HPU DEAN OF THE SCHOOL OF NURSING DELIVERS KEYNOTE AT INAUGURAL 'PHILIPPINE NURSING WORLD CONGRESS'

HPU’s global presence in nursing education took center stage this June, when HPU Dean of the School of Nursing Edna Magpantay-Monroe, Ed.D., APRN, CMDCP, delivered the powerful opening keynote at the inaugural Philippine Nursing World Congress (PNWC) in Davao City, Philippines.

Her keynote presentation, “Bridging Cultures, Elevating Care: The Global Impact of Filipino Nurses,” celebrated the pioneering role of Filipino nurses and the cultural values that shape their practice. Today, approximately 150,000 Filipino registered nurses (RN) work in the United States, representing about 4 percent of the entire nursing workforce. In 2024 alone, more than 28,000 Filipino nursing graduates sat for the NCLEX, the U.S. licensure exam, underscoring the steady inflow of new Filipino RNs into the healthcare system.

Magpantay-Monroe’s message was also personal. She spoke of her own journey, emigrating from the Philippines to Illinois in the early 1980s and quickly discovering her calling in nursing. Since then, she has dedicated her career to research and service in mental health, student success, military health, and indigenous populations, all driven by her belief in advancing the role of Filipino nurses in improving global health outcomes.

“Filipino nurses bring with them cultural strength and professional excellence,” Magpantay-Monroe said. “We have core values, including malasakit (compassion), lakas ng loob (resilience), kababaang loob (humility), and madaling makibagay (adaptability). Filipino nurses are known for their exceptional bedside manner, strong English skills, and teamwork.”

Reflecting on her experience at the PNWC, Magpantay-Monroe added, “Being invited as a keynote speaker is truly an honor. I was part of the Dean’s Forum for the pre-conference, where I learned a great deal about global leadership and health. I believe that the opportunity for HPU to partner with nursing schools in the Philippines and beyond will bring additional richness to what we already provide to our students in Hawai‘i.”

Conference conveners also reflected on the impact of HPU’s involvement. Dr. Pat Manalaysay of the Filipino Nursing Diaspora Network and Pacific Nursing Service Organization called the partnership with HPU “an important and meaningful milestone,” noting that it strengthened academic and cultural ties while broadening perspectives in nursing leadership. He emphasized that the collaboration underscored a shared commitment to advancing healthcare excellence across borders.

Dr. Jerome Babate described the collaboration as “truly inspiring,” highlighting how the inaugural PNWC showcased the power of partnerships among universities and nursing organizations. He noted that the Congress created a meaningful platform for knowledge exchange, cultural understanding, and the celebration of nursing excellence on a global stage.

When the PNWC concluded on June 27, Magpantay-Monroe urged colleagues to build on the incredible momentum. She called for continued conferences, deeper partnerships with academia and nursing organizations, and leadership in technology and telehealth, all aimed at ensuring Filipino nurses remain at the forefront of advancing global health equity.