Find out what the top five traps and pitfalls you must avoid as a locum doctor.

As with any job, it’s easy to make mistakes as a rookie locum. Here’s a list of the most common pitfalls so you can look out for them.

1. An unbalanced lifestyle

It can be tempting to sacrifice your social life by running up long hours or accepting back-to-back assignments. After all, you want to establish a good reputation and the more you work, the more you earn. If you’re interstate and missing your usual social network, it can be particularly tempting to prioritise work. However, it’s a mistake.

Experienced locums appreciate that, if you manage your time correctly, you’ll enjoy a more balanced lifestyle as a locum than in a permanent job. They also understand that social isolation is a leading cause of doctor burnout.

Wherever you’re assigned, beware of overwork. If you’re working locally, make time to see friends and family. If you’re away, find people, organisations and places that match your personal interests and build some downtime into your day. You’ll be an all-round happier person, and get much more out of being a locum.

2. Neglecting professional development

Medicine is a fast-moving field where there’s always a new technique, approach or therapy to learn, but it can be challenging for locums to keep up.

Locums aren’t often part of the formal and information networks where regular employees hear about professional development (PD) opportunities. In addition, a locum contract doesn’t include PD leave or allowances, so you’ll have to pay the full course fee and attend on days when you could be earning.

Despite this, my advice is to stay up to date. Seek out suitable courses, subscribe to journals, ensure you’re on email distribution lists. Not only will your PD efforts ensure you don’t fall behind your peers and create more assignment opportunities, they will make you a better doctor.

3. Making assumptions

No two locum assignments are the same. The resources, equipment, rules and approaches vary enormously, even at neighbouring hospitals and practices. If you assume your new facility will be the same as your last one, you risk making mistakes.

Researching it before you begin is helpful. Your locum agent may have some advice, or connect you with other locums who’ve worked there. Once you’ve started work, be proactive. If you’re unsure about a process, ask. If there’s an orientation, attend it. If there’s a procedures manual, read it. The more you know, the faster you’ll get up to speed and the more confident you’ll be.

If you think you might return, keep a written or virtual record of important information so you can impress everyone next time.

4. Letting administration slip

It’s easy to forget about administration when you’re busy, so set aside some regular office time. That way, you won’t be faced with a paper mountain or caught out by a missed payment.

As well as standard professional obligations such as registrations and police checks, you’ll need to keep on top of billing, accounts, insurance and various aspects of business compliance. Having an accountant will reduce the burden but even then, you’re responsible for paying tax bills on time, chasing up late payments, collecting expense receipts and other administrative joys.

If you use a business software package, your life will be far easier. Also, your locum agency will probably take on some of the burden, so check what they do — and what they don’t.

5. Ignoring your family’s needs

You might think that because this is your career, only you should make decisions about where and when you work. But being a locum isn’t just a job, it’s a lifestyle choice that impacts your whole family. So it’s best to discuss any implications with them before accepting an assignment, not afterwards.

Think about it from their point of view. If the assignment involves weekend shifts and you have three sporty children, how will they all get to their games? Will you miss a wedding, a graduation, Christmas? If you’ll be interstate, how often will you call?

For a longer assignment, taking your family may be an option. If you do, what are the work opportunities for your partner? Are there suitable schooling choices? Be prepared to research all the options, and to turn down an opportunity that would be great for you but unworkable for other family members. There’s always another assignment around the corner.