Learning Opportunities in Government Physician Assistant Jobs

It’s no secret that Advanced Practice Providers are in high demand, but the most attractive Nurse Practitioner jobs and Physician Assistant jobs usually require extensive experience. This can be a tough reality for recent graduates to face.

Fortunately, government locum tenens jobs often require less experience and can thus be a great opportunity for new graduates. New Physician Assistants and Nurse Practitioners are able to build their resumes and gain valuable experience in government settings.

James, a recently graduated PA from Colorado, is happy to be gaining experience in a locum tenens job. His Physician Assistant job at Pine Ridge IHS may not be what he envisioned himself doing on graduation day, but he is using the opportunity to continue his education and learn as much as he can.

“I think I see a much wider variety of patients here than I would in a private setting,” James explains. He works in the emergency department and family practice clinic. “Most of the patients I see suffer from diabetes or rheumatology. There’s more pathology here than in the general public. I’m not here to speculate why, but I’m certainly learning from it.”

James is also learning about life in South Dakota, and so far, he’s enjoying it. From the porcupine and raccoons he often sees during his commute to the genuinely welcoming people, James says his life in South Dakota is dramatically different from his life in Colorado. Of course, going “home” to a hotel after a 13 or 14 hour shift has been an adjustment, but James says it’s not too bad, though he jokes, “Sometimes it feels like I’m deployed!”

Despite the unusual living arrangements, James is hoping to extend his contract and stay in South Dakota through the holidays – if the weather allows. “I’m not sure if I’ll be able to commute into Pine Ridge once the weather gets bad. But I’d like to stay on if I can.”

James says he’d recommend AdvancedPractice to anyone searching for Physician Assistant jobs or Nurse Practitioner jobs. “I struggled to find a job after graduation,” Daniel explains, “But AdvancedPractice was extremely helpful. I’d be happy to work with them again.”

Finding the Right Fit in Government Locum Jobs

For advanced practice professionals who like to travel, locum tenens jobs are an obvious choice. Nurse practitioners and physician assistants who work locum jobs have a unique opportunity to explore new places, but they also get the chance to delve into different practice settings. In trying out new jobs, they may even find that they enjoy a setting they may not have considered in the past.

Robin, an FNP from Alaska, originally decided to seek out locum family nurse practitioner jobs because she wanted to travel, but she quickly discovered many other benefits too, including housing assistance and tax breaks. “Plus, it’s just nice to be mobile,” she explained.

Her current assignment brought her to Austin, Texas where she works as a family nurse practitioner in a government correctional facility. “It’s more regimented,” she said when asked how government locum tenens jobs vary from other settings. “There are very specific processes for everything, so you could feel a bit stifled.”

That’s a small price to pay, however, for what Robin feels is a much better quality of life. “It’s nice to know your work hours are set. I work Monday through Friday with no call. You just don’t get that in private practice...you end up working a lot of weekends.”