Rachel Macharia has always been a compassionate individual, driven by a deep love for helping others. Born in Kenya to a middle-class family with two teachers as parents, Rachel yearned for a unique path. While a career assessment suggested social work, Rachel dreamed of nursing, inspired by her experiences helping a neighbour who had a disability. However, financial constraints led her to a career in accounting, where she worked in pension administration. Little did Rachel know that her journey would eventually circle back to the path she was meant to take.
“Nursing is a calling from the heart,” Rachel says. “There’s a certain kind of love for people that you need to have, and you can’t do nursing without it.”
At 45, Rachel made the courageous decision to leave an abusive relationship and start a new chapter in Canada with her three children. Today, she is not only a proud mother but also a loving grandmother of two. Reflecting on her journey, she says it exemplifies the bravery of her Kenyan heritage, comparing herself to a lion. With just one relative — a sister — living in Canada, Rachel embraced the opportunity for a fresh start, unaware that this leap of faith would lead her closer to fulfilling her lifelong dream.
Rachel’s journey took an unexpected turn during her flight to Canada with her friend Miriam, who encouraged her to pursue nursing, describing it as a profoundly rewarding career. Upon arriving in Canada, Rachel settled in St. Catharines to avoid the hustle of big cities. Unfortunately, nursing programs were unavailable locally at the time, prompting her to move to Hamilton to attend Mohawk College. There, she became part of the second cohort to complete the newly established Practical Nursing diploma program, graduating in June 2006.
For nearly 17 years, Rachel has worked as a Registered Practical Nurse (RPN) in Long-Term Care (LTC), dedicating her career to providing dignity, comfort, and hope to residents with dementia and their families. She currently works at AgeCare-Willowgrove (formerly Chartwell) in Ancaster, Hamilton.
In her role, Rachel’s responsibilities include coordinating preventive measures such as floor mats, personal alarms, and other interventions to prevent falls. She also administers medication, prepares care plans, conducts skin and wound assessments, develops MDS assessments, and leads AgeCare’s PSWs, who are considered unregulated care providers, and ensures their safety.
Rachel’s role does have its share of challenges, however, including navigating regulatory oversight. She describes the relationship between the Ministry of Long-Term Care (MLTC) and LTC facilities as feeling like a metaphorical wall divides them. Nevertheless, she is determined to build a bridge, emphasizing the shared commitment to improving healthcare and the need for collaboration to achieve meaningful outcomes.
In 2015, Rachel’s Clinical Practice Fellowship proposal, Supporting Nursing Expertise and Knowledge Transfer Through Mentor Relationships, was selected from a competitive pool by the MLTC and WeRPN. Unfortunately, funding constraints meant the fellowship could not proceed, a setback that briefly made Rachel question her career. But her resilience won out. “I’ve learned in life that when you are disappointed, you should allow yourself to feel that way for a few minutes and then move on,” she reflects.
Rachel’s remarkable career includes having served as an RPN representative for the Gerontological Nursing Association of Ontario (GNAO) Greater Hamilton Area Chapter for about two years after she graduated. She frequently speaks at conferences, including women’s fellowship gatherings and youth workshops, inspiring both RPNs and aspiring nurses. She has also volunteered as a coordinator for the Hope Family Ministries chapter in her community.
Her contributions have been recognized with two prestigious awards: the 2011 Employee Award for making a difference through her work and the 2024 Preceptor Award of Excellence from WeRPN. Rachel is already making her mark on the healthcare industry and aspires to achieve even more, including advocating for improved nurse-to-patient ratios in LTC. She also dreams of one day working in mental health or counseling, which she did briefly back in Kenya and in Canada. But for now, she remains dedicated to highlighting the vital role of RPNs.
“I wish to shine a light on the role of the RPN,” she says. “I also aspire to leave behind a legacy for younger nurses.”
