When Rachelle Hodel set her sights on working with babies, nothing would stand in her way, not even the absence of a job posting. Armed with determination and a freshly written cover letter, she walked straight into the nursery manager's office and launched a 15-year career in labor and delivery.
That same decisive spirit guided her next evolution when family needs called for a more flexible schedule. While raising three daughters and working part-time, Rachelle completed her nurse practitioner degree online, eventually finding her true calling in pediatrics where she's spent nearly a decade building relationships with children from birth through adolescence.
On this episode of Shadow Me Next, Rachelle brings us into the nuanced world of pediatric care, where success depends on your ability to read the room and adapt your approach instantly. For teenagers needing connection, she kicks back and creates a relaxed environment where they might actually open up. With younger children, she skips the intimidating white coat in favor of Disney t-shirts. This chameleon-like ability to meet patients where they are allows her to address not just physical health but critical conversations about bullying, mental health, and self-confidence.
The weight of responsibility in pediatrics is immense. These early health foundations shape entire lives. Rachelle navigates this responsibility with both professional expertise and personal warmth, creating such powerful bonds that during a recent medical leave, patients repeatedly called asking, "Is Rachelle back yet?"
Despite acknowledging medicine's broken systems, Rachelle remains optimistic about healthcare careers, believing the right people in the right roles can heal the profession itself. Her advice to aspiring clinicians? Explore widely, trust your instincts, and maintain flexibility. You never know where your medical journey might lead you next.
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