Aspire

Grant Regional is excited to welcome Rachel Loeffelholz, APNP, FNP-BC, to her new role of family nurse practitioner. She has been a registered nurse (RN) with Grant Regional Health Center since 2016 and recently graduated with her master of science in nursing–family nurse practitioner (MSN-FNP).

"After spending many years as an RN in a variety of settings, I understand the importance of listening to my patients," Loeffelholz shares. "Creating therapeutic, trusting relationships is a key component of my practice. I believe it is important to acknowledge each person's individuality while providing compassionate care, educating patients and families, and striving to promote healthy habits/preventive care for individuals of all ages."

Loeffelholz has the additional certifications of ACLS, BLS, PALS and EMT-B as well as pediatric/adult ventilator certification. In addition to caring for patients at Grant Regional, she proudly serves as a volunteer emergency medical technician with the Potosi EMS. In her free time, she enjoys spending time outdoors and partaking in hunting, fishing or hiking. She also keeps busy with her family farm.

Please join us in welcoming Loeffelholz as our newest family nurse practitioner!

'My why'

A question I have been asked a lot is why I chose to stay at Grant Regional. For me that answer is very simple—my co-workers are like a second family. We are there for each other through it all, from work life to home life. Just shy of my one-year anniversary at GRHC, my husband and I welcomed our daughter, Hayden, to our family at home and at GRHC.

Fast-forward one year and three weeks, our lives got flipped upside down. Our son, Carson, was playing with Hayden in a backyard playhouse; I was 10 feet away cleaning the pool; and my husband was mowing the lawn. Suddenly something did not feel right. I peeked into the playhouse to find only Carson. My heart began to race, and I ran to the pond in our backyard to find Hayden floating face down in the water.

Springing into action

My first responder training took over as I pulled my lifeless child from the water and began CPR as I yelled for my husband to call 911. (This was the first time in my entire life I had done CPR on a real person, and it was my own child.) Being a volunteer member of Potosi EMS, I heard my phone and pager go off as the page went out for a crew to respond to our home. I continued CPR until EMS arrived—which seemed like an eternity.

I was thinking to myself that I am not planning a first birthday and a funeral in the same month. I was able to get Hayden back with agonal breathing as the crew pulled into our driveway. During those moments, I felt relief knowing that my EMS family had my baby and we were on our way to a hospital.

'Rach, we got her'

There was no doubt in my mind that GRHC was where we needed to be going. I remember running into the ER repeating over and over again that this was my baby, this was my baby, as EMS brought her into Trauma 2. I remember making eye contact with Carla Jensen, RN, as she said, "Rach, we got her."

It was in that moment, watching from outside the trauma room, I felt waves of emotions as the reality of the situation sank in. A switch was flipped, and I became a mom and not a first responder. But also at the same time, a weight was lifted off my shoulders. There was no better place for my baby girl during this tragedy than GRHC. I experienced feelings of relief while I watched my co-workers work on and care for my child as if she was family, and that feeling is why I continue to choose GRHC.

—Rachel Loeffelholz, APNP, FNP-BC

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