As a medical sonographer, you know you make a huge difference in the lives of your patients. Using ultrasound equipment to create and record images, you help their doctors monitor pregnancies and diagnose cardiac, vascular, and other medical issues. Although you wouldn’t change your career choice for anything, you often wish you had more work-life balance.
The good news is that you can have the best of both worlds. As a locum sonographer, you can help patients in places that need your skills the most while controlling your own schedule. In this blog, ProMed HR Solutions goes over the many ways that the ability to work and travel in New Zealand can make you love your career even more than you do now!
So What is a Locum Sonographer?
As far as duties and responsibilities are concerned, being a locum sonographer is no different than working in a hospital or clinic on an employment basis. You use your diagnostic imaging equipment and understanding of the human body to determine whether abnormalities are present and convey that information to each patient’s doctor. You also work according to a predetermined schedule and form part of an important healthcare team.
The main difference between locum sonographers and those directly employed is that the former are independent contractors who work across New Zealand on short or long-term contracts. You can choose whether or not to accept a contract and even take extended time off between assignments, which is great if you want to go home for the holidays, attend a destination wedding, or even enjoy some extended ‘me’ time.
Although all work is done on a contract basis, you don’t have to worry about not being busy. Sonographers with generalist and specialist skills, including cardiac sonographers, are in short supply in New Zealand. The shortage is nationwide, regardless of location. You’ll find facilities in Auckland and Christchurch just as eager for your help as those in more remote communities. Instead of searching for work, you face the appealing prospect of being able to pick and choose.
Why Do NZ Facilities Use Locum Sonographers?
There are a number of reasons why healthcare facilities turn to locum sonographers for help in assisting patients.
Prevent Staff Burnout
In the wake of the pandemic, medical imaging personnel are experiencing burnout and exhaustion more than ever. By being able to maintain adequate staffing, managers can mitigate and even prevent the effects and costs of burnout. A locum sonographer can step in when an employee needs time off to recharge.
Increase Capacity as Needed
Many clinics and hospitals are still dealing with the backlog created by the pandemic. By using locum sonographers, they can extend their hours to process patients more efficiently, reduce wait times, and even accommodate any additional surges in demand.
Accommodate Staff Absences
There are several reasons why regular staff go on extended leave. Sometimes the absence is planned, such as a vacation, leave of absence, or maternity leave. Other times, illness or injury can leave them unable to work for weeks or even months at a time. When this happens, facilities need experienced and qualified locum sonographers who can fill in without needing in-depth training beforehand.
Provide Special Services
Approximately 14% of New Zealanders live in rural areas, where rural community services are often the only means of obtaining a full range of healthcare services. In some places, sonography services are only available when a locum comes into work at the local or regional clinic.
Work and Travel in New Zealand: The Advantages of Locum Work for Sonographers!
As a locum sonographer, you’ll be in demand. But that isn’t the only benefit (although career stability is always a bonus!). Read on!
A Better Work/Life Balance
As a locum sonographer, you have the freedom and flexibility to choose the days and even hours you want to work. This control and flexibility allows you to enjoy a better work/life balance than you would if you had set hours at a hospital or clinic. You can better plan for other important parts of your life, such as loved ones.
Greater Job Stability
Traditionally, locum work filled unexpected and last-minute vacancies at clinics and hospitals. With personnel shortages being common in certain areas, and even busy city practices engaging locums to support patient care, opportunities have expanded across New Zealand to include more long-term positions as well.
While locum work requires you to move from one location to the next, one thing remains constant: job stability. Each contract is for a fixed term, and if you are unsatisfied with the location, you will soon be moving on to opportunities you like better.
Try Out Different Settings
By moving from one location to another, locum sonographers can easily determine their preferred work environment. You may find that you like working in a rural clinic in the Far North more than a hospital in central Wellington. You may even have a preferred patient type- for example, cardiac patients, expecting mothers, or children. Being a locum sonographer is the perfect opportunity to identify where you feel the most inspired and needed.
A Chance to Explore New Zealand
Travel is one of the most appealing aspects of locum work for professionals. Your locum assignment provides most, if not all, of your transportation costs, so you can travel for free and see a wider range of patients and work environments. During your off hours, you’re free to explore the community, check out its eateries and other attractions, and make new friends.
Find Your Next Locum Opportunity in NZ Today!
Today’s healthcare market is full of locum opportunities. After pandemic-related restrictions, medical facilities are resuming full operations and need additional staff. When combined with an aging population that will require more medical care, the demand for sonographers in many locations will rapidly exceed the supply, especially in more remote areas. If you enjoy traveling and are flexible in your choice of location, being a locum sonographer may be perfect for you!
ProMed HR Solutions Ltd. works with medical technologists in a wide range of modalities, including:
- Ultrasound
- MRI
- Echo
- CT
- X-Ray
- Laboratory
- Nuclear Medicine
ProMed HR Solutions Ltd. has a long and successful track record of helping skilled locum professionals find rewarding career opportunities. In New Zealand, we are one of the most trusted names in healthcare staffing. To learn more about our company and how we can help you pursue a career you’ll love, call 0800776634 or visit promedhr.co.nz.
