Life As a Locum Tenens Doctor or Nurse: Travel, Hotels, Food, and Friends!
Flying in a jet as a locum tenens doctor
Are ya’all ready for some adventure? Well, fellow doctors and nurses, here’s my experience as a traveling doctor and the locum tenens lifestyle.
My stuff is all packed. Since I fly out to work every few weeks, I have the travel stuff down to a science. Comfy clothes (they provide scrubs), phone charger, laptop, and vegan protein bars. I confirm that TSA Precheck is on my ticket, and then I'm off to the airport.
I usually take Lyft to the airport since I'm not a big fan of finding parking. It's all good, though, since the locum tenens firm pays for all travel, including the flight and car. I hop out, speed through security (thank you, TSA PreCheck!), and settle into my gate. I never check in luggage because I hate doing that, but the locum firm would also cover those costs if I did. Before long, I settle into my flight and we're off!
In case you're wondering, I typically choose my own flights and airlines. Southwest when I can, but ultimately, I try to find a non-stop with the best departure times. The locum firms give you wide latitude about choosing flights, but I always try to pick an economical one. And no, they're not business class - that would be going overboard! But, I always get the flights I want. It's super easy.
After landing, I head over to the rental car counter. The locum firm typically books and prepays the car. Pickup is usually a breeze. To be fair, I should say that I don't work over the major holidays. After all, schedule control and time with the kids are some of the main reasons I chose this lifestyle! I'm sure the airports and rental cars would be busier if you work over the holidays.
The next thing you know, I'm off to my hotel. The locum company typically books and prepays for the hotel. They usually give me a few options, and I generally choose the one I have the most points with. In my experience, the hotels are clean, modern, and mid-priced. Examples of hotels include the Hyatt Place or Courtyard by Marriott.
Since I stay for several days at a time, I make sure my room has a mini-fridge. One of the problems with frequent business travel is that you can fall off your diet. So, as soon as I check in, I stop by the local Trader Joe’s and stock up on healthy foods to eat in the room and to take to work for lunch. Berries, produce that doesn't require refrigeration, soy milk, spicy hummus wraps for lunch, and protein snacks are my staples. Sometimes, I'll treat myself to bread with fancy cheese and wine. Gotta live life right, no?
And, in case you're wondering, the locum firms typically do not pay for food, although some will offer a daily meal allowance. You might need to negotiate this on a case-by-case basis. Since I've done this many times, I have a whole protocol: Pack lunch every day, dinner in my hotel room for 2-3 days, and eat out the rest of the time.
My hotel room salad and wine by Gregory Charlop, MD
These hotels always have a gym, so I grab a quick workout before bed. Don't forget to pack your workout clothes! Many of them have an indoor pool for you swimmers out there.
You’d be surprised how easy it is to make friends as a traveling locum tenens doctor or nurse.
Meeting new people is one of my favorite parts of the locum tenens lifestyle. Since I'd typically go to the same facility multiple times, I ran into the same crowd and made friends. You get to know the staff at the facility and your fellow travelers. It's a lot of fun to check out the local restaurants, grab a hike, and gossip about the best and worst medical centers across the country!
Well, there you have it. Locum tenens is a fun way to travel, see the country, and meet new people on someone else's dime. I'll create some content soon about the locum's work life.
If you're a doctor, nurse, or surgeon and have questions about freelancing, locum tenens, or changing jobs, contact me and check out my new book, The Physician Wellness Project.
Go ahead and enjoy the travel!
