The last two years have been challenging for healthcare workers. Quarantine, social distancing, and increased work pressure have left many feeling isolated. Without strong social connections, burnout can quickly take hold, negatively impacting mental health. Connecting with colleagues who understand your experiences can be a powerful way to combat these effects.

Why Connect with Your Colleagues?

Building relationships with your colleagues can significantly enhance your work performance and overall well-being. It not only creates a more positive and productive workplace but also supports your mental health.

Improve Your Mental Health

Strengthening your mental health is crucial for healthcare professionals, especially now. While employers play a key role in creating supportive environments, you can take personal steps to boost your mental well-being.

The American Medical Association recently released a guide to help healthcare workers manage their mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic. It emphasizes the importance of social connections in mitigating the psychological effects of quarantine and stresses combining physical and social wellness strategies.

Alleviate Stress

Working with colleagues who share your experiences and can be trusted to understand your challenges can greatly reduce workplace stress. Sharing both the highs and lows of your job with people who get it offers comfort and support. Colleagues in healthcare often provide valuable advice based on their experiences.

Build Connections

Even in short-term assignments, building connections with your team is essential. It helps you adapt to new environments quickly and opens doors to unexpected opportunities. Isolation from peers can harm both your professional and personal life, making it harder to collaborate, manage job stress, and stay connected to your profession. By supporting each other, healthcare workers can enhance their ability to deliver quality patient care.

How to Connect with Your Colleagues

Connecting with coworkers in fast-paced environments can be challenging, but it’s possible. The key is to stay open-minded, especially if socializing with colleagues is new to you.

Workplace Relationships

Building relationships at work doesn’t have to be complicated. Start by striking up a conversation during a break or after a shift. Plan a coffee or lunch with a colleague from your unit. If you regularly work with the same people, consider starting a group chat on an app like WhatsApp to coordinate work matters and socialize outside of work.

Working closely with your team helps you learn each other’s strengths and weaknesses and how best to support one another. Offer help to your coworkers and accept their help in return. With good communication, teamwork, and a willingness to learn from and teach each other, you can work together smoothly and achieve better outcomes for patients.

If you’re a traveling professional, ask your colleagues about their favorite local spots. Discover new places to explore, top dining and shopping locations, and must-visit attractions. Spend your time off exploring these places with your coworkers. Even after moving on to a new assignment, keep in touch with former colleagues. These relationships can be long-lasting and beneficial throughout your career.

Share your interests and hobbies with coworkers—you might be surprised by how much you have in common. This can help you form meaningful connections that extend beyond work.

Expand Your Network Beyond the Workplace

Your connections don’t have to end at work. There’s a whole world of online healthcare communities to explore.

Social Media

Social media is an excellent platform for healthcare professionals to connect, share ideas, and find new opportunities. Join professional groups on Facebook, Reddit, or LinkedIn related to your field or location. Use hashtags on Twitter and LinkedIn to follow other professionals in your field. Connecting with others online can provide valuable insights into career tips, personal experiences, and new opportunities.

Healthcare Apps

Numerous healthcare apps can help you find community within the industry. Sermo, with over 800,000 doctor users, is the top social networking app for doctors. The Student Doctor Network offers free resources and active discussion forums for medical students across specialties. Another app, Figure1, allows doctors to collaborate and learn from each other by working on actual patient cases together.

Building strong connections with colleagues, whether at work or online, can boost your morale and support your professional growth. A well-rounded social life leads to a more balanced state of mind. We hope you find meaningful connections with your colleagues that will stay with you throughout your medical career!


Are you searching for a clinic that aligns with your values and culture? TheraEx Locums can help by matching you with Locum Tenens opportunities across the U.S. Let’s work together to find the ideal assignment that fits your needs.

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