Physician jobs remain in high-demand within the United States. This means that employers are pretty flexible when it comes to scheduling. Although permanent physicians work many hours a week, some still seek extra income and experience in their free time. Today, you’ll find an increasing amount of moonlighting jobs for locum tenens and even non-traveling physician positions. So, what is medical moonlighting and why do so many physicians choose to do it? Here we’ll provide a guide to medical moonlighting for locum tenens physicians!
What is Medical Moonlighting?
Medical moonlighting occurs when physicians work extra shifts in nearby hospitals or medical facilities. Working shifts in different sections of your current workplace is also a form of medical moonlighting. These positions are ideal for locum tenens physicians because they are temporary and flexible. While permanent physicians often moonlight as well, traveling doctors have better-suited schedules for these assignments.
Top Benefits of Moonlighting Jobs for Locum Tenens
Most physicians make respectable salaries. However, school debt and other expenses can necessitate picking up extra shifts to make extra cash. Considering that moonlighting jobs for locum tenens often occur in facilities with critical staffing needs, you’ll find many incentives for picking them up.
In addition to making some extra money during your assignment, these positions are a fantastic way to gain additional experience! Depending on your skillset, moonlighting jobs for locum tenens allow physicians to utilize their expertise in related areas of a hospital or facility. You’ll meet new professionals and help more patients get the medical care that they need. Today’s Hospitalist describes just how useful moonlighting jobs for locum tenens can be for resolving scheduling conflicts as well!
Moonlighting By the Specialty
It goes without saying, but moonlighting jobs often require physicians to work odd hours. If working night shifts is something that appeals to you, there are certainly plenty of nocturnist hospitalists positions to consider! As we mentioned before, these jobs provide a considerable amount of flexibility — especially when you’re already traveling for an assignment as a locum tenens physician!
Here’s a little known fact for you. You may not expect it, but physicians between ages 50 and 54 are most likely to moonlight! It may be that older physicians feel more comfortable in taking on additional shifts in varied locations, or that they are just trying to snag some extra retirement cash. Whatever the reason may be, this shows that moonlighting is possible for physicians of all ages!
Particular Specialties
You’ll find moonlighting jobs for locum tenens in just about every specialty available. Still, there certain fields where moonlighting jobs are notably popular — this includes:
- 40 percent of hospitalists
- 38 percent of cardiologists
- 36 percent of family medicine/general practitioners
- 35 percent of internists
- 27 percent of gastroenterologists
- 25 percent of pediatricians
Although physicians are very busy, some find that picking up moonlighting shifts is a great way to alleviate professional stagnation and even boredom during their free time. One area that has a greta need for moonlighting physicians is emergency medicine and surgery. Working in an ER more often increase the robustness of your skills while putting more money in your pocket. In this field, you can earn anywhere from $100-$150 an hour!
So, what is medical moonlighting? We hope that you can answer this questions when others ask it from now on. But just to recap, moonlighting jobs are temporary shifts filled by experienced physicians. They are a fantastic way to make extra income, gain new experience, alleviate schedule conflicts, and expand your career for the better! Remember that both permanent and traveling physicians can take advantage of moonlighting jobs in many different specialties. You can browse these positions right here on LocumJobsOnline!
Do you have experience with moonlighting? Let us know in the comments below or on social media!
