What is locum tenens?
Your path to life, by design.lo·cum te·nens
/lōkəm ˈtenenz/
noun
Locum tenens is Latin for "to hold the place of, to substitute for." In practice, it means something more: your healthcare career, on your terms.
Your life, by design
Locum tenens work isn't one-size-fits-all. It's built around you: your goals, your lifestyle, your definition of success.
Why clinicians choose locum tenens
In a survey of more than 500 clinicians, here's what mattered most:
- Flexible schedule (48%) — Work when you want. Rest when you need it. No pressure to commit beyond what you sign up for.
- Travel opportunities (38%) — See new places. Build your experience across regions. Explore while you practice.
- Earn extra income (35%) — Supplement your primary role. Pay off debt faster. Fund the life you're building.
- Clinical variety (34%) — Expand your skills. Take on different specialties. Challenge yourself in new settings.
The best part? You take the time to decide. Locum tenens doesn't lock you into anything. You explore assignments one at a time until you find what aligns with your goals — your geography, your income needs, your clinical interests, your lifestyle.
The story behind locum tenens
In the early 1970s, the University of Utah received a federal grant to staffing rural health clinics in medically under-served areas across the western U.S. The program worked. Physicians, hospital administrators and healthcare leaders saw the value of temporary staffing — flexibility for clinicians and immediate support for struggling healthcare systems.
Fifty years later, thousands of physicians, CRNAs, physician associates, nurse practitioners, psychologists and social workers choose locum tenens work every year. It's not just a job. It's a way of practicing healthcare on your own terms.
Healthcare facilities choose locum tenens for their reasons. Here's why.
Cover the gaps, cost-effectively
Hospitals, clinics and healthcare systems face real staffing challenges: A physician on vacation. An unexpected departure. A new service line. A practice group transition. Seasonal surges. Rather than hiring permanent staff for fluctuating or unpredictable demand, facilities use locum tenens clinicians to fill gaps quickly and affordably.
Speed matters. Continuity matters more.
Patient care doesn’t pause for staffing gaps. When a facility loses a clinician — planned or unplanned —continuity of care becomes the priority. LocumTenens.com gets qualified clinicians onboarded and ready for Day One, fast.
Built for real-world healthcare
From rural practices to large metropolitan healthcare systems, locum tenens works. The flexibility that benefits clinicians — the ability to say "yes" or "no" to each assignment — also gives healthcare facilities the staffing stability they need.
Sign up and find the perfect job for you
We’ve spent decades supporting clinicians like you. Ready to explore what’s possible? Connect with a specialized recruiter to browse your locums options and focus on what truly matters — delivering high-quality patient care.
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