Did you become a Registered Nurse at 18?
Well, that’s part of Dr. Rachel’s story. She humorously shares her start in nursing at the tender age of 18, her work as a nurse practitioner, and her graduate capstone project that’s evolved into the Accessible Healthcare Institute, LLC.
Listen to the Podcast:
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Dr. Rachel’s Bio:
Dr. Rachel is a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Advanced Practice Nurse (APN) with board certification as a Family Nurse Practitioner. She has over 20 years of nursing experience and is diversely experienced with a comprehensive background in the areas of medical-surgical, physiatry, psychiatry, obstetrics, women’s health, developmental disabilities, retail health, and as a primary health care provider across the lifespan.
As a Registered Nurse (RN) she has earned certifications in Inpatient Obstetrics, Electronic Fetal Monitoring, and as a Childbirth Educator. Dr. Rachel is dually certified as a Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) with both the American Association of Nurse Practitioners and the American Nurses Credentialing Center. In addition, she has been inducted as a member of Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nurses. 
She has worked in hospital settings and private practices as a RN and FNP along the East Coast in South Carolina, New Jersey and New York, as well being an adjunct professor of nursing at Felician College in New Jersey.
Her clinical interests include family healthcare with a focus on health promotion and disease prevention. During her spare time she enjoys reading, traveling, learning about diverse cultures, geocaching for hidden treasures, and spending time with her friends and family. She believes nurses should be empowered to provide evidence-based healthcare and improve patient outcomes. For this reason she founded Accessible Healthcare Institute™, LLC and created The Nurse Practitioner Show Podcast™.
What you’ll hear about in this podcast episode:
- How Dr. Rachel got her start in nursing
- Dr. Rachel’s work as a nurse practitioner
- The beginnings of the Accessible Healthcare Institute, LLC.
Download This Episode to Listen | Subscribe to The RN Podcast in iTunes | Listen on Stitcher
Show Notes & Resources
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- Dr. Rachel shares her tips for managing seasonal allergies on her blog.
- Download the Seasonal Allergy PDF that Dr. Rachel mentions in the Podcast.
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- Read The Nurse Practitioner Show Newsletter, and don’t forget to subscribe!
- Want the App for The Nurse Practitioner Show? Get the Apple or Android version.
- Use Kindle instead? Download The Nurse Practitioner Show App here.
- Get tips on NP Practice Management at the Nurse Practitioner Business Owner Website from Barbara C. Phillips, MN, GNP-BC, FNP-BC, FAANP. Listen to her on the SAGEClinician Podcast.
- Find a Nurse Practitioner Preceptor at the ENP Network.
- Did you miss the last episode (#7) of The RN Podcast? Click here to listen.
Thanks so much for featuring me in your podcast, Marsha. You’ve featured fabulous nursing entrepreneurs and I’m honored to be featured in The RN Podcast. I have never had so much fun being interviewed!
Thanks Dr. Rachel for the opportunity as well. I must admit, it was FUN! Plus, when I went back to listen, it had me in stitches. Also, thanks for sharing it with your network. I love collaboration. We’ll have you back on the show real soon.
I agree, this was so much fun. I’ve never had so much fun being interviewed! And, you know us NPs are all about collaboration 🙂 I’d love to be back on your show anytime. Just let me know when we can collaborate again and I’ll be there!
Dr. Rachel,
You have such a rich background of experience! Can you share more about your work with people with developmental disabilities?
Hello Donna. Thanks for listening and your comments. Have you heard Dr. Rachel’s 3-part series on Autism? Feel free to take a listen to episodes 14-16 here: https://yourahi.org/NPpodcast/.
Hi,
I developed a passion for intellectual/developmental disabilities (I/DD) while being precepted by a family nurse practitioner when I was a NP student. She owns her own medical practice and has many patients with autism that she sees everyday in her office. I continued learning and researching about autism through my graduate studies as a NP and through my doctorate program. My first job as a NP was as a primary care provider (PCP) for patients with developmental disabilities (DD). I tremendously enjoyed providing healthcare to this population, as they are a deeply underserved population. Many times they or their families would share the difficulties they had in finding a healthcare provider that could understand their specific healthcare needs.
One of my most rewarding experiences in being a Family Nurse Practitioner was after I finished a complete history and physical on a patient with cerebral palsy in his 30’s. His mom looked up at me with tears in her eyes and said “Thank you. You have no idea what a great experience this has been meeting you and for you to be his PCP. You are the first provider in his life that spoke to him directly with every question and gave him the opportunity to take his time to answer. Everyone else just leaves him there in his wheelchair in the corner of the room and ask me all the questions, as though my son isn’t even in the room.” He got teary-eyed himself hearing his mother share how she felt about her son’s experiences with medical care.
I was fortunate to be in an office focused on care of the DD population, so it was expected that more time would be needed than a typical 15 minute office visit. We spent 1 hour together for his office visit. Every health promotion, disease prevention and applicable chronic disease diagnosis/management was discussed with him. And, he left knowing he was always welcome to have the time and opportunity to discuss his concerns about his healthcare.
I truly value the biopsychosocial approach the nursing model incorporates when providing healthcare as a holistic clinician, treating the individual as a whole. I believe these core concepts are vital when serving the DD population. I’m currently writing a book on autism to promote more education on autism. In addition, as Marsha replied, I have a three-part podcast series on autism on The Nurse Practitioner Show™ with part one available at https://YourAHI.org/Autism1
Hi,
I developed a passion for intellectual/developmental disabilities (I/DD) while being precepted by a family nurse practitioner when I was a NP student. She owns her own medical practice and has many patients with autism that she sees everyday in her office. I continued learning and researching about autism through my graduate studies as a NP and through my doctorate program. My first job as a NP was as a primary care provider (PCP) for patients with developmental disabilities (DD). I tremendously enjoyed providing healthcare to this population, as they are a deeply underserved population. Many times they or their families would share the difficulties they had in finding a healthcare provider that could understand their specific healthcare needs.
One of my most rewarding experiences in being a Family Nurse Practitioner was after I finished a complete history and physical on a patient with cerebral palsy in his 30’s. His mom looked up at me with tears in her eyes and said “Thank you. You have no idea what a great experience this has been meeting you and for you to be his PCP. You are the first provider in his life that spoke to him directly with every question and gave him the opportunity to take his time to answer. Everyone else just leaves him there in his wheelchair in the corner of the room and ask me all the questions, as though my son isn’t even in the room.” He got teary-eyed himself hearing his mother share how she felt about her son’s experiences with medical care.
I was fortunate to be in an office focused on care of the DD population, so it was expected that more time would be needed than a typical 15 minute office visit. We spent 1 hour together for his office visit. Every health promotion, disease prevention and applicable chronic disease diagnosis/management was discussed with him. And, he left knowing he was always welcome to have the time and opportunity to discuss his concerns about his healthcare.
I truly value the biopsychosocial approach the nursing model incorporates when providing healthcare as a holistic clinician, treating the individual as a whole. I believe these core concepts are vital when serving the DD population. I’m currently writing a book on autism to promote more education on autism. In addition, as Marsha replied, I have a three-part podcast series on autism on The Nurse Practitioner Show™ with part one available at https://YourAHI.org/Autism1
I hope I was able to answer your question. Let me know if there’s anything else I can offer to help with or answer.
Thanks for sharing such a touching story Dr. Rachel!
What a wonderful addition to the show! Dr. Silva is a resource for so many. I learn every single time I visit her site! Great show, ladies.
Thanks so much for listening Elizabeth. I completely agree. Dr. Rachel is such a great resource. Plus, we had so much fun!
I’ve never had so much fun being interviewed in my life, Marsha!
Thanks so much for your kind words, Elizabeth. That means a lot to me!