career choice for many. Physicians choose to work locum tenens because of the great benefits, like excellent pay, exciting travel opportunities, flexible schedule, and the ability to try out new practice settings without long-term commitment.

2. Full-time physicians don’t have time to work locum tenens. The flexibility of locum tenens allows you to maintain a full-time position while earning additional income as a locum. You set your schedule and decide how little or how much you’d like to work. Many physicians who work full-time either in a practice or hospital often pick up shifts on weekends or during their vacation to earn extra income to put towards student debt, a costly home repair, a child’s tuition, or retirement.

3. Locum tenens alone cannot be a full-time job. Thanks to the nationwide physician shortage, locum tenens are needed now more than ever. As the country’s population continues to age, facilities are in continuing need of physician coverage. This makes it easy for a physician to go from one assignment to the next without much lapse, if any, in between. In-demand jobs combined with competitive pay makes for a pretty decent way to make a living.

4. Locum tenens means having to travel far from home. Working locum tenens does not necessarily mean spending time in airports and flying across the country. Of course, if travel is what you’re after, working locum tenens is a great way to see the country. Interim Physicians has shifts available in a variety of cities across the country, so it’s up to you to decide how far or close to home you’d like to travel. Often times, physicians find they don’t have to look too far from their own backyards to find locums work.

5. The locum lifestyle isn’t ideal if you have a family. As mentioned above, the flexibility of locum tenens lets you create your own schedule, with many assignments just within a few miles of home. Interim Physicians skilled Quality Assurance team is also by your side each step of the way to help with credentialing, licensing, and malpractice insurance. This means less time dealing with burdensome paperwork and more time getting to work so you can return home to your family. The additional income you’ll earn as a locum can also help with family expenses, like a child’s college fund or a much-needed family vacation.

6. Locum work is too unpredictable. Locum tenens allows you to define your own work-life balance. Physicians who work locum tenens have the ability to make their own schedule, working whenever and wherever they want. Partnered with a skilled recruiter, creating a schedule that’s catered to you is even easier. Our dedicated recruiters will help you iron out all the details of your schedule, that way you’ll be prepared and ready to go before your first shift.

7. Working too many locum assignments will look bad on my CV. Locum tenens can actually enhance your CV and help you gain a competitive edge. By working locum tenens, you are proving that you are able to adapt quickly to several varying environments and work alongside many different types of people. Additionally, working locums can help physicians build up their CV before taking a permanent position or allow physicians between permanent jobs keep up-to-date on their skills and credentials.

Ready to take the next step and see what locums is all about? Visit our jobs page and search our current openings, or give us a call at (800) 226-6347 to speak with one of our helpful physician recruiters.