Shining a Light on SAD: Tips for Healthcare Travelers

How’s your mental health during winter? How about during the summer? Seasonal Affective Disorder, also known as SAD, is a depressive condition associated with seasonal changes and affects people during all times of the year. SAD can significantly influence your daily life and emotional state — especially if you’re a traveling healthcare worker. According to Mental Health America, about 5% of adults in the U.S. experience SAD every year, with women making up the majority. The main age of onset of seasonal depression is between 20 and 30, however, symptoms can appear earlier. Being a healthcare traveler means you can take assignments in new places every few weeks. This means you’re on the road quite a bit, putting you at a higher risk of SAD. Let’s dive in to learn: The SAD symptoms based on the season The causes of SAD for healthcare travelers How healthcare travelers can combat SAD

Are you a med traveler looking for your next assignment? Consider venturing off the beaten path into healthcare deserts — also known as care deserts, or medical deserts. These regions are characterized by a lack of accessible and adequate access to healthcare services. While this may seem daunting, taking assignments in these areas can be incredibly rewarding experiences. According to GoodRx, more than 80% of counties across the U.S. lack adequate healthcare infrastructure. That means that over a third of the U.S. population lives in a county where access to pharmacies, primary care providers medical specialists, hospitals, trauma centers, and low-cost community health centers is less than ideal. In this article, we'll explore the reasons why you should consider working in medical deserts, the impact you can make on local communities, and the personal and professional growth opportunities that await. So, pack your bags and get ready to make a difference!

Have you heard about the travel nurse housing stipends or housing allowance that is often offered as part of your compensation package, but aren't sure what it covers or how to make the most out of it? You're in the right place.

You have enough to manage as a professional — let someone else worry about housing. Marketplace partners with nationwide healthcare staffing agencies (with flexible housing options) so you can choose what’s best for you. Whether you prefer a fully furnished downtown apartment or an oceanside retreat, Marketplace empowers you to find the home-sweet-home that suits you.

Being a travel nurse opens the door to seeing the country, gaining new experience, and making more money. We talked with Allie Hall, AKA The Debt Free Nurse, to learn how travel nurses can maximize their salary, achieve savings goals, and tackle debt. Keep reading for her tips for how travel nurses can better manage their hard-earned money!

Leaving pets behind isn’t an option for most healthcare travelers when they take an assignment. Plus, pets can make temporary housing feel like home when traveling. Finding temporary housing with pets isn’t always easy though. Here’s our tips for finding pet friendly housing as a healthcare traveler! Travel nursing with pets 101 Prepare for these pet restrictions Tips for finding pet friendly housing How much does it cost to bring a pet on assignment?

It’s no fun not knowing. Especially when it comes to the important details like what agency you’ll work with, how much you’ll get paid, where you’ll take your healthcare skills, and who you’ll help.

Taking the leap into the healthcare travel lifestyle is an adjustment, to say the least. From packing up and moving every 13 weeks to new technology to learn, life as a professional traveler is full of constant change and adventure.

Your voice matters and deserves to be heard. Now, Marketplace is making it easier than ever to share your experiences with the capability to rate healthcare staffing recruiters on a five-point star scale, plus the option to include a personalized recruiter review. But what does that mean for professional healthcare travelers?

Healthcare burnout is like the poisoned apple of the healthcare industry. It seeps into your personal and professional life and leaves you feeling mentally, emotionally, and physically depleted. According to Healthline, burnout is a state of “mental and physical exhaustion that can zap the joy out of your career, friendships, and family interactions.”