Neighbors Making a Difference Sponsored by MAECO Rachelle Christiansen bring empathy, strength to role of hospice nurse

By Brit Allen, The Sandy Standard

Rachelle Christiansen, even as a child, knew she wanted to work in healthcare. Even then, it wasn't the glamour of scrubs that appealed to her –  she felt called to help people. 

And she has. 

In her youth, growing up in Sandy, Christiansen played doctor with her grandfather, and now she works as a nurse for Mt. Hood Hospice, helping patients and families navigate end-of-life care and its challenges — both medical and emotional. 

“I always knew that I liked to help people,” she explained. “I like caring for people and knowing I’ve made a difference in at least one person’s life.” 

The 2007 Sandy High grad has worked in the medical field for 16 years, first as a medical assistant and then as a nurse. She's been with the not-for-profit, Sandy-based hospice for about two years. 

Daughter of Rhonda Franke, longtime executive director of Mt. Hood Hospice, Christiansen grew up in the hospice world. Yet, until a few years ago, she'd never considered the industry for herself. 

“Ever since I was a kid I knew I was meant to be in the medical field,” Christiansen explained. “I always knew about hospice and what it was, but I never saw myself going into that. Then the second I started doing hospice it kind of became my love language. I love working with the families, helping them in that transition to a different time.”

“Rachelle wasn’t just our hospice nurse, she became family,” said Amy Hardesty, who met Christiansen when she cared for Hardesty’s father. “She walked into one of the hardest seasons of our lives and somehow brought calm, steady peace with her. She cared for my dad with so much dignity and compassion, always seeing him as a whole person, not just a patient. And truthfully, she cared for all of us just as much.”

While she always knew the ethos of Mt. Hood Hospice was similar to her own — with an emphasis on caring for others — it wasn't until Christiansen was working there that she realized the extent of how much the organization cares. 

“Mt. Hood Hospice was the only place that truly stepped up, for not only their patients but by making sure their employees were taken care of, too,” she said. “It’s one of the best organizations that truly makes an impact on their patients’ lives. They truly care about their patients.”

Even beyond feeling called to serve as a medical professional, Christiansen said she tends to “bring the calm to very stressful situations.” 

She connects with her patients and their families on a personal level. 

“I can bring a comforting standpoint aside from just being there to help,” Christiansen explained. “And I’m there to provide comfort to the family as well as the patient. 

Part of this is due to her inherent compassionate nature, and part is because she unfortunately knows firsthand the experience of losing a loved one. 

“I think a lot of it is that I lost my dad to cancer (in 2018),” Christiansen said. “I know what it’s like to go through the loss of a family member. It helps having that connection with people and knowing what that feels like also. I know the hurt, I know the pain, and I know the sadness that it brings.”

This perspective has enhanced how she is able to serve others navigating hospice, in a way that is bittersweet. 

“Rachelle has this incredible way of showing up with both strength and softness, and knowing exactly what’s needed in each moment,” Hardesty added. “She made space for the grief, but also helped us see the beauty that was still there. Because of her, hospice wasn’t just about saying goodbye, it was about honoring my daddy’s life. We will forever be grateful for her.”

When Christiansen isn’t serving others with hospice care, she likes to volunteer at community events for Mt. Hood Hospice and also the D31 Foundation. She also enjoys spending time with her kids, who are 3 and 9 years old; she appreciates time in the outdoors, and reading.