What is a locum tenens?

In the health care industry, a locum tenens is a temporary care provider that fills in when staff is out sick or when a facility has a staffing shortage. The phrase is a Latin term that means someone serves as a placeholder. Locum tenens nurse practitioners and physicians earn supplemental income outside of their primary jobs, choose flexible schedules, develop skills for a new or existing career, and travel on assignments. A locum tenens role is an opportunity for you to work for a health care organization short-term, so you can decide whether to accept a long-term job.