Sumo Medial Staffing

Sometimes, every decision feels like a huge decision. That’s especially true when you’re deciding whether or not to pursue a career – or a sideline gig as a locum tenens provider, or if you’d be better off choosing a more traditional, permanent position as a healthcare provider. 

Luckily, there are several pros and cons that can help you make that decision! 

One of the biggest items on the list, of course, is pay.  

Compensation

As a locum tenens provider, your pay rates tend to be higher than many of the staff physicians you’ll be working with, especially when you are filling an urgent staffing need. Keep in mind, however, that your locum tenens paycheck only comes through when you’re on the job and on the clock – while the compensation with permanent physician jobs is more stable, with a guaranteed paycheck, and often, extra pay incentives for meeting quality and performance goals. 

Another big item on the list is flexibility. 

Set Your Own Schedule

As a locum tenens provider, you decide when you want to work, and how often! Flexibility is a major selling point for those who choose locum tenens assignments. When you work as a permanent member of a healthcare team, yes, you have job stability, but you have very little control over your schedule, which means you have very little flexibility. 

Before considering the next item on our list of pros and cons, ask yourself, “Do I prefer a job that looks very similar every day,” or, “Do I need a healthy dose of variety to keep myself motivated and learning?” 

Variety of Work

Those who choose to work a locum tenens schedule often live by the mantra that variety is the spice of life! “Give me a new city, a new facility, a new team and a new set of patients to help me expand my horizons, learn from a variety of experts and expand my network!” On the other hand, some providers would rather stay in one place, put down roots, develop close relationships with coworkers and grow where they are.  

Patients Come First

If patients are the reason you went into medicine – and the idea of sitting in meetings is a definite “con,” then you may want to explore locum tenens assignments. As a temporary member of the medical team, you’re there to focus on the patient, with few meetings or administrative tasks. Providers holding a permanent role will find that meetings, paperwork and business tasks will take up some of their time.  

The good news is, no matter what you decide today, there’s really no such thing as a “permanent” job in healthcare, since as with any career, we move from one role to another as our skills grow and our lives change. So, if locum tenens isn’t what you’re looking for now, it could be an option you want to consider in the future.  

But if your list of locum tenens “pros” outweigh the “cons” today, we’d love to help! SUMO Medical Staffing has a proven track record in helping medical professionals find jobs that best fit their specific needs. Our staffing representatives are ready to discuss your career goals and future. Request a consultation with a locum tenens staffing specialist today.