As a locum tenens nurse practitioner (NP), your job is to work as a temporary fill in at various medical facilities. In your role as an NP, you may help a physician with various assigned tasks, ensure a given facility has coverage while it looks for a permanent staff member, and offer other flexible services to the employer. Locum tenens positions have varying durations, with jobs lasting from several days to more than a year. The shortage of physicians and nurses throughout the country means that locum tenens nurse practitioners often have the freedom to work where they want, and you may even have additional opportunity to set hours and seek other benefits. Locum tenens nurse practitioners are similar to traveling nurses, but they often work outside of acute care facilities like hospitals.