Top tips for your first day in a locum position

When you start your first locum position, feeling anxious and uncertain about what to expect is natural. You are entering a new hospital and working with other doctors and staff for the first time. Whether you are filling in for a colleague who is on leave or taking on a short-term position at a new practice, starting a new locum assignment can be intimidating.

Keep in mind you can always learn something regardless of the nature of the shift – if you are locuming in a new environment, use it as an opportunity to step out of your comfort zone, and this will make you a better clinician in general. Dr Li Will Chen

Here are a few tips to help you make a smooth transition and succeed in your first locum role:

1. Familiarise yourself with the hospital or practice and its policies

Before your first day, take some time to review the facility's policies and procedures manual. This will help you understand how things are done at the practice and what is expected of you. You should also familiarise yourself with the practice's layout, including where important supplies and equipment are located.

My top tip? Scan all the documents you need – your license, your health stuff, everything you might ever need so you have them ready if required. Different Occupational Health people want different things. So it helps to have all of the information and documents at hand. Dr Dolores del Estal

2. Introduce yourself to the staff

Your first day of the locum job is a great opportunity to get to know your colleagues and make a good impression. Take the time to introduce yourself to the nursing, administrative, and other doctors you will be working with. This will help you build rapport and establish positive working relationships.

Choose carefully where you are going and what position you will be doing. Do some research about the hospital and the town where the hospital is located. If you are not sure about something when you are on shift, make sure to ask. Dr Kevin Wu

3. Review patient records before seeing patients

Before you begin seeing patients, reviewing their records and familiarising yourself with their history and current condition is a good idea. This will help you provide more informed care and ensure you are aware of any issues that must be addressed.

4. Communicate openly and ask for help when needed.

If you are unsure about anything or have questions, don't be afraid to ask for help. It's better to ask for clarification than to make a mistake or provide inadequate care. Additionally, make sure to communicate openly with your colleagues and patients, as this will help build trust and establish a positive working relationship.

5. Manage your time effectively

As a locum doctor, you may juggle multiple patients and tasks throughout the day. To ensure you can provide the best care possible, managing your time effectively is important. Use any available tools and resources to help you stay organised and on track.

Probably the most important thing is to work out what the scope of a job is before you take it - I have done jobs where I am the solo doctor in the hospital overnight, which I knew what I was getting into, but I think for some people could be a surprise. Medrecruit is very forthcoming with information in this respect. Dr Laura Smith

6. Remember, we are here to support you

If you can't find the hospitals, have issues with your travel or accommodation, or have any other issues with logistics, remember we are here to help. If you are working with a medical recruitment agency, like Medrecruit, you can contact your dedicated Solution Specialist or Placement Specialist at any time.

Starting a new locum position can be challenging, but following these tips can set you up for success in your first placement.

Remember to take the time to get to know your colleagues, review patient records before seeing patients, communicate openly, and ask for help when needed. If you are locuming through Medrecruit, we will be here to support you every step of the way.

I say: “Do It! I highly recommend it!....And do it with Medrecruit! I have referred a few colleagues now, and they have all found the team amazing.” Locum work provides different points of view of the work we sometimes take for granted in big city hospitals. Especially for training registrars, its important to see how other places work, their limitations, and build a network with other locums or trainees." Dr Tasveer Singh

Advice for aspiring locum doctors

Dr Mikayla Couch offers these points of advice for asipiring locum doctors:

• Take your time finding the right agency and person to work with
• The paperwork is a lot so allocate time for that
• Enjoy your locum time before you go back into training

Ready to start locuming? Register here to start your locum journey.