Sara P Padua
August 2025
Sara P
Padua
,
Nurse Corps Officer
BGBNEAB Hospital
BGBNEAB Hospital - Philippine Air Force
Cebu City
Philippines
LTC Sara P. Padua, NC, is more than a nurse; she is a protector of life, a calming presence in crisis, and a servant-leader who lives and breathes the values of Integrity, Commitment, Advocacy, Respect, and Excellence.
Integrity:
LTC Sara P. Padua, NC, embodies unwavering integrity in every aspect of her service. As the Chief of the Nursing Service at BGBNEAB Hospital, she maintains the trust and confidence not only of her staff and superiors but also of every patient she serves. She leads by example, ensuring transparency in staffing decisions, accountability in operations, and fairness in implementing hospital policies. Her honest and ethical approach has made her a trusted figure across all levels of the hospital, from enlisted personnel to officers, and from patients to civilian stakeholders.
Commitment:
Her dedication to the mission of military nursing and the welfare of service personnel is tireless. Despite her administrative role, she continues to serve directly at the bedside. She often goes beyond her assigned duties, making herself available for patient transfers, bedside counseling, and even crisis interventions, sometimes while off duty. She has actively advocated for the Mental Strength and Psychological Fitness Framework (MSPFF) and commits weekly time to implement stress management sessions for at least two units within the base. Her visible commitment to mental health care, despite her many responsibilities, reflects her belief that healing is not just physical; it is emotional, psychological, and spiritual.
Advocacy:
A true patient and personnel advocate, she is often the first responder to emotional and mental health crises. One deeply moving example occurred when she received an urgent call about an airman who was barred from going home due to a family conflict and had expressed suicidal intent. Though she was finally on a personal day after seven straight duty days, and even in the middle of a pedicure, she dropped everything and went directly to the airman’s location. With compassion and clinical poise, she de-escalated the situation and helped him find a path toward reconciliation. Her willingness to act immediately and selflessly on behalf of those in crisis demonstrates her role as a true advocate for healing, safety, and dignity.
Respect:
LTC Padua treats every patient and colleague with unconditional dignity and respect, regardless of rank, role, or background. Five out of six patients transferred to Cebu and Mactan hospitals under her care have remarked on her warm, empathetic nature, never acting above others because of her officer status. Instead, she is known for sitting beside patients, listening attentively, and offering sincere words of encouragement. Her respectful treatment of even the most challenging cases has built a culture of compassion and professionalism across her team.
Excellence:
Never settling for mediocrity, LTC Padua continually pushes for the highest standards of nursing care. She leads performance improvement initiatives, crafts hospital SOPs such as the MSPFF, and mentors younger nurses on best practices in clinical, mental health, and ethical care. Her excellence is not just technical; it is heartfelt. Whether functioning as Nurse Officer of the Day (NOD) or serving as a flight nurse, she never refuses a call for help, never declines to share her knowledge, and never misses the opportunity to uplift her staff. Her work ethic, precision, and compassion exemplify what true excellence in nursing leadership looks like.
Conclusion:
LTC Sara P. Padua, NC, is more than a nurse; she is a protector of life, a calming presence in crisis, and a servant-leader who lives and breathes the values of Integrity, Commitment, Advocacy, Respect, and Excellence. Her tireless efforts, both seen and unseen, have profoundly impacted the patients and personnel of BGBNEABH. For these reasons, she is more than deserving of the DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses.
LTC Sara P. Padua, NC, embodies unwavering integrity in every aspect of her service. As the Chief of the Nursing Service at BGBNEAB Hospital, she maintains the trust and confidence not only of her staff and superiors but also of every patient she serves. She leads by example, ensuring transparency in staffing decisions, accountability in operations, and fairness in implementing hospital policies. Her honest and ethical approach has made her a trusted figure across all levels of the hospital, from enlisted personnel to officers, and from patients to civilian stakeholders.
Commitment:
Her dedication to the mission of military nursing and the welfare of service personnel is tireless. Despite her administrative role, she continues to serve directly at the bedside. She often goes beyond her assigned duties, making herself available for patient transfers, bedside counseling, and even crisis interventions, sometimes while off duty. She has actively advocated for the Mental Strength and Psychological Fitness Framework (MSPFF) and commits weekly time to implement stress management sessions for at least two units within the base. Her visible commitment to mental health care, despite her many responsibilities, reflects her belief that healing is not just physical; it is emotional, psychological, and spiritual.
Advocacy:
A true patient and personnel advocate, she is often the first responder to emotional and mental health crises. One deeply moving example occurred when she received an urgent call about an airman who was barred from going home due to a family conflict and had expressed suicidal intent. Though she was finally on a personal day after seven straight duty days, and even in the middle of a pedicure, she dropped everything and went directly to the airman’s location. With compassion and clinical poise, she de-escalated the situation and helped him find a path toward reconciliation. Her willingness to act immediately and selflessly on behalf of those in crisis demonstrates her role as a true advocate for healing, safety, and dignity.
Respect:
LTC Padua treats every patient and colleague with unconditional dignity and respect, regardless of rank, role, or background. Five out of six patients transferred to Cebu and Mactan hospitals under her care have remarked on her warm, empathetic nature, never acting above others because of her officer status. Instead, she is known for sitting beside patients, listening attentively, and offering sincere words of encouragement. Her respectful treatment of even the most challenging cases has built a culture of compassion and professionalism across her team.
Excellence:
Never settling for mediocrity, LTC Padua continually pushes for the highest standards of nursing care. She leads performance improvement initiatives, crafts hospital SOPs such as the MSPFF, and mentors younger nurses on best practices in clinical, mental health, and ethical care. Her excellence is not just technical; it is heartfelt. Whether functioning as Nurse Officer of the Day (NOD) or serving as a flight nurse, she never refuses a call for help, never declines to share her knowledge, and never misses the opportunity to uplift her staff. Her work ethic, precision, and compassion exemplify what true excellence in nursing leadership looks like.
Conclusion:
LTC Sara P. Padua, NC, is more than a nurse; she is a protector of life, a calming presence in crisis, and a servant-leader who lives and breathes the values of Integrity, Commitment, Advocacy, Respect, and Excellence. Her tireless efforts, both seen and unseen, have profoundly impacted the patients and personnel of BGBNEABH. For these reasons, she is more than deserving of the DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses.