Traveling from job to job and seeing the country is arguably the most exciting part of being a locum tenens physician or nurse practitioner, but it can also be the most stressful. As you take more and more locum tenens jobs you will pick up some tips and tricks that work for you. In the meantime, here is some great advice from two seasoned veterans. Where to stay
- Choose accommodations close to the work site. That way you don’t really have to worry about travel time to and from the assignment. Some locum tenens providers even prefer walking to work each day.
- Pick a hotel that has a restaurant on site or very nearby. This especially applies to assignments in rural areas. The hotel restaurant might be the only one in town.
- Consider staying at a local bed and breakfast or inns. If possible, find one that provides a hot dinner for a small additional fee. If you stay in a chain hotel, stay in one that provides a hot breakfast.
- Stay in the same chain for each assignment so you can earn loyalty points. You can apply these loyalty points towards future assignments or vacations!
Where to eat
- Ask the locals. The local staff will steer you to places that give you the best value for your money.
- Find local restaurants instead of chains and sit at the bar because that is where you will meet local people and other locum tenens. Don’t be shy. Everyone has a story they want to share and you will get to meet many folks.
What to bring
- Travel light. Only bring as many things as you can fit in your carry on suitcase. That way you don’t have to worry about the airline losing your luggage.
- Bring only your most important reference books.
- If this is a location where you had a locum tenens assignment previously, bring any and all instructions you were given the first time regarding their computer system (EMR, dictation, etc.)
- Invest in an iPad. You can keep it in your briefcase when going through security because it has a locked battery. This saves time and hassle. You can also load reference books onto it.
- When it comes to clothing, pack the same color scheme so you only need to bring one pair of shoes.
- Keep your toiletry bag stocked with travel sized items and keep it in your suitcase.
- Keep all your chargers (lap top, cell phone, etc.) in your suitcase. You don’t want to forget these!
Other important tips
- Read the entire travel itinerary in advance, so nothing is unexpected.
- If your flight has a connection, make sure the layover is more than one hour. That way, if your first flight is delayed, you will still have plenty of time to catch your second flight.
- Join the loyalty program from the rental car company. You won’t have to stand in line to wait for your car.
- Most importantly, don’t stress. Barton Associates has a fantastic travel department that will help you every step of the way. Please give us a call with any questions or concerns.
