The staffing crisis continues to be a critical concern for healthcare organizations, with many looking to creative solutions for meeting their ongoing staffing needs. For an increasing number of hospitals, the answer lies in locum tenens staffing. Below, we take a closer look into industry trends and why this staffing model could be the best solution for you.
Ongoing Locum Tenens Growth Forecasted for the Healthcare Industry
Recent data on healthcare staffing shows that the locum tenens segment is anticipated to grow up to 10% in 2023 and is likely to continue sustained growth through next year. Between the vast number of providers reaching retirement age and an aging population, there are several drivers for increased staffing needs at play. Of course, the mass exodus of healthcare staff following the COVID-19 pandemic continues to affect healthcare organizations, too.
As a result, healthcare organizations are becoming more flexible in their hiring practices. Many facilities leverage locum tenens hiring as a way to provide continuous flexibility for staffing, maintain their outcomes, and reduce pressure on full-time employees. In fact, 88% of facilities surveyed in 2022 report using locum tenens providers, 20% of which hired locum tenens nurse practitioners specifically.
The Benefits of Locum Tenens for Healthcare Organizations
The advantages of hiring locum tenens NNPs and other types of providers are compelling. Here are a few of the most noteworthy benefits.
- Support for Permanent Staff: Hiring NNPs and other locum tenens providers on a short-term contract gives permanent employees the opportunity for a much-needed break. Locums can alleviate pressure other employees face, which often leads to burnout and unnecessary turnover. Locums NNPs can meet staffing demands by meeting gaps in rotations and addressing patient surges.
- Trial Periods for New Hires: Locum tenens hiring gives both the NNP and the hospital a chance to determine whether they’ll be a good match before either party invests in the full hiring process. And, when the match is right, locum tenens reduces the time to hire. All of Ensearch’s locum engagements provide the client an option to permanently hire their locum NNPs.
- Better Patient Outcomes: Many healthcare facilities are struggling to meet the needs of their patients with staff shortages. With locum tenens NNPs, hospitals can meet demands effectively and ensure all neonatal departments are appropriately staffed, thus promoting optimal patient outcomes.
- Growth and Improvement: Locum tenens introduces new perspectives, skills, and experiences into the healthcare organization. This can help facilities run smoothly and efficiently while supporting ongoing growth and improvement. And, should your hospital look to expand, such as opening a specialty clinic, locum tenens staffing can be utilized until full-time providers are hired.
No matter your reasoning for hiring locum tenens NNPs, Ensearch can help. With our convenient needs analysis, we take the guesswork out of locum tenens hiring and apply our two decades of locum recruitment experience to ensure your healthcare organization is met with the most fitting qualified, pre-screened candidates to meet your needs. If you are thinking of trying locum NNPs for the first time or if you have had a locum tenens engagement with another company that struggled to find qualified locum NNPs for your team, please give us a call or click here to schedule a conversation with Ensearch today.
