Permanent or Locum?

Re: Permanent or Locum?

Jess Parkes — Thu, 29 Nov 2012 15:25:28 GMT

I am newly qualified and I have been working as a locum for a few practices and I really enjoy it and I have gained lots of experience I would definitely recommend it !

Re: Permanent or Locum?

Paulette — Thu, 29 Nov 2012 15:01:04 GMT

I absolutely agree Lee484

I mostly trained in a busy hospital and I think if I hadn't have had this experience and used all the equipment you learn about from books I would have found it very daunting at the beginning when locuming as like you said, often you can be the only nurse on site (although Like Lee484 said make sure you explain exactly what you'd like in a placement and how confident you feel at the time). Also don't be scared to ask for another agent (if you go with an agency) if you feel they are being too pushy to take a job that you think may not suit you at the time. It's free to register with most agencies so do what I did and register with all of them!!! Long term placement in a hospital that is aware you have just qualified would be ideal as I find they are very good with in house training and happy to show you new things. Will then build your confidence, and really if you can feel confident in your ability in a hospital, you should be able to easily apply yourself in other practices. Wish you the best of luck in whatever you do :)

Re: Permanent or Locum?

Lee484 — Wed, 28 Nov 2012 22:18:25 GMT

Hi!

I've been locuming for the last yr and a half and the experience I have gained has been invaluable. As Paulette says, a big hospital would be really good, you would gain a lot of experience and learn a lot in a short space of time. If you chose locuming, I'd recommend finding a long term placement at a hospital. I say this because sometimes you can be placed in a small private practice thats incredibly quiet and you spend most of your day doing not a lot, which isnt great when your newly qualified (congrats btw!!) To locum, you do have to have confidence, both in interacting with new people and your nursing abilities, sometimes you can end up being the only nurse in the practice and they expect you to hit the ground running, definatly have a long chat with your locum agent so they understand where your at so they can find the best jobs for you.

After I qualified I worked permantly at a large hospital for two years before a smaller practice for a year, then locuming. I personally would do it this way again, as I qualified from a small ish practice so going to a big hospital was like training all over again. The things I learnt at the hospital gave me the confidence to locum, and since locuming I have continued to learn and also tweak my nursing, its very interesting to see how different practices have different protocols for the same procedure.

Good luck with what ever you decide:)

Re: Permanent or Locum?

Paulette — Tue, 27 Nov 2012 22:06:01 GMT

hi there are lots and lots of threads on here regarding this :)

just search 'locum' or 'locuming'

I locumed straight from qualifying for 2 years (mixed in with travelling) and didn't have any problems finding work (although you more than often need to be prepared to travel/stay in accommodation)

I think you have to have a certain amount of confidence, or at least be brave and the confidence comes as there are lots of new staff/practices/finding things/different ways of working etc so you need to be able to adapt to that relatively quickly. I really learnt a hell of a lot from locuming and it really helped build and develop my skills as a nurse and my confidence in my ability. When you first qualify you are still learning a lot and I think locuming is a brilliant thing for any nurse to do at some point if they can. I'd strongly recommend some work in a busy hospital aswell if you think this would interest you :) hope this helps and good luck :)

ps congrats on qualifying!