Given to a perioperative nurse, whose exemplary accomplishment has immensely contributed to the improvement, growth and progress of the profession and perioperative nursing practice, the Consuelo Gomez Arabit Award 2021 was bestowed to Ms. Nerissa Gerial, RN, PhD.
The virtual 46th Annual Convention and Scientific Meeting of periOperative Registered Nurses Association of the Philippines Inc. coincided with the organization’s 48th founding anniversary on July 4 held at EDSA Shangri-la in Mandaluyong City.
Gerial graduated from St. Jude College with a Bachelor of Science Nursing degree. She started her career at the National Kidney and Transplant Institute as an operating room nurse in 1993 while also finishing her Master’s Degree in Hospital Administration at the University of the Philippines Manila.
Working her way as Public Information Office head, she was appointed by then Secretary of Health Dr. Enrique Ona to lead the biggest department in the hospital as deputy executive director for nursing services.
She obtained her doctorate degree in nursing education major in leadership and management at St. Paul University Manila.
Gerial currently serves as the vice president of the Association of Nursing Service Administrators of the Philippines, among other positions, and fellow of the Philippine College of Hospital Administrators, Philippine Society for Quality in Healthcare and Association of Nursing Service Administrators of the Philippines.