Tips and Tricks for Traveling as a Locum Tenens

Traveling as a locum tenens physician can be stressful and overwhelming if you let it be. This is especially true when traveling to a new place. As a locum tenens physician, you'll likely be traveling often, so you want it to be an enjoyable experience. These tips and tricks can help you make the most of your travels.

Packing Your Bags for Traveling as a Locum Tenens Physician

The most important part of traveling is the preparation. At Health Carousel Locum Tenens, we can take care of your travel arrangements and housing, but we can't pack for you. A great trick to make packing go smoother is to keep some items in your suitcase even when you aren't traveling. Keep a small bag of items like a toothbrush, toothpaste, and extra device chargers in your suitcase to stay there even when you aren't traveling. Then, when you're ready for a new job, you can just add your clothing items and you're all packed! This will also help you to not forget last minute add-ins like your toothbrush or phone charger.

It also is a good idea to take a comfort item with you while traveling. Working as a locum tenens physician means you'll often be traveling for a longer period of time than just a weekend getaway. Make your new home away from home as comfortable as you can. Take a blanket from your own bed, your favorite pillow, or even just a picture frame with a family photo.

Plan for the Weather

Traveling somewhere new is exciting. The last thing you want is for weather you weren't prepared for to put a damper on your trip. Check the weather ahead of time, before packing for your new job. If you're going for an assignment in southern California you might want to take a jacket for the cooler nights. If you're going to Seattle you might want to pack a rain jacket. Be prepared for wherever you're going.  You don't want to have to buy things once you arrive that you could have brought from home.

Take Notes About the Area

This is a tip that could be very beneficial when traveling as a locum tenens physician. When you travel frequently, it can be easy to forget the smaller details about an area. Did you like the facility you were working at? Were there plenty of food and entertainment choices for your days off? Did you like your housing? Keep a list of pros and cons about the area in your cellphone or on a small notepad. You'll then be able to reference this later when you're looking for your next locum tenens job. You can also use this to help your recruiter get a better idea of what you're looking for in your next assignment.