The life of a travel allied health worker is incredibly rewarding but also comes with its unique challenges. From navigating the nuances of different healthcare facilities to adjusting to new cities frequently, it’s essential for these healthcare professionals to have solid support networks. Thankfully, the digital age offers numerous forums, groups, and resources tailored to their specific needs. Here’s an overview:

1. Allied Travel Careers Forums

This forum is an excellent starting point for those new to the traveling allied health world. With comprehensive job listings and resources about various specialties, it’s an all-in-one hub for both novices and veterans. Their community also offers advice on the best cities for specific professions, pay packages, and housing.

2. Facebook Groups

There are numerous Facebook groups dedicated to travel allied health professionals. These groups, such as “Traveling Allied Health Professionals”, “Travel Nursing Community” and “Allied Health Travelers Unite,” are invaluable for networking, sharing experiences, and seeking advice from peers.

Facebook groups like the Traveling Therapist Hub provide a more personal touch. Members actively share their experiences, post pictures from their latest assignments, and provide real-time feedback on agencies and facilities. This kind of peer support is invaluable, especially when one is in a new city or facing challenges.

Travel Nurse Network – The Gypsy Nurse: This is one of the most popular and active groups, dedicated to travel nursing. They share job opportunities, housing options, and advice on different hospitals and cities.

• Traveler Talk: Another large group where travel healthcare professionals discuss various topics, including assignments, housing, and travel tips.
• Travel Nurse Housing – The Gypsy Nurse: Specifically for finding housing or sharing accommodations with other travel nurses.
• Travel Respiratory Therapist: This is geared towards respiratory therapists who travel for assignments.
• Travel Physical Therapy: For physical therapists on the move.
• Traveling Occupational Therapists (OT, COTA): Catering to both occupational therapists and certified occupational therapy assistants.
• Travel Radiology & Imaging Jobs: For radiology professionals searching for travel positions.
• Travel Nurse Beginners: Perfect for those just starting out in travel nursing and looking for advice.

3. Voca Healthcare

Voca is an excellent resource for travel allied healthcare professionals and travel nurses. Allied health professionals supplement patient care by providing a range of diagnostic, technical, therapeutic, and direct patient care and support services that are critical to health professionals in the diagnosis and treatment of patients. Voca’s experienced allied health recruiters work with some of the most respected and recognized healthcare organizations in the country. We are here to help you find a position that utilizes your skills and experience. At Voca, we strongly believe a better career results in a happier you.

Looking for your next or even first travel assignment? Contact Voca today!

4. Reddit Communities

Subreddits like r/TravelNursing and r/MedLabProfessionals, while not exclusively for allied health professionals, often feature discussions, experiences, and resources beneficial for anyone in the traveling healthcare sector

5. TravCon

The Travelers Conference, commonly known as TravCon, is an annual event aimed at healthcare travelers. It’s an excellent opportunity to network, attend workshops, and learn about the latest industry trends. They also have an active online community, providing year-round support. TravCon is the largest traveling healthcare conference in the United States. Every September, over 1,700 traveling healthcare professionals from across the country come to Las Vegas to participate in TravCon.

TravCon is not only a conference, but also the event of the year for travelers. It offers many opportunities to earn CEs, hear from top professionals in the industry, network with like-minded travelers, and enjoy being celebrated and spoiled by their amazing exhibitors.

6. Allied Health Podcasts

Listening to podcasts is a great way to gain insights while on the move. Shows like “The Traveling Traveler” and “The Gypsy Nurse” often feature episodes dedicated to the unique challenges and opportunities in allied health travel.

7. Local Chapters and Meetups

Many cities have local chapters or meetups for travel allied health professionals. These face-to-face interactions are immensely beneficial, offering a chance to share experiences, vent frustrations, and celebrate successes in a supportive environment.

Are you into running? Hiking? Maybe knitting? Check out local clubs through Facebook to connect to people in the community while on your next assignment.

8. CEU Resources

Continuous education is a must in healthcare. Platforms like MedBridge and CEU360 offer online courses tailored to allied health professionals. Many of these courses take into account the unique scenarios faced by those on the road.

While the world of travel allied health work is challenging, the sense of community among its members is genuinely uplifting. With the plethora of forums, groups, and resources available, no one needs to navigate this journey alone. Embrace the adventure, lean on your fellow professionals, and make the most of the experiences that come your way. Safe travels!

Looking to start your career as a travel allied healthcare professional or travel nurse? Get in touch with us! We’ll be more than happy to help.

About Voca: The Spirit of Work

Voca is a relationship organization focused on uniting talented healthcare professionals across nursing and allied, as well as travel and local with exceptional companies. Headquartered in Rochester, MN, Voca works coast-to-coast supporting national, regional, and local healthcare companies. Voca is proud to be certified by The Joint Commission, which evaluates and accredits healthcare staffing agency organizations and programs in the United States. We are committed to creating and maintaining a workplace in which all employees have an opportunity to participate and contribute to our mutual success and are valued for their skills, experience, and unique perspective. For more information, visit https://myvoca.com/.