The Relief Route: From Vet Burnout to Building the Career You Actually Want

The Relief Route: From Vet Burnout to Building the Career You Actually Want
by Kaci Rae Merk, DVM, CVA

A relief vet's honest journey from burnout to financial freedom — with reflection questions, checklists & action steps for your own relief route.

Less than a year out of vet school, Dr. Kaci Rae Merk was burned out, uncredited for her own work, and disrespected by the very people who were supposed to have her back. The Relief Route is the honest, unfiltered story of what came next — a winding path through relief work that led to financial freedom, real work/life balance, and the confidence to start building a veterinary career on her own terms.

This isn't a polished success story. It's a real one — including the exhaustion, the hard boundaries she had to learn to set, and the moment a former employer called asking for help, years after they'd broken her trust.

Part memoir, part practical guide, each chapter pairs Dr. Merk's story with reflection questions, action steps, and checklists designed to help you figure out your own next move — whether that's trying relief work for the first time, setting boundaries at your current job, or finally admitting you need a change.

Inside, you'll find:

• The real financial case for relief work (and how to calculate your own numbers)
• What to actually bring on your first relief shift
• The honest trade-offs of independent contractor life — insurance, taxes, and licensing
• Reflection questions and journal prompts to help you find your own path forward

If you're a vet who's exhausted, unsure if you're allowed to want something different, or just curious what relief work really looks like — this book was written for you.

A digital download (PDF/ebook format). Instant access after purchase.