Life as a relief veterinarian: Cultural transfusions and the pursuit of personal wellbeing

Personal wellbeing is something everyone is somewhat aware of, but very few try to actively address or change. It can feel nebulous or even lost in the shuffle of life. That’s why this next sentence is likely to shock you (or at least raise an eyebrow):

This blog has all the answers you need regarding personal wellbeing from the perspective of a relief veterinarian. Bold statement, I know. In my opinion, personal wellbeing is determined by two core concepts. These concepts are woven throughout this article, and I encourage you not to skip to the end and to see if you can discover them for yourself along the way. 

Do relief veterinarians have the perfect life? 

Despite the highs and lows of clinical practice, relief seems to be a breath of fresh air for many. Why is it that relief vets have that much more pep in their step, so much so that they want to share it with others? What is it about this lifestyle that makes it feel so sustainable, and even more importantly, how can we share that feeling of sustainability and career satisfaction with others?

A relief veterinarian is “someone who fills in shifts on a temporary basis, often building their schedule one shift at a time.” Some relief veterinarians commit to the lifestyle full-time, while others maintain a full-time or part-time job and only big up relief shifts on an occasional basis. Relief veterinarians are a diverse group that include parents, retirees, new grads, and everything in between. The core theme that ties them all together is they chose to some extent where and when they work, and that is part of where the magic begins.

Working as a relief veterinarian in any capacity can be a motivating, enlightening, and freeing endeavor. Over time, more and and more veterinarians recognize the lifestyle benefits or working relief, particularly the flexibility, autonomy, and personal growth that comes with the role.

Having flexibility & autonomy to achieve your goals

As a relief veterinarian, I have the lifestyle flexibility to work more if I choose. Early in my career, I maximized my schedule to pay off student loans and gain clinical experience. Later, I shifted to a lighter schedule to balance family and personal goals. Relief work allowed me to adapt seamlessly, giving me control over my life and fostering personal satisfaction.

It wasn’t the content of the shifts themselves that kept me in the world of relief, it’s that my work became a part of my life instead of me trying to squeeze little pieces of my life around my work. The combination of flexibility to build my own schedule and autonomy to build the life I wanted are the perfect blend to leave someone feeling empowered and in control of their career, leading to a brighter outlook and overall better state of wellbeing. 

Continuous personal and professional growth

In addition to flexibility and autonomy, relief veterinarians have an elevated sense of wellbeing from their consistent personal growth. Since being a relief vet is all about being a chameleon and blending into a practice, while also being a lighthouse of clinical skills and culture, you can rest assured no two days are ever the same. From Diabetes to mass removals, everyone does things a little bit differently, providing me an opportunity to learn something new or refine my skills. And for a profession dedicated to lifelong learning, that is exactly what many of us need! 

Relief gives me the flexibility and autonomy to grow outside my career as well. I can choose to invest my time in hobbies and travel to different cities; the world is my oyster to learn and grow wherever I choose. Relief work has allowed me to learn to scuba dive and get certified as an underwater photographer because I had control over my life. I gained great satisfaction out of achieving these goals, ultimately leaving with a strong  glowing sense of personal wellbeing. 

Servant leaders spread emotional wellbeing

Some of you may be sarcastically thinking at this point, “Well, that all sounds great. Just live your life for yourself and don’t get too attached to anything.” Interestingly, the final piece we need to pull all of this together is, in fact, the exact opposite. The happiest and most fulfilled people I know, whether extroverts, introverts, or somewhere in between, all share the ability to act as servant leaders.

Servant leadership is a management style that prioritizes the wellbeing of others through communication, humility, and team based leadership. Servant leaders focus on team empowerment, setting goals, and stewardship (leading by example), ultimately encouraging ownership of duties and responsibilities. In summary, servant leaders invest in others and empower them to do what they are best at. 

In practice, this means instead of saying, “I need to get through this challenging procedure,” it’s a team-based mentality of, “We are going to make it through this challenging procedure as a team. What are you concerned about or not comfortable with?” It’s about leveraging your team’s strengths while helping them grow, like explaining the reasoning behind taking 3-view rather than 2-view chest rads to enhance understanding and engagement.

Does this take more time in our already busy day? Yes. BUT! Taking the time to teach and invest in others is another key component in personal satisfaction and wellbeing. The happiest and most satisfied veterinarians I know juggle the role of clinician and teacher. It takes extra time and energy to teach and inspire others; however, the satisfaction from leading and investing in others to be their best version of themselves cannot be rivaled. 

As a relief veterinarian, you have the opportunity to train and lead hundreds of teams over the course of a year. This is why I say relief veterinarians are “cultural transfusions” for each hospital they go to. They transfuse the sum of their knowledge and positive wellbeing into the environment, ultimately making a difference in the wellbeing of the practice itself.

The two key themes to achieving emotional wellbeing

In conclusion, relief work cultivates personal wellbeing through two key actions: investing in yourself to achieve goals and investing in others to empower them. When you invest in yourself, you take control over your life and will ultimately reap the rewards of personal satisfaction and wellbeing from achieving your goals.

When you invest in others, you train, teach, and lead them to be the best version of themselves so they too can reach their own goals, ultimately leaving you both with an immense sense of personal satisfaction and wellbeing. With more veterinary professionals thriving, the potential for industry transformation is limitless.