how secure is locum work?

Re: how secure is locum work?

Caro Laithwaite VN — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 20:36:56 GMT

Generally speaking QVN are wanted for night work at emergency clinics due to the work carried out.

Re: how secure is locum work?

hissycat — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 19:55:17 GMT

Do you mean do locum work after qualifying via the 2 yr college course? This is what I thought you meant, in which case you prob would be much more successful finding locum work. Have never worked as a locum so cannot comment on availability of work, but we all know there is a shortage of QVNs... Agree that night work might be a good option for you if you wanna pay off a debt quickly as it does pay better, I have recently seen a job in cardiff paying 27K at VETS, sounds good if you can adjust to the hours.

Re: how secure is locum work?

Selena Carnell — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 11:11:24 GMT

Hi, I think Vicky is quite right most locum postitions are after experienced qualified nurses.

So i doubt very much that you would earn anywhere near 20,000 i think the average for newly qualifieds would be about 15,000 (I was on £14000 as an experienced nurse i a large hosp a 5 yrs ago, so not sure now much wages will have changed.

You may get better pay working nights and weekends as they are the ones no one wants to do.

No job is secure unfortunatley, some months you might have loads and others none.

Re: how secure is locum work?

Maisy — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 21:17:09 GMT

I would be a bit cautious if you have set goals for paying off debts etc. I'm a locum and would say that the market is more for QVNs or at least very experienced nursing assistants (3 years +). As you've only been doing the job for a year I think you'd probably be paid just over minimum wage (if that) I'm afraid. A couple of the locum agencies do seem to have jobs for experienced NAs but remember that there are agency fees then taken out of your salary so salary wise you probably won't be better off.

Before you decide to leave your job though I would strongly recommend contacting agencies to see if they would consider you so you're not wasting your time leaving your job if it turns out practices wouldn't be able to use you.