Have you ever considered working as a locum tenens neonatal nurse practitioner, or maybe even done it before? What was your experience?
Locum tenens is an opportunity for NNPs and other medical professionals to spend an amount of time, ranging from a few days per month up to a few years, temping in another unit.
Here are the most popular reasons our candidates have chosen to accept temporary positions in the past (and how you could get paid to travel with NNP locum tenens positions too).
1. They earn extra money
A higher salary offer is typically the first thing NNPs will look for in a locum tenens opportunity. Imagine paying off student loans, creating better college savings for your child, remodeling your kitchen, or embarking on your dream vacation. Locum tenens can be a great way to facilitate all of these goals.
In addition to the material benefits of these opportunities, there are several other bonuses that may come your way in a locum tenens position.
2. They de-stress from their regular position
Stacey loved going to South Dakota because it was her downtime. She worked in a high paced unit, and when she went home she had a husband to take care of as well as kids that she had to cook for, drive to soccer practice, and so forth.
Her locum tenens position was her downtime. She would work her twelve-hour shift, then literally call us from her heart-shaped jacuzzi at her hotel, mimosa in hand…it’s a beautiful thing.
3. They round out their personal experience in a new NICU
Interacting with a new patient population and rounding out your experience makes you more valuable and marketable in the future. It can also just be a much-needed change of pace.
4. They test run a position before accepting a permanent offer
Often NNPs use locum tenens as a basis to make a job change decision (or in some cases, against a job change) after working in a temporary capacity.
The ultimate try-before-you-buy, these opportunities sometimes have our candidates telling us, ‘glad I didn’t pack up the kids and sell the home before I found out this was not the right fit for me!’.
Overall, locum tenens opportunities provide a unique opportunity to both candidate and clients and can be a lifesaver to a NICU in need.
5. They lend a helping hand to a NICU in need
The NICU is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. They don’t shut down, and if they’re understaffed, someone has to provide that additional coverage.
The existing team can be working hellacious amounts of overtime, and they’re stressed out. Maybe your unit is experiencing this right now. When the locum NNP arrives, they bring relief, and possibly expertise from their institution to contribute to the local unit.
Because of the nature of the work, as NNPs you are deeply caring, giving individuals, and you may be attracted to locum tenens for this reason, as well as any others listed above. If you want to learn more about locum tenens opportunities, give us a call at 888.NNP.JOBS.
