All in the family: Cheshire provider follows in mother's nursing footsteps

Even though Rachel Chamberlin, MSN, FNP, only started as a full-time provider in late 2023, Cheshire Medical Center has always been like a second home.

That's at least partially because her mother works in the Cheshire Intensive Care Unit (ICU).

Chamberlin, a young nurse practitioner in the Cheshire's Family Medicine Team C, began her full-time role here in December 2023. From 1996 to about 2006, Chamberlin spent much of her childhood at The Children’s Learning Center at Cheshire while her mother, Donna Powers, worked as a nurse in the ICU.

Now, both Chamberlin and Powers work together as nurses in the same medical center.

Growing up in The Children’s Learning Center, which she attended with her two siblings, Chamberlin developed lifelong friendships while the seeds for her vocational calling were planted.

"I always admired the compassion and dedication of the nurses, especially my mom,” Chamberlin says. “Now, working at Cheshire myself, I feel incredibly proud to be part of this legacy and excited to continue our family’s tradition of caring for our community."

Powers, an ICU nurse and ICU nurse educator who lives in Keene, started her career in nursing nearly 40 years ago and has been a dedicated member of the Cheshire team since 1989. Today, the mother and daughter duo not only share the same workplace but also visit one another regularly, often sharing lunches and leaving each other notes in their respective offices.

"It’s a unique and special experience to work with my daughter at the same hospital where I’ve spent most of my career. It’s a testament to the great job Cheshire does at keeping families connected,” Powers says. “Watching Rachel grow into the amazing nurse practitioner she is today fills me with immense pride. Our shared lunches and notes are just small reminders of the bond we’ve always had, both personally and professionally."

While attending Keene High School, Chamberlin became an LNA and cared for residents of a senior living facility. Though she long considered nursing a natural path for her, the experience confirmed her calling. She attended Plymouth State University to obtain her Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) and Walden University in Minnesota for her master’s degree.

To this day, Chamberlin remains close friends with the daughter of Deb Hunter, the longtime director of The Children’s Learning Center. Hunter was her teacher at the Center when Chamberlin was a preschooler, during which her daughter attended the Center with Chamberlin.

For Powers and Chamberlin, the tradition of nursing runs strong in their family. Powers has another daughter who is pursuing a doctorate in chiropractic medicine. Both of Chamberlin’s grandmothers were nurses, underscoring a family legacy of commitment to healthcare. And in a continuation of this legacy, Chamberlin is expecting her first child, a boy, in September, and hopes to enroll him at The Children’s Learning Center.

If you've ever thought about a fulfilling and rewarding career in Nursing, visit this page to learn more.