LocumLife - August 2008 - (Page 14)

—Kerry Smith, CRNA, BBA, BSN, MSNA or part-time work with a colleague before pursuing locum tenens opportunities. Curtis Shumard (CS): The key is to prove to clients a level of competency. This can be done by maintaining continuing medical Above all, make your education (CME) courses, volunteering in a practice patients happy. That is the that would be willing to best way to ingratiate provide references, or yourself with the staff. completing a preceptorship in a training facility. What should professionals new to locum tenens think about when choosing practice settings and geographic locales? CS: If you are interested in locum tenens, first determine what you want to get out of the experience, then choose an environment accordingly. This lifestyle could be a means to locate a permanent position or to supplement your income. You might wish to stay involved in medicine after retiring from your primary career, or even use this practice alternative as a way to find a community in which to spend your golden years. GH: Like many physicians and non-physician providers, you may choose to go into locum tenens for lifestyle reasons, enjoying the ability to decide where, when, and how to practice. You could provide services in similar settings or experience a different type of practice, either more rural or more urban. Often, small-town clients are single specialty practice groups and the staff physicians need someone to cover for them on call, on weekends, or on vacation. This translates into more opportunities in rural areas, especially in the Midwest. Other settings that are in demand now include government-run facilities, including military hospitals, VA centers, and Indian Health Services clinics, where most opportunities only require one state license. Kerry Smith, CRNA, BBA, BSN, MSNA (KS): It is important to realize differences in staffing levels, patient populations, and recognized autonomy between various settings. I do not have any preference in facility size, and while I like both urban and rural areas, I tend to favor the latter. Many of the smaller hospitals in rural communities do not have trauma- or pediatric trauma-trained anesthesiologists on staff, and I am trained in both. The most obvious contrast between Circle Career Card No. 603 14 LocumLife AUGUST 2008 www.LocumLife.com http://www.deltalocums.com http://www.LocumLife.com

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LocumLife - August 2008 Insights Editorial Contents From Nalto Stat! Survey Says Resources Last-Minute Luxury Residency Corner Prescribed Advice Urgent Care Career Center Advertisers' Index Opportunities Direct Destinations Passport Contest Rules Anyone's Guess La Vita Locum

LocumLife - August 2008

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