BEST Healthcare Rankings has officially opened its nationwide call for nominations for the 2026 Nurse of the Year Awards, honoring exceptional Filipino nurses practicing in the Philippines. The program recognizes two distinctions: Frontline Nurse of the Year and Servant Leader Nurse of the Year.
Founded and chaired by Guam-based Filipino nurse leader Job Marconi Mascardo, the initiative is a community-driven effort led by Overseas Filipinos to provide meaningful, no-cost recognition to nurses who embody excellence, integrity, and trust in healthcare.
Nominations are open to colleagues, patients, families, community members, and self-nominees across the Philippines — advancing the organization’s mission of Building Excellence through Service and Trust.
Guam — February 2026 — In hospitals and healthcare settings across the Philippines,
some of the most profound acts of excellence unfold quietly. A nurse offering
reassurance during a frightening diagnosis. A calm yet decisive voice leading a
code blue team as they work to restart a patient’s heart. A steadfast advocate
speaking up for patient safety when silence would be easier.
These everyday acts of dedication
define the spirit of nursing — and they are the inspiration behind the 2026
Nurse of the Year Awards, now open for nationwide nominations through BEST
Healthcare Rankings.
Founded on the principle of Building
Excellence through Service and Trust, the initiative recognizes two
distinct but equally vital dimensions of nursing excellence: the frontline
caregiver and the servant leader.
Two
Awards. Two Dimensions of Excellence.
Frontline
Nurse of the Year
The Frontline Nurse of the Year
award honors exceptional direct patient care. It recognizes nurses working in
hospitals, emergency departments, community clinics, and rural health settings
who consistently deliver safe, compassionate, and evidence-based care.
This distinction celebrates clinical
competence, accountability, resilience under pressure, and unwavering patient
advocacy. Frontline nurses are often the first to respond in moments of crisis
— and their vigilance directly shapes patient outcomes.
Servant Leader Nurse of the Year
The Servant Leader Nurse of the Year
award honors leadership rooted in humility, integrity, and service.
This category recognizes nurses who
mentor colleagues, strengthen interdisciplinary collaboration, uphold ethical
standards, and cultivate cultures of trust within healthcare teams and
communities. Inspired by the enduring legacy of Florence Nightingale,
the award affirms that true leadership in nursing prioritizes stewardship over
status.
Servant leadership is measured not
merely by position, but by influence used to uplift others and strengthen
healthcare systems.
Recognition
Without Barriers
Participation is entirely free.
There are no nomination fees, participation costs, or award acceptance charges
— reinforcing the organization’s commitment to accessible, merit-based
recognition.
Each honoree will receive:
1. PHP 10,000 (pre-tax)
2. An Official Award Certificate
3. Letter of Recommendation
4. Recognition during a Virtual Award Ceremony
Nomination Deadline: October 1, 2026
Virtual Award Ceremony: December 5, 2026
Nominations are open nationwide.
Colleagues, patients, families, and community members are encouraged to
participate — including self-nominations.
Submissions are evaluated through a
blinded, holistic, and evidence-based scoring process that prioritizes
excellence in care, integrity in practice, trustworthiness within teams, and
commitment to professional growth. Nomination forms are available through BEST
Healthcare Rankings’ official Facebook and LinkedIn pages.
Leadership
Behind the Initiative
The awards are the vision of
Guam-based Filipino nurse leader Job Marconi Mascardo, MBA, MAN, RN,
NE-BC, CPHQ, CMGT-BC.
Mascardo began his professional
journey as a volunteer nurse with the Red Cross Cebu Chapter before gaining
frontline clinical experience in the United States, including service in
long-term care settings in Montana. These early roles exposed him to the physical
demands, emotional challenges, and ethical responsibilities of bedside nursing
— experiences that continue to shape his leadership philosophy.
He later advanced into roles in case
management and healthcare quality focusing on process and system improvement. He
earned his nursing degree from Silliman University and later completed graduate
studies in Business Administration (MBA) and Nursing (MAN) at other
institutions. He also holds multiple U.S. board certifications in nurse
executive leadership (NE-BC), healthcare quality (CPHQ), and case management
(CMGT-BC).
Mascardo has received community
recognitions for his leadership, including Distinct and Empowered Filipino in
Nursing Leadership by the Philippines Distinct Men and Women of Excellence in
Metro Manila, as well as a scholarship award from the Philippine Nurses
Association of America (PNAA) in New York. He was also nominated as an
Emerging Global Filipino Icon by The Global Filipino Magazine and
featured in The Summit Express news.
Through his clinical and leadership
experiences — including service during the COVID-19 pandemic — Mascardo
observed that many of the most impactful nurses work quietly, without meaningful
recognition.
“I’ve seen nurses carry patient
loads through difficult seasons,” Mascardo said. “Recognition strengthens
morale. It reinforces integrity. And it reminds nurses that their service truly
matters.”
As an Overseas Filipino
professional, he describes the initiative as a way of giving back to the
nursing community in the Philippines — honoring those whose excellence and
trustworthiness form the backbone of healthcare.
Excellence in nursing may unfold
quietly — but its impact is profound. And it deserves to be recognized.
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