Sophia Khawly, ARNP, MSN, explains what family practice NPs need to know about locum tenens.
Family practice is one of the most popular specialties for NPs working locum tenens — for a good reason. They can work in a variety of settings and with different patient populations, from newborns to geriatrics. There’s also a high demand for FNPs due to the primary care physician shortage. All of these factors mean FNPs have the freedom to choose assignments that align with their interests, availability, and preferred location. Here are 6 things to know if you’re an FNP considering working locum tenens.
1. You have options when selecting a clinical setting
As an FNP, there are opportunities for you to work in diverse clinical settings such as community health practices, rural clinics, and urgent care. For example, family practice NPs can work locum tenens assignments at:
- Primary care clinics
- Pediatric offices
- Geriatric clinics
- Nursing homes
- Addiction centers
- Indian Health Services
- Corrections clinics
- Federally qualified health centers
- Internal medicine offices
- Occupational health clinics
- Employee health services
- Hospitals
- Military bases
Since family medicine NPs' scope of practice is so broad, you have many options in choosing a locum tenens workplace setting. As a result, family practice NPs are usually able to find and start a locum tenens assignment faster than a specialty NP.
2. You can choose your own schedule as a locum family NP
Family NPs can choose to work part-time or full-time hours when doing locum tenens. Although many FNPs work a Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. schedule, there are other scheduling options available.
You can choose a location that offers you the chance to work four 10-hour shifts or three 12-hour shifts per week. This way you can have more days off. Some FNPs even schedule themselves to work seven days on and seven days off.
Many locations where FNPs work are closed on holidays, so you’ll either avoid working on those days or get a shift differential from a hospital or urgent care clinic.
Typical family practice assignments are 13 weeks long, but they can range from one day to one year. Many FNP locum positions even offer administrative time — receiving a few hours per week to catch up on documentation or go through their inbox.
Locum tenens for NPs: Everything you need to know
3. Credentialing and orientation are straightforward
Credentialing timeframes vary depending on the worksite. Outpatient centers typically allow for quick credentialing, in just a day or a week, permitting quick start times. However, hospitals or hospital-owned clinics may take up to three months to complete credentialing.
Indian Health Services and other federal sites, such as military clinics, accept NPs who utilize any state license to practice under federal guidelines. This means FNPs can avoid applying for a new license when working at these types of facilities.
Orientation protocols will also vary at each site, ranging from one hour to one week. Regardless of how long orientation lasts, locum FNPs are expected to jump in and start seeing patients right away. Because primary care is practically the same everywhere, the NP simply needs to learn the office flow and electronic health record (EHR).
4. Locum tenens can enhance your clinical skills
As an FNP, you’re constantly building your skills, and working locums can help you gain experience even faster. You’ll learn different EHRs, which makes you a better candidate for future positions — eventually, the majority of EHRs look the same, and you can quickly learn a new one.
Family nurse practitioners can also broaden their skill set through increased exposure to different patient populations. FNPs uncomfortable performing certain procedures can even learn while on assignment. For example, many sites are willing to teach locum FNPs how to insert IUDs, do trigger point injections, suturing, and casting.
Additional benefits of locums: 5 reasons to take a travel NP assignment
5. The administrative burden is minimal
Locum tenens roles involve fewer long-term administrative tasks such as managing a patient panel or participating in organization committees. A family NP’s least favorite aspect of their job is typically going to meetings and administrative burdens, and locums allows them to avoid these tasks.
Another positive part of doing locums is that you are no one’s primary care provider. That means if you had a negative experience with a patient, you likely don’t have to see them again. Nor are you responsible for their never-ending paperwork.
6. There are still some challenges
There are some challenges to working in family medicine, even in locum tenens:
- High patient volume: The patient volume tends to be high compared to working as a specialist. Depending on the location, FNPs can see up to 25-30 patients per eight-hour day! Rural areas and Indian Health Services clinics may have a lower patient volume, which can allow for more time spent with patients.
- Emotionally taxing: Working in family medicine can also be mentally draining. Unlike specialty nurse practitioners, FNPs are managing multiple health disorders and health maintenance items for each patient. This does not change even in locums.
- Lower pay than other specialties: Another challenge is that the pay for locums FNPs can be lower than other specialty NPs, such as a psych NP or hospitalist.