Dr. Rivera’s Fourth of July
Dr. Rivera worked the Fourth of July weekend for the first time as a relief vet last year. She was hesitant. She had always taken the holiday off during her years as a full-time associate and she wondered if picking up a relief shift would feel like a step backward.
It did not. It felt like a choice.
What Working a Holiday as a Relief Vet Actually Looks Like
Dr. Rivera covered a general practice in Kirkland on July 5th, the Saturday after the holiday. The clinic was busy. Fireworks anxiety cases, a dog with a minor burn, two sedation consultations. The team was grateful she was there. The day rate was higher than her standard rate as an associate veterinarian.
She was out by 2 PM. She drove to her family’s lake house, arrived in time for the afternoon barbecue, and spent the rest of the weekend exactly as she had planned. She made more that Saturday than she would have made working a couple of full days at her previous full-time position.
The Calculation Is Different When It Is Your Choice
Working holidays as a relief vet is not for everyone and nobody at Your Neighbor Vet will pressure you into it. But for vets who want to maximize their income during high-demand periods, relief shifts are one of the best earning opportunities in veterinary medicine. The key difference is that you decide. Every time.
Ready to take the next step?
Curious what relief shifts pay or what working through YNV on a long weekend looks like? Reach out to Your Neighbor Vet at 425-448-8882 or yourneighborvet.com. We will give you an honest picture.
Related reading: Seasonal Relief Work: How to Make the Most of Busy Periods · Holidays and Relief Work: How to Enjoy Both