Clinical Care, Advocacy, And Consulting Built Around People

Bringing It All Together: From Clinical Practice To The Government — And Back.

While earning my Bachelor of Nursing, I worked as a nursing assistant, laying the foundation for a decades-long nursing career. After graduation, I spent many years in critical care, including emergency rooms and intensive care units. These experiences led me to hospice nursing and inspired me to pursue a Master's in Nursing and board certification as a family nurse practitioner.

I began my work as a nurse practitioner at community health clinics, serving rural and urban communities. After several years, I sought a change from the four walls and started caring for homebound individuals, specializing in primary, palliative, and hospice care. I provided medical care where people lived, including behavioral health residential facilities, adult care homes, long-term care, and memory care settings.

After years of caring for vulnerable communities and frustration with our fragmented healthcare system, I ran for elected office to bring a nurse practitioner's perspective to the Oregon Legislature. I was honored to serve two terms as a state representative and chair the healthcare committee. However, with deep sadness and love for the job, I chose not to seek re-election because balancing legislative duties with frontline clinical work during COVID affected my well-being and led to burnout.

Following a brief sabbatical to recover from managing two demanding roles, I was appointed Executive Director of the Oregon State Board of Nursing, the regulatory agency for my profession. I collaborated with a dedicated board and partnered with the legislature, hospitals, healthcare and nursing associations, and academic institutions statewide to protect the public and implement laws. After time in government leadership, I felt drawn back to direct patient care.

Reflecting on my original goal of improving healthcare access and delivery through my work in government, I see a less stable system today. I was inspired to start "Caring for Community" and return to the front lines of community care. Whether providing direct clinical care, helping people navigate the system, or advocating for improvements, my commitment to serving vulnerable community members remains at the heart of it all.

Throughout my career as a clinician, legislator, administrator, and regulator, I have worked to improve care for both individuals and systems. These efforts led to my induction as a fellow in the American Academy of Nursing. After gaining experience at all levels of nursing, across diverse healthcare settings, and in government leadership, I am eager to return to the front lines of community care.

In Unity, Rachel Prusak, MSN, APRN, FNP-C, FAAN