7th Student Nurse Leaders Forum highlights mental wellness and legal literacy in nursing
The Silliman University College of Nursing (SUCN) successfully held the 7th Student Nurse Leaders Forum (SNLF) in two parts on October 15 and 22, 2025, at the Audio-Visual Theater 1 of Silliman University, continuing its seven-year tradition of nurturing leadership, advocacy, and professional competence among future nurses.
Organized by the Level 4 students of SUCN Class 2026, the forum gathered 103 student nurses from SU, Foundation University College of Nursing, and Saint Paul University-Dumaguete College of Nursing to engage in conversations on compassion fatigue, burnout, and the legal and ethical landscape of nursing practice in the Philippines.
Organizers, participants, and speakers pose after the forum.
Addressing compassion fatigue and burnout
Held on October 15, 2025, the first session tackled the rising concern of compassion fatigue and burnout in the healthcare workforce.
Asst. Prof. Noyme Lour Abegil L. Laviste, MN, RN discusses strategies for sustaining compassion in nursing leadership.
Dr. Sigrid Natalie S. Hipe-Elli, MD, RN, served as keynote speaker, emphasizing that mental wellness is both a personal and organizational responsibility in health institutions.
Panel speakers included Asst. Prof. Noyme Lour Abegil L. Laviste, MN, RN, who discussed strategies for sustaining compassion in nursing leadership, and Ms. Dawn B. Cimafranca, MSN, RN, who highlighted how nurses can transform workplace challenges into meaningful career growth.
In post-event evaluations, participants praised the relevance of the topic and the smooth flow of the program, noting that burnout is “a silent crisis affecting all generations of nurses.” Others recommended stronger technical support for future sessions.
Strengthening legal and ethical accountability
The second session, held on October 22, 2025, shifted focus to legal and ethical literacy in nursing, equipping student nurses with knowledge on malpractice, patient rights, and professional accountability.
Atty. Josef James Gara discusses the ethical issues nurses confront and how national laws govern their practice.
Keynote speaker Atty. Whelma Siton-Yap underscored the importance of legal awareness in safeguarding both patients and practitioners.
Panelists Atty. Ana Katrina Bianca W. Remoto and Atty. Josef James Gara expounded on the moral and ethical risks encountered by nurses and the implications of Philippine law on clinical practice.
The discussions encouraged future nurses to see legal compliance not as a burden, but as part of professional integrity and patient safety.
A growing legacy of student-led leadership training
Since its inception in 2020, the SNLF has evolved from a classroom initiative into a yearly institutional tradition under the guidance of SUCN faculty members Dr. Freslyn Lim-Saco and Dr. Maria Theresa Belciña Jr. Past editions focused on themes such as pandemic response, nursing shortages, and health education, with formats ranging from virtual to hybrid and in-person gatherings.
Now on its seventh year, SNLF remains a pioneering student-led platform that empowers nursing students to engage with national and global healthcare issues through leadership, policy awareness, and reflective practice.
The 8th edition of the forum will be organized next year by SUCN Batch 2027.
