SUCN hosts 3rd Nursing Theory Symposium, expands platform for theory-driven nursing education
The Silliman University College of Nursing (SUCN) hosted the 3rd Nursing Theory Symposium on October 8, 2025, bringing together nursing scholars, theorists, faculty members, and student researchers for a full day of dialogue on how nursing theory continues to shape practice, research, and person-centered care.
Held at the Silliman University Audio-Visual Theater 1 and the Mary Marquis Smith Hall, the symposium gathered more than 600 participants from four nursing institutions, with 53 Level I student nurses from SUCN, 78 from Negros Oriental State University (NORSU), 420 from St. Paul University Dumaguete (SPUD), and 86 from Jose Rizal Memorial State University (JRMSU).
The symposium aimed to strengthen the link between nursing theory and evidence-based practice, demonstrate how caring-based interventions are grounded in theoretical frameworks, analyze ethical dilemmas through theory, explore emerging developments in nursing scholarship, reflect on the role of compassion, culture, integrity, empathy, and spirituality in care, and inspire student nurses to pursue theory-based research and professional growth.
Keynote speaker Dr. Rozzano Locsin opened the program with a presentation on “Bridging Theory, Research, and Practice through Caring Science in Contemporary Nursing.” He was followed by a panel of Filipino nurse theorists and scholars whose presentations explored different dimensions of theoretical application: Dr. Freslyn Lim-Saco presented “Choosing the Right Lens: Valuing and Explaining Nursing Theories for Practice and Research”; Dr. Erwin William Leyva discussed “From Idea to Bedside: Development and Application of Nursing Theoretical Foundations”; Dr. Ayeza Cathrina Tinagan delivered “Measuring Caring: Testing Propositions in Nursing Theories through Quantitative Research”; Dr. Theresa Guino-o introduced her “Theory of Responsive Sensing”; Dr. Cliford Kilat shared his work on “Synchronicity in the Human-Space-Time Theory of Nursing Engagement”; Dr. Girlie Odonel expounded on “Resilience as Caring in Nursing”; and Dr. Joanna Albano concluded the panel with her presentation on “Worth-Empowering Care.”
The afternoon sessions featured 18 podium and poster presentations from Level IV student researchers, demonstrating how theoretical foundations guide studies on nursing education, community health, patient care, technology use, and family support.
Among the awardees were Charisse Trinah D. Bugas of SUCN, whose research on artificial intelligence in nursing education, advised by Asst. Prof. Osel Sherwin Melad, was named Best Podium Presentation in the Education and Innovation category; Jun M. Borongan of NORSU, whose study on the sexual practices of Grindr users, advised by Dove Christian Sumagang, topped the Community Health category; and Kryztylle Kyla Linn P. Sumondong of SUCN, under adviser Dr. Freslyn Lim-Saco, who won in the Nursing Practice and Patient Care category for her research on the experiences of new graduate nurses post-pandemic. The Best Poster Presentation Award was given to Ivan Anthony A. Adaro of SUCN, advised by Dr. Barbara Lyn Galvez, for his study on the effects of screen time on preschool children, while Thalia Pearl Margarita O. Yap of SUCN, advised by Dr. Theorose June Bustillo, was named first runner-up for her work on caregiving among post-stroke clients.
This year’s symposium marked the first formal tri-school collaboration among SUCN, SPUD, and NORSU, made possible through the support of the Psi Beta Chapter of the Sigma Honor Society of Nursing and the Philippine Nurses Association – Negros Oriental Chapter. What began as a classroom initiative during the pandemic has now evolved into an annual scholarly platform that strengthens theory integration in nursing education, research, and practice.
The cycle of collaborative hosting will continue, with the 4th Nursing Theory Symposium to be held at SPUD in 2026.
