Guardians of Health: Jey Ann Credo Ponce, the Home Care Nurse Who Makes Sure No Patient Feels Alone

For more than a decade, Jey Ann Credo Ponce has believed that the most important medicine a nurse can give is not always found on a chart. A nurse from Kapatagan, Lanao del Norte, she now cares for patients through home care in Abu Dhabi, bringing her care beyond duty into the places patients call home.

Present until the very end

One of the hardest moments of her career was caring for a critically ill patient whose condition continued to worsen. Watching the family hold on to hope was heartbreaking. Yet it taught her a lasting lesson: nursing is not only about healing. It is also about being present, offering comfort, and treating every patient with dignity, compassion and respect until the very end.

Her “why” has never changed

After all these years, Jey Ann’s reason for staying in nursing remains the same: compassion and purpose. She has seen again and again how a simple act of kindness can ease someone’s fear or pain, and that is what keeps her committed to the profession.

Malasakit at the bedside

For Jey Ann, malasakit is the heart of Filipino nursing: the ability to care beyond responsibility, where empathy, patience and kindness come naturally. At the bedside, it means making every patient feel valued, understood and never alone in their suffering, and offering them the same care and compassion she would give her own loved ones.

Finding her footing in the UAE

Her biggest culture shock was being far from home while adapting to a fast-paced and demanding work environment. Without her usual support system nearby, the loneliness and pressure were difficult at first. She overcame them through faith, by building connections with fellow Filipinos, and by staying focused on her purpose and the reason she chose this journey.

Working abroad, she learned, is not only about earning a better living or advancing professionally. “It is also a journey of personal transformation that tests our courage, patience, emotional strength, and commitment to our dreams.” Through friendships, professional networks and community involvement, she found that even far from family, we can build a new sense of belonging through genuine connection and mutual support.

Rooted in home, shaped by La Salle

Growing up in the Philippines taught her the values of hard work, empathy and service to others. Her education at La Salle University Ozamiz strengthened those values and shaped her into a nurse who is both competent and compassionate. It taught her that being a great nurse takes a genuine heart for service, the courage to advocate for patients and a commitment to doing what is right.

“Education gives us the knowledge to care, experience develops our competence, but our values give meaning and purpose to everything we do,” she says.

Grounded under pressure

When pressure peaks, Jey Ann reminds herself to stay focused and grounded. She prioritises patient safety, delegates tasks effectively, and relies on established protocols and teamwork to guide decisions.

Leadership in a crisis, she believes, is not about having all the answers or deciding everything alone, but about empowering the team, building trust and communicating clearly. True confidence comes from preparation, continuous learning and the willingness to admit limits and ask for help. “A strong healthcare leader does not allow pride to interfere with patient safety.” Staying calm under pressure, she adds, does not mean feeling no fear; it reflects a commitment to act with courage, competence and compassion when others need us most.