The Consuelo Gomez Arabit (CGA) Award is given to a perioperative nurse, whose exemplary accomplishment has immensely contributed to the improvement, growth and progress of the profession and perioperative nursing practice. During the perioperative Registered Nurses Association of the Philippines, Inc., or ORNAP’s virtual 46th Annual Convention & Scientific Meeting and its 48th Founding Anniversary last July 4, 2021 held at Edsa Shangri-la Mandaluyong, the award was bestowed to Dr. Nerissa M. Gerial.
Nerissa Mendoza Gerial, or what others may fondly call her as Neriz, graduated from St. Jude College with a Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing. She started her career in Nursing at the National Kidney and Transplant Institute (NKTI) as an Operating Room Nurse in 1993, while also finishing up her Master’s Degree in Hospital Administration at the University of the Philippines Manila.
Because of her display of exceptional leadership skills, she immediately worked her way up to the position of the Head of the Public Information Office; bringing new heights to the Institute, where she was recognized and given the Special Achievement Award, while concurrently serving as the Head Nurse of the Operating Room. After numerous accomplishments, she was appointed by then-Secretary of Health Dr. Enrique T. Ona to lead the biggest department in the hospital, as the Deputy Executive Director for Nursing Services. Through her initiatives and innovations, she was able to improve the Nursing Services as a whole, and also established the Continuous Quality Improvement studies and Research culture.
Furthermore, she obtained her Doctorate Degree in Nursing Education Major in Leadership and Management at St. Paul University Manila. As she believes that learning is a lifelong process, she cultivated her knowledge and proficiencies, which deemed her Career Executive Service Eligible, conferred by the Career Executive Service Board (CESB), through Resolution No. 959 Republic of the Philippines.
Amidst her executive duties and being the current Assistant Operating Room Manager, she is still able to actively share her expertise as officer in different nursing organizations. Currently, she is the Vice-President of the Association of Nursing Service Administrators of the Philippines (ANSAP), the Vice-President of the Department of Health – Chief Nurses Association (DOH CNA) in NCR, Co-Founder and Chief Finance Officer of Health Educators, Advocates and Leaders Ph (HEAL Ph) to name a few. She is also a Fellow of the Philippine College of Hospital Administrators (FPCHA), Fellow of the Philippine Society for Quality in Healthcare (FPSQua), and Fellow of the Association of Nursing Service Administrators of the Philippines (FANSAP).
By channeling her knowledge and linking her profession and her position in the health services sector, she was able to pursue humanitarian and philanthropic endeavors as an All-Star President of the Rotary Club of Chinatown Circle. She has initiated several community services, such as blood donation programs, medical missions and other advocacies.
She is the Founding President of the Urologic Nurses Association of the Philippines or URONAP, which aims to train nurses with proper set of proficiencies in dealing with patients with urologic cases. Presently, with her collaboration with the European Association of Urology Nurses (EAUN), the members of URONAP are now members of this European organization. Through her efforts, the EAUN-URONAP Chapter was established in 2020 with her being the founder.
Recently she was awarded as one of the Most Influential Filipina Women in The World by the Filipina Women’s network, honored in the INNOVATOR AND THOUGHT LEADER award category held in Paris, France and has been identified and recognized as one of the MOST ICONIC WOMEN OF QUEZON CITY in 2020 by a panel headed by the Honorable Mayor, Ma. Josefina “Joy” Belmonte. This is in recognition of her unparalleled contribution in the society and sustained achievements that required moral courage, determination, and consistent hard work.
Much can be said about her achievements in the Nursing Profession, but it is without doubt, that her greatest impact is in the lives of her subordinates and in the lives of the patients that she has in some way or another, touched through her selfless exploits and unwavering service.