| Lourdes "Nena" Medrano Nisperos Downers Grove, Illonois Registered Professional Nurse |
"As a registered professional nurse with a masters degree in
nursing, her untiring and creative leadership in various
managerial, administrative, teaching and critical nursing
positions and other health fields have created a significant
impact in nursing and health care .... "
Born in Claveria, Cagayan in November 2, 1939, Lourdes Medrano
Nisperos was this year's winner of Cavite Association of
America's "OUTSTANDING FILIPINO IN THE MIDWEST IN THE
FIELD OF NURSING." The most coveted and sought-after honor
bestowed to an achiever in this field is complicated because
Chicagoland is known to be in abundance with talented Filipino
nurses. Cook County Hospital in downtown Chicago, for
instance, is known to employ the most number of Filipino nurses
in the United States and is refuted to possess high-calibered
Filipino nurses with achievements galore. However, in this year's
selection, when Nena was nominated by Atty. Remedios D. Runo,
a popular community leader, the choice was heralded by the
committee.
Wrote Atty. Runo on the nominating form of the Cavite Association:
"As a registered professional nurse with a masters degree in
nursing, her untiring and creative leadership in various
managerial, administrative, teaching and critical nursing
positions and other health fields have created a significant
impact in nursing and health care .... "
Born in Claveria, Cagayan in November 2, 1939, Lourdes Medrano
Nisperos was this year's winner of Cavite Association of
America's "OUTSTANDING FILIPINO IN THE MIDWEST IN THE
FIELD OF NURSING." The most coveted and sought-after honor
bestowed to an achiever in this field is complicated because
Chicagoland is known to be in abundance with talented Filipino
nurses. Cook County Hospital in downtown Chicago, for
instance, is known to employ the most number of Filipino nurses
in the United States and is refuted to possess high-calibered
Filipino nurses with achievements galore. However, in this year's
selection, when Nena was nominated by Atty. Remedios D. Runo,
a popular community leader, the choice was heralded by the
committee.
Wrote Atty. Runo on the nominating form of the Cavite Association:
"As a registered professional nurse with a masters degree in
nursing, her untiring and creative leadership in various managerial,administrative, teaching and critical
nursing positions and other health fields have created a significant impact in nursing and health care not only
locally but nationally as well. As the first and only Filipino-Asian in the role of the VA hospital-based Patient
Health Education Coordinator, she was instrumental in the development of one of the most comprehensive
program on patient health education in the system."
Nena has dedicated herself to serving not only the legion of patients of the hospitals she had been connected
with, but also, she has been providing leadership and sharing her administrative talents with the
professional organizations in her field of endeavor as well as with the Filipino community. Acting the role of
either as a president or an active member, Nena does her duties with fervor attending to her assigned
functions deligently and also donates her own funds and time. Among the organizations that Nena serves
either as a president or having an active role are the American Nurses Association; the Illinois Nurses
Association; the Philippine Nurses Association of Chicago; the Far Eastern University Alumni Association; the
International Patient Education Council; the Sigma Theta Tau Internationa Honor Society for Nursing; the
Veternas Administration (VA) Patient Education Coordinators; the American Association of Critical Care
Nursing; and, the Cagayan Association of Chicago.
"It is important to do one's best when one is tasked to do something," advised Nena. "It is a shame when one
is elected to a position and does not try his or her best to execute the functions assigned to that position."
The citations, statements of authorities, honors and awards she has been receiving is a testimony to her
preaching. From nursing's most prestigious group, the Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of
Nursing, Nena was given a certificate in 1987 for "Academic Excellence and Leadership in Nursing," an
honor bestowed exclusively to a handful of nurses in the world. The Society of Nursing Professionals
commended her for her being listed in the 1990-1991 WHO'S WHO IN AMERICAN NURSING.
"The U.S. Government honors Lourdes Nisperos in appreciation for her 15 years of faithful service to the U.S.
Government and for superior performance for significant contribution to the mission of the VA and for
substantially exceeding performance requirements," wrote the Medical Center Director of VA Westside
Medical Center, one of VA's largest facilities in the United States.
"I highly recommend the nursing profession to the younger Filipino generation. There will always be a need
of a tender loving care and these traits come naturally to us, Filipinos," noted Nena. "But like any other career
or undertaking, serious program of education, determination and the will to excel should be the guiding
principle."
From educational standpoint, Nena has been proving that there is no substitute in continuing formal
education. She just winded up last June and earned a one-year certificate program in Public Administration
from the University of Illinois in Chicago. "I never intend to cease from gaining education," commented Nena.
"The more one learns, the more one has a better chance in his or her chosen career or profession."
Receiving a diploma in Nursing in 1959 from Manila's well-known institution, Far Eastern University, Nena
pursued from the same university, a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree in 1961. After completing her
basic education in nursing, she attended Andrews University in Berrien Springs, Michigan, Northern Illinois
University and the University of Illinois to complete and acquire a Master of Science in Nursing degree with
major in Nursing Administration and the functional role in patient education.
"It was literally a stiff climb from graduation to where I am now. It was study, study, study plus work, work and
work!" quipped Nena. Her extra efforts and sacrifices paid handsomely. She established a Filipino legacy in
her field of endeavor and carved a path for others to follow.
Work, Nena did. Plenty of work. Like everyone else, she started from scratch, so to say. As soon as she
acquired her nursing degree, she started as a staff nurse at Manila Doctor's Hospital and then came to the
United States for further studies under the Exchange Visitors Nurse Program at Newark's Beth Israel
Hospital in New Jersey. From 1964 to 1972, Nena relocated to Toronto, Ontario, Canada instead of going
back to the Philippines under the Exchange Program agreement. In Canada, Nena shifted from one hospital
to another in pursuit of higher education and further professional training in the latest technologies and
hospital administration and management. She was an operating room staff nurse with The Doctors Hospital
in Toronto; a charge nurse in medical and surgical units with Scarborough Centenary Hospital in
Scarborough, Ontario and for two years, she was a Nursing Instructor in Medical and Surgical Nursing with
Peterborough Civil Hospital School of Nursing at Petersborough, Ontario. In 1971, she became a full pledge
Nursing Instructor in Medical and Surgical Nursing with George Brown College of Applied Arts and
Technology, St. Joseph Campus in Toronto, Ontario.
"Finally in 1972, my dream to come back to the United States materialized. I joined the University of Illinois in
Chicago, Illinois as Charge Nurse providing orientation to new nursing staff," related Nena. " Later I
transferred to St. Mary's of Nazareth School of Nursing as an Instructor in the Diploma Program in Nursing."
It was in 1975 when Nena decided to join VA Westside Medical Center, holding several key positions from
Head Nurse to Patient Care Coordinator, Supervisor for Nursing to her current position as Patient Health
Education Coordinator (hospital based), a senior management position whose primary responsibility to a
hospitalwide overall management, coordination, development and evaluation of patient education, health
promotion, and preventive health and medicine programs.
Lourdes "Nena" Medrano Nisperos has come a long way. As a role model and inspiration to the youth of the
Filipino community in particular, and the community in general, Nena epitomizes a determined and
goal-oriented person wherein race, marital status nor sex are not considered as stumbling blocks. "On the
contrary," Nena concluded, "my being a woman - a Filipina at that - proves to be positive for me.
Powers-that-be wonder whether I can take it or not. And all I need is a chance to prove my worth!"
nursing positions and other health fields have created a significant impact in nursing and health care not only
locally but nationally as well. As the first and only Filipino-Asian in the role of the VA hospital-based Patient
Health Education Coordinator, she was instrumental in the development of one of the most comprehensive
program on patient health education in the system."
Nena has dedicated herself to serving not only the legion of patients of the hospitals she had been connected
with, but also, she has been providing leadership and sharing her administrative talents with the
professional organizations in her field of endeavor as well as with the Filipino community. Acting the role of
either as a president or an active member, Nena does her duties with fervor attending to her assigned
functions deligently and also donates her own funds and time. Among the organizations that Nena serves
either as a president or having an active role are the American Nurses Association; the Illinois Nurses
Association; the Philippine Nurses Association of Chicago; the Far Eastern University Alumni Association; the
International Patient Education Council; the Sigma Theta Tau Internationa Honor Society for Nursing; the
Veternas Administration (VA) Patient Education Coordinators; the American Association of Critical Care
Nursing; and, the Cagayan Association of Chicago.
"It is important to do one's best when one is tasked to do something," advised Nena. "It is a shame when one
is elected to a position and does not try his or her best to execute the functions assigned to that position."
The citations, statements of authorities, honors and awards she has been receiving is a testimony to her
preaching. From nursing's most prestigious group, the Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of
Nursing, Nena was given a certificate in 1987 for "Academic Excellence and Leadership in Nursing," an
honor bestowed exclusively to a handful of nurses in the world. The Society of Nursing Professionals
commended her for her being listed in the 1990-1991 WHO'S WHO IN AMERICAN NURSING.
"The U.S. Government honors Lourdes Nisperos in appreciation for her 15 years of faithful service to the U.S.
Government and for superior performance for significant contribution to the mission of the VA and for
substantially exceeding performance requirements," wrote the Medical Center Director of VA Westside
Medical Center, one of VA's largest facilities in the United States.
"I highly recommend the nursing profession to the younger Filipino generation. There will always be a need
of a tender loving care and these traits come naturally to us, Filipinos," noted Nena. "But like any other career
or undertaking, serious program of education, determination and the will to excel should be the guiding
principle."
From educational standpoint, Nena has been proving that there is no substitute in continuing formal
education. She just winded up last June and earned a one-year certificate program in Public Administration
from the University of Illinois in Chicago. "I never intend to cease from gaining education," commented Nena.
"The more one learns, the more one has a better chance in his or her chosen career or profession."
Receiving a diploma in Nursing in 1959 from Manila's well-known institution, Far Eastern University, Nena
pursued from the same university, a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree in 1961. After completing her
basic education in nursing, she attended Andrews University in Berrien Springs, Michigan, Northern Illinois
University and the University of Illinois to complete and acquire a Master of Science in Nursing degree with
major in Nursing Administration and the functional role in patient education.
"It was literally a stiff climb from graduation to where I am now. It was study, study, study plus work, work and
work!" quipped Nena. Her extra efforts and sacrifices paid handsomely. She established a Filipino legacy in
her field of endeavor and carved a path for others to follow.
Work, Nena did. Plenty of work. Like everyone else, she started from scratch, so to say. As soon as she
acquired her nursing degree, she started as a staff nurse at Manila Doctor's Hospital and then came to the
United States for further studies under the Exchange Visitors Nurse Program at Newark's Beth Israel
Hospital in New Jersey. From 1964 to 1972, Nena relocated to Toronto, Ontario, Canada instead of going
back to the Philippines under the Exchange Program agreement. In Canada, Nena shifted from one hospital
to another in pursuit of higher education and further professional training in the latest technologies and
hospital administration and management. She was an operating room staff nurse with The Doctors Hospital
in Toronto; a charge nurse in medical and surgical units with Scarborough Centenary Hospital in
Scarborough, Ontario and for two years, she was a Nursing Instructor in Medical and Surgical Nursing with
Peterborough Civil Hospital School of Nursing at Petersborough, Ontario. In 1971, she became a full pledge
Nursing Instructor in Medical and Surgical Nursing with George Brown College of Applied Arts and
Technology, St. Joseph Campus in Toronto, Ontario.
"Finally in 1972, my dream to come back to the United States materialized. I joined the University of Illinois in
Chicago, Illinois as Charge Nurse providing orientation to new nursing staff," related Nena. " Later I
transferred to St. Mary's of Nazareth School of Nursing as an Instructor in the Diploma Program in Nursing."
It was in 1975 when Nena decided to join VA Westside Medical Center, holding several key positions from
Head Nurse to Patient Care Coordinator, Supervisor for Nursing to her current position as Patient Health
Education Coordinator (hospital based), a senior management position whose primary responsibility to a
hospitalwide overall management, coordination, development and evaluation of patient education, health
promotion, and preventive health and medicine programs.
Lourdes "Nena" Medrano Nisperos has come a long way. As a role model and inspiration to the youth of the
Filipino community in particular, and the community in general, Nena epitomizes a determined and
goal-oriented person wherein race, marital status nor sex are not considered as stumbling blocks. "On the
contrary," Nena concluded, "my being a woman - a Filipina at that - proves to be positive for me.
Powers-that-be wonder whether I can take it or not. And all I need is a chance to prove my worth!"
Washington D.C. Since 1987
Washington D.C. Since 1987
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