Locum Tenens FAQ
What is locum Tenens? A Locum Tenens is usually a doctor or other professional who is hired to temporarily fill a position until the return of the person being replaced. The main point being that it is a temporary position. These positions may be in anesthesia, surgery or even a local doctor's office. A variety of professionals including advanced practice nurses may fill these positions Who can do Locum Tenens? The term has evolved to the point where we usually use it for professionals who are not typically employees. Physicians, Anesthesiologists and even Advanced Practice Nurses tend to be autonomous, independent practitioners. anyone can be a Locum Tenens as long as they are being engaged to temporarily take the place of someone who is gone. The replacement period may be for a vacation, leave of absence or even to fill in until a permanent replacement can be found. How much money can I make as a Locum Tenens? Many variables go into the pay scale. Depending on the profession and practice area physicians can make from $400 to $1500 per day. Nurse Anesthetists and other professional wages will also vary depending on a number of variables such as rural, urban, local shortage conditions and other factors. How do you find Locum Tenens positions? Positions are often advertised in trade journals such as the American Journal of Medicine or American Journal of Nursing. On the internet a number of job boards have sprung up whose main focus is to advertise and allow professionals to network about locum tenens positions. you can find an example of some of these internet boards using google search (Just click on search below) The History of Locum Tenens The term Locum Tenens is Medival Latin. It appears to have come into use around 1641 and simply means "one holding a place". It seems to have first been used for clergy or priests. Around the 1970's the practice of using Locum Tenens to provide physicians for rural areas was so successful that the practice became widespread. From the online Websters Dictionary: Main Entry: locum te•nens
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