Guardians of Health: Jericson De Leon Mercado, the wound care nurse who cares for every patient like family

In 2013, a young nurse from Tarlac City landed in Abu Dhabi with very little money in his pocket, no nursing licence, and a family back home counting on him. Jericson De Leon Mercado was the eldest son and the breadwinner. His goal was simple: provide for his parents and help his siblings finish school. Thirteen years later, he is a Wound Care Nurse Specialist and an internationally recognised name in his field.

Starting from scratch

Without a licence, Jericson began as an assistant nurse in home care, studying for his licensing examinations while he worked. He took the Practical Nurse (PN) examination first, on advice that it would raise his salary sooner and help his family faster. Three months later, in the same year, he passed the Registered Nurse (RN) examination.

“Starting as an assistant nurse in home care while studying for my PN and RN exams tested my resilience, faith, and determination,” he recalls. “My family’s future was my motivation, and it gave me the strength to keep moving forward.”

From home care to specialist

Step by step, Jericson rose from home care staff nurse to Clinical Nurse Lead, then Shift-in-Charge, and eventually Wound Care Nurse Specialist. Today he works as a Tissue Viability Nurse in long-term and acute care in Abu Dhabi, caring for ventilated and critically ill patients.

Along the way he has received several DAISY Award nominations and was honoured internationally with the Rising Star Award in Wound Care at the ActivHeal Awards in the United Kingdom. “Each step of that journey was built on perseverance, hard work, and a commitment to providing the highest quality of patient care,” he says.

Seeing his father at every bedside

For Jericson, malasakit is deeply personal. While he was working abroad, he lost his father, and never had the chance to care for him in his final moments. His father had the same condition he now often sees in his patients.

“That pain never left me. It shaped how I nurse every single day,” he shares. “Now, when I stand at the bedside of an intubated patient, I see him. I speak to them, protect their dignity, and care for their wounds as if I am caring for my own family, because in my heart, I am.”

Rooted in Philippine training

Jericson credits his Philippine education for his strong foundation. He trained before AI and the pandemic, when learning meant reading books cover to cover in the library. Face-to-face patient contact began in his second year of nursing school and continued until graduation, with rotations across many areas of nursing. “It is this Philippine training that I carry with pride as I continue my journey as a Filipino nurse working abroad,” he says.

When he arrived in the UAE, he was struck by how advanced, structured and well supported its healthcare system is. He adjusted by staying humble and open to learning, and the experience deepened his hope that every Filipino will one day have access to quality healthcare at home.

Leading with calm

Home care with limited resources taught him to assess needs quickly and prioritise safely, a skill he later carried into complex wound care and critical care. As a leader, he believes in clear communication and proper delegation. “I lead with calmness and respect,” he says, “because a steady team creates better outcomes, even in the most critical situations.”