Rachel Nickel

Nursing Director

University Medical Center New Orleans

My name is Rachel Nickel and I have been a healthcare provider for over 15 years. Following Hurricane Katrina, I moved from New Orleans to Maryland and studied at Johns Hopkins University School of Nursing, where I had the privilege of training with some of the most innovative healthcare providers at the time, such as Dr. Ben Carson. I spent my early career as a nurse learning Critical Care medicine and later moved to Suburban Hospital to join the Cardiothoracic ICU team which has a partnership with the National Institute of Health. Shortly thereafter, I had an opportunity to move back home and work in the Medical ICU at Interim Louisiana Hospital. Moving back to New Orleans was an incredible opportunity to not only return to a community that I love, but to serve as a leader and advocate for our patients.

Over the past four years, I have served in a leadership role as the Nursing Director of the Medical/Surgical Intensive Care Unit at University Medical Center New Orleans. Throughout the Covid-19 pandemic, I created capacity to care for more critically ill patients, developed efficient processes to improve the workflow of physician and frontline nursing staff, and helped outsource resources and inventory during supply chain shortages.

I am passionate about making a positive impact within our New Orleans Community and believe in sustainable and equitable services and action that will benefit our community.