Let's take a minute to talk about attitude. Sounds like a lecture from my mom but it's going to be key in your business as a locum.
im guessing that there are multiple reasons you decided a nice secure stable jobs wasn't going to fit with you. Once again I'll bet there was a person or two that drove you right off the cliff leaving you finally ready to start locum tenens. So, was it this persons overall attitude, personality, attention, or some disagreement that just couldn't be overcome? Now, in retrospect, was this truly a one sided thing or part (just the tiniest little fraction) a bit of your response to the attitude of the other person, group, or other? I mention this because how you respond to others, and your overall character make up your attitude and perception. Ones perception of you is their reality. I had someone tell me that wasn't true and at that point I knew there was no hope that she would ever be able to overcome herself.
Why are locums used? Yes, on rare instance it's vacation or baby leave or some other fairly good reason. What's typical??? Typical these days are that a group is losing $$ so they have downsized making the others in the group work harder then s couple people just leave or say no more of this.... then the hospital looks around for a cheaper anesthesia management group. The current group starts to feel like they might be replaced and in come a few locums meant to make it appear that all is good, well staffed and that we are growing.
You arrive and unfortunately you hear that people aren't as happy as they were a year ago. So and so person has become so unhappy and hard to deal with but they just won't leave. Finally, you hear the boss talking and financial stress of the group to make the new lower budget work with these expensive locums coming in is causing a problem and why can't we get some good CRNAs?
You have to come in and overcome the hurdles and not get sucked into this. You have to be the one that is happy and help others see that it can be good and it isn't just a horrible place. That doctor that 4 other CRNAs refuse to work with is now the guy that is a little challenging but today is going to be awesome! You have to hold the can do spirit.
If you take on the OMG the world sucks mentality you will also start to feel that drive to leave, performance decreases, then all of a sudden notice comes that they don't need you despite not hiring any more people?!
Politics, bad-mouthing staff, or saying you dislike... these are no no's. You absolutely love this, & you can't wait for this opportunity in 3 weeks in the area because how awesome is it that you'll be here?!
After your first week or two, ask the leadership how your doing for them? Where can I help you most? Any challenges or issues? This allows them to evaluate themselves and take a temperature on how you are assimilating into the group dynamic. They might say well, what's your favorite type of cases? Do you like a certain case type here? They might state all is well. Then again you have to do an attitude check to... how are the bosses or surgeons or co-workers responding to you. Do you feel more positive or negative? How do you counter the negative?
For some this is endorphins from exercise, for some it's sharing the love and feeding some of all of the group, for some its taking weekends and site seeing, and for others it could be crafts. You have to find your happy. That said, I don't think you should be the one that is nose to the grindstone, non-talkative, or super laser focused all the time... people will perceive you as quiet or snooty. Quiet, it may just be who you are but I would explore you to make small talk and talk about all the happy things in the area... not the expensive wonders of the Cayman Islands... that's a whole other conversation that money talk is taboo!
I'm pretty sure I talked way too much! Good luck and keep it positive!!