2025 International Nurse Awardee
Rozzano C. Locsin, RN, PhD, FAAN
Rozzano C. Locsin, RN, PhD, FAAN, is a distinguished nurse who has exemplified excellence in nursing research and education over his 35+ years in academia. I am honored to nominate him for the 2025 International Nurse of the Year Award, which is presented annually by the University of the Philippines International Nursing and Healthcare Forum. Dr. Locsin earned a Bachelor of Science in Nursing and a Master of Science in Nursing from Silliman University in Dumaguete City, Philippines, in 1976 and 1978, respectively. He completed his Doctor of Philosophy in Nursing from the University of the Philippines in Manila, Philippines in 1988. Dr. Locsin is a Professor Emeritus at the Christine E. Lynn College of Nursing at Florida Atlantic University (FAU), where he served from 1991 to 2014. From 2014 to 2020, Dr. Locsin served as a Professor of Nursing at Tokushima University and as a Special Professor from 2020 to 2022, following his retirement from FAU.
Dr. Locsin’s research is centered on the intersection of technology and caring in nursing, with a particular emphasis on “life transitions in human health.” This includes the use of complementary/alternative interventions to alleviate pain during postoperative conditions, the comprehension of developmental life processes in situations such as time experiences among older adults, the transition from life-threatening situations due to illnesses such as those experienced by patients exposed to Ebola hemorrhagic fever, and the desire to practice in a manner that is consistent with the demands for technological competency and caring in nursing. These research studies underscore the importance of comprehending the distinctive expressions of individuals.
Over the past three decades, Dr. Locsin has demonstrated exceptional scholarly productivity. He is the author of the middle range theory, Technological Competency as Caring in Nursing, which was published in March 2005 by Sigma Theta Tau International Press, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA. A revised version was published by Silliman University Press, Dumaguete, Philippines, in 2017. In May 2009, a Japanese translation was published, and a fifth printing is scheduled for 2025. In 2021, a Bahasa Indonesia translation was also released. In addition to A Contemporary Nursing Practice: The (Un)Bearable Weight of Knowing in Nursing (2009), he has co-authored and co-edited six additional books that discuss Nursing, Technology, Caring, and Robotics. In addition, Dr. Locsin has facilitated international conferences, participated in global networks, collaborated in multi-national research endeavors, and published over 100 peer-reviewed manuscripts in international journals.
Dr. Locsin’s contributions also encompass the integration of arts in nursing, which employs creative expressions as therapeutic modalities. In 2003, the Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society for Nursing awarded him the Edith Moore Copeland Excellence in Creativity Award for his dedication to the arts. Dr. Locsin was a Fulbright Senior Specialist in Global and Public Health, a Fulbright Scholar to Uganda, and a Fulbright Alumni Initiative Award recipient. Furthermore, he was awarded the Julita V. Sotejo Medallion of Honor by the University of the Philippines in 2003. He also received distinguished Alumni accolades in Nursing from Silliman University and St. Paul University in Dumaguete, Philippines. In 2007, he was the first recipient of the Lillian O. Slemp Endowed Chair in Nursing at the University of Texas-Pan American in Edinburg, Texas. In 2009, he was appointed the John F. Wyme, Jr. Distinguished Professor of Nursing at Florida Atlantic University and served as a Balik Scientist at the Philippines Department of Science and Technology. Dr. Locsin is a member of the National Research Council of the Philippines and a Transcultural Nursing Scholar. Last but not least, he is a lifetime member of the Philippine American Academy of Science and Engineering and the Philippine Nurses Association.
Dr. Locsin is internationally recognized for his research on the “waiting-to-know” phenomena related to Ebola, in addition to his scholarly work and numerous honors. He was the first to establish a master’s degree nursing program in Uganda through the Fulbright Scholar Award. In addition, he was instrumental in developing a community-based university nursing education program in collaboration with Mbarara University of Science and Technology. Dr. Locsin remains engaged as a senior specialist for the Fulbright Program and is a visiting professor in the Philippines, Thailand, and Uganda, where he oversees collaborative research investigations in nursing practices.
All of Dr. Locsin’s work is a testament to his dedication to nursing service, which is evident in his innovative scholarship. He is an exceptional nurse researcher who embodies the highest standards of nursing. He believes that the world’s diminutive size has resulted in a more diversified global citizenry. He also believes that recognizing this diversity strengthens one’s dedication to understanding others as active participants in the drama of life. Furthermore, he believes that developing a reciprocal relationship is predicated on the desire to know others through direct interactions, such as those in international exchange programs and study abroad courses. Subsequently, he can establish trust and cooperation that facilitate mutually agreed upon and enhanced outcomes through significant effort and innovation. All of this is accomplished with a sense of humility and commitment.