From reluctance to research: An undergrad’s bloodline to nursing

Rachael Principato grew up with a fierce resistance to following in her family’s footsteps.

“I come from a very long line of nurses, everyone in my family is a nurse,” she laughs. “I wanted to do something different – maybe physiotherapy or veterinary medicine.”

But as they say, the best laid plans often go awry.

Inspired by her father’s personal and professional journey, Principato is at McMaster University blending her passion for helping others through nursing with academic research. And at just 22 years old, Principato is making a mark in the world of hematology.

Nursing program is intense, but invaluable

While Principato was pursuing a biomedical science undergraduate degree in Guelph, she volunteered at a health centre working with older adults. It was there, much to her family’s elation, that her defiance towards nursing shifted.

“I realized I wanted a career with close personal interactions, and nursing was the perfect fit,” she says.

Upon graduation, she was soon admitted to the accelerated stream in McMaster’s School of Nursing. Designed for students who have already completed at least two years or 54 units of university study, the accelerated stream enables admitted students to enter Level III of the Bachelor of Science in Nursing Program (BScN). Principato is now in her second semester of the 20-month stream.

“It’s intense and fast-paced, but the hands-on skills and clinical placements are invaluable,” she notes.

In her first semester, she focused on general assessments, learning vital skills like taking blood pressure and heart rate, as well as pharmacology and pathology. Now, in her second semester, she’s gaining more hands-on experience in wound care, medication administration, and IV flushing.

She particularly enjoys the cohesive nature of the program, noting that her classes are interconnected, with each subject reinforcing the others.

“When you’re in problem-based learning, you’ll be learning about a case of heart failure, and then in pathology, you’re learning about the pathology of a heart attack,” she says.

Principato believes the unconventional path she took to pursue nursing has prepared her to appreciate both the academic and theoretical knowledge as well as the practical, clinical experience.

“Doing my undergrad and then going into accelerated nursing – I would not have done it any other way. I am so happy that I did my undergrad and I got all of the amazing experience that I did.”

Blood ties

Principato’s ties to nursing are most directly traced back to her dad, who was a clinical nursing educator at St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton pre-retirement. While his career path may have inspired her clinical interest, it’s his personal journey with a blood disorder that inspired her research pursuits.

“The topic that I want to pursue is hematology, and to be doing research in an area that’s applicable to my family is really special,” she says.

Remarkably, at just 22 years old, Principato is working alongside world-renowned researchers like Mark Crowther – a leading hematologist and chair of the Department of Medicine. She began assisting him with systematic reviews several years ago. “At the time, I hadn’t even learned what a systematic review was,” she laughs.

Crowther, a distinguished university professor, is not just a mentor to Principato – there’s a full circle connection.

“Dr. Crowther was involved in my dad’s care and my dad has known him for years,” she says. “My dad introduced us, knowing my interest in research.”

This introduction led her to learning from Crowther, collaborating with graduate students introduced by him and eventually conducting her own research, under his supervision. One of the publications she supported was even cited by the Government of Canada. “That was a huge moment for me,” she says.

For Crowther, Principato’s potential interest in an academic career makes her stand out.

“That’s a rare and valuable trait in the nursing profession,” he says. “Her commitment to pursuing additional training in health research methodology to enhance the science behind nursing practice, and her dedication to advancing the field of academic nursing is inspiring.”

Eyes on the future

Looking ahead, Principato is eyeing the Health Research Methodology graduate program at McMaster, which produces graduates with research methods skills that enable them to advance clinical practice.

“McMaster is renowned, especially in health and research, and that program lets you work and get your master’s at the same time, which is perfect for me,” she says.

She envisions a career that seamlessly blends clinical practice with research, an ambition greatly influenced by her desire to make an impact on clinical outcomes for people with blood disorders, like her dad.

“In 10 years, I want to be practicing as a nurse and conducting my own research,” she says. “I want to help people who struggle with blood disorders. It’s such a big thing, I see it even in my clinical placement right now – patients at the hospital are at risk for blood clots because they’re laying in bed for so long,” she says.

“I just want to contribute meaningful work to hematology,” she says. “That’s my ultimate goal.”