The Work of Teaching, the Practice of Care

Author Biography

• Dr. Rosario Stephanie F. Ornum, RN, St. Bernadette of Lourdes College

  Dr. Rosario Stephanie F. Ornum, RN, has spent more than a decade moving between the realities of clinical care and the responsibilities of the classroom. Her professional life began at a tertiary, specialized government hospital in Quezon City, where years of hands-on experience shaped her understanding of nursing as both a skill and a service. That grounding in clinical practice would later inform the way she teaches, mentors, and supports future nurses.

  Teaching became a natural extension of her work. Over the years, she has taught both clinical and theoretical nursing subjects in universities across Metro Manila, adapting to face-to-face and online learning environments with equal care. Her presence in the classroom reflects the same attentiveness she brings to patient care, grounded in clarity, patience, and respect for the learning process.

  She earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from United Doctors Medical Center and went on to complete her Master of Science in Nursing, major in Nursing Administration and Management, at Manila Central University. Drawn further into education, she pursued a Doctor of Educational Administration at Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila, deepening her understanding of academic leadership and institutional development. Her commitment to lifelong learning continued with the completion of her Doctor of Philosophy in Nursing, major in Nursing Administration, at the Philippine Women’s University.

  Dr. Ornum remains actively engaged in the professional nursing community. She is a member of the Philippine Nurses Association in NCR Zones 4 and 5 and the Renal Nurses Association of the Philippines, Inc. (RENAP), reflecting her sustained involvement in renal nursing as a field of specialization. She is also affiliated with the Philippine Association of Nursing Administrators and Clinical Care Educators (PANACCEA).

  Her dedication to teaching has been recognized by multiple universities across the Philippines. In addition to her academic roles, she has contributed to the profession as a co-author of books on Nursing Leadership and Management of Human Resources and Ethics and Policy in Nursing Practice, sharing knowledge shaped by experience rather than abstraction.

  Beyond her professional work, service remains central to her life. Dr. Ornum is actively involved with the Help Other People Everywhere (HOPE) Organization and Operation Blessings Foundation Philippines, Inc., both of which support indigent families and bring care and moments of joy to underserved communities, including homeless children across the country. These efforts reflect her belief that compassion does not stop at institutional boundaries.

  At the heart of her work is a simple philosophy: learning should feel human. She continues to advocate for the development of skills, knowledge, attitudes, and teaching practices that make nursing education engaging, meaningful, and grounded in care. For Dr. Ornum, teaching is not merely a profession. It is another way of showing up for others.