Follow these tips to begin your new locum tenens assignment with confidence and ease!

<div class="text">
 <h2>Beginning Your New Assignment as a Locum Tenens Provider</h2>
 
 Wondering how you’ll get started once you’ve been hired for a locum tenens
 assignment? Here are tips to help you assimilate into your new practice
 environment with confidence and ease!
 
 
 
 This guidebook, Locum Life Made Easy, is intended to elucidate how the locum
 tenens process works from start to finish.
 

 <ul style="padding:0px 30px;">
 <li>
 In part one,
 <a
 href="https://www.crosscountry.com/blog/navigating-your-locums-journey-how-to-connect-with-a-locum-tenens-recruiter?"
 target="_blank"
 >How to Connect with a Locum Tenens Recruiter</a
 >, we cover what a recruiter can do for you, how to find the best
 recruiter, what information to share with your recruiter and more.
 </li>
 <li>
 In part two,
 <a
 href="https://www.crosscountry.com/blog/locum-life-made-easy-getting-placed-on-a-locum-assignment?"
 target="_blank"
 >Getting Placed as a Locum Tenens Provider</a
 >, we discuss how a recruiter will help you identify your preferences,
 apply and interview for positions, negotiate terms and sign your contract,
 get credentialed, get set up for travel and accommodations and get
 oriented and onboarded.
 </li>
 <li>
 Here, in part three, Going to Work, we’ll discuss how to
 prepare for a new locum tenens assignment, the top traits of successful
 locum tenens providers, and the benefits of working with a locum tenens
 recruiter.
 </li>
 </ul>

 <h2>How to Prepare for a New Locum Tenens Assignment</h2>
 
 Once you’ve secured a
 <a
 href="https://www.crosscountry.com/blog/new-year-new-career-making-the-leap-to-locums?"
 target="_blank"
 >locum tenens assignment</a
 >
 and signed your contract, you may feel the nerves that often accompany the
 excitement of beginning something new. Reflect on when you started medical
 school, your residency, or another endeavor. Likely, you’ll remember that
 knowledge and preparation are the keys to success when embarking on a new
 adventure.
 
 
 
 Providers who are highly successful at locum tenens work can seamlessly
 integrate into a new practice setting, meld with the team and hit the ground
 running. Here are tips so you’ll feel well-informed and, ultimately, more
 confident in your new environment:
 

 <ol style="padding:0px 30px;">
 <li>
 Prepare for travel. Consider how you’ll travel and where
 you’ll stay. Will you be driving or flying? Once there, will you ride
 public transportation, walk, or drive to work? As you
 <a
 href="https://www.crosscountry.com/blog/travel-tips-for-locum-tenens-physicians-and-apps?term=travel+tips"
 target="_blank">pack</a>, consider what’s appropriate to bring according to how 
 long you’ll be on assignment. Will you be bringing a family member or pet?
 </li>
 <li>
 Arrive early to settle into your accommodations.
 Plan for how you’ll check in or get your key. Ensure there are no issues
 at move-in and take photos if necessary. Will you be doing laundry? If so,
 where? Will you need a key for mail or a parking pass?
 </li>
 <li>
 Get to know the town. Where do you want to go? What do
 you want to see while you’re visiting? On locum tenens assignment, you may
 be tempted to pick up to-go meals, drive through and get fast food or
 order pizza delivery. While you should try a few local restaurants as a
 special treat, avoid neglecting your daily health by scouting out the
 grocery store,
 <a
 href="https://www.crosscountry.com/blog/eating-healthy-as-a-locums?"
 target="_blank"
 >buying healthy foods and planning your meals</a
 >. Also, make an exercise plan. Find a gym or locate the nearest park,
 hiking trails, etc.
 </li>
 <li>
 Map out and practice your route to work.
 Before your first day, figure out how you’ll get to work and make a dry
 run. If you’ll take public transportation, figure out your route. If
 you’ll drive, look up traffic patterns online and scout out alternate
 routes. Drive to the site and figure out where you’ll enter and where to
 park.
 </li>
 <li>
 Familiarize yourself with the organization and facility.
 Onboarding and orientation will help a bit, but arrange to visit the
 facility in advance if possible. Explore the facility’s website and social
 media accounts. Ask for a map of the layout. Figure out where the nursing
 stations, computers, break rooms and restrooms are. Read through the
 policies and procedures. Sign up for emails, and ask about department or
 employee newsletters, etc. Ask for a staff list with photos. Ensure you
 have your ID badge, parking decal, contact for questions, electronic
 health records system info, guidebooks, roles and responsibilities, etc.
 </li>
 <li>
 Be prepared to pay taxes and set up savings. When receiving a large
 compensation check, feeling the cash is all yours may be tempting. But
 remember, employers retain and pay income taxes and social security on
 behalf of their W-2 employees. However, you must pay these taxes directly
 as a 1099 independent contractor. Set up a separate savings account and
 transfer a portion of your compensation to that account so you don’t have
 to come up with the money when it’s time to
 <a
 href="https://www.crosscountry.com/blog/locum-tenens-tax-tips-for-2023?"
 target="_blank"
 >pay quarterly estimated taxes.</a
 >
 Also, set aside a portion to invest in your retirement, build up your
 emergency fund, and make med school loan payments.
 </li>
 <li>
 Pack for your first day.
 Get your meals ready, snacks and water ready. Don’t forget your coat,
 scrubs, stethoscope, ID badge, parking decal, maps, etc. Know who you’ll
 meet and where on your first day.
 </li>
 <li>
 Arrive early. Plan to arrive in advance. Allow time for
 unforeseen traffic or other unexpected events. Arriving early will give
 you time to settle in, use the restroom, put your things away and greet
 your contact.
 </li>
 <li>
 Have a great first day.
 To build positive rapport with colleagues, act friendly, upbeat,
 confident, and qualified. Be ready to adapt, jump in with confidence and
 skill, be responsive and remember you’re a guest. Learn from others and
 ask for help when you need it. Be willing to push yourself outside of your
 comfort zone. Build your network by joining your colleagues for meals.
 Devote yourself to performing to the best of your ability. When you need
 help, reach out to your recruiter.
 </li>
 </ol>

 <h2>Top Traits of a Successful Locum Tenens Provider</h2>
 
 As you strive to perform at the top of your game, consider these
 <a
 href="https://www.crosscountry.com/blog/10-traits-hospitals-look-for-in-physicians?"
 target="_blank"> characteristics of outstanding locums providers</a>
 and how you can leverage these traits for success:
 

 <ul style="padding:0px 30px;">
 <li>
 Clinical competence – Be ready to draw on your knowledge
 and expertise, even in unfamiliar settings. Keep up to date on best
 practices and medical advancements in your field.
 </li>
 <li>
 Flexibility – Jump in where needed. Be ready to adapt to
 new patient populations, practice settings, protocols, workflows and
 systems.
 </li>
 <li>
 Professionalism – the same level of integrity and
 ethics to each locums assignment that you would bring to a permanent
 position. Being professional will build trust with your patients, leaders
 and colleagues.
 </li>
 <li>
 Ingenuity – ready to solve problems, think critically
 and make sound decisions as situations arise. Effective locums providers
 know how to generate innovative solutions on the fly.
 </li>
 <li>
 Cultural sensitivity – Strengthen your
 <a href="https://www.crosscountry.com/blog/attracting-locums-to-rural-areas?"
 > cultural competence</a
 >. Be sensitive to backgrounds and cultural differences among patients,
 providers and staff.
 </li>
 <li>
 Patient focus – Treat patients and families with
 compassion and empathy. When interacting with patients, strive to be
 attentive, thorough, respectful, calm, and confident.
 </li>
 <li>
 Tech ability – Be prepared to pick up new EHR systems,
 AI, provider apps, telehealth platforms, etc. Quickly mastering technology
 that’s new to you can be a real asset as a locum.
 </li>
 <li>
 Resilience – Bring grit to the job. Many of the permanent
 providers may be overworked or feeling burned out. Take care of yourself
 both in and outside of work. Use this opportunity to bring optimism and
 enthusiasm.
 </li>
 <li>
 Organization and time management – Be efficient. Think
 about which tasks are urgent and non-urgent. Prioritize and set goals to
 align with the team and workflows.
 </li>
 </ul>
 <h2>About Working with a Locum Tenens Recruiter</h2>
 
 It is possible to get locum tenens opportunities on your own. However, the
 entire locum tenens process, from start to finish, is multi-faceted. Flying
 solo can be frustrating and time-consuming when you’re busy building a
 career. Working with a locum tenens agency and an expert locums recruiter
 can help streamline the process, making it simpler, smoother and much more
 enjoyable.
 

 
 A locum tenens recruiter specializing in your field can find you a range of
 opportunities that fit your needs. They will guide you through
 application, interview, credentialing, accommodations, orientation and
 onboarding.
 You can even forge a lasting professional partnership with a recruiter who
 will
 advocate for you, root for your success, and elevate your career.
 
 
 
 <a href="https://www.crosscountry.com/locums" target="_blank">Partner with us</a>
 for a rewarding locum tenens experience with Cross Country Locums.
 
</div>

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