By: Gina L. Casi, RN, PhD & Jessie D. Dela Cruz, LPT
Strong nursing leadership is essential to advancing professional standards, strengthening healthcare education, and ensuring that patient care remains responsive to the needs of communities. In line with this commitment, six faculty members from Baguio Central University’s (BCU) College of Nursing and School of Midwifery plus the dean participated in a Nursing Leadership Forum organized under the leadership of the Cordillera Association of Nursing Deans, in collaboration with the Philippine Nurses Association (PNA) and in partnership with the Professional Regulation Commission–Cordillera Administrative Region (PRC-CAR) last July 20, 2025 at Easter College Baguio City. The forum brought together nursing educators and professional stakeholders to highlight the importance of leadership, professional accountability, and continued development within the nursing sector.
The consultation featured Hon. Mary Grace C. Lacanaria, a member of the Professional Regulatory Board of Nursing, as the resource speaker. Dr. Lacanaria brought a regulatory perspective to the forum, highlighting the relevance of professional standards and responsible leadership in nursing practice and education. The gathering provided an opportunity for participating faculty members to engage with issues relevant to the nursing profession and reflect on the responsibilities of educators and leaders in preparing future nurses. Through professional discussions and knowledge exchange, the forum emphasized that effective nursing leadership requires a combination of professional competence, ethical decision-making, collaboration, and a commitment to maintaining the integrity of the profession.
BCU’s participation reflected the value of continuous professional engagement among nursing and midwifery educators. Faculty members play an important role in translating professional standards into classroom instruction, clinical supervision, and the development of students’ professional values. By taking part in a leadership forum alongside representatives of nursing organizations and regulatory institutions, the six faculty members had an opportunity to engage with broader perspectives on professional leadership and nursing practice. Such participation can help educators reflect on their responsibilities in supporting quality instruction, mentoring aspiring healthcare professionals, and promoting accountability throughout the nursing profession. Specific resolutions, formal agreements, or institutional initiatives resulting from the forum would need to be confirmed by the organizers before being reported as established outcomes.
The forum aligns most directly with Sustainable Development Goal 4: Quality Education, as professional development and nursing leadership contribute to strengthening health sciences education and preparing competent future practitioners. It also supports Sustainable Development Goal 3: Good Health and Well-Being, since effective nursing leadership and adherence to professional standards are important to delivering safe, quality healthcare services. These goals reflect the connection between investing in nursing educators and sustaining a capable, ethical, and responsive healthcare workforce.
Through the participation of its six faculty members, BCU’s College of Nursing and School of Midwifery demonstrated the importance of remaining engaged in professional dialogue and leadership development. The forum underscored that advancing nursing education requires collaboration among academic institutions, professional associations, and regulatory bodies, united by the shared responsibility of upholding nursing standards and preparing future professionals to serve with competence, integrity, and compassion.
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