Answering the Call: Nurse Practitioners on the Southern Border

Locum tenens clinicians are the unsung heroes of the healthcare industry. When there are staffing challenges, they provide critical support.  When there is a need, they commit and help mitigate staffing shortages. When they are called, they serve. We have seen this time and time again. Whether it is working with Afghan refugees or caring for our veterans, locum tenens clinicians respond to the call up.

I have been working in the locum tenens space for the past 24 years. I am continually amazed by the selflessness and compassion of our clinicians. When working locum tenens, clinicians usually think hospitals, but there is so much more. There is opportunity in new places and environments that can broaden a clinician’s experience and horizons.

The U.S. government has a situation along its southern border that presently requires a significant investment from the locum tenens community. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recently announced that it is ending a policy that limited asylum at the U.S.-Mexico border to prevent the spread of COVID-19. As a result, we expect to see a significant influx of migrants and refugees at the border.

Preparations are underway from a logistical standpoint when the policy is officially lifted on May 23. Healthcare is an important part of this effort, where clinicians will care for refugees, provide wellness checks and deliver vaccines.

We need more than 200 nurse practitioners to fill this critical need.

Working locum tenens in this setting can serve as a significant boost for a career and provide valuable experience. Nurse practitioners will:

• Receive benefits as a W-2 employee
• Receive sought after security clearance that lasts for five years
• Be given a housing stipend
• Have meals covered with a per diem

Not to mention, these nurse practitioners will fill a critical gap in the government’s capability to provide support to people in a humanitarian situation.