ANAM CARA – YOUR RN HEALTH ADVOCATE

Anam Cara is an Irish Celtic term meaning “soul friend” or “connecting souls”. I chose this name to represent my business because of my Nana who is my Anam Cara…

Lori Rachac, RN
ADN, CHPCN

CA RN License 357288

Hello, let me introduce myself!
I’m Lori, your Independent RN Health Advocate, and my goal is to bring the SOUL back into your healthcare experience.

I have been a registered nurse for 40 years and am using my many years of bedside experience in critical care, hospice and palliative care, geriatric care, and emergency department nursing together to be your Anam Cara (soul friend) patient advocate in this fragmented healthcare industry.

Offering 40 Years of Nursing Experience To Help You

Nurses are inherently their patient’s advocates, and most of us feel nursing is our calling, and are passionately committed to being certain our patients receive the best care possible, which includes the whole being, not just the procedure or disease they are facing. As a nurse in various settings, I’ve seen how technology has replaced the time providers spend with people. The focus is placed on the diagnosis, “abnormal findings”, and next diagnostic test, or treatment procedure, rather than on a discussion of what a person or loved one is hoping for!

My passion is for people to be allowed and encouraged to have those often difficult conversations with both their loved ones and medical providers about what they’re hoping for.

Facilitating those conversations has become part of my expertise and what I’m known for among my colleagues, both medical and nursing. Most of them would rather escape than have those often difficult conversations. It’s much easier to focus on a procedure rather than discussing what life transition this person and family is now facing. That’s where I step in…

I want to walk this path with you!

Whether you’re facing a new serious diagnosis, or the frailty of aging, I want to walk this path with you! The focus is on YOU, I am YOUR personal RN health advocate! I’m not working for a hospital, clinic or insurance company, my loyalty is to you. My job is to help you and your loved ones gain clarity and peace so you can make decisions congruent with your wishes. Healing comes in many forms. Even when complete physical healing isn’t possible, we can heal relationally, emotionally, and spiritually.

My Background

I received my Associate Degree in Nursing from the Regents Program in 1983. Critical Care Education Program at the VA Medical Center San Diego from 1984-1985. 2 Year Sacred Art of Living Education with Richard Groves, 2007 to 2009. I have maintained and have current certifications in BLS, PALS and ACLS. Conservatively speaking, I’ve spent 64,800 hours at the bedsides of patients, rather than seeking more initials after my name. After all these years I believe I still have to get my hands dirty at times to accurately assess a person’s condition. I can’t do that by sitting in front of a computer!

When I’m not working I spend my time knitting, outside in nature, having get-togethers with friends, reading, and playing with my two kittens and new best friend, Lucy, a “retired” rottweiler.